US2503584A - Combustion products generator having opposed resonating chambers - Google Patents

Description

H. A. LIPKOWSKI COMBUSTION PRODUCTS GENERATOR HAVING OPPOSED RESONATING CHAMBERS April 1 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1944 INVENTOR Henryk A.Lipkowski BY A rrys H. A. LIPKOWSKI COMBUSTION PRODUCTS GENERATOR HAVING OPPOSED RESONATING CHAMBERS April 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 11, 1944 IN VEN TOR.

mwdmohm Henryk A. Lipkoyski [4% /lT7 5 s Patented Apr; ii, 195% COMBUSTION PRODUCTS GENERATOR HAV lNG OPPOSED BESONATING CHAMBERS Henryk A. Lipko'wski, New York, N. Y. Application July 11, 1944, Serial No. 544,441

a Claims. (01. 60-44) This invention relates generally to gaseous pressure and more particularly to a novel and useful thermodynamic-power generator.

Among the objects of the present invention lies the provision of a machine or a generator of the class described which is capable of producing high pressure by combustion of combustible material, for example, gas; liquid hydrocarbons such as gasoline; oil, carbon powder, and so forth.

In accordance with the present invention a suitable fuel is burned in one of a plurality of chambers and the product gas (or gases) at greater pressure resulting from the combustion is conducted through a plurality of conduits. One portion of the resultant gas is used to accomplish useful work or to be stored for a future use while another portion of the resultant gas is used to compress the charge in another chamber preparatory to the firing of said charge in said chamher. A still further portion of the resultant gas may be used to introduce a new charge of unburned gas into the first chamber.

An object of the invention lies in the provision of a thermodynamic power generator which may have a high ratio of power output to weight and in which relatively few moving parts are utilized, the moving parts principally being in the nature of valves which are preferably automatically gaseously pressure operated rather than mechanically driven.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that compression of the unburned gases in a combustion chamber about to be fired, is accomplished by use of the kinetic energy of a part of the gases formed by combustion in another chamber previously fired.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a device of the character described in which the supply of combustible mixture to form a charge in. a given chamber is transported to said cham her by use" of the kinetic energy of a part of the combustion gases from a, previous burning or explosion.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a thermodynamic generator in which the supply of the combustible mixture within the chamber is made by the use of the relative reduction of pressure within said combustion chamber subsequent to the explosion by the evacuation of a part of the burned gases through an elongated conduit.

Other Objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical section through one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section through a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a modification of Figure 1.

The thermodynamic power generator of this invention consists of two combustion chambers used for the combustion chamber Illa with the substitution of b for a. The combustion chamber Illa consists essentially of a convergent-divergent nozzle l2a commonly known as the DeLaval nozzle and the nozzle is surrounded by a water jacket 13a. The angle of deviation for each section of the nozzle is the same and lies in the range of 7 to 12. It will be observed that the combustion chambers We and Nb each have a throat portion that is of smaller cross-section than the respective outer and inner ends thereof. The inner or smaller end of the nozzle lZa communicates through the pipe H with the inner or smaller end of the nozzle Mb. The pipe H is provided with a water jacket I4 communicating both with the water jacket Mia and the water jacket I3b.

A cap I5a is attached to the outer or larger end of the nozzle He by bolts Na and is provided with a water jacket ila communicating with the water jacket i3a. In a suitable recess i8a in the cap i5a there is arranged a. reciprocable valve l9a arranged to close the large end of the nozzle lZa in one position of the valve and being movable from such position to open the large end of the nozzle i2a. A spring 20a biases the valve toward its nozzle-closing position and an adjustable bolt 2la provides a stop for limiting the extent of movement of the valve l9a from its nozzle-closing position. The valve I9a is provided with an annular semi-circular recess 22a which in the closed position of the valve faces an annular groove 23a in the cap l5a, the groove 23a being of larger radius than the groove 22a. The valve l9a permits only egress of fluids from the nozzle i2a through the large end of the nozzle and constitutes an outlet port for the combustion chamber Ilia.

In the conical wall of the nozzle I2a is provided an inlet port 24a equipped with a springpressed self-closing valve 25a. of the tappet-type arranged to permit only ingress of fluids into the combustion chamber lfla. A deliverypipe 26a leads to the port 24a from a carburetor or other maining terminal or which is electrically connected to the combustion chamber Ila. A piston lla is slidably mounted in a bore in the conical wall of the nozzle Ila and is biased inwardly by a spring Ila, the outer end or which is engaged by the inner end of a bushing Ila threaded into the wall of the noule Ila. The piston lla carries a plunger Ila passing through the bushing Ila and having its outer end normally slightly spaced from a contact Ila connected through a battery Ila to one terminal of the primary of the transformer lla, the remaining terminal of which is electrically connected to the combustion chamber Ila. The spring Ila normally maintains the plunger Ila out of engagement with the contact IIa but yields to permit outward movement of the piston lla to engage the plunger with the contact upon sufllcient increase of pressure in the nozzle Ila.

A conduit Ila leads outwardly from the groove lIa to a chamber Ila. A pipe IIa leads upwardly from the water jacket IIa through a steam separator Ila to the chamber Ila. A pipe Ila leads from the chambers Ila and Ilb to a storage tank.

A pump ll supplies water to the water jacket ll. A pipe lIa leads from the outer end of the recess in the cap Ila to the pipe 35a.

In the operation of the thermodynamic power generator above described, a charge of combustible mixture is introduced into each of the combustion chambers Ila and I lb at substantially atmospheric pressure or slightly above by manually opening the valves lla and lib and flowing the mixture thereinto by the use of any suitable means. Next, the piston lla is operated manually to close the circuit through the primary of the transformer lla thus producing a spark at the spark plug by means or which the charge in the combustion chamber Ila is ignited, thereby generatiwr considerable pressure in the combustion chamber to cause outward movement of the valve Ila to put the open end of the nozzle Ila in communication with the groove 23a and conduit 35a and permit a part of the gases to escape therethrough to the chamber Ila. The remainder of the gases pass out the inner end or the nozzle Ila and through the pipe I I into the nozzle Ilb. Because of the nozzle form of the combustion chamber Ila, the combustion gases travel with greater speed than the speed or sound traveling through air and eifect compression of the combustible mixture in the combustion chamber Ilb. The flow of gas to the chamber Ilb creates ,a pressure reduction in the chamber Ila resulting in the ingress of a fresh charge of combustible mixture through thepart lla. Upon increase of the pressure in the combustion chamber Ilb up to the strength or the spring Ilb, the piston llb is moved outwardly to bring the plunger Ilb into engagement with the contact IIb thereby closing the circuit through the translormer llb and causing the spark plug 21b to produce a spark igniting the combustible mixture In the combustion chamber Ilb whereupon the reverse or the operation just described occurs.

The length of the pipe II is so calculated that considerable relative pressure reduction occurs in the combustion chamber Ila upon flow of 888 therefrom toward the chamber Ilb and a new portion or combustible mixture is introduced thereinto throughthe port lla, the valve lla moving inwardly by reason of the pressure dilierential to permit ingress of the mixture. when the pressure in the combustion chamber Ilb reaches the value for which the piston llb has .are under the same pressure.

been set. the electrical circuit is closed and ignition of the combustible mixture therein takes place. The valve Ilb opens when a predetermined pressure is reachedand the compressed combustion gases begin to escape.

Owing to the particular design or each combustion chamber in the form 01' a convergentdivergent nozzle, not all gases in the chamber The maximum pressure occurs at the outer or large end of the nozzle where the combustible mixture burns. As the combustible mixture burns, the pressure increases and the exhaust valve opens. When the burning stops, the pressure decreases and the exhaust valve closes. The rest or the gas travels through the pipe II to the opposite combustion chamber to compress combustible mixture therein, causing at the same time relative pressure reduction in the first chamber and introducing into it a new portion of combustible mixture through the inlet port. The rush of gas to each chamber from the other effects compression of the new charge of combustible mixture therein which is ignited by automatic operation of the spark circuit. Then the action travels in quick cycles as above described.

After a period of operation, the generator heats up and circulation of water through the water jackets prevents excess heating thereof. The design of the cooling system is such that steam is generated in the various water jackets and is conducted therefrom through the pipes 31a and 31b to the chambers Ila and Ill). Accidental flow of water through the pipes Ila and 31b is prevented by the separators Ila and Ill). The steam is generated under the same pressure as the gases generated in the apparatus and may be utilized therewith for any desired purpose.

In Figs. 2 and 3 there is illustrated a multiple arrangement generator. A plurality of radiallyarranged combustion chambers Illa are connected through pipes I II with a like number of combustion chambers IIIIb. Each chamber Illa and Illb includes a convergent-divergent nozzle but only the nozzle Illa is shown. The chambers Illa are embodied in a single unit having 'a common inlet port Illa controlled by a valve Illa for supplying combustible mixture to the combustion chambers Illa and a common exhaust port controlled by a valve I Ila slidably arranged in a cap Illa and provided with a biasing spring Illa and an adjustable limit bolt Illa. Conduits Illa, II5b conduct exhaust gases from the combustion chambers Illa and Illb to a chamber Ill. Each set or chambers Illa is provided with a spark plug Illa. Thesame details oi watercooling, firing and timing as are shown in Fig. l are embodied in the construction of Fig. 2, although not therein shown in detail. The operation of the embodiment of Figs. 2 and 3 is identical with that of the embodiment of Fig. 1 except that the device of Fig. 2 embodies a plurality of devices each individually a substantial duplicate of Fig. l.

In the modification of Fig. 4, the combustion chambers Ilc and Ild are or conical shape and the smaller ends are interconnected by a tube II of the same cross-section as the smaller ends themselves. The angle of deviation of each chamber cone is the same and lies in the range of 7 to 12. The two cones in combination with the pipe II together constitute a convergentdivergent nozzle. The combustion chambers and interconnecting pipe are provided with a water jacket as previously described together with inlet and outlet valve-controlled ports and means for effecting ignition of combustible material contained in the chambers. The operation of this modification is believed to be evident from the previous description of operation.

Because of the use of the convergent-divergent nozzle form of combustion chamber, a well-known device described in any treatment of thermodynamic generators, the velocity of the gases passing through the tube l I exceeds several times the velocity of sound. The desired compression and efficiency in proportion to this compression can be obtained. The expansion of gases in the above-described generator can theoretically be obtained to any desired degree and a practical expansion of 1 to 20 is not unusual. Thus, the velocity of the gases in the pipe II can be several times higher than that of sound and high compression can be obtained before the ignition of the combustible mixture occurs at the larger end of the combustion chamber. The efiiciency of the herein-described generator on the basis of the modest expansion ratio of 1 to 8-is 56.5%. By utilization of the energy of the steam from the water jacket the total efllciency may be very materially increased.

The design of the combustion chambers is such as to develop maximum efllciency by reason of the high expansion ratio and high compression which can be accomplished. Combustion chambers of diiferent design than herein shown have more limited expansion ratios and more limited compression of the gases. Such devices, therefore, cannot compare with the device herein dis-' closed in respect of efficiency. Devices of other design are limited to the so-called critical speed (speed of sound) and the expansion of the gases in the connecting pipe is limited to approximately 1:0.53 as is known from the laws of thermodynamics. A device having substantially spherical combustion chambers, for example, would, therefore, be very ineihcient and impractical and would be of no commercial value.

Although the apparatus as above specifically described is equipped with spark-producing means, it is to be understood that the invention contemplates that such means may be omitted in the event that the compression produced in the chambers exceeds the ignition point oi! the fuel used. In such event, ignition would occur spontaneously and spark-producing means would be unnecessary.

I claim:

1. A thermodynamic power generator comprising a pair of identical combustion chambers each 55 consisting of a convergent-divergent nozzle having a throat portion of smaller cross-section than either of the ends of said nozzle, a pipe connecting corresponding ends of said nozzles, a water jacket surrounding said chambers and pipe, each 00 Number nozzle having an outlet port at one end and an inlet port in its conical wall, a loaded check valve controlling flow through each port, and means associated with each chamber responsive to pressure therein for producing a spark in said chamber.

2. A thermodynamic power generator according to claim 1 in which the angle of both the converging and diverging sections of deviation of each nozzle lies in the range of 7 to 12.

3. A thermodynamic power generator according to claim 1 in which the pipe interconnecting the nozzles is of larger cross-section than the throats of the nozzles and of the same crosssection as the nozzle ends to which it is connected.

4. A thermodynamic power generator according to claim 1 characterized by a storage tank, means connecting the exhaust ports to said storage tank, and connections for conducting steam from said water jacket to said tank.

5. A thermodynamic power generator according to claim 1 characterized by a storage tank, means connecting the exhaust ports to said storage tank, connections from said water jacket to said tank, and steam-separating means in said connections.

6. A thermodynamic power generator comprising a first and a second set of combustion chambers with each set having a common exhaust port and a common inlet port, each chamber comprising a convergent-divergent nozzle, a pipe connecting each nozzle of the first set with the corresponding nozzle of the second set, a water jacket surrounding each combination of two combustion chambers and interconnecting pipe, a loaded check valve for each port, and means individual to each set of chambers responsive to the pressure therein for eifecting ignition of combustible material contained therein.

7. A thermodynamic power generator according to claim 6 characterized by a tank connected to said exhaust ports, and a connection for conducting steam from said water jacket to said tank.

8. A thermodynamic power generator according to claim 6 characterized by a tank connected 4:; to said exhaust ports, connections from said water jacket to said tank, and steam-separating means in said connections.

HENRYK A. LIPKOWSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the die of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 868,397 Bergmans Oct. 15, 1907 1,496,189 Waterman June 3, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 176,838 Great Britain Mar. 6, 1922

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