Not Applicable
This invention relates to an engine powered by a burst of energy initiated by passing an electrical charge through a gas.
The combustion engine has utilized volatile fluids in order to create explosions to create mechanical power. The combustion engine loses efficiency by creating heat and other energy drains; the heat can also result in material fatigue and requires lubrication in order to perform acceptably. Additionally, the combustion engine requires fuel that is often imported from other countries. There exists a need for an engine that delivers power and efficiency that is powered from sources fully available domestically.
The instant invention as disclosed within this application, provides an engine that fills this need. The art referred to and/or described within this application is not intended to constitute an admission that any patent, publication or other information referred to herein is “prior art” with respect to this invention. In addition, this section should not be construed to mean that a thorough search has been made or that no other pertinent information as defined in 37 C.F.R. § 1.56(a) exists.
All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Without limiting the scope of the invention, a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, a rotor is disposed within a housing having side wall(s), a top portion, and a bottom portion. The housing includes an energy burst ignition chamber which contains a gas mixture. As used herein the gas mixture can include one or more elements and can also be introduced into the ignition chamber in liquid form. Some mixtures include noble gases. Some mixtures of gases are entirely noble gases. Some mixtures include mostly nitrogen, and some, entirely nitrogen. Some mixtures are entirely air without a hydrocarbon component. The gas mixture included within the engine can be selected from the group including one or more noble gases, one or more homonuclear diatomic molecules, and any combination thereof. The term “gas mixture” applies to the mixture of gas at the time of ignition. After ignition, the gas mixture may change its state/phase such that there is a plasma phase.
An electrical device that introduces an electric charge into the energy burst ignition chamber can form an energy burst. The rotor is designed to spin when hit by the energy burst. The spinning of the rotor can perform useful work.
In at least one embodiment the invention can include at least one nozzle with one end passing into the interior of the housing. The nozzle can be used to create a vacuum within the energy burst ignition chamber and/or to introduce a mixture of gas into the energy burst ignition chamber.
In at least one embodiment the rotor has a notch, notched portion, or groove such that the energy burst can strike the surface of the notch or groove in order to direct the energy of the burst in a way that creates greater rotation about the shaft. Notch, notched portion, or groove: all generally describe the area on the rotor that is designed to receive the energy burst. In a circular or oval rotor this can appear to be a notched out area. The term “circular”, “elliptical”, or “oval” here can refer to the general shape of the rotor if it had no notches or grooves. So while a rotor with many notches as seen in
In at least one embodiment the rotor has multiple notches/grooves.
In at least one embodiment the invention includes a timing mechanism such that the energy burst is timed to strike the surface of the notch(es) or groove(s) as the rotor spins about the shaft.
In at least one embodiment the invention includes multiple ignition chambers. In some embodiments the multiple ignition chambers work to rotate the rotor in the same direction. In some embodiments one or more ignition chambers are designed to create an energy burst that turns the rotor in the opposite direction that another ignition chamber turns the rotor. This can be used as a brake and/or as a reverse.
These and other embodiments which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for further understanding of the invention, its advantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described embodiments of the invention.
A description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawing.
While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific preferred embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. The term groove or notch refers to any design of the rotor that creates a leading edge for the energy burst wave to strike.
Either that burst of energy or one similar can be created with an electrical charge inside of a sealed cylinder (or housing) containing a single or a combination of gases. To make the engine run, an electrical charge can be introduced into the gases and can produce a discharge that is similar to lightning. That discharge causes an increase in pressure, which can cause the engine to spin. The discharge could be a plasma burst, a small fission release in the gases, a small fusion release in the gases or a small release of atomic energy from the gases or could be any combination of these.
That chamber will be called the Energy Burst Ignition Chamber in this invention. This burst of energy produces a large wave of pressure which then quickly collapses and returns to the starting pressure of the gas and produces little to no heat or exhaust gases. This invention can take advantage of the pressure wave and the immediate collapse that follows.
The energy burst is designed to happen in the Energy Burst Ignition Chamber which can then drive or push against one or more of the leading edges in the Energy Burst Expansion Chamber, thus causing the rotor to turn. The turning motion from the rotor can be used for work.
The gases that can be used within the energy burst ignition chamber can be regular air. Higher levels of nitrogen in the gas can be used. In some embodiments, only nitrogen is present in the ignition chamber. In other embodiments, air-free and/or oxygen-free environments are desired. A noble gas mixture and/or a halogen can also be used. A high content of chlorine gas has been seen to be effective. Uranium and/or plutonium gases can also be used. In some embodiments, a noble gas mixture and/or a halogen can be used while being air-free and/or oxygen-free. Uranium and/or plutonium gases can also be used while being air-free and/or oxygen-free.
The housing can be made of any material durable enough to run the engine. Plastics, polymers, ceramics, metals and all alloys of these can be used separately or in combination. Stainless steel can be used to good effect. Non-aluminum metals or alloys have also been used to good effect for the housing.
In
Either of the two edges may be flat, straight, curved, or grooved. It is up to the user or builder as to the shapes of the edges that can be used to achieve the desired effects. Multiple cut-out sections 30 facilitating multiple energy burst expansion chambers can be added as well.
It should be noted that there are other ways than electrical means in which to activate the gas expansion within an energy burst ignition chamber 45. In some embodiments the activation device 51 initiating the gas expansion can be created using an activation device 51 that creates an initiator that can be an electric charge, an electric impulse, an electromagnetic frequency, heat, a spark, a flame, a magnetic impulse, high pressure, or any combination that is delivered to the knobs 50.
The energy burst chamber 45 can have a narrower opening 48 than that shown in
The Energy Burst Ignition Chamber 45 could be bolted or added on to an opening in the housing rather than it being a part of the block as shown.
In many embodiments the engine housing is sealed airtight once it is put together. Sealing is well-known in the art. The bottom plate 42 can have a hole for one side of the shaft 20 which goes through the rotor 10. Bearings can be used as needed. The block 40 and rotor 10 can reside against the bottom plate 42. The top plate 43 can then be placed over the block 40 and rotor 10. The top plate 43 also can have a hole for the other side of the shaft 20 which goes through the rotor 10. The plates 42,43 and housing 40 then can be bolted or welded together or the like to hold them in place and to seal them. The rotor 10 can now spin between the plates and inside the housing. The bottom plate 42 and the housing 40 could be all one machined piece if desired. The top plate 43 and housing 40 could be as well. In some embodiments, being sealed airtight can mean that no air can enter the sealed housing. In some embodiments a very small amount of air may enter such that it has a minimal effect on the reaction.
The nozzle 60 can be used to vacuum out the engine and/or fill it with the gas mixture. The electronics can be hooked up or connected in their appropriate locations.
The energy burst 54 is illustrated in the energy burst ignition chamber 45 by the asterisk between the two knobs 50. In order to produce more work the ignition could be timed to when the energy burst expansion chamber 46 is oriented such that the position of the rotor presents a leading edge 35 that when struck by the expanding gases produced by the energy burst 52 results in an optimal rotation of the rotor 10 and thereby producing the most work. As the rotor 10 rotates around, additional energy burst 52 can be produced to continue the process. The shaft could be used to drive an alternator or generator to charge any type of electronic device as needed. The turning shaft could also perform other work as is known in the art.
The nozzle 60 can be used to vacuum out the engine and/or fill it with the gas mixture. The electronics can be hooked up or connected in their appropriate locations.
The energy burst 54 is illustrated in the energy burst ignition chamber 45 by the asterisk between the two knobs 50. In order to produce more work the ignition could be timed to when the energy burst expansion chamber 46 is oriented such that the position of the rotor presents a leading edge 35 that when struck by the expanding gases produced by the energy burst 52 results in an optimal rotation of the rotor 10 and thereby producing the most work. As the rotor 10 rotates around, additional energy burst 52 can be produced in one or both chambers 45 to continue the process. The shaft could be used to drive an alternator or generator to charge any type of electronic device as needed. The turning shaft could also perform other work as is known in the art.
As illustrated in
Also as illustrated, the invention may also include multiple energy ignition chambers 45/45′. The opposing energy ignition chamber 45′ is constructed such that the energy burst 52 coming from that ignition chamber strikes the rotor 10 on what has been called the trailing edge. This can result in the rotor reversing, stopping, or just slowing. A different amplitude of energy burst can be present in each of the ignition chambers 45. Without the opposing ignition chamber 45′ the two energy burst expansion chambers 45 can be used to increase the power if desired. This design shows the flexibility of this engine in size, shape, thickness, number of ignition chambers and number of expansion chambers. Different angles 57 can also be used to minutely adjust the desired performances.
As illustrated in
In
Once the rotor 49 moves as in
In
In some embodiments, that apply to at least one and perhaps all of the embodied engine designs of this application, the pressure build-up in the ignition chamber involves plasma and/or nuclear change in and/or to the gas mixture used.
It should be noted that there are other ways than electrical means in which to activate the gas expansion within an energy burst ignition chamber 45. In some embodiments the activation device used for the gas expansion can be created using an activation device that utilizes an electric charge, an electric impulse, an electromagnetic frequency, heat, a spark, a flame, a magnetic impulse, high pressure, or any combination of initiators thereof.
It should be further noted that this invention provides for a lack of compression stroke in its operation. Also, it should be emphasized that this invention is not dependent upon air or oxygen to function. In fact, in many embodiments, Oxygen and/or air are not wanted. The system is also sealed and the gases are reused in many embodiments.
For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.
The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description can suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. The various elements shown in the individual figures and described above may be combined or modified for combination as desired. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”.
Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim 1 should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). In jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below.
This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 15/700,081 filed Sep. 9, 2017 which is a Continuation in part of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 14/542,212 filed Nov. 14, 2014 which is a continuation in part of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/949,487 filed Jul. 24, 2013 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/675,568, filed Jul. 25, 2012.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61675568 | Jul 2012 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15700081 | Sep 2017 | US |
Child | 16168643 | US | |
Parent | 14542212 | Nov 2014 | US |
Child | 15700081 | US | |
Parent | 13949487 | Jul 2013 | US |
Child | 14542212 | US |