Abstract: An assembly for an aircraft having a propeller, including an engine assembly having an engine shaft configured for driving engagement with the propeller. The engine assembly includes first and second heat exchangers configured for circulation of at least one of a liquid coolant and a lubricant therethrough. A wheel well is configured for receiving a retracted landing gear. A first cooling duct receives the first heat exchanger and has a first outlet downstream of the first heat exchanger, and a second cooling duct receives the second heat exchanger and has a second outlet downstream of the second heat exchanger. The outlets are in direct fluid communication with an environment of the aircraft, and laterally spaced from each other. The wheel well is located between the outlets. A method of cooling an engine assembly is also discussed.

Abstract: An auxiliary power unit for an aircraft includes a rotary intermittent internal combustion engine, a turbine having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the engine, the turbine compounded with the engine, a compressor having an inlet in fluid communication with an environment of the aircraft and an outlet in fluid communication with the aircraft, the compressor rotatable independently of the turbine, an electric motor drivingly engaged to the compressor, and a transfer generator drivingly engaged to the engine, the transfer generator and the electric motor being electrically connected to allow power transfer therebetween. The compressor or an additional compressor may be in fluid communication with the inlet of the engine. A method of operating an auxiliary power unit of an aircraft is also discussed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A turbofan engine assembly including a compressor, an intermittent internal combustion engine having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the compressor through at least one first passage of an intercooler, a turbine having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the intermittent internal combustion engine, the turbine compounded with the intermittent internal combustion engine, a bypass duct surrounding the intermittent internal combustion engine, compressor and turbine, and a fan configured to propel air through the bypass duct and through an inlet of the compressor, wherein the intercooler is located in the bypass duct, the intercooler having at least one second passage in heat exchange relationship with the at least one first passage, the at least one second passage in fluid communication with the bypass duct.

Abstract: An auxiliary power unit for an aircraft, having an engine core, a compressor having an outlet in fluid communication with the engine core inlet, a turbine section in fluid communication with the engine core outlet, and an excess air duct having a first end in fluid communication with the compressor outlet and a second end in fluid communication with a turbine inlet of the turbine section. The excess air duct defines a flow path between the compressor outlet and the turbine section separate from the engine core. The auxiliary power unit may include a generator in driving engagement with 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.

Abstract: A rotary engine having an insert in a peripheral wall of the stator body, the insert being made of a material having a greater heat resistance than that of the peripheral wall, having a subchamber defined therein and having an inner surface, the subchamber communicating with the cavity through at least one opening defined in the inner surface and having a shape forming a reduced cross-section adjacent the opening, a pilot fuel injector having a tip received in the subchamber, an ignition element having a tip received in the subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the stator body and having a tip communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the insert. The subchamber has a volume corresponding to from 5% to 25% of a sum of the minimum volume and the volume of the subchamber. A method of injecting heavy fuel into a Wankel engine is also discussed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A compound engine assembly with an inlet duct, a compressor, an engine core including at least one internal combustion engine, and a turbine section including a turbine shaft configured to compound power with the engine shaft. The turbine section may include a first stage turbine and a second stage turbine. The turbine shaft and the engine shaft are parallel to each other. The turbine shaft, the engine shaft and at least part of the inlet duct are all radially offset from one another. A method of driving a rotatable load of an aircraft is also discussed.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine with a housing having a fluid passage defined therethrough opening into a portion of its inner surface engaging each peripheral or apex seal of the rotor. An injector has an inlet for fluid communication with a pressurized lubricant source and a selectively openable and closable outlet in fluid communication with the fluid passage for delivering the pressurized lubricant to each seal through the fluid passage. A housing for a Wankel engine and a method of lubricating peripheral seals of a rotor in an internal combustion engine are also discussed.

Abstract: A turbofan engine assembly including a compressor, an intermittent internal combustion engine having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the compressor through at least one first passage of an intercooler, a turbine having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the intermittent internal combustion engine, the turbine compounded with the intermittent internal combustion engine, a bypass duct surrounding the intermittent internal combustion engine, compressor and turbine, and a fan configured to propel air through the bypass duct and through an inlet of the compressor, wherein the intercooler is located in the bypass duct, the intercooler having at least one second passage in heat exchange relationship with the at least one first passage, the at least one second passage in fluid communication with the bypass duct.

Abstract: An engine assembly including an engine core including at least one internal combustion engine each including a rotor sealingly and rotationally received within a respective internal cavity to provide rotating chambers of variable volume in the respective internal cavity, a compressor having an outlet in fluid communication with an inlet of the engine core, a first intake conduit in fluid communication with an inlet of the compressor and with a first source of air, a second intake conduit in fluid communication with the inlet of the compressor and with a second source of air warmer than the first source of air, and a selector valve configurable to selectively open and close at least the fluid communication between the inlet of the compressor and the first intake conduit. A method of supplying air to a compressor is also discussed.

Abstract: There is disclosed an engine assembly, including an internal combustion engine having a housing and a coolant circuitry in heat exchange relationship with the housing. A porous surface is configured for defining a portion of an external surface of an aircraft. Apertures are defined through the porous surface. The housing of the internal combustion engine is in heat exchange relationship with the porous surface for heating the porous surface. An air conduit has an inlet fluidly connected to a boundary layer region outside the engine assembly and adjacent the porous surface via the apertures of the porous surface. The air conduit is in heat exchange relationship with the coolant circuitry. A forced air system is fluidly connected to the inlet of the air conduit and is operable to draw an airflow from the inlet and inside the air conduit. A method of operating the engine assembly is disclosed.

Abstract: An engine assembly has an engine core comprising at least two stacks of rotary internal combustion engines drivingly connected to a common load. The engine further comprises a compressor section having an outlet in fluid communication with an inlet of the engine core, and a turbine section having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the engine core.

Abstract: A compound engine assembly with an engine core including at least one internal combustion engine, a compressor, and a turbine section where the turbine shaft is configured to compound power with the engine shaft. The turbine section may include a first stage turbine and a second stage turbine. The turbine shaft is rotationally supported by a plurality of bearings all located on a same side of the compressor rotor(s) and all located on a same side of the turbine rotor(s), for example all located between the compressor rotor(s) and the turbine rotor(s), such that the compressor rotor(s) and the turbine rotor(s) are cantilevered. A method of driving a rotatable load of an aircraft is also discussed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method of operating a compoundable engine that includes a turbine having a turbine shaft and an intermittent internal combustion engine having an engine shaft. The engine shaft is rotated at a first rotational speed. The turbine is driven by exhaust gases of the intermittent internal combustion engine to rotate the turbine shaft while the engine shaft rotates independently from the turbine shaft. A rotatable load is driven with the turbine shaft. A rotational speed of the engine shaft is increased from the first rotational speed until the turbine shaft reaches a predetermined rotational speed. After the turbine shaft has reached the predetermined rotational speed, the rotational speed of the engine shaft is adjusted until the turbine shaft and the engine shaft are drivingly engageable with each other, and the turbine shaft with the engine shaft are engaged such that both are in driving engagement with the rotatable load.

Abstract: A non-Wankel rotary engine having an insert in the peripheral wall of the outer body, the insert being made of a material having a greater heat resistance than that of the peripheral wall, having a subchamber defined therein and having an inner surface bordering the cavity, the subchamber communicating with the cavity through at least one opening defined in the inner surface and having a shape forming a reduced cross-section adjacent the opening, a pilot fuel injector having a tip received in the subchamber, an ignition element having a tip received in the subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the housing and having a tip communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the insert.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine with a housing having a fluid passage defined therethrough opening into a portion of its inner surface engaging each peripheral or apex seal of the rotor. An injector has an inlet for fluid communication with a pressurized lubricant source and a selectively openable and closable outlet in fluid communication with the fluid passage for delivering the pressurized lubricant to each seal through the fluid passage. A housing for a Wankel engine and a method of lubricating peripheral seals of a rotor in an internal combustion engine are also discussed.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes an intermittent internal combustion engine having an engine shaft, a turbine having a turbine shaft, an output shaft for driving a load, and a gearbox having a first portion and a second portion. The engine shaft is in engagement with an accessory via the first portion. The turbine shaft is in driving engagement with the output shaft via the second portion. The gearbox is configurable between an engaged and a disengaged configurations. In the disengaged configuration, the first and second portions are decoupled, and the engine shaft and the turbine shaft are rotatable independently from each other. In the engaged configuration, the first and second portions are coupled, and the engine shaft and the turbine shaft are drivingly engaged with each other via the coupled first and second portions.

Abstract: A rotary engine including a rotor sealingly received within an internal cavity of an outer body to define a plurality of combustion chambers having a variable volume, a pilot subchamber located in a wall of the outer body, the pilot subchamber in fluid communication with the internal cavity via at least two spaced apart transfer holes defining a flow restriction between the pilot subchamber and the internal cavity, a pilot fuel injector in fluid communication with the pilot subchamber, an ignition element configured for igniting fuel in the pilot subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the stator body and communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the pilot subchamber. A method of combusting fuel in a rotary engine is also discussed.