René Lorin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
René Lorin
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| Born | 24 March 1877 |
| Died | 16 January 1933 |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Engineering career | |
| Significant design | ramjet |
René Lorin (born March 24, 1877 – died January 16, 1933) was a French engineer who worked on airplanes. He is famous for inventing the ramjet engine.
Contents
What is a Ramjet?
A ramjet is a type of jet engine that works by moving very fast through the air. It doesn't have moving parts like a fan or turbine at the front. Instead, it uses the speed of the aircraft to force air into the engine. This air is then mixed with fuel and burned, creating a powerful push (called jet propulsion) that makes the aircraft go even faster.
Lorin's Big Idea
In 1908, René Lorin got a patent for the very first design of a ramjet engine. He wrote many articles about his ideas in a magazine called L'Aérophile between 1908 and 1913. He explained that the hot gases from an engine could be pushed out through special nozzles to create jet propulsion.
Why He Couldn't Test It
Even though Lorin had a brilliant idea, he couldn't actually build and test his ramjet. This was because, at that time, airplanes couldn't fly fast enough for a ramjet to work. Ramjets need to be moving at very high speeds to start working properly.
René Leduc and Lorin's Legacy
Many years later, in 1933, another inventor named René Leduc was also working on ramjet designs. When Leduc tried to get a patent for his own ramjet, he found Lorin's old writings. He tried to get in touch with Lorin, but sadly, he learned that Lorin had just passed away. Leduc then made sure to honor Lorin's important early work on ramjets.
His Education
René Lorin studied engineering at a well-known school in Paris, France, called the École Centrale Paris.
