Radial impulse engine, pump, and compressor systems, and associated methods of operation
Radial impulse engine, pump, and compressor systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment of the invention, an engine includes a first end wall portion spaced apart from a second end wall portion to at least partially define a combustion chamber therebetween. In this embodiment, the engine further includes a plurality of movable wall portions disposed between the first and second end wall portions. Each movable wall portion includes a cylindrical surface extending at least partially between a distal edge portion and a pivot axis. Upon ignition in the combustion chamber, the distal edge portion of each movable wall portion slides across the cylindrical surface of the adjacent movable wall portion as the movable wall portions pivot outwardly in unison about their respective pivot axes.
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 wall portion operably disposed between the first and second end wall portions, the first movable wall portion having a first distal edge portion spaced apart from a first pivot axis; and
a second movable wall portion operably disposed between the first and second end wall portions adjacent to the first movable wall portion, the second movable wall portion having a second distal edge portion spaced apart from a second pivot axis, the second movable wall portion further having an aperture, wherein the first distal edge portion of the first movable wall portion is configured to slide across the aperture in the second movable wall portion as the first movable wall portion pivots about the first pivot axis and the second movable wall portion pivots about the second pivot axis.
2. The engine of claim 1 wherein the pressure chamber is a combustion chamber, and wherein at least one of air and an air/fuel mixture flows into the combustion chamber through the aperture when the first distal edge portion of the first movable wall portion slides across the aperture in the second movable wall portion.
3. The engine of claim 1 wherein the pressure chamber is a combustion chamber, and wherein exhaust gas flows out of the combustion chamber through the aperture when the first distal edge portion of the first movable wall portion slides across the aperture in the second movable wall portion.
4. The engine of claim 1 wherein the second movable wall portion further includes a cylindrical surface extending at least partially between the second distal edge portion and the second pivot axis, and wherein the aperture is positioned on the cylindrical surface.
5. The engine of claim 1 wherein the second pivot axis is positioned between the second distal edge portion of the second movable wall portion and a proximal edge portion of the second movable wall portion, and wherein the aperture is positioned between the proximal edge portion of the second movable wall portion and the second pivot axis.
6. The engine of claim 1 , further comprising a first wrist shaft configured to pivot about the first pivot axis and a second wrist shaft configured to pivot about the second pivot axis, wherein the first movable wall portion is fixedly attached to the first wrist shaft and the second movable wall portion is fixedly attached to the second wrist shaft.
7. The engine of claim 1 , further comprising a fixed pivot pin extending at least partially between the first and second end wall portions along the first pivot axis, and wherein the first movable wall portion is pivotally coupled to the fixed pivot pin.
8. The engine of claim 1 wherein the first movable wall portion includes a cylindrical surface configured to face at least generally toward the combustion chamber, and wherein the cylindrical surface remains parallel to the first pivot axis as the first movable wall portion pivots about the first pivot axis.
9. The engine of claim 1 wherein the first movable wall portion is operably coupled to the second movable wall portion so that the first movable wall portion moves in unison with the second movable wall portion.
10. The engine of claim 1 wherein the first movable wall portion further includes a cylindrical surface having a first radius of curvature, and wherein the engine further comprises a third movable wall portion disposed between the first and second end wall portions adjacent to the second movable wall portion, the third movable wall portion having a third pivot axis, wherein the first, second, and third pivot axes define a circle having a second radius of curvature that is at least approximately equivalent to the first radius of curvature.
11. The engine of claim 1 wherein the first distal edge portion of the first movable wall portion carries a seal configured to slide across a surface of the second movable wall portion as the first movable wall portion pivots about the first pivot axis and the second movable wall portion pivots about the second pivot axis.
12. An internal combustion 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 combustion chamber therebetween;
a first wrist shaft configured to pivot about a first pivot axis extending at least partially between the first and second end wall portions;
a second wrist shaft configured to pivot about a second pivot axis extending at least partially between the first and second end wall portions;
a first movable wall portion fixedly attached to the first wrist shaft, the first movable wall portion having a first distal edge portion spaced apart from the first pivot axis; and
a second movable wall portion fixedly attached to the second wrist shaft, the second movable wall portion having a second distal edge portion spaced apart from the second pivot axis, the second movable wall portion further having an aperture, wherein the first distal edge portion of the first movable wall portion is configured to slide across the aperture as the first wrist shaft pivots about the first pivot axis and the second wrist shaft pivots about the second pivot axis.
13. The engine of claim 12 wherein at least one of air and an air/fuel mixture flows into the combustion chamber through the aperture when the first distal edge portion of the first movable wall portion slides across the aperture in the second movable wall portion.
14. The engine of claim 12 wherein the second movable wall portion further includes a cylindrical surface extending at least partially between the second distal edge portion and the second pivot axis, and wherein the aperture is positioned on the cylindrical surface.
15. The engine of claim 12 wherein the first wrist shaft is operably coupled to the second wrist shaft so that the first movable wall portion moves in unison with the second movable wall portion.
16. The engine of claim 12 , further comprising a synchronizing gear operably coupling the first wrist shaft to the second wrist shaft so that the first movable wall portion moves in unison with the second movable wall portion.
17. The engine of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first timing gear fixedly attached to the first wrist shaft;
a second timing gear fixedly attached to the second wrist shaft; and
a synchronizing gear operably engaging the first and second timing gears so that the first movable wall portion moves in unison with the second movable wall portion.
18. The engine of claim 12 , further comprising:
a third wrist shaft configured to pivot about a third pivot axis extending at least partially between the first and second end wall portions;
a third movable wall portion fixedly attached to the third wrist shaft; and
a synchronizing ring gear operably coupling the first wrist shaft to the second and third wrist shafts, wherein the first, second, and third pivot axes define a circle, and wherein the synchronizing ring gear is configured to rotate about an axis extending through a center of the circle as the first movable wall portion moves in unison with the second and third movable wall portions.
19. The engine of claim 12 , further comprising:
a third wrist shaft configured to pivot about a third pivot axis extending at least partially between the first and second end wall portions;
a third movable wall portion fixedly attached to the third wrist shaft; and
a synchronizing ring gear operably coupling the first wrist shaft to the second and third wrist shafts, wherein the first, second, and third pivot axes define a circle, and wherein the synchronizing ring gear is configured to pivot back and forth about an axis extending through a center of the circle as the first movable wall portion pivots back and forth about the first pivot axis, the second movable wall portion pivots back and forth about the second pivot axis, and the third movable wall portion pivots back and forth about the third pivot axis.
20. The engine of claim 12 , further comprising a crankshaft operably coupled to at least the first wrist shaft, wherein the crankshaft is configured to rotate unidirectionally as the first movable wall portion pivots about the first pivot axis.
21. The engine of claim 12 , further comprising:
a third wrist shaft configured to pivot about a third pivot axis extending at least partially between the first and second end wall portions; and
a third movable wall portion fixedly attached to the third wrist shaft, wherein the first, second, and third pivot axes define a circle having a first radius of curvature, and wherein the second movable wall portion further includes a cylindrical surface having a second radius of curvature that is at least approximately equivalent to the first radius of curvature.
22. An internal combustion engine comprising:
a combustion chamber;
a first movable wall portion positioned proximate to the combustion chamber, the first movable wall portion having a first distal edge portion spaced apart from a first pivot axis;
a second movable wall portion positioned proximate to the combustion chamber, the second movable wall portion having a second distal edge portion spaced apart from a second pivot axis, the second movable wall portion further having an aperture;
means for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber;
means for igniting the fuel in the combustion chamber, thereby causing the first distal edge portion of the first movable wall portion to slide across the aperture in the second movable wall portion as the first movable wall portion pivots outwardly about the first pivot axis and the second movable wall portion pivots outwardly about the second pivot axis; and
means for flowing air into the combustion chamber through the aperture as the first movable wall portion pivots outwardly about the first pivot axis and the second movable wall portion pivots outwardly about the second pivot axis.
23. The internal combustion engine of claim 22 , further comprising means for discharging exhaust gas from the combustion chamber.
24. The internal combustion engine of claim 22 , further comprising means for synchronizing movement of the first and second movable wall portions.
25. An internal combustion engine comprising:
a combustion chamber;
a first movable wall portion positioned proximate to the combustion chamber, the first movable wall portion having a first distal edge portion spaced apart from a first pivot axis;
a second movable wall portion positioned proximate to the combustion chamber, the second movable wall portion having a second distal edge portion spaced apart from a second pivot axis, the second movable wall portion further having an aperture;
means for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber;
means for igniting the fuel in the combustion chamber, thereby causing the first distal edge portion of the first movable wall portion to slide across the aperture in the second movable wall portion as the first movable wall portion pivots outwardly about the first pivot axis and the second movable wall portion pivots outwardly about the second pivot axis; and
means for reversing direction of the first and second movable wall portions as they pivot outwardly about their respective pivot axes.
26. The internal combustion engine of claim 22 , further comprising:
a crankshaft; and
means for converting pivotal motion of the first and second movable wall portions into rotational motion of the crankshaft.
27. The internal combustion engine of claim 25 , further comprising means for discharging exhaust gas from the combustion chamber.
28. The internal combustion engine of claim 25 , further comprising means for synchronizing movement of the first and second movable wall portions.
29. The internal combustion engine of claim 25 , further comprising:
a crankshaft; and
means for converting pivotal motion of the first and second movable wall portions into rotational motion of the crankshaft.