Apparatus and method for generating rotational torque utilizing a high velocity jet

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for generating rotational torque utilizing a jet stream created by a converging-diverging nozzle within a cylindrical housing wherein the jet stream flows along an internal circumference of said cylindrical housing. Such a high velocity jet stream can be used to drive a rotor within said cylindrical housing to generate the desired torque, which in turn can be used to generate energy.

1 . An apparatus for generating a rotational torque comprising:
 a hollow housing;   an inlet attached to said hollow housing for allowing a flow of fluid into said hollow housing;   an outlet attached to said hollow housing for allowing said flow of fluid out of said hollow housing; and   a rotor enclosed within said hollow housing;   wherein said rotor creates a jet stream within said cylindrical housing to accelerate said flow of fluid within said hollow housing to rotate said rotor.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said jet stream flows along an internal circumference of said hollow housing. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said rotor is shaped with a plurality protrusions placed along the outer circumference of said rotor to generate a resistance to said flow of fluid creating said jet stream within said hollow housing. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said hollow housing contains a first chord section with an increased radius to create a gap between said plurality protrusions placed along the outer circumference of said rotor and the inner diameter of said hollow housing to create said jet stream. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said gap between said plurality of cylindrically opposed protrusions and the inner diameter of said hollow housing creates a converging-diverging nozzle accelerating a velocity of said jet stream. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality protrusions placed along the outer circumference of said rotor come in contact with a second chord section with a decreased radius to eliminate said gap between said plurality protrusions placed along the outer circumference of said rotor and the inner diameter of said hollow housing. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of protrusions placed along the outer circumference of said rotor are placed in a diametrically opposite location. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said flow of fluid is heated to increase said rotation of said rotor by increasing said velocity of said jet stream. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said inlet and said outlet are positioned at diametrically opposite ends of said hollow housing. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said inlet and said outlet are positioned at the same end of said hollow housing. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said rotor has a channel along the outer circumference of said rotor to alter said flow of fluid, creating said jet stream within said hollow housing. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said flow of fluid across said channel creates a converging-diverging nozzle accelerating a velocity of said jet stream. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a prominence is placed along the inner surfaces of said hollow housing to eliminate said gap at said second chord section. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said channel is placed along the outer circumference of said rotor are placed in a diametrically opposite location. 
   
   
       15 . A method for generating a rotational torque comprising:
 supplying a flow of fluid into a hollow housing through an inlet;   wherein said flow of fluid flows along an internal circumference of said hollow housing;   creating a jet stream within said cylindrical housing to accelerate said flow of fluid within said hollow housing,   spinning a rotor about the center of said hollow housing to generate said rotational torque;   discharging said flow of fluid out of said hollow housing through an outlet.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said rotor is shaped with a plurality protrusions placed along the outer circumference of said rotor to generate a resistance to said flow of fluid creating said jet stream within said hollow housing. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 creating a gap at a first cord section of said hollow housing between said plurality protrusions placed along the outer circumference of said rotor and the inner diameter of said hollow housing to create said jet stream by increasing a radius of said hollow housing.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 creating a converging-diverging nozzle at said gap between said plurality protrusions placed along the outer circumference of said rotor and the inner diameter of said hollow housing that accelerates a velocity of said jet stream.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 eliminating said gap at a second cord section between said plurality protrusions placed along the outer circumference of said rotor and the inner diameter of said hollow housing by decreasing said radius of said hollow housing.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said plurality of protrusions placed along the outer circumference of said rotor are placed in a diametrically opposite location. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 heating said flow of fluid into said inlet to increase said rotation of said rotor by increasing said velocity of jet stream.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said inlet and said outlet are positioned at opposite ends of said hollow housing. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said inlet and said outlet are positioned at the same end of said hollow housing. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said rotor is shaped with channels along the outer circumference of said rotor to alter said flow of fluid, creating said jet stream within said hollow housing. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said flow of fluid across said channel creates a converging-diverging nozzle accelerating a velocity of said jet stream. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein a prominence is placed along the inner surfaces of said hollow housing to eliminate said gap at said second chord section. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said channel is placed along the outer circumference of said rotor are placed in a diametrically opposite location. 
   
   
       28 . An apparatus for generating rotational torque comprising:
 a hollow housing;   an inlet attached to said hollow housing for allowing a flow of fluid into said hollow housing;   an outlet attached to said hollow housing for allowing said flow of fluid out of said hollow housing; and   a rotor enclosed within said cylindrical housing;
 wherein said rotor is shaped with a plurality protrusions placed along the outer circumference of said rotor to generate a resistance to said flow of fluid creating a jet stream within said hollow housing. 
   
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said jet stream within said hollow housing is created by a converging-diverging nozzle accelerating a velocity of said jet stream. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said converging-diverging nozzle is a gap comprising:
 a plurality protrusions placed along the outer circumference of said rotor on said rotor, and   a first chord section with an increased radius on said hollow housing.   
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said jet stream flows along an internal circumference of said hollow housing. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein said plurality of protrusions placed along the outer circumference of said rotor are placed in a diametrically opposite location.