Patent US3783814A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3783814A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thrust augmenting expansion engine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1968-01-23
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1988-01-23
Abstract
Abstract An expansion engine capable of extracting energy from an expanding gas and distributing that energy between the gas and a fluid stream to generate a propulson or power force. The engine includes a thrustor mounted for rotation about a shaft and consisting of a hub and a concentric shroud connected by a number of evenly spaced, helical vanes. The vanes divide the annular space between the hub and shroud into equal sized helical channels which are open at both ends. The forward ends of the channels are open during a portion of the rotation and closed during a second portion of the rotation. The channels are filled with fluid when in the unobstructed position, and an expandable gas is delivered behind each slug of fluid in the channel when in the obstructed position. The high pressure gas accelerates the already moving water to the rear of each channel.
Inventors
- 👤 C Zovko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:21
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H11/00; B63H11/12; F; F01; F01D; F01D15/00; F01D15/02; F01D15/08; F02; F02C; F02C3/00; F02C3/14; F02C3/16; F02C5/00; F02C5/02; F02C5/04; F02C6/00; F02C6/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
An expansion engine for a torpedo body having a forward portion and a planar aft end comprising a shaft secured to and extending axially from the aft end of said torpedo body, a rotatable member having an inlet portion and an exit portion, said rotatable member further having an axially extending central hub rotatably supported on said shaft such that the inlet portion is in abutting relation with said planar aft end of said torpedo body, a plurality of equally spaced radially extending vanes secured about the periphery of said hub at an angle with the axis of said shaft and extending from said inlet portion to said exit portion for forming a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced open ended channels, said aft end of said torpedo body having an outside diameter substantially equivalent to the outside diameter of said channels, said aft end having at least one section of reduced diameter substantially equivalent to the inside diameter of said channels, means for introducing a fluid into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels, means for substantially preventing fluid from escaping radially from said channels, and means for introducing an expandable gas into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels when said channel is filled with said fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
An expansion engine for a torpedo body having a forward portion and a planar aft end comprising a shaft secured to and extending axially from the aft end of said torpedo body, a rotatable member having an inlet portion and an exit portion, said rotatable member further having an axially extending central hub rotatably supported on said shaft such that the inlet portion is in abutting relation with said planar aft end of said torpedo body, a plurality of equally spaced radially extending vanes secured about the periphery of said hub at an angle with the axis of said shaft and extending from said inlet portion to said exit portion for forming a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced open ended channels, said aft end of said torpedo body having an outside diameter substantially equivalent to the outside diameter of said channels, said aft end having at least one section of reduced diameter substantially equivalent to the inside diameter of said channels, means for introducing a fluid into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels, means for substantially preventing fluid from escaping radially from said channels, and means for introducing an expandable gas into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels when said channel is filled with said fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
An expansion engine according to claim 1 wherein said means for introducing an expandable gas into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels is at least one gas port in said aft end of said torpedo body in axial alignment with said channels in said rotatable member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
An expansion engine according to claim 2 wherein a plurality of symmetrically arranged sections of reduced diameter are provided on the aft end of said torpedo body each of which is substantially equivalent in diameter to the inside diameter of said channels, and a plurality of said ports, equal in number to said sections of reduced diameter, are provided in said aft end of said torpedo body in axial alignment with said channels in said rotatable member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An expansion engine according to claim 3 wherein siad channels are decreasing in cross section from said inlet portion to said exit portion of said rotatable member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An expansion engine according to claim 3 wherein said central hub, said vanes and said means for substantially preventing fluid from escaping radially from said channels are constructed as a single unit so as to rotate together about said shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
142 words
An expansion engine comprising an axially extending shaft, a rotatable member having an inlet portion and an exit portion, said rotatable member having an axially extending central hub supported on said shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of equally spaced radially extending vanes secured about the periphery of said hub at an angle with the axis of said shaft and extending from said inlet portion to said exit portion for forming a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced open ended channels, means for introducing a fluid into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels, means for substantially preventing fluid from escaping radially from said channels, means for introducing an expandable gas into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels when said channel is filled with said fluid, and means for rotating said shaft for starting said engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
142 words
An expansion engine comprising an axially extending shaft, a rotatable member having an inlet portion and an exit portion, said rotatable member having an axially extending central hub supported on said shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of equally spaced radially extending vanes secured about the periphery of said hub at an angle with the axis of said shaft and extending from said inlet portion to said exit portion for forming a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced open ended channels, means for introducing a fluid into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels, means for substantially preventing fluid from escaping radially from said channels, means for introducing an expandable gas into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels when said channel is filled with said fluid, and means for rotating said shaft for starting said engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
An expansion engine according to claim 6 wherein said engine is mounted at the aft end of a water surface vessel, and at least a portion of said inlet portion of said channels being exposed to direct influx of water below said water surface vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
An expansion engine according to claim 7 wherein said means for introduciNg an expandable gas into the inlet portion of said channel comprises a carburetor, a conduit extending from said carburetor to the inlet portion of said channel for providing a fuel-air mixture to said channel when filled with water, and means for igniting said fuel-air mixture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An expansion engine according to claim 8 further comprising means for providing air under pressure to said carburetor, means for preventing said expandable gases from escaping through the inlet portion of said rotatable member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An expansion engine according to claim 9 further comprising means for varying the thrust of said engine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
An expansion engine according to claim 10 further comprising means for providing a second source of expandable gas to said channel in alignment with said ignition means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
142 words
An expansion engine for an aircraft comprising an axially extending shaft, a rotatable member having an inlet portion and an exit portion, said rotatable member having an axially extending central hub supported on said shaft, a plurality of equally spaced radially extending vanes secured about the periphery of said hub at an angle with the axis of said shaft and extending from said inlet portion to said exit portion for forming a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced open ended channels, means for introducing air under pressure into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels, means for substantially preventing air from escaping radially from said channels, a plurality of fuel nozzles directed into said channels through said inlet portion for introducing fuel into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels when said channel is filled with air.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
142 words
An expansion engine for an aircraft comprising an axially extending shaft, a rotatable member having an inlet portion and an exit portion, said rotatable member having an axially extending central hub supported on said shaft, a plurality of equally spaced radially extending vanes secured about the periphery of said hub at an angle with the axis of said shaft and extending from said inlet portion to said exit portion for forming a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced open ended channels, means for introducing air under pressure into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels, means for substantially preventing air from escaping radially from said channels, a plurality of fuel nozzles directed into said channels through said inlet portion for introducing fuel into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels when said channel is filled with air.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An expansion engine according to claim 12 further comprising means for varying the thrust of said engine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An expansion engine according to claim 13 wherein said air introducing means comprises an air compressor rotatably mounted on said shaft forward of said inlet portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
An expansion engine according to claim 14 further comprising means for allowing a portion of said air to bypass said rotatable member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
An expansion engine according to claim 15 further comprising means at the exit portion of said rotatable member for partially restricting fluid flow from said channels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
160 words
An expansion engine comprising an axially extending shaft, a rotatable member having an inlet portion and an exit portion, said rotatable member having an axially extending central hub supported on said shaft, a plurality of equally spaced radially extending vanes secured about the periphery of said hub at an angle with the axis of said shaft and extending from said inlet portion to said exit portion for forming a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced open ended channels, means for introducing a fluid into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels, means for substantially preventing fluid from escaping radially from said channels, means for introducing an expandable gas into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels when said channel is filled with said fluid, and conduit means communicating with and extending from said exit portion of at least one channel to the inlet portion of at least one preceding channel in the direction of rotation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
160 words
An expansion engine comprising an axially extending shaft, a rotatable member having an inlet portion and an exit portion, said rotatable member having an axially extending central hub supported on said shaft, a plurality of equally spaced radially extending vanes secured about the periphery of said hub at an angle with the axis of said shaft and extending from said inlet portion to said exit portion for forming a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced open ended channels, means for introducing a fluid into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels, means for substantially preventing fluid from escaping radially from said channels, means for introducing an expandable gas into the inlet portion of at least one of said channels when said channel is filled with said fluid, and conduit means communicating with and extending from said exit portion of at least one channel to the inlet portion of at least one preceding channel in the direction of rotation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
An expansion engine according to claim 17 wherein said rotatable member is affixed to said shaft, and further comprising means for extracting power from said shaft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
120 words
In combination with an underwater vehicle, a propulsion system comprising: a shaft secured to and extending from the aft end of said vehicle, an axially extending central hub mounted for rotation on said shaft in abutting relationship with said aft end of said vehicle, radial vanes secured to said hub and helically extending about the axis of said shaft, a shroud secured to said vanes to form a plurality of axially extending open ended helical channels symmetrically arraNged about the peripheral extent of said hub, said aft end of said vehicle being so shaped as to permit water to enter only a portion of said helical channels, and means on said aft end of said vehicle for rotating said hub.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
120 words
In combination with an underwater vehicle, a propulsion system comprising: a shaft secured to and extending from the aft end of said vehicle, an axially extending central hub mounted for rotation on said shaft in abutting relationship with said aft end of said vehicle, radial vanes secured to said hub and helically extending about the axis of said shaft, a shroud secured to said vanes to form a plurality of axially extending open ended helical channels symmetrically arraNged about the peripheral extent of said hub, said aft end of said vehicle being so shaped as to permit water to enter only a portion of said helical channels, and means on said aft end of said vehicle for rotating said hub.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 19 wherein a portion of said aft end of said vehicle has an outside diameter substantially equivalent to the outside diameter of said channels, and at least one segment of said aft end of said vehicle has an outside diameter substantially equivalent to the inside diameter of said channels.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 20 wherein said means for rotating said thrust augmenting member comprises at least one source of gas in said vehicle and a port in the aft end of said vehicle at the portion of maximum diameter for releasing said gas into said channels when filled with water.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 21 wherein said channels are convergent in cross section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
138 words
An aircraft engine comprising a shaft rotatably mounted on said aircraft parallel to the axis of said aircraft, a cylindrical thrust augmenting member mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of open ended channels symmetrically arranged about said shaft, said channels helically extending about the axis of said shaft, means for blocking air from entering at least one segment of the forward end of said cylindrical member, means on said blocking means for introducing fuel into the forward open end of said cylindrical member, means on said blocking means for igniting said fuel, means on said shaft forward of said blocking means for providing air under pressure to the forward open ends of said channels, and bypass means for allowing a portion of said air under pressure to flow around the outer surface of said cylindrical member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
138 words
An aircraft engine comprising a shaft rotatably mounted on said aircraft parallel to the axis of said aircraft, a cylindrical thrust augmenting member mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of open ended channels symmetrically arranged about said shaft, said channels helically extending about the axis of said shaft, means for blocking air from entering at least one segment of the forward end of said cylindrical member, means on said blocking means for introducing fuel into the forward open end of said cylindrical member, means on said blocking means for igniting said fuel, means on said shaft forward of said blocking means for providing air under pressure to the forward open ends of said channels, and bypass means for allowing a portion of said air under pressure to flow around the outer surface of said cylindrical member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The aircraft engine of claim 23 further comprising means for restricting exit fluid flow through at least one segment of said cylindrical member.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
133 words
An engine comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, a substantially disc-shaped member affixed to said shaft and having a plurality of equally spaced radially extending curved blades affixed to the periphery thereof, means enclosing the outer radial edges of said blades for defining a plurality of open ended channels about the periphery of said disc-shaped member, first and second cover plates for enclosing said ends of said channels, means for introducing a fluid through said first cover plate into a selected number of said channels, means for introducing an expandable gas through said first cover plate into a selected number of said channels when filled with said fluid, and means for permitting said fluid to escape from said channels through said second cover plate while said expandable gas is being introduced into said channels.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
133 words
An engine comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, a substantially disc-shaped member affixed to said shaft and having a plurality of equally spaced radially extending curved blades affixed to the periphery thereof, means enclosing the outer radial edges of said blades for defining a plurality of open ended channels about the periphery of said disc-shaped member, first and second cover plates for enclosing said ends of said channels, means for introducing a fluid through said first cover plate into a selected number of said channels, means for introducing an expandable gas through said first cover plate into a selected number of said channels when filled with said fluid, and means for permitting said fluid to escape from said channels through said second cover plate while said expandable gas is being introduced into said channels.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The engine of claim 25 further comprising means for guiding said escaping fluid from said second cover plate to said first cover plate to pass therethrough into said channels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |