Microcombustion engine/generator

• US 20010029911A1
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Burgess R. Johnson, Ulrich Bonne, Yang Wei
• Original Assignee: Burgess R. Johnson, Ulrich Bonne, Yang Wei
• Inventors: Bonne, Ulrich, Yang, Wei, Johnson, Burgess R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,397,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/46E
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/12 with compression ignition with fuel-air charge ignited by compression ignition of an additional fuel F02B7/00
• 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 75/34 Ultra-small engines, e.g. for driving models
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 2250/31 Nano- or microengines

Abstract

A knocking-based, micro-combustion engine constructed in three layers of micromachined material. Two outer layers contain means for directing gases and fuels into and out of vents in a middle layer. The middle layer has machined in it two, linear, free pistons with or without integral air springs, and vents for directing gases and fuels into and out of a combustion chamber. A high compression ratio is achieved. The engine can be constructed with means to generate electrical energy.

Claims

1. An engine comprising:

a chamber;

a first piston situated in said chamber;

a second piston situated on said chamber;

at least one intake port in said chamber;

at least one output port in said chamber; and

wherein said first and second pistons are moveable towards each other so as to compress and ignite a fuel mixture into a combustion that forces said first and second pistons to move away from each other, resulting in a burnt fuel mixture to leave said chamber through said at least one output port and another fuel mixture to enter said chamber through said at least one intake port to be compressed and ignited by said first and second pistons into a knock combustion that again forces said first and second pistons to move away from each other.

2. The engine of

claim 1

, further comprising:

a first electromagnet proximate to said first piston;

a second electromagnet proximate to said second piston;

wherein said first and second electromagnets convert kinetic energy from said first and second pistons, respectively, into electrical energy.

3. The engine of

claim 2

, wherein said first and second electromagnets drive said pistons into resonance, generate electricity and synchronize said first and second pistons.

4. The engine of

claim 3

, wherein said chamber and first and second pistons are micromachined from at least one material from a group consisting of silicon, ceramic, sapphire, silicon carbide, Pyrex and metal.

5. A engine comprising:

a chamber;

a first piston situated in said chamber;

a second piston situated in said chamber;

a first detector proximate to said first piston;

a second detector proximate to said second piston;

a first transducer proximate to said first piston; and

a second transducer proximate to said second piston.

6. The engine of

claim 5

, wherein said chamber, and said first and second pistons are micromachined.

7. The engine of

claim 6

, wherein said first and second pistons may move towards each other in said chamber to compress a fuel mixture to result in a homogeneous auto ignition of the fuel mixture into a combustion.

8. The engine of

claim 7

, further comprising:

an input port situated in said chamber; and

an exhaust port situated in said chamber.

9. The engine of

claim 8

, wherein:

said first and second pistons are moved away from each other by the combustion;

contents of the combustion exit said chamber via said exhaust port; and

the fuel mixture enters said chamber via said input port.

10. The engine of

claim 9

, wherein:

said first detector senses a position of said first piston within said chamber;

said second detector senses a position of said second piston within said chamber;

said first transducer occasionally exerts a force upon said first piston;

said second transducer occasionally exerts a force on said second piston; and

the forces exerted on said first and second pistons tend to keep said first and second pistons synchronized.

11. The engine of

claim 10

, wherein:

said first transducer converts kinetic energy of said first piston into electrical energy; and

said second transducer converts kinetic energy of said second piston into electrical energy.

12. The engine of

claim 11

, wherein:

said first transducer is an electromagnet; and

said second transducer is an electromagnet.

13. The engine of

claim 12

, wherein:

said chamber is micromachined from a material; and

said first and second pistons are micromachined from the material.

14. The engine of

claim 13

, wherein the material is from a group consisting of silicon, ceramic, sapphire, silicon carbide, Pyrex and metal.

15. The engine of

claim 14

, wherein:

said first and second pistons have first ends facing each other and permanent magnets attached to their second ends; and

said first and second electromagnets are said first and second detectors, respectively.

16. An engine comprising:

a chamber;

a first piston situated in said chamber and freely moveable along a length of said chamber;

a second piston situated in said chamber and freely moveable along the length of said chamber; and

a vent situated in said chamber; and

wherein said chamber, first piston, second piston, and vent are micromachined from a material.

17. The engine of

claim 16

, further comprising:

a first transducer situated at a first end of said chamber; and

a second transducer situated at a second end of said chamber.

18. The engine of

claim 17

, further comprising a detector for sensing positions of said first and second pistons.

19. The engine of

claim 18

, wherein said first and second pistons are moveable in said chamber towards each other to compress and ignite a fuel mixture, which enters said chamber via said vent, into a combustion that forces said first and second pistons away from each other, resulting in a burnt fuel mixture to exit said chamber via said vent.

20. The engine of

claim 19

, wherein said first and second transducers convert movement of said first and second pistons into electrical energy.

21. The engine of

claim 20

, further comprising a circuit connected to said first and second detectors and to said first and second transducers.

22. The engine of

claim 21

, wherein said circuit receives signals from said detectors and outputs signals to said transducers which apply forces to said pistons to synchronize said first and second pistons'"'"' movements in said chamber.

23. The engine of

claim 22

, wherein said circuit receives electrical energy from said transducer for application to a load or storage.

24. The engine of

claim 23

, wherein said transducers are electromagnets.

25. The engine of

claim 24

, wherein said first and second transducers comprise said first and second detectors.

26. The engine of

claim 25

, further comprising:

a first permanent magnet attached to said first piston;

a second permanent magnet attached to said second piston; and

wherein said first and second permanent magnets affect said first and second transducers, respectively.

27. The engine of

claim 26

, wherein the material is from a group consisting of silicon, ceramic, sapphire, silicon carbide, Pyrex and metal.