US3872664A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Swirl combustor with vortex burning and mixing
Assignee: RTX Corp
•
Filing: 1973-10-15
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-10-15
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure sets forth an engine wherein the combustion section includes a combustor with a main combustion burner having a hot fluid injected thereinto from a pilot burner. A multiplicity of swirling jets of a cooler oxidizer fluid are directed into the combustor for engaging with the hot pilot fluid. The swirling jets are directed through tubes built into the combustor wall. Fuel is directed into the main combustion burner into the area of mixed pilot hot flow and cooler swirling jet flow. This fuel can be injected to flow in mixed with the hot flow from the pilot burner or mixed with the cooler oxidizer flow through the tubes.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert P Lohmann
- 👤 Stanley J Markowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:12
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23R; F23R3/00; F23R3/28; F23R3/34; F23R3/346; F23R3/02; F23R3/04; F23R3/10; F23R3/12; F23R3/14; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
12 words
A method of carrying out a combustion process comprising the steps of:
Claim 2
Independent Claim
12 words
A method of carrying out a combustion process comprising the steps of:
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
directing hot gases into the upstream end of a confined volume,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
directing hot gases into the upstream end of a confined volume,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
forming a plurality of individual columns of an oxidizer, each swirling about its own axis,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
forming a plurality of individual columns of an oxidizer, each swirling about its own axis,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said oxidizer is air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fuel is introduced in step 4 along with the hot gases of step 1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
directing said swirling columns of an oxidizer into said hot gases at the upstream end of the confined volume,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
directing said swirling columns of an oxidizer into said hot gases at the upstream end of the confined volume,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
introducing a fuel in the mixed hot gases and oxidizer providing a combustible mixture,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
introducing a fuel in the mixed hot gases and oxidizer providing a combustible mixture,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fuel is introduced in step 4 along with the oxidizer of step 2.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein adjacent columns of an oxidizer in step 3 are formed having counter rotating swirling motions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
4 words
igniting said combustible mixture,
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
4 words
igniting said combustible mixture,
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
directing exhaust gases from the downstream end of said confined volume.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
directing exhaust gases from the downstream end of said confined volume.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of:
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
forming a combustion chamber as an annular chamber, wherein step 3 the swirling columns of an oxidizer are directed from both sides of said annular combustion chamber into said hot gases.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
forming a combustion chamber as an annular chamber, wherein step 3 the swirling columns of an oxidizer are directed from both sides of said annular combustion chamber into said hot gases.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein step 5 the hot gases of step 1 have sufficient temperature to provide spontaneous ignition of the combustible mixture of step 4.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein step 2 an individual column of an oxidizer if formed by swirling an oxidizer around a straight jet of oxidizer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the fuel of step 4 is introduced into the swirling oxidizer and straight jet of oxidizer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein Step 1 the confined volume is a combustion chamber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein steps 1 and 3 the oxidizer in the swirling columns and the hot gases provide all of the oxygen for combustion in the confined volume.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
95 words
A combustor including a main combustion chamber, a pilot combustion chamber connected at the upstream end thereof for directing a hot gas flow thereinto, means for forming and directing a plurality of swirling jets of air each swirling individually about its own axis into the upstream end of said main combustion chamber and hot gas flow so as to establish intimate contact with the hot gas flow from said pilot combustion chamber, means for directing a fuel into said main combustion chamber for mixing with the hot gas flow and intermixing swirling jets of air.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
95 words
A combustor including a main combustion chamber, a pilot combustion chamber connected at the upstream end thereof for directing a hot gas flow thereinto, means for forming and directing a plurality of swirling jets of air each swirling individually about its own axis into the upstream end of said main combustion chamber and hot gas flow so as to establish intimate contact with the hot gas flow from said pilot combustion chamber, means for directing a fuel into said main combustion chamber for mixing with the hot gas flow and intermixing swirling jets of air.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
52 words
A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for directing a fuel into said main combustion chamber includes means for directing a fuel into said pilot combustion chamber so as to enter said hot gas flow and be carried from the pilot combustion chamber into the main combustion chamber.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for directing a fuel into said main combustion chamber includes means for directing fuel into a plurality of each of the swirling jets of air prior to entering said main combustion chamber.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
55 words
A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for forming and directing a plurality of swirling jets of air into said main combustion chamber comprises individual tubes fixed to said main combustion chamber adjacent its upstream end, said tubes having swirling means located therein to impart rotary motion to air passing therethrough.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein said tubes have vanes located therein to swirl flow passing through the tube.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said main combustion chamber is annular.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
A combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein said pilot combustion chamber has an annular discharge which is concentric with the annular main combustion chamber.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
87 words
A combination as set forth in claim 21 wherein said main combustion chamber is formed having a diverging transition member at its forward end, said diverging transition member having a small forward opening and a larger rearward opening which is connected to the outer wall of the combustion chamber, said pilot combustion chamber being connected to the small forward opening of said diverging transition member, fixed to the diverging transition member a plurality of tubes of said main combustion chamber, said tubes having swirling means located therein.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination as set forth in claim 19 wherein said tubes are directed at an angle to the hot gas flow from said pilot combustion chamber as it enters into the main combustion chamber.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
A combination as set forth in claim 20 wherein said tubes are placed in pairs, said areas between said pairs of tubes being blocked to prevent flow around said tubes.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
39 words
A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein the means for forming and directing a plurality of swirling jets of air provides all of the air added to the hot gases for combustion in the main combustion chamber.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
41 words
A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said pilot combustion chamber forms its hot gas flow at a temperature which will provide spontaneous ignition when said hot gas, swirling jets of air and fuel mix within the combustion chamber.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
49 words
A combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein said means for forming and directing a plurality of swirling jets of air into said main combustion chamber comprises smaller tubes positioned within said individual tubes for forming a straight jet of air at the center of said swirling jet.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
A combination as set forth in claim 24 wherein said smaller tubes are positioned within said individual tubes by swirl vanes located therebetween.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination as set forth in claim 24 wherein said means for direCting a fuel into said main combustion chamber includes means for directing fuel into air upstream of said swirling means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
55 words
A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for forming and directing a plurality of swirling jets of air into said main combustion chamber has means to direct said swirling jets at an angle to the hot gas flow from said pilot combustion chamber as it enters into the main combustion chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |