Patent ID: 7621253
Filing Date: 2009-11-24
Classification: F01D,F02B,F02C,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A combustion engine comprising: an air intake; a first compressor stage comprising a centrifugal compressor, coupled to the air intake; a second compressor stage, coupled to the first compressor stage, said second compressor stage comprising two positive displacement compressors; an annular race head, having a given radius and an enclosed path conforming substantially to the radius; a transfer valve, placed between the second compressor stage and the annular race head serving as part of the interior surface therein, to seal off the annular race head from the first compressor stage and the second compressor stage during compression and to conduit air compressed first by the first compressor stage and then by the second compressor stage to the annular race head; a drive shaft connected to a carousel member, and upon which drive shaft the first compressor stage is mounted, said drive shaft rotatably coupled to the first compressor and that operates the first compressor stage and transfers power generated by the engine to a useful purpose; a first toroidal piston and a second toroidal piston, the first toroidal piston and the second toroidal piston opposite each other in the annular race head and coaxially coupled to the drive shaft, and which travel within the annular race head in a circular path; a combustion chamber, formed within the race head when and where the first toroidal piston passes the transfer valve and the transfer valve opens immediately after the first toroidal piston passes over the transfer valve; a fuel supplier, coupled to the annular race head and the combustion chamber, that delivers fuel to the compressed air to provide a fuel/air mixture that has been compressed within the combustion chamber; and ignition means, coupled to the combustion chamber, that ignites the compressed fuel/air mixture within the combustion chamber with the resulting force acting upon the first toroidal piston, pushing the first toroidal piston within the annular race head thereby turning the drive shaft, wherein power generated by combustion is transferred from the first toroidal piston to the carousel, which then turns the drive shaft.