From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Patent application page by F. Whittle detailing the claims for a turbo-compressor propulsion device.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 147\2\ scan0210 | |
| Date | 14th October 1930 | |
| 347,206 3 "7". From the turbine the gases further expand through nozzles "17" to the atmosphere in an axial direction. Any suitable type of turbine may be used, but in order that the relatively high temperature proposed to be employed may be withstood, the buckets may be of some suitable refractory material. The turbine drives the compressor direct as shown, but direct drive is not essential, any gearing or the like may of course be employed. The air entering at "2" is first of all compressed by the bucket system "4", "5", and by blades "7". In the chambers "10" the air is heated at constant pressure and expands through the turbine "13" losing energy by driving the turbine and compressor. Its remaining pressure and velocity energy is then converted into velocity out of the nozzles "17" whereby reaction in the nature of axial thrust is set up according to the usual laws. It can be demonstrated that the efficiency of this device conceived as a propulsive engine, will not be reduced by reduction of the density of the atmosphere, and owing to the low temperature of the upper atmosphere may actually be enhanced. Controlling means may include fuel control, gas flow control, or mechanical control of the speed of the blower and/or its mover. The final emission of gas may perhaps be directionally controlled for manoeuvring purposes. It may be necessary to provide auxiliary apparatus for starting, fuel injections, lubrication or like purposes. Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :— 1. Means for propulsion of the type described, characterised by the feature that the compressor is driven by a turbine, and that the pressure drop on expansion takes place in two stages, the first pressure drop taking place through the nozzles of the turbine, and the second pressure drop taking place through the propelling nozzles. 2. Means for propulsion according to Claim 1, in which a multi-stage turbine is employed. 3. A propulsion device in which a centrifugal turbo-compressor supplies compressed air to a heating chamber whence the air passes to drive a turbine which mechanically drives the compressor, and whence in turn the air and products of combustion escape to the atmosphere through passages which cause them to produce propulsive thrust. 4. A device according to claims 1 and 3, constructed and operating substantially as described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 14th day of October, 1930. F.{Mr Friese} WHITTLE. Redhill: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Love & Malcomson, Ltd.-1931 | ||