A vacuum pump generally comprises a low pressure portion and a high pressure portion separated by a gas impermeable partition. Gas molecules exit the low pressure portion through an opening in the partition and passively impinge on a featureless rotatable surface in the high pressure portion. A drive rotates the rotatable surface with tangential velocity in the supersonic range at multiple times the most probable velocity of the impinging gas molecules. Impinging gas molecules are ejected outwardly from the periphery of the rotatable surface generating a substantial net outward flow of gas and reducing the pressure in the low pressure portion. The vacuum pump is effective to reduce the pressure in the low pressure portion to a target minimum pressure without using seals to prevent gas molecules from leaking back to the low pressure portion and without using blades or vanes to actively impact the gas molecules.

A pneumatic motor assembly that includes a pneumatic motor, which is driven by a compressed gas. The pneumatic motor assembly has a magnet assembly that magnetically couples the pneumatic motor assembly to an implement. After having being used to drive a pneumatic motor, the gas, which has expanded and become colder, cools the magnet assembly The pneumatic motor assembly can thus enable the use to the implement at temperatures at which the magnet assembly would otherwise reach or exceed the maximum operating temperature of the magnet assembly. A flow induction system that includes the pneumatic motor assembly. A method of operating a pneumatic motor assembly that also cools a magnet assembly that is part of the pneumatic motor assembly.

This invention, the “Internal Combustion Boundary Layer Turbine Engine” (BLTE), embodies the description of a “flat-disk radial flow turbine engine”. The BLTE uses the effects of “working fluid” or “exhaust” drag to convert the pressure of fuel combustibles to kinetic output energy in the form of a driven shaft. The BLTE application of “differentially sized flat blades” solves the problem of internal combustion and multi-stage operation for this new category of engine. This engine offers the light weight and high power output capability of a continuous or pulsed burn-mode of a radial turbine engine. Relative to conventional radial flow turbine engines, this engine provides reduced exhaust flow, reduced emissions and offers simple, inexpensive construction with commonly available machine tools.

This invention, the “Internal Combustion Boundary Layer Turbine Engine” (BLTE), embodies the description of a “flat-disk radial flow turbine engine”. The BLTE uses the effects of “working fluid” or “exhaust” drag to convert the pressure of fuel combustibles to kinetic output energy in the form of a driven shaft. The BLTE application of “differentially sized flat blades” solves the problem of internal combustion and multi-stage operation for this new category of engine. This engine offers the light weight and high power output capability of a continuous or pulsed burn-mode of a radial turbine engine. Relative to conventional radial flow turbine engines, this engine provides reduced exhaust flow, reduced emissions and offers simple, inexpensive construction with commonly available machine tools.

The present invention relates in general to the field of fluid reaction surfaces, and more specifically, to a fluid-foil impeller and method of use. One aspect of the fluid-foil impeller utilizes a plurality of fluid-foil discs that may be of uniform and/or variable thickness and configured to rotate rapidly in series to produce propulsion. Each fluid-foil disc comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, a chord and a fixed pitch. The fluid-foil impeller may further include a standard or Venturi shroud that is designed to encompass the plurality of fluid-foil discs. The plurality of fluid-foil discs are configured to act in cooperation with the shroud to reduce losses incurred from turbulence and the conversion of mechanical work to fluid movement. Fluid may be acted upon by the plurality of fluid-foil discs and/or shroud, singly or in an array. A purpose of the invention is to provide a fluid-foil impeller and method of use that reduces harmful cavitation effects typically encountered by traditional propeller blades when operating at high revolutions per minute. An additional purpose of the invention is to provide a fluid-foil impeller that may be used efficiently and safely in a variety of industrial applications that requires successful propulsion a fluid.

A tesla-type turbine for converting the enthalpy of a gas volume flow into mechanical energy, a method for operating the Tesla-type turbine, and an apparatus for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, a method for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, and a method for converting thermal energy into electrical energy. The Tesla-type turbine has at least one disc which is positioned on an axis of rotation and is set into rotation by a gas volume flow flowing substantially tangentially, so that mechanical energy can be collected at a shaft coupled to the disc. A disc body that forms the disc has at least one cavity in which, for the purpose of cooling the disc body, a cooling medium, in particular a cooling liquid, is received or can be received.

A rotary manifold for a rotor assembly of a cohesion-type drive includes a manifold body extending along a drive axis for rotation thereabout, a first ductwork internal the body for fluid communication with a plurality of first chambers of the drive, and a second ductwork internal the body for fluid communication with a plurality of second chambers of the drive. The second ductwork is in fluid isolation of the first ductwork.

A rotary manifold for a rotor assembly of a cohesion-type drive includes a manifold body extending along a drive axis for rotation thereabout, a first ductwork internal the body for fluid communication with a plurality of first chambers of the drive, and a second ductwork internal the body for fluid communication with a plurality of second chambers of the drive. The second ductwork is in fluid isolation of the first ductwork.

A rotary manifold for a rotor assembly of a cohesion-type drive includes a manifold body extending along a drive axis for rotation thereabout, a first ductwork internal the body for fluid communication with a plurality of first chambers of the drive, and a second ductwork internal the body for fluid communication with a plurality of second chambers of the drive. The second ductwork is in fluid isolation of the first ductwork.

A rotary manifold for a rotor assembly of a cohesion-type drive includes a manifold body extending along a drive axis for rotation thereabout, a first ductwork internal the body for fluid communication with a plurality of first chambers of the drive, and a second ductwork internal the body for fluid communication with a plurality of second chambers of the drive. The second ductwork is in fluid isolation of the first ductwork.