Power generating system
First Claim
1. A power generating system comprising:
- a miniature internal combustion engine (MICE) having a piston and shaft axially moving within a casing and the shaft being operatively connected to a first end of a spring a second end of the spring being fixed to the casing, the shaft being further inter-connected to an alternator assembly in which axial movement of the shaft causes relative movement of an alternator coil with respect to a magnet assembly; and
a fuel/air mixture intake assembly in fluid communication with an intake port of the MICE generator including a heater that elevates a temperature of the intake assembly and of the fuel air mixture above an ambient environmental temperature assembly includes an intake plenum defining an enclosed space around the intake port, and the plenum being in fluid communication with a fuel atomizer and air intake that delivers the fuel/air mixture in an atomized state to the intake plenum.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a power generating system particularly suitable for field use in remote locations, which is fuel-efficient, relatively quiet, tolerant of dust, capable of operating on low grade logistics and diesel-like fuels and capable of generating between 500 W and 2 KW of continuous electrical power. This generator employs a miniature internal combustion engine/generator (MICE) having a piston moving within a cylinder arranged for two-cycle operation, and an interconnected, axially arranged piston shaft that oscillates an alternator coil within a magnetic core. The piston shaft is opposed by a strong, multiple-helix spring. The cylinder head, in which the piston operates, is cooled by moving (electrically pumped) fluid in a cooling head, or by another heat-transfer mechanism. The MICE generator'"'"'s intake arrangement includes a preheater heated by a heated fluid flow thereon. The MICE generator is vibration-isolated using a base that supports the MICE on a plurality of soft coil springs. The MICE generator is encased in an acoustic enclosure having a shell composed of sheet metal or another stiff material extending from the base plate and being covered by a top side. Holes in the enclosure top are covered by porous discs that allow exhaust gasses from the internal muffler to pass therethrough. The acoustic enclosure resides in a large, typically portable, external package enclosure.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A power generating system comprising:
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a miniature internal combustion engine (MICE) having a piston and shaft axially moving within a casing and the shaft being operatively connected to a first end of a spring a second end of the spring being fixed to the casing, the shaft being further inter-connected to an alternator assembly in which axial movement of the shaft causes relative movement of an alternator coil with respect to a magnet assembly; and a fuel/air mixture intake assembly in fluid communication with an intake port of the MICE generator including a heater that elevates a temperature of the intake assembly and of the fuel air mixture above an ambient environmental temperature assembly includes an intake plenum defining an enclosed space around the intake port, and the plenum being in fluid communication with a fuel atomizer and air intake that delivers the fuel/air mixture in an atomized state to the intake plenum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification