<VV> Supercharger

[Bill Elliott]

The Turbonique Supercharger uses a small combustion chamber and ignition 
system to burn an alcohol-type fuel mixture (getting this mix right was 
one of my concerns... firing off what could be a 45 year old 9" diameter 
hand grenade was another...), which exhausted through a controlled port, 
turning the compressor wheel and what otherwise looked like a normal 
turbocharger. Except for the Corvair specific model (which used a 
multiple carb draw through design) they were designed to pressure a carb.

The jet engine version (as used on go-carts which could out accelerate 
top fuel dragsters) just used the straight thrust from the combustion 
chamber.

There were also varieties which mounted on a solid rear axle (relatively 
hidden for street racing) which drove it directly as a booster engine...

Huge claims all around... more gee-whiz factor than actual 
performance... except for the carts which were quickly banned from most 
dragways due to safety concerns (of the driver...)

Bill

Marc Marcoulides wrote:

>How can a Supercharger power itself?
>
>-----Original Message-----
>  
>
>>From: "kenpepke at juno.com" <kenpepke at juno.com>
>>Sent: Jun 18, 2008 3:44 AM
>>To: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
>>Subject: Re: <VV> Supercharger
>>
>>Has anyone tried a Turbinique (sp?) brand self powered supercharger?
>>
>>Ken 'Still back in the day' Pepke
>>    
>>
>