Abstract: An internal combustion engine apparatus includes a structure defining an internal combustion chamber having opposite first and second ends, a mechanism for introducing fuel into the chamber, a mechanism for admitting air into the chamber at its first end to mix with fuel in the chamber and form a combustible fuel/air mixture, a mechanism for igniting the fuel/air mixture in the chamber, a mechanism at the second end of the chamber for passing the pressurized products of combustion therefrom, a turbine driven by the pressurized products of combustion leaving the second end of the chamber, a diffuser located between the turbine and the combustion chamber, the diffuser having a structure for deflecting angularly the pressurized products of combustion leaving the second end of the combustion chamber for breaking up the flow of the pressurized products of combustion leaving the chamber.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine and a power plant having at least one such engine. The engine has a generally cylindrical rotor with one or more helical grooves on the outside rotatably mounted in a cylinder, means for introducing a combustible fuel-air mixture into the cylinder at one end, a spark plug for firing the fuel mixture, and means for venting the products of combustion from the opposite end of the cylinder. A main air compressor driven by the engine supplies pressurized air as part of the combustible fuel-air mixture. The rotor has an axial passage connected to an auxiliary air compressor and radial passages extending out from the axial passage to the periphery of the rotor for providing a cushion of air between the rotor and the inside of the cylinder which acts as a bearing and also has a cooling effect. An outer housing encloses the engine cylinder and cooling air is introduced into the space between this housing and the cylinder from another air compressor driven by the engine.