COMBUSTION ENGINE DRIVEN GENERATOR INCLUDING SPRING STRUCTURE FOR OSCILLATING THE INDUCTOR AT THE MECHANICAL RESONANT FREQUENCY BETWEEN POWER STROKES

• US 3,766,399 A
• Filed: 10/19/1972
• Issued: 10/16/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mihai Demetrescu
• Original Assignee: Mihai Demetrescu
• Inventors: Demetrescu, Mihai
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, G. R.
• Application Number:
  US05/298,824
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 123/46,46F 185/9 60/6,7,13F,26 92/131
• US Class Current: 290/40.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/04 with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/041 Linear electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1884 structurally associated with free piston engines

Abstract

A generator in which the inductor is operatively connected to spring structure to be periodically oscillated relative to an induced current coil, at frequencies of mechanical resonance and responsive to irregular power strokes of an engine piston.

Claims

1. In an electric generator of the internal combustion engine type, generator structure including an inductor adapted to be driven directly by power strokes in the operating cycle of the engine, and spring structure reacting to said power strokes to oscillate the inductor at the frequency of mechanical resonance between successive power strokes to generate electricity.

2. Electric generator according to claim 1 including also means responsive to a predetermined decrease in the amplitude of inductor oscillation to increase the incidence of power strokes in the operation of the engine.

3. Electric generator according to claim 1 including also means to pass fuel or fuel-free air into the cylinder in timed relation to the engine operating cycle and selectively to define a predetermined sequence of power strokes and nonpower strokes respectively in the engine operation.

4. Electric generator according to claim 3 in which fuel is passed into the cylinder in fixed quantities and at varying rates according to said stroke sequence.

5. Electric generator according to claim 3 including also means to vary over time the ratio of power strokes to nonpower strokes in the operation of the engine.

6. Electric generator according to claim 3 including also means responsive to a predetermined decrease in the amplitude of inductor oscillation to increase the ratio of power strokes to nonpower strokes in the operation of the engine.

7. Electric generator according to claim 3 in which said fuel and air passing means includes a fuel intake port and means to predisperse fuel liquid for passage through said port.

8. Electric generator according to claim 1 including also generator output lines and motor means operatively connected thereto.

9. Electric generator according to claim 1 including also generator output lines and electrical energy storage apparatus operatively connected thereto.

10. Electric generator according to claim 1 in which said engine operates in the diesel cycle and includes a piston adapted to compress air within the cylinder for spontaneous ignition upon addition of fuel.

11. Electric generator according to claim 1 in which said engine operates in the Otto cycle and includes spark means adapted to ignite a fuel-air mixture within the cylinder for the engine cycle power stroke.

12. In an electric generator of the internal combustion engine type having a cylinder and a piston, a stationary generator portion beyond the cylinder and a movable generator portion connected directly to the piston for displacement axially of the cylinder relatively past the stationary generator portion responsive to fuel combustion in the cylinder, spring structure acting on the piston and the movable generator portion and reacting to piston displacement by a power stroke of the engine to oscillate the same at the frequency of mechanical resonance to generate alternating current of harmonic frequency, and means to maintain said resoNant oscillations.

13. Electric generator device according to claim 12 in which said cylinder is provided with an inlet for combustible fuel mixture and an exhaust outlet, and said device including also means to feed combustible fuel mixture or fuel-free air into the cylinder through said inlet in timed relation to the engine operating cycle and selectively to define a predetermined sequence of power strokes and non-power strokes respectively in the engine operation.

14. Electric generator device according to claim 12 in which the means to maintain resonant piston oscillation includes means sensing the amplitude of piston oscillation, and means responsive to a sensed change in said amplitude to vary the ratio of power strokes to nonpower strokes in the operation of the engine by increasing or decreasing respectively the incidence of fuel combustions within the cylinder.

15. Electric generator according to claim 14 in which said engine operates in the diesel cycle, said piston being adapted to compress air within the cylinder sufficiently for spontaneous ignition of fuel injected thereinto.

16. Electric generator according to claim 14 in which said engine operates in the Otto cycle and includes spark means adapted to ignite a fuel-air mixture within the cylinder for the engine cycle power stroke.

17. An electric generator of the type having an internal combustion engine comprising a pair of spaced, axially alined, opposed cylinders and piston means axially displaceable therein responsive to fuel combustion within one or the other of said cylinders, said generator including a magnetic inductor carried by the piston means between said cylinders, and spring structure coacting with the piston means to continuously linearly oscillate the inductor at the frequency of mechanical resonance responsive to fuel combustion-displacement of the piston means, to generate electricity of harmonic frequency.

18. Electric generator according to claim 17 in which said magnetic inductor comprises a permanent magnet.

19. Electric generator according to claim 17 in which said magnetic inductor comprises a coil and magnetic core.

20. An electric generator comprising a pair of spaced, opposed cylinders having a common longitudinal axis, each of said cylinders having an air inlet means, a combustible fuel inlet comprising a valve controlled inlet port, and an exhaust comprising a valve controlled exhaust port;

a piston in each of said cylinders, said pistons being coupled together to be displaceable jointly along said axis in oscillating relation responsive to fuel combustion in one or the other of said cylinders;

a magnetic inductor carried by the pistons between the cylinders for oscillation along a linear path parallel to said axis;

an induced current coil and magnetic core therein between said cylinders and adjacent the magnetic inductor path for generation of electricity upon inductor oscillations therepast;

valve operating means to operate the inlet port valve and exhaust port valve of each cylinder alternately to provide therein a fuel and air mixture for combustion to displace the cylinder piston, and in sequence to exhaust combustion products;

spring structure reacting to said piston displacement to oscillate said magnetic inductor at the frequency of mechanical resonance, and means to maintain said resonant frequency oscillation including means to actuate the valve operating means in timed relation to piston oscillation responsive to a predetermined decrease in the amplitude of piston oscillation.

21. Electric generator according to claim 20 including also means to ignite said mixture within the cylinder in timed relation to the piston travel to increase the amplitude of inductor oscillation.

22. Electric generator according to claim 20 including also means to inject fuel into the cylinder under high pressure in timed relation to the piston travel for fuel combustion, thereby to thermodynamically convert the energy contained in said fuel into a pulsating force applied to said piston.

23. Electric generator according to claim 20 in which the valve operating means is electrically controlled.

24. Electric generator according to claim 20 including also fuel injector means for each cylinder for injection of fuel under pressure for combustion in said cylinder.

25. Electric generator according to claim 20 in which the spring structure is coaxial with the common cylinder axis and is secured at one end to the piston.

26. Electric generator according to claim 25 including also generator output lines and a load comprising motor means operatively connected thereto.

27. Electric generator according to claim 26 including also generator output lines and electrical energy storage apparatus operatively connected thereto.

28. Electric generator according to claim 26 including also a load and controlled rectifier means arranged to cut the load from the generator in response to reduction in power demand.

29. Electric generator according to claim 27 including also means to rectify the current output from the generator.

30. Electric generator according to claim 24 including also means operating the fuel injection means in timed relation to the engine operating cycle and selectively to define a predetermined sequence of power strokes and non-power strokes respectively in the engine operation.

31. Electric generator according to claim 30 including also means responsive to a predetermined decrease in the amplitude of inductor oscillation to increase the ratio of power strokes to nonpower strokes in the operation of the engine.

32. Electric generator according to claim 25 including also means to pass fuel or fuel-free air into the cylinder in timed relation to the engine operating cycle and selectively to define a predetermined sequence of power strokes and nonpower strokes respectively in the engine operation.

33. Electric generator according to claim 32 including also means responsive to a predetermined decrease in the amplitude of inductor oscillation to increase the ratio of power strokes to nonpower strokes in the operation of the engine.

34. Method for the generation of alternating current which includes oscillating a movable generator portion relatively past a stationary generator portion at the frequency of mechanical resonance by means of an elastic force acting on the mass of said movable portion, and pulsatingly displacing the movable generator portion with the piston of an engine in timed relation with said oscillations to maintain resonant oscillation.

35. Method according to claim 34 including also sensing the amplitude of movable portion oscillations and effecting the pulsating displacing step in response to a predetermined decrease in oscillation amplitude, to restore maximal amplitude of said oscillation.

36. Method for the generation of alternating current which includes oscillating an inductor linearly past a stationary magnetic core carrying an induced current coil at the frequency of mechanical resonance by means of springs acting in concert on opposite sides of the inductor, and occasionally displacing the inductor against the force of the springs with first and second pistons of an internal combustion engine, in timed relation with said oscillation to maintain resonant oscillation.

37. Method for the operation of an internal combustion engine which includes oscillating the piston of said engine at the frequency of mechanical resonance determined by an elastic force reacting against the motion of the combined mass of the engine piston and of energy conversion means driven by the piston to transform kinetic energy of their motion into potential energy stored and periodically returned to the resonant system by said elastic force, thereby avoiding end-of-excursion loss of kinetic energy.

38. Method according to claim 37 including also pulsatingly displacing the engine piston with occasional engine power strokes, and temporarily accumulating the mechanical energy thereof for release As periodic oscillant energy to the energy conversion means.

39. Method according to claim 38 including also sensing the amplitude of said periodic oscillation, and initiating a complete internal combustion cycle including a power stroke, in timed relation to said mechanical oscillation, in response to decrease of said amplitude below a predetermined limit.

40. Method according to claim 39 including also initiating a complete internal combustion cycle including a power stroke responsive to a sensed requirement for a predetermined amount of power to be delivered through said energy conversion means.

41. Method for the operation of a reciprocating engine including oscillating the piston of said engine at the frequency of mechanical resonance determined by an elastic force reacting against the motion of the combined mass of the engine piston and of energy conversion means driven by the piston to transform kinetic energy of their motion into potential energy stored and periodically returned to the resonant system by said elastic force, thereby avoiding end-of-excursion loss of kinetic energy.

42. Method according to claim 41 including also pulsatingly displacing the engine piston with irregularly spaced engine power strokes, temporarily accumulating the mechanical energy thereof for release as periodic oscillant energy to the energy conversion means.

43. Method according to claim 42 including also sensing the amplitude of said periodic oscillation and initiating power strokes of the admission and subsequent expansion of working fluids responsive to a predetermined decrease in said amplitude.