Patents by Inventor Lawrence A. Hendrix

Lawrence A. Hendrix has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8109252
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating combustion in a rotary engine with planetary rotors orbiting inside a housing containing a main rotor. In various embodiments, the planetary rotor has a multi-faceted face that engages a bridge during the transition from the compression cycle to the combustion cycle with the bridge and face forming a dynamic seal; the planetary rotor has a face engaging a bridge during the transition from the compression cycle to the combustion cycle such that the bridge and face have a gap that allows gas flow from the trailing volume to the leading volume and the gap is sufficiently small to quench flame propagation from the leading volume to the trailing volume; and/or the face of the planetary rotor opposite a fuel injector has a pocket that allows the fuel cloud to expand without impinging or wetting the face of the planetary rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Power Source Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Barton W. Watkins, Lawrence A. Hendrix
  • Patent number: 7614382
    Abstract: An apparatus for an aspiration plate for a rotary internal combustion engine. The engine has three rotating members that orbit about the center of a three-armed rotor as the rotor rotates within a housing with three lobes. The tips of the rotating members engage the lobes and a circular cutout in the rotor as the rotor rotates. A back, or aspiration, plate includes inlet and exhaust ports that are sequentially opened and closed by the rotating members and rotor as they move within the housing. A front plate rotates with the rotor and separates the combustion chambers from a planetary gear assembly that ensures the alignment of the rotating members as they orbit the rotor shaft. Fuel is injected after the compression cycle is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Power Source Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Hendrix, Barton W. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20080267805
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating combustion in a rotary engine with planetary rotors orbiting inside a housing containing a main rotor. In various embodiments, the planetary rotor has a multi-faceted face that engages a bridge during the transition from the compression cycle to the combustion cycle with the bridge and face forming a dynamic seal; the planetary rotor has a face engaging a bridge during the transition from the compression cycle to the combustion cycle such that the bridge and face have a gap that allows gas flow from the trailing volume to the leading volume and the gap is sufficiently small to quench flame propagation from the leading volume to the trailing volume; and/or the face of the planetary rotor opposite a fuel injector has a pocket that allows the fuel cloud to expand without impinging or wetting the face of the planetary rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: POWER SOURCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Barton W. Watkins, Lawrence A. Hendrix
  • Publication number: 20080149066
    Abstract: An apparatus for an aspiration plate for a rotary internal combustion engine. The engine has three rotating members that orbit about the center of a three-armed rotor as the rotor rotates within a housing with three lobes. The tips of the rotating members engage the lobes and a circular cutout in the rotor as the rotor rotates. A back, or aspiration, plate includes inlet and exhaust ports that are sequentially opened and closed by the rotating members and rotor as they move within the housing. A front plate rotates with the rotor and separates the combustion chambers from a planetary gear assembly that ensures the alignment of the rotating members as they orbit the rotor shaft. Fuel is injected after the compression cycle is initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: POWER SOURCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Hendrix, Barton W. Watkins
  • Patent number: 7350501
    Abstract: An apparatus for a rotary internal combustion engine. The engine has three rotating members that orbit about the center of a three-armed rotor as the rotor rotates within a housing with three lobes. The tips of the rotating members engage the lobes and a circular cutout in the rotor as the rotor rotates. A back plate includes inlet and exhaust ports that are sequentially opened and closed by the rotating members and rotor as they move within the housing. A front plate rotates with the rotor and separates the combustion chambers from a planetary gear assembly that ensures the alignment of the rotating members as they orbit the rotor shaft. Fuel is injected after the compression cycle is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Power Source Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bobbie Watkins, legal representative, Lawrence A. Hendrix, Barton W. Watkins, Ernest R. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20060191510
    Abstract: An apparatus for a rotary internal combustion engine. The engine has three rotating members that orbit about the center of a three-armed rotor as the rotor rotates within a housing with three lobes. The tips of the rotating members engage the lobes and a circular cutout in the rotor as the rotor rotates. A back plate includes inlet and exhaust ports that are sequentially opened and closed by the rotating members and rotor as they move within the housing. A front plate rotates with the rotor and separates the combustion chambers from a planetary gear assembly that ensures the alignment of the rotating members as they orbit the rotor shaft. Fuel is injected after the compression cycle is initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Applicant: Power Source Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest Watkins, Bobbie Watkins, Lawrence Hendrix, Barton Watkins
  • Patent number: 7044102
    Abstract: An apparatus for a rotary internal combustion engine. The engine has three rotating members that orbit about the center of a three-armed rotor as the rotor rotates within a housing with three lobes. The tips of the rotating members engage the lobes and a circular cutout in the rotor (1002) as the rotor rotates. A back plate includes inlet and exhaust ports that are sequentially opened and closed by the rotating members and rotor as they move within the housing. A front plate rotates with the rotor and separates the combustion chambers from a planetary gear assembly that ensures the alignment of the rotating members as they orbit the rotor shaft. Fuel is injected after the compression cycle is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Power Source Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bobbie Watkins, legal representative, Lawrence A. Hendrix, Barton W. Watkins, Ernest R. Watkins, deceased
  • Publication number: 20050235947
    Abstract: An apparatus for a rotary internal combustion engine. The engine has three rotating members that orbit about the center of a three-armed rotor as the rotor rotates within a housing with three lobes. The tips of the rotating members engage the lobes and a circular cutout in the rotor (1002) as the rotor rotates. A back plate includes inlet and exhaust ports that are sequentially opened and closed by the rotating members and rotor as they move within the housing. A front plate rotates with the rotor and separates the combustion chambers from a planetary gear assembly that ensures the alignment of the rotating members as they orbit the rotor shaft. Fuel is injected after the compression cycle is initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: Power Source Technologies
    Inventors: Ernest Watkins, Bobbie Watkins, Lawrence Hendrix, Barton Watkins
  • Patent number: 6932047
    Abstract: An apparatus for a rotary internal combustion engine. The engine has three rotating members that orbit about the center of a three-armed rotor as the rotor rotates within a housing with three lobes. The tips of the rotating members engage the lobes and a circular cutout in the rotor (1002) as the rotor rotates. A back plate includes inlet and exhaust ports that are sequentially opened and closed by the rotating members and rotor as they move within the housing. A front plate rotates with the rotor and separates the combustion chambers from a planetary gear assembly that ensures the alignment of the rotating members as they orbit the rotor shaft. Fuel is injected after the compression cycle is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Power Source Technologies
    Inventors: Bobbie Watkins, Lawrence A. Hendrix, Barton W. Watkins, Ernest R. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20050051129
    Abstract: An apparatus for a rotary internal combustion engine. The engine has three rotating members that orbit about the center of a three-armed rotor as the rotor rotates within a housing with three lobes. The tips of the rotating members engage the lobes and a circular cutout in the rotor (1002) as the rotor rotates. A back plate includes inlet and exhaust ports that are sequentially opened and closed by the rotating members and rotor as they move within the housing. A front plate rotates with the rotor and separates the combustion chambers from a planetary gear assembly that ensures the alignment of the rotating members as they orbit the rotor shaft. Fuel is injected after the compression cycle is initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Applicant: Power Source Technologies
    Inventors: Ernest Watkins, Bobbie Watkins, Lawrence Hendrix, Barton Watkins