Patent ID: 6347507
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: F02C,F02K,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
A method for generating power, comprising:(a) providing a housing means, said housing means having (i) a first housing portion with a rotor side surface, and (ii) a second housing portion with a rotor side surface; (b) providing an output means, said output means further comprising shaft portions, said shaft portions rotatably secured about an axis of rotation by said housing means; (c) providing a low aerodynamic drag tapered rotor means, having a radius R, said rotor means secured to said output means, said rotor means comprising a high strength material commensurate with a selected ramjet velocity and rotor geometry, said rotor means (i) having a first surface portion, said first surface portion rotatable positioned in a close fitting, first spaced apart relationship adjacent to said rotor side surface of said first housing portion, and (ii) having a second surface portion, said second surface portion rotatable positioned in a close fitting, second spaced apart relationship adjacent to said rotor side surface of said second housing portion, and (iii) wherein each of said first and said second spaced apart relationships are defined by a gap width â€œsâ€  which is small compared to radius â€œRâ€  of said rotor means, to at least partially house said rotor means in a tight fitting relationship, so as to minimize aerodynamic drag on said rotor means; (d) providing a ramjet means, said ramjet means secured to said rotor means, said rotor means operating at a peripheral velocity of at least Mach 1.5, and said ramjet means operating at a velocity of at least Mach 1.5; (e) providing a fuel supply means; (f) providing a fuel supply conduit to contain fuel while said fuel travels from said fuel supply means to said ramjet means; (g) wherein said ramjet means oxidizes the fuel supplied thereto to generate combustion gases which produce thrust from said ramjet means so as to rotate said ramjet means, rotor means, and output means, to thereby enable said output means to provide power output from said apparatus.