Abstract: A combined cycle pulse combustion/gas turbine engine has a gas turbine engine used in conjunction with a plurality of pulse combustion engines. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine includes a housing, a bypass fan, a central engine core, and a diffuser section. The diffuser section is used to route bypass air from the bypass fan around the central engine core and out of the housing. The pulse engines are mounted in the diffuser section and receive bypass air from the bypass fan. In a first alternate embodiment, bypass air is routed from the diffuser section through a duct to the pulse engine. A valve is disposed between the bypass fan and the pulse engines for selectively allowing bypass air from the bypass fan to enter the duct. In a second alternate embodiment, a fan mounts to each inlet port. The gas turbine engine has a drive shaft that drives the fan. A clutch selectively disengages the fans.

Abstract: A pulse detonation cluster includes a cluster housing and a plurality of pulse detonation engines mounted within the housing. Each pulse detonation engine has an inner tubular housing rigidly and concentrically mounted within a cylindrical bore of an outer tubular housing. The inner housing has a plurality of inner housing ports, and the outer housing has a plurality of outer housing ports. A detonation chamber is formed in the annulus between the inner housing and the outer housing. An outer valve sleeve is rotatably mounted to the outer housing for selectively allowing air to enter the detonation chamber through the outer housing ports. A fuel delivery member is aligned with each inner housing port to deliver fuel to the detonation chamber through the inner housing ports. An inner sleeve is mounted to the inner housing to protect the fuel delivery members during detonation. The air and fuel mixture is detonated by several igniters located in the detonation chamber.