Power generating system
First Claim
1. A power generating system comprising:
- a miniature internal combustion engine (MICE) generator having a piston and shaft axially moving within a casing and the shaft being operatively connected to a first end of a spring a second end of the spring being fixed to the casing, the shaft being further interconnected to an alternator assembly in which axial movement of the shaft causes relative movement of an alternator coil with respect to a magnet assembly;
a support surface that supports the MICE generator and is isolated from the MICE generator vibration; and
an acoustic enclosure extending from the support surface and encasing the MICE generator, the enclosure defining passages through which combustible fuel and air enter the MICE generator and exhaust and electrical power exit the MICE generator.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a power generating system particularly suitable for field use in remote locations, which is fuel-efficient, relatively quiet, tolerant of dust, capable of operating on low grade logistics and diesel-like fuels and capable of generating between 500 W and 2 KW of continuous electrical power. This generator employs a miniature internal combustion engine/generator (MICE) having a piston moving within a cylinder arranged for two-cycle operation, and an interconnected, axially arranged piston shaft that oscillates an alternator coil within a magnetic core. The piston shaft is opposed by a strong, multiple-helix spring. The cylinder head, in which the piston operates, is cooled by moving (electrically pumped) fluid in a cooling head, or by another heat-transfer mechanism. The MICE generator'"'"'s intake arrangement includes a preheater heated by a heated fluid flow thereon. The MICE generator is vibration-isolated using a base that supports the MICE on a plurality of soft coil springs. The MICE generator is encased in an acoustic enclosure having a shell composed of sheet metal or another stiff material extending from the base plate and being covered by a top side. Holes in the enclosure top are covered by porous discs that allow exhaust gasses from the internal muffler to pass therethrough. The acoustic enclosure resides in a large, typically portable, external package enclosure.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A power generating system comprising:
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a miniature internal combustion engine (MICE) generator having a piston and shaft axially moving within a casing and the shaft being operatively connected to a first end of a spring a second end of the spring being fixed to the casing, the shaft being further interconnected to an alternator assembly in which axial movement of the shaft causes relative movement of an alternator coil with respect to a magnet assembly;
a support surface that supports the MICE generator and is isolated from the MICE generator vibration; and
an acoustic enclosure extending from the support surface and encasing the MICE generator, the enclosure defining passages through which combustible fuel and air enter the MICE generator and exhaust and electrical power exit the MICE generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A power generating system comprising:
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a miniature internal combustion engine (MICE) having a piston and shaft axially moving within a casing and the shaft being operatively connected to a first end of a spring a second end of the spring being fixed to the casing, the shaft being further inter-connected to an alternator assembly in which axial movement of the shaft causes relative movement of an alternator coil with respect to a magnet assembly; and
a fuel/air mixture intake assembly in fluid communication with an intake port of the MICE generator including a heater that elevates a temperature of the intake assembly and of the fuel air mixture above an ambient environmental temperature. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A power generating system comprising:
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a miniature internal combustion engine (MICE) having a piston and shaft axially moving within a casing and the shaft being operatively connected to a first end of a spring a second end of the spring being fixed to the casing, the shaft being further interconnected to an alternator assembly in which axial movement of the shaft causes relative movement of an alternator coil with respect to a magnet assembly; and
a temperature-regulating assembly in thermal communication with the casing adjacent to the piston, the temperature-regulating assembly being constructed and arranged to maintain a post-startup, steady state operating temperature of the casing adjacent to the piston within a predetermined temperature range that optimizes a fit between the piston and a cylinder wall within the casing. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A power generating system comprising:
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a miniature internal combustion engine (MICE) having a piston and shaft axially moving within a casing and the shaft being operatively connected to a first end of a spring a second end of the spring being fixed to the casing, the shaft being further interconnected to an alternator assembly in which axial movement of the shaft causes relative movement of an alternator coil with respect to a magnet assembly; and
wherein the spring defines a plurality of helices attached to each of the first end and the second end, each of the first end and the second end defining an annular shape and wherein a respective joint between each of the helices and the first end and the second end includes a rounded stress relief. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A power generating system comprising:
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a miniature internal combustion engine (MICE) having a piston and shaft axially moving within a casing, the shaft being interconnected to an alternator assembly in which axial movement of the shaft causes relative movement of an alternator coil with respect to a magnet assembly; and
a spring assembly comprising a first spring having a first end and a second end and a second spring comprising a first end and a second end and wherein the first end of the first spring and the first end of the second spring each engage opposing ends of a spring portion of the casing and wherein the second end of the first spring and the second end of the second spring each engage a spring base operatively connected to the shaft, the first spring and the second spring being axially aligned and concentric on opposing sides of the base so that movement of the shaft in a first axial direction causes compression of the first spring and movement of the shaft in a second axial direction causes compression of the second spring. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A power generating system comprising:
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a miniature internal combustion engine (MICE) having a piston and shaft axially moving within a casing and the shaft being operatively connected to a first end of a spring a second end of the spring being fixed to the casing, the shaft being further interconnected to an alternator assembly in which axial movement of the shaft causes relative movement of an alternator coil with respect to a magnet assembly; and
a valve that routes a predetermined quantity of fuel/air mixture from a fuel/air conduit in fluid communication with an intake of the MICE generator to a heat exchanger in communication with an exhaust conduit of the MICE generator so as to introduce the predetermined quantity of fuel/air mixture to a combustion chamber of the MICE generator at a temperature elevated by the communication with the exhaust conduit.
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Specification