Patent ID: 6434924
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: F01D,F02C,F02K,F05D,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
A method of generating power, comprising:(a) providing one or more ramjet thrust modules on a rotor which is rotatably secured with respect to stationary housing having an inner surface; (b) supplying to each of said one or more ramjet thrust modules an airstream containing an oxidant and an oxidizable fuel; (c) oxidizing said fuel between said one or more ramjet thrust modules and said stationary housing, to (i) generate combustion gases which escape therefrom, to (ii) generate a motive force by thrust reaction of said combustion gases escaping from between (A) each of said one or more ramjet thrust modules, and (B) at least a portion of said stationary housing; (d) propelling said one or more ramjet thrust modules at an inlet velocity in excess of Mach 1.0 through said supplied airstream by way of said motive force, said one or more ramjet thrust modules relying on at least a portion of said inner surface of said stationary housing to assist in compression of a portion of said supplied airstream as each of said one or more ramjet thrust modules passes adjacent thereto; (e) effectively separating inlet air from combustion gases by using one or more strakes along the periphery of said rotor, each of said one or more strakes provided adjacent to one of said or more ramjets, and at least a portion of each of said one or more strakes extending outward from at least a portion of an outer surface portion of said rotor to a point adjacent said inner surface of said stationary housing; (f) turning an output shaft operatively connected to said one or more ramjet thrust modules; (g) whereby power is provided at said output shaft.