Electromagnetic augmentation of internal combustion engines

• US 4,213,428 A
• Filed: 02/22/1977
• Issued: 07/22/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Phecell Bradley
• Original Assignee: Phecell Bradley
• Inventors: Bradley, Phecell
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, Charles J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nelb, R. A.
• Application Number:
  US05/770,751
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 123/46 E, 123/1 R, 123/DIG. 7, 123/2, 290/1 R, 290/1 A, 290/1 B, 290/1 C
• US Class Current: 123/46.00E
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/025 two
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/04 Engines with variable distances between pistons at top dead-centre positions and cylinder heads
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 15/00 Electric spark ignition having characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F02P1/00 - F02P13/00 and combined with layout of ignition circuits not combined F02B, F02C, F02G, F02K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 123/07 Convertible

Abstract

Combustion induced motion of a piston in an internal combustion engine is augmented by the application of an intermittent or variable magnetic field reacting between the engine block and moving piston in a manner such that the piston is magnetically impelled along its path of movement. A permanent magnet is mounted on the piston with its axis of magnetic polarity aligned with the path of travel of the piston. An electromagnet mounted in the engine block is cyclically supplied with electric current to generate a magnetic field reacting with the magnet on the piston to cyclically magnetically attract or repel the piston in synchronism with the motion of the piston induced by fuel ignition. In the case of a reciprocatory piston, switching means are employed to reverse the polarity of the magnetic field in synchronism with the reversal of piston movement. Application of the magnetic field by the electromagnetic may be varied to occur over a selectively varied portion only of each piston stroke.

Claims

1. In an internal combustion engine having a paramagnetic engine block, including a paramagnetic engine head, and a paramagnetic piston slidably mounted within a cylinder of said paramagnetic engine block for movement within said cylinder in response to cyclic combustion of fuel within said engine;

said engine being operably connected to a generating system;

said generating system comprising generating means operably connected to said engine and to battery storage means;

wherein the improvement comprises;

a permanent magnet fixedly mounted within said paramagnetic piston, with the axis of magnetic polarity of said permanent magnet being disposed parallel to the direction of movement of said paramagnetic piston;

electromagnetic coil means fixedly mounted in said paramagnetic engine head for selectively generating a magnetic field for interacting with the magnetic field of said permanent magnet;

first means connecting said electromagnetic coil means to said generating system, said first means being synchronized with the movement of said paramagnetic piston, so that said electromagnetic coil means exerts an attracting force, at least intermittently, upon said permanent magnet when said permanent magnet is approaching said electromagnetic coil means, and said electromagnetic coil means exerts a repelling force, at least intermittently, upon said permanent magnet when said permanent magnet is moving away from said electromagnetic coil means;

said paramagnetic piston has a plural stroke cycle, wherein at least a portion of a first stroke is a compression stroke, and at least a portion of a second stroke is a power stroke; and

said first means connects said electromagnetic coil means to said generating system so that said electromagnetic coil means exerts an attracting force upon said permanent magnet only during a predetermined portion of said compression stroke, and exerts a repelling force upon said permanent magnet only during a predetermined portion of said power stroke.

2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein:

said first means further comprises means for connecting said electromagnetic coil means to said generating system during only a portion of a predetermined stroke of said paramagnetic piston.

3. The improvement of claim 1, wherein:

said first means further comprises second means for selectively varying the ratio between the time during which said electromagnetic coil means is connected to said generating system and the time duration of a predetermined stroke of said paramagnetic piston.

4. The improvement of claim 3, wherein:

said second means further comprises third means responsive to an operating condition of said engine for varying said ratio in response to change in said operating condition.

5. The improvement of claim 4, wherein:

said third means varies said ratio to zero as rotational speed of said engine increases beyond a predetermined limit.