GB987079A - Improvements in or relating to oscillating column combustion chambers - Google Patents

Abstract

987,079. Oscillating-column combustion chambers. L. HUBER. Jan. 28, 1964 [Feb. 23, 1963], No. 3626/64. Heading F1L. An oscillating-column combustion chamber comprises a passage connecting it with a fuel storage chamber which during operation is not in communication with the external air the rear wall of the combustion chamber being rearwardly and axially symmetrically recessed and in the recess the passage, which serves for the supply of fuel and starting air, is provided at its end adjacent the combustion chamber with an inwardly opening fuel feed, a conduit serving to supply operating combustion air opening into the combustion chamber independently of the passage. Fuel is fed through a float valve 29 to a fuel storage chamber 17. Air for combustion is supplied tangentially through one or more pipes 4. Starting air is forced by a blower, hand pump or the like through a pipe 27 into the top of the fuel chamber 17, entraining fuel vapour from the chamber and passing through a pipe 7 and apertured discs 9, 10 to the tapered inner end 2 of the combustion chamber 1. The reduction in pressure in the space 18 between the discs 9, 10 produced by the air flow, assisted by the air pressure exerted on the surface of the fuel in the chamber 17, causes fuel to flow from the chamber via a pipe 15 preferably containing an adjustable or exchangeable throttle 16, an annular chamber 14, bores 13, an annular chamber 12 and an annular passage 11, to join the air flowing through the space 18. The resultant mixture entering the combustion chamber 1 through the disc 10 is ignited by, for example, a spark plug or a glowing wire. The resultant explosion causes a back flow of gases through the discs 10, 9 and the pipe 7 into the fuel chamber 17. The flow of fuel is not interrupted, but the fuel drawn towards the space 18 returns through the pipe 7 to the chamber 17. Back flow through the air pipe 4 is prevented by a non-return valve (not shown). The flow of gases through the exhaust pipe causes the explosion phase to be followed by a phase in which the pressure in the combustion chamber 1 drops below atmospheric, causing the non- return valve to open to admit air through the pipe 4. In addition gases are sucked out of the fuel chamber 17 through the pipe 7 and discs 9, 10, and fuel enters the gas flow as previously described and is torn into fine droplets at the preferably sharp exit edge of the aperture of disc 10. The cycle now repeats, a supply of starting air no longer being required. The operation is ended by closing a fuel valve 31. Cooling fins 3 may be replaced or supplemented by a cooling jacket which may be used for pre-heating the combustion air. Instead of protuding into the combustion chamber 1 as shown, the end of the nozzle 8 may be flush with the rear wall of the combustion chamber or may lie behind it. The aperture of disc 10 is preferebly smaller than that of disc 9.