How did Sanford A. Moss’s turbosupercharger use engine exhaust gases?

Sanford A. Moss, an engineer with the General Electric Co., developed the turbosupercharger in 1918 to improve engine performance at high altitudes.1

The device utilized the hot gases expelled from the engine's exhaust to drive a turbine. This turbine was connected to a centrifugal compressor, which it powered to force more air into the engine cylinders—a process known as supercharging. By increasing the mass of air drawn into the cylinders, the engine could burn more fuel per cycle, thereby increasing its power output and compensating for the reduced atmospheric pressure encountered at high altitudes. This innovation became a critical component of American air power during World War II.123