Radial impulse engine, pump, and compressor systems, and associated methods of operation

1. An engine comprising:

a first end wall portion;

a second end wall portion spaced apart from the first end wall portion to at least partially define a pressure chamber therebetween;

a first movable member operably disposed between the first and second end wall portions, wherein the first movable member has a first distal edge portion and a first cylindrical surface; and

a second movable member operably disposed between the first and second end wall portions, wherein the second movable member has a second distal edge portion and a second cylindrical surface, wherein the first distal edge portion of the first movable member is configured to slide across the second cylindrical surface of the second moveable member as the second distal edge portion of the second movable member slides across the first cylindrical surface of the first movable member, and as the first movable member pivots about a first pivot axis and the second movable member pivots about a second pivot axis.

2. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the first and second pivot axes extend through the first and second end wall portions.

3. The engine of claim 1 wherein the first movable member is at least substantially identical to the second movable member.

4. The engine of claim 1 , wherein the first movable member includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion, wherein the first wall portion includes the first cylindrical surface and the second wall portion includes the first distal edge portion.

5. The engine of claim 1 wherein the first and second cylindrical surfaces are convex cylindrical surfaces.

6. The engine of claim 1 further comprising at least one crankshaft operably coupled to at least the first movable member.

7. The engine of claim 1 , further comprising means for synchronizing movement of the first and second movable members.

8. The engine of claim 1 , further comprising means for converting pivotal motion of at least the first movable member into rotational motion of an associated crankshaft.

9. An internal combustion engine comprising:

a combustion chamber;

a first movable member positioned proximate to the combustion chamber, wherein the first movable member has a first distal edge portion and a first cylindrical surface;

a second movable member positioned proximate to the combustion chamber, wherein the second movable member has a second distal edge portion and a second cylindrical surface;

means for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber; and

means for igniting the fuel in the combustion chamber, thereby causing the first distal edge portion of the first movable member to slide across the second cylindrical surface of the second moveable member as the second distal edge portion of the second movable member slides across the first cylindrical surface of the first movable member, and as the first movable member pivots about a first pivot axis and the second movable member pivots about a second pivot axis.

10. The internal combustion engine of claim 9 , further comprising means for synchronizing movement of the first and second movable members.

11. The internal combustion engine of claim 9 wherein the combustion chamber is positioned between the first and second movable members.

12. An energy conversion device comprising:

a first end wall portion;

a second end wall portion spaced apart from the first end wall portion;

a first movable member operably disposed between the first and second end wall portions, wherein the first movable member has a first distal edge portion and a first curved surface; and

a second movable member operably disposed between the first and second end wall portions and spaced apart from the first movable member to at least partially define a pressure chamber therebetween, wherein the second movable member has a second distal edge portion and a second curved surface, wherein the first distal edge portion of the first movable member is configured to slide across the second curved surface of the second moveable member, and the second distal edge portion of the second movable member is configured to slide across the first curved surface of the first movable member, as the first movable member pivots back and forth about a first pivot axis and the second movable member pivots back and forth about a second pivot axis.

13. The energy conversion device of claim 12 wherein the first and second pivot axes are fixed relative to the first and second end wall portions.

14. The energy conversion device of claim 12 wherein the first movable member includes a first wall portion having the first distal edge portion and a second wall portion having the first curved surface, and wherein the second movable member includes a third wall portion having the second distal edge portion and a fourth wall portion having the second curved surface.

15. An energy conversion device comprising:

a first end wall portion;

a second end wall portion spaced apart from the first end wall portion;

a first movable member operably disposed between the first and second end wall portions, wherein the first movable member includes a first wall portion having a first distal edge portion and a second wall portion having a first curved surface, wherein a first pivot axis is positioned between the first and second wall portions; and

a second movable member operably disposed between the first and second end wall portions and spaced apart from the first movable member to at least partially define a pressure chamber therebetween, wherein the second movable member includes a third wall portion having a second distal edge portion and a fourth wall portion having a second curved surface, wherein a second pivot axis is positioned between the third and fourth wall portions, and wherein the first distal edge portion of the first movable member is configured to slide across the second curved surface of the second moveable member, and the second distal edge portion of the second movable member is configured to slide across the first curved surface of the first movable member, as the first movable member pivots about the first pivot axis and the second mnovable member pivots about the second pivot axis.

16. The energy conversion device of claim 15 wherein the first and second wall portions of the first movable member form a “V” shape.

17. The energy conversion device of claim 12 wherein the first pivot axis is spaced apart from the second pivot axis by a distance D, and wherein the first curved surface has a radius of curvature R which is at least approximately equal to D.

18. The energy conversion device of claim 12 wherein the first end wall portion includes at least one aperture for admitting fluid into the pressure chamber.

19. The energy conversion device of claim 12 wherein the first end wall portion includes at least one aperture for admitting a fuel/air mixture into the pressure chamber.

20. The energy conversion device of claim 12 , further comprising at least one crankshaft operably coupled to at least the first movable member.