Patent ID: 6347509
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: F02K,F05D

Abstract:
A pulsed denotation engine comprising:(a) an initiator tube fueled with an enhanced fuel-oxidizer mixture having an associated critical diameter, the tube having a length sufficient to accelerate a deflagration into a detonation; (b) a detonation chamber having a longitudinal axis and having a transition section integral therewith and an open outlet end, the transition section having a first end in fluid communication with the initiator tube, and a second end in fluid communication with, and a cross section roughly equivalent to the cross section of, the interior of the detonation chamber, wherein the transition section enables the detonation to transition from the initiator tube into the detonation chamber; (c) means for admitting an amount of un-fueled buffer oxidizer into the initiator tube and un-fueled buffer air into the transition section and the detonation chamber; (d) means for admitting fuel and oxidizer into the initiator tube, the transition section and the detonation chamber producing a detonable fuel-air mixture inside the initiator tube, the transition section and the detonation chamber; (e) means for igniting the enhanced fuel-oxidizer mixture contained within the initiator tube creating a deflagration propagating through the initiator tube and accelerating into a detonation wave being fueled by the enhanced fuel-oxidizer mixture, the detonation wave propagating through the initiator tube and transitioning over the transition section into the detonation chamber, the detonation wave being fueled by the fuel-air mixture and propagating through the detonation chamber along its longitudinal axis and exhausting out the outlet end, wherein the detonation wave generates a high pressure gas behind the wave that expands and produces thrust in a direction opposite to the exhaust; and (f) an unfueled volume of ejector/bypass air contiguous to and in fluid communication with the detonable fuel-air mixture, the volume of ejector/bypass air compressed by and/or mixed with the detonable fuel-air mixture to transfer energy from the high pressure gas to the unfueled volume of ejector/bypass air, thus increasing the amount of energy from the detonation wave that is converted into thrust.