Free piston engine with linear power generator system

• US 7,318,506 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2006
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vladimir Meic
• Original Assignee: Vladimir Meic
• Inventors: Meic, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/532,949
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.A
• US Class Current: 290/1.00A
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/04 for electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/041 Linear electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 71/04 Adaptations of such engines for special use; Combinations of such engines with apparatus driven thereby
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/048 by means of a variable crank stroke length
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1884 structurally associated with free piston engines

Abstract

A free piston engine with a linear power generation system with a variable stroke piston and improved construction and control is provided. The free piston engine includes a single double-ended piston located within a cylinder having opposed combustion chambers positioned at opposite ends of the cylinder. The piston is reciprocated within the cylinder between the opposed combustion chambers. The piston stroke is variably adjustable via the combustion cycles of the free piston engine and the linear power generation system such that the top dead centers of each side of the piston are definable. The piston stroke can then be adjusted to meet the optimum working conditions for a respective application.

Claims

1. A power generating system comprising:

a housing having a cylinder and first and second combustion chambers at opposed ends of said cylinder;

a piston having opposed first and second ends, said piston is contained within said cylinder with said first end facing said first combustion chamber and said second end facing said second combustion chamber, said piston capable of being axially reciprocated between said first and second combustion chambers, said piston being of a material that is permeable to magnetic flux and is electrically insulative;

a first coil being carried by said piston and arranged coaxially therewith;

a second coil surrounding said cylinder and being coaxially aligned therewith;

a source of external electric current at least intermittently connected to said second coil; and

wherein combustion is effected in said first and second combustions chambers in an alternating pattern to cause said piston to reciprocate within said cylinder, thereby generating electric current in said second coil.

2. The power generating system of claim 1, further comprising:

a piston position detecting means for detecting the axial position of said piston within said cylinder and generating a position signal;

a controller, said controller receiving said position signal and operating to control the combustion in said first and second combustion chambers as a function of piston position.

3. The power generating system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of pressure sensors spaced longitudinal along said cylinder, each of said plurality of pressure sensors for generating a pressure signal in response to measured pressure within said cylinder at its respective location along said cylinder; and

a controller, said controller receiving each pressure signal generated by each of said plurality of pressure sensors and operating to control the combustion in said first and second combustion chambers as a function.

4. The power generating system of claim 3, further comprising

a first feeding unit that feeds compressed air and fuel into said first combustion chamber;

a first exhaust unit that discharges gases from said first combustion chamber;

a second feeding unit that feeds compressed air and fuel into said second combustion chamber;

a second exhaust unit that discharges gas from said second combustion chamber; and

wherein said controller operates said first and second feeding units, and first and second exhaust units.

5. The power generating system of claim 3, further comprising:

a piston stroke controller for generating a stroke length command signal to said controller; and

wherein said controller compares said stroke length command signal to at least one of said pressure signals to control the stroke length of said double-ended piston.

6. The power generating system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third coil being carried by said piston and arranged coaxially therewith and being concentric with said first coil.

7. The power generating system of claim 1, wherein said piston is of a feroceramic material.

8. The power generating system of claim 1, wherein said source of external electrical current is a direct current source.

9. The power generating system of claim 1, wherein said source of external electrical current is an alternating current source.

10. The power generating system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least a fourth coil connected in series to said second coil and surrounding said cylinder and coaxially aligned therewith.

11. The power generating system of claim 10, wherein said source of electrical current is at least intermittently connected to said second coil or said at least a fourth coil.

12. The power generating system of claim 1, further comprising:

a magnetic flux guide extending the length of said cylinder and being coaxially aligned therewith; and

wherein said piston includes a longitudinal axial bore extending therethrough from said first end to said second end, and said magnetic flux guide passing through said longitudinal bore.

13. The power generating system of claim 12, wherein said magnetic flux guide includes areas of alternating density of feroceramic material.

14. The power generating system of claim 1, further comprising:

a magnetic flux guide extending the length of said cylinder and being coaxially aligned therewith, said magnetic flux guide having axially alternating regions of different feroceramic density; and

wherein said piston includes a longitudinal axial bore extending therethrough from said first end to said second end, and said magnetic flux guide passing through said longitudinal bore.

15. A power generating system comprising:

a housing having a cylinder and first and second combustion chambers at opposed ends of said cylinder;

a piston having opposed first and second ends, said piston is contained within said cylinder with said first end facing said first combustion chamber and said second end facing said second combustion chamber, said piston capable of being axially reciprocated between said first and second combustion chambers, said piston being of a material that is permeable to magnetic flux and is electrically insulative;

a first coil being carried by said piston and arranged coaxially therewith;

a second coil being carried by said piston and arranged coaxially therewith and concentric with said first coil;

a third coil surrounding said cylinder and being coaxially aligned therewith;

a source of external electric current at least intermittently connected to said third coil;

a plurality of pressure sensors spaced longitudinal along said cylinder, each of said plurality of pressure sensors for generating a pressure signal in response to measured pressure within said cylinder at its respective location along said cylinder; and

a controller, said controller receiving each pressure signal generated by each of said plurality of pressure sensors and operating to control the combustion in said first and second combustion chambers in an alternating sequence as a function of cylinder pressure cause said piston to reciprocate within said cylinder, thereby generating electric current in said third coil.

16. The power generating system of claim 15, further comprising

a first feeding unit that feeds compressed air and fuel into said first combustion chamber;

a first exhaust unit that discharges gases from said first combustion chamber;

a second feeding unit that feeds compressed air and fuel into said second combustion chamber;

a second exhaust unit that discharges gas from said second combustion chamber; and

wherein said controller operates said first and second feeding units, and first and second exhaust units.

17. The power generating system of claim 15, further comprising:

a piston stroke controller for generating a stroke length command signal to said controller; and

wherein said controller compares said stroke length command signal to at least one of said pressure signals to control the stroke length of said double-ended piston.

18. The power generating system of claim 15, wherein said piston is of a feroceramic material.

19. The power generating system of claim 15, wherein said source of external electrical current is a direct current source.

20. The power generating system of claim 15, wherein said source of external electrical current is an alternating current source.