Combustion engine driven electric generator apparatus

• US 20070273153A1
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Towertech Research Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Towertech Research Group, Inc.
• Inventors: de la Torre, Roger, LaConte, Matthew, Adam, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,417,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/40.R
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/146 Push-rods
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/181 Centre pivot rocking arms
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/46 Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 3/24 Safety means or accessories, not provided for in preceding sub- groups of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/075 using crankshafts or eccentrics
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts

Abstract

An engine drive electric generator apparatus converts the reciprocating movements of a pushrod of an internal combustion engine to electricity. Each generator apparatus has an electric coil surrounding a combustion engine pushrod, and a magnet on the pushrod that reciprocates with the pushrod through the coil. The relative reciprocating movement between the magnet and coil generates an electric current in the coil that is communicated with a battery of the vehicle to charge the battery.

Claims

1. ) An engine driven electric generator apparatus comprising:

an engine having an output shaft that is rotated by operation of the engine;

a rod operatively connected to the engine for reciprocating movement of the rod relative to the engine in response to operation of the engine;

a battery;

an electrical conductor electrically communicating with the battery; and

a magnet adjacent the electrical conductor, where one of the electrical conductor and the magnet is stationary relative to the engine and the other of the electrical conductor and the magnet is operatively connected to the rod for reciprocating movement with the rod that causes relative reciprocating movement between the electrical conductor and the magnet that generates an electric current in the electrical conductor that is communicated to the battery to charge the battery.

2. ) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

the engine being an internal combustion engine having at least one internal combustion chamber, the internal combustion chamber having a valve opening;

a valve that is movable relative to the valve opening to open and close the valve opening, the valve being operatively connected to the rod whereby the valve moves to open and close the valve opening in response to the reciprocating movement of the rod.

3. ) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

the rod being a portion of a valve stem that is connected to and extends from the valve.

4. ) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

the rod being a portion of a pushrod of the engine; and

,

the engine having a rocker arm, the rocker arm operatively connecting the pushrod to the valve.

5. ) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

the engine having a camshaft that is rotated in response to operation of the engine, and the rod engages with the camshaft.

6. ) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

the rod being one of a plurality of rods that are each operatively connected to the engine for reciprocating movement of each rod relative to the engine in response to operation of the engine;

the electrical conductor being one of a plurality of electrical conductors that each electrically communicate with the battery;

the magnet being one of a plurality of magnets with each magnet being paired with and positioned adjacent an electrical conductor; and

,

where in each paired electrical conductor and magnet, one of the electrical conductor and magnet is stationary relative to the engine and the other of the electrical conductor and magnet is operatively connected to the rod for reciprocating movement between the electrical conductor and the magnet that generates an electrical current in the electrical conductor that is communicated to the battery to charge the battery.

7. ) An engine driven electrical generator apparatus comprising:

an engine having an output shaft that is rotated by operation of the engine;

a plurality of rods that are operatively connected to the engine for reciprocating movement of the plurality of rods in response to operation of the engine;

a battery associated with the engine;

a plurality of electrical conductors that electrically communicate with the battery;

a plurality of magnets, each magnet being paired with and positioned adjacent an electrical conductor of the plurality of electrical conductors; and

,

in each paired electrical conductor and magnet, one of the electrical conductor and magnet being stationary relative to the engine and the other of the electrical conductor and magnet being operatively connected to a rod of the plurality of rods for reciprocating movement with the rod that causes relative reciprocating movement between the paired electrical conductor and magnet that generates an electric current in the electrical conductor that is communicated to the battery to charge the battery.

8. ) The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

the engine being an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber, the combustion chamber having a plurality of valve openings;

a plurality of valves that are each movable relative to one of the plurality of valve openings to open and close the valve openings, each valve being operatively connected to one of the plurality of rods whereby the plurality of valves move to open and close the plurality of valve openings in response to the reciprocating movement of the plurality of rods.

9. ) The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

each rod of the plurality of rods being a portion of a valve stem that is connected to a valve of the plurality of valves.

10. ) The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

each rod of the plurality of rods being a portion of a pushrod of the engine; and

,

the engine having a plurality of rocker arms operatively connecting the plurality of pushrods with the plurality of valves.

11. ) The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

the engine having a camshaft that is rotated in response to engine operation; and

,

the plurality of rods engaging with the camshaft.

12. ) The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

each conductor of the plurality of conductors being a coil.

13. ) The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

each magnet of the plurality of magnets being positioned inside a coil of the plurality of coils.

14. ) An engine driven electric generator apparatus comprising:

an engine having an output shaft that is rotated by operation of the engine;

a rod mounted on the engine for reciprocating movement of the rod relative to the engine in response to operation of the engine;

a battery;

an electrically conductive coil electrically communicating with the battery, the coil extending around the rod; and

,

a magnet mounted on the rod for reciprocating movement of the magnet with the rod and reciprocating movement of the magnet relative to the coil extending around the rod where the reciprocating movement of the magnet relative to the coil generates an electric current in the coil that is communicated to the battery to charge the battery.

15. ) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

the engine being an internal combustion engine having at least one combustion chamber and at least one valve opening to the combustion chamber;

a valve that is mounted on the engine for reciprocating movement of the valve relative to the engine, the valve being positioned on the engine to open and close the valve opening in response to the reciprocating movement of the valve, the valve being operatively connected to the rod whereby the reciprocating movement of the valve is in response to the reciprocating movement of the rod.

16. ) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

the rod being a portion of a valve stem that extends from the valve.

17. ) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

the rod being a portion of a pushrod of the engine; and

,

the engine having a rocker arm that operatively connects the pushrod to the valve.

18. ) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

the engine having a camshaft that is rotated in response to operation of the engine; and

,

the rod being operatively connected to the camshaft whereby the rod reciprocates in response to camshaft rotation.

19. ) An engine driven electric generator apparatus comprising:

an internal combustion engine having an output shaft that is rotated on operation of the engine, and a plurality of combustion chambers having a plurality of valve openings into the combustion chambers;

a plurality of rods mounted on the engine for reciprocating movement of the rods relative to the engine in response to operation of the engine;

a plurality of valves mounted on the engine at the plurality of valve openings for movement of the plurality of valves relative to the plurality of valve openings to open and close the valve openings, the plurality of valves being operatively connected to the plurality of rods whereby the plurality of valves move to open and close the plurality of vent openings in response to reciprocating movement of the plurality of rods;

a battery;

a plurality of electrically conductive coils electrically communicating with the battery, each coil of the plurality of coils extending around a rod of the plurality of rods;

a plurality of magnets positioned inside the plurality of coils and mounted on the plurality of rods for reciprocating movement of the plurality of magnets with the plurality of rods inside the plurality of coils, where the reciprocating movement of the plurality of magnets inside the plurality of coils generates an electric current in the plurality of coils that is communicated to the battery to charge the battery.

20. ) The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

the plurality of rods are pushrods of the engine that are operatively connected to the plurality of valves.