An auxiliary power unit for an aircraft, having a compressor, an intercooler including first conduit(s) having an inlet in fluid communication with the compressor outlet and second conduit(s) configured for circulation of a coolant therethrough, an engine core having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the first conduit(s), and a bleed conduit in fluid communication with the outlet of the first conduit(s) through a bleed air valve. The auxiliary power unit may include a generator in driving engagement with the shaft of the engine core to provide electrical power for the aircraft. A method of providing compressed air and electrical power to an aircraft is also discussed.

There is disclosed an aircraft engine assembly including an engine having an engine shaft; an output shaft; a clutch in driving engagement between the engine shaft and the output shaft. The clutch has a first component in driving engagement with the engine shaft and a second component. The clutch is operable between first and second configurations. In the first configuration, the first component is rotatable relative to the second component and the engine shaft is rotatable relative to the output shaft. In the second configuration, the first and second components are engaged with one another and the engine shaft rotates with the output shaft. A mechanical lock is operable between first and second positions. In the first position, the mechanical lock is disengaged from the first component. In the second position, the first and second components are secured for joint rotation one relative to the other.

A rotary internal combustion engine including a rotor assembly where at least a first and a second of the combustion chambers have unequal theoretical volumetric ratios. Also, a rotary internal combustion engine including first and second rotor assemblies where at least one of the combustion chambers of the first rotor assembly and at least one of the combustion chambers of the second rotor assembly have unequal effective volumetric compression ratios and/or unequal effective volumetric expansion ratios.

A compound engine assembly including an air conduit having an inlet in fluid communication with ambient air around the compound engine assembly, a compressor having an inlet in fluid communication with the air conduit, an engine core including at least one rotary internal combustion engine and having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the compressor, a turbine section having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the engine core and configured to compound power with the engine core; and at least one heat exchanger in fluid communication with the air conduit, each heat exchanger configured to circulate a fluid of the engine assembly in heat exchange relationship with an airflow from the air conduit circulating therethrough. A method of supplying air to a compound engine assembly is also discussed.

To improve the reliability of the Rankine cycle device using a sealed-type expansion machine, the Rankine cycle device 100 according to the present disclosure comprises a pump 1, a heater 2, an expansion machine 3, a radiator 5, and a cooling path 8. The expansion machine 3 comprises an expansion mechanism 11 for extracting a power from the working fluid, an electric power generator 12, a sealed container 10 containing the expansion mechanism 11 and the electric power generator 12, a first inlet 34a, a first outlet 35a, a second inlet 30a, and a second outlet 31a. The radiator 5 is connected to the pump 1 with a flow path to cool the working fluid drained from the second outlet 31a. The cooling path 8 which connects the first outlet 35a to the second outlet 30a has a cooler 4 to cool the working fluid drained from the first outlet 35a.

An engine assembly having an internal combustion engine, a turbine module including a turbine casing, a support casing rigidly connecting the turbine casing to a remainder of the assembly, and an inlet scroll connected to the turbine casing without any direct rigid connection to the support casing. The inlet scroll includes an inlet pipe for each engine exhaust port. An exhaust pipe is provided for each exhaust port, connected to and providing fluid communication between the respective exhaust port and inlet pipe. The exhaust pipe is movable relative to at least one of the exhaust port and the inlet pipe at a corresponding connection therewith. One of the exhaust and inlet pipes floatingly extends through an opening defined in the support casing. The assembly may be a compound engine assembly.

An engine assembly for use as an aircraft auxiliary power unit, having internal combustion engine(s) in driving engagement with an engine shaft, a generator having a generator shaft directly engaged to the engine shaft such as to be rotatable at a same speed, a compressor having an outlet in communication with the internal combustion engine inlet, and a turbine having an inlet in communication with the internal combustion engine outlet. The turbine may be a first stage turbine, and the assembly may include a second stage turbine having an inlet in communication with the first stage turbine outlet. A method of providing electrical power to an aircraft is also discussed.

A compound engine assembly with at least one rotary internal combustion engine, an impulse turbine, and an exhaust pipe for each internal combustion engine providing fluid communication between the exhaust port of the respective internal combustion engine and the flow path of the turbine. Each exhaust pipe terminates in a nozzle. For each exhaust pipe, a ratio Vp/Vd between the pipe volume Vp and the displacement volume Vd of the respective internal combustion engine is at most 1.5. A minimum value of a cross-sectional area of each exhaust pipe is defined at the nozzle. In one embodiment, a ratio An/Ae between the minimum cross-sectional area An and the cross-sectional area Ae of the exhaust port of the respective internal combustion engine is at least 0.2. A method of compounding at least one rotary engine is also discussed.

A compound engine assembly for use as an auxiliary power unit for an aircraft and including an engine core with internal combustion engine(s), a compressor having an outlet in fluid communication with an engine core inlet, a bleed conduit in fluid communication with the compressor outlet through a bleed air valve, and a turbine section having an inlet in fluid communication with the engine core outlet and configured to compound power with the engine core. The turbine section may include a first stage turbine having an inlet in fluid communication with the engine core outlet and a second stage turbine having an inlet in fluid communication the first stage turbine outlet. A method of providing compressed air and electrical power to an aircraft is also discussed.

An engine includes a housing defining an annular bore and a piston assembly disposed within the annular bore. The engine includes at least one valve configured to oscillate between a first position within the annular bore to allow the piston assembly to travel from a first location proximate to the at least one valve to a second location distal to the at least one valve and a second position to define a combustion chamber relative to the piston assembly at the second location. The engine includes an exhaust gas port disposed in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and a fuel distribution assembly configured to mix fuel from a fuel source and air from an air source into a fuel and air mixture at a location external to the combustion chamber and to deliver the fuel and air mixture to the combustion chamber.