ELECTROMAGNETIC PISTON ENGINE

Abstract

An electromagnetic piston engine is characterized by an engine block containing at least one cylinder, within which at least one electromagnet is positions. Within the cylinder, the present invention may also provide for a piston attached to a camshaft, the piston having a magnetic end element fixably attached to its terminus. By means of a power source, the present invention may energize the electromagnet(s), which may provide for an electromagnetic force to be generated within the cylinder and which may act on the magnetic end element(s). The effect of this electromagnetic force may be to either attract or repel, or alternatingly attract and repel, the magnetic end element, thereby moving the piston back and forth within the cylinder, rotating the camshaft and powering a vehicle.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic piston engine, comprising: an engine block containing at least one cylinder having a terminus; a piston within the cylinder, the piston having a terminus and a magnetic end element fixably attached to the piston's terminus; a camshaft fixably attached to the piston; an electromagnetic element fixably attached to the cylinder's terminus; a power source connected to the electromagnetic element; the power source being operative to energize the electromagnetic element, wherein when said electromagnetic element is energized, the electromagnetic element generates an alternate attractive and repulsive force as between the electromagnetic element and the magnetic end element.

2. The engine of claim 1, further comprising a step-down transformer connected to said power source.

3. The engine of claim 1, further comprising a step-up transformer connected to said power source.

4. The engine of claim 1, further comprising a large-capacity alternator connected to said power source.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying figures where:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an electromagnetic piston engine in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an electromagnetic piston engine in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows a close-up perspective view of a piston and magnetic end element combination in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a side-perspective view of an electromagnetic piston engine in use in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an electromagnetic piston engine in use in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing a new and more effective electromagnetic piston engine.

[0025] All dimensions specified in this disclosure are by way of example only and are not intended to be limiting. Further, the proportions shown in these Figures are not necessarily to scale. As will be understood by those with skill in the art with reference to this disclosure, the actual dimensions and proportions of any embodiment or element of an embodiment disclosed in this disclosure will be determined by its intended use.

[0026] It is to be understood that the drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate potential embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Reference in the specification to one embodiment or an embodiment is intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase in one embodiment or an embodiment in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0027] Throughout the drawings, reference numbers are re-used to indicate correspondence between referenced elements. In addition, the first digit of each reference number indicates the figure where the element first appears.

[0028] As used in this disclosure, except where the context requires otherwise, the term comprise and variations of the term, such as comprising, comprises and comprised are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

[0029] In the following description, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific detail. Well known features, elements or techniques may not be shown in detail in order not to obscure the embodiments.

[0030] Turning attention to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an electromagnetic piston engine device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown. In the embodiment depicted, the present invention comprises an engine block 101 with a cylinder capped by an electromagnet 102. FIG. 1 also discloses an overall sense of the proportion of electromagnets 102 in relation to engine block 101, and the spacing of electromagnets 102 as well.

[0031] With respect to FIG. 2, a perspective view of an electromagnetic piston engine device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown. In the embodiment depicted, piston 201 can be seen in relation to magnetic end element 203. Furthermore, FIG. 2 also discloses camshaft 204 and the relative dimensions of engine block 101, here depicted as see-through outline. It is contemplated that in certain embodiments, as magnetic end element 203 approaches electromagnet 102, either an attractive or a repellant electromagnetic force generated by electromagnet 102 may either attract or repel, respectively, magnetic end element 203. In certain embodiments, as magnetic end element 203 is either drawn towards electromagnet 102 or magnetic end element 203 is repelled away from electromagnet 102, the connected piston head 202, piston 201, and camshaft 204 may be moved in like manner as well. It is contemplated that these movements may be used by engine block 101 to move elements within the vehicle causing the vehicle to propel itself.

[0032] Turning attention to FIG. 3, a close-up perspective view of a piston and magnetic end element combination in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown. In the embodiment depicted, piston 201 and magnetic end element 203 are shown as, in some embodiments, they may appear within a cylinder 401 (not shown), which is itself inside engine block 101 (also not shown in FIG. 3). It is contemplated that the combination illustrated in FIG. 3 may correspond to and be representative of other like combinations as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, or FIG. 5.

[0033] With respect to FIG. 4, a side-perspective view of an electromagnetic piston engine in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown. In the embodiment depicted, piston 201, piston head 202, magnetic end element 203, electromagnet 102, engine block 101, cylinder 401 and camshaft 204 may be seen. In some embodiments, FIG. 4 generally provides a greater understanding of the present invention's scope and activity.

[0034] With respect to FIG. 5, a perspective view of an electromagnetic piston engine in use in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown. In the embodiment depicted, the relative directions of electromagnetism 501 is generally disclosed in relation to piston 201, magnetic end element 203, and electromagnet 102. By investigating the directions of electromagnetism 501, the viewer may get a sense of whether the relationship between magnetic end element 203 and electromagnet 102 is one of attraction or repulsion.

[0035] Continuing with FIG. 5, in some embodiments it is contemplated that electromagnet 102 may become energized by a power source, and may then repulse magnetic end element 203 connected to piston 201. As generally provided above, this may cause the piston 203 to move, which may cause crankshaft 205 to rotate. In some embodiments, electromagnet 102 may only repulse magnetic end element 203, whereas in other embodiments electromagnet 102 may only attract magnetic end element 203. Such embodiments may provide that electromagnet 102 may only be intermittently energized to provide power to the downstroke of piston 201, or only to the upstroke of piston 201. In some embodiments, this process may be cyclically reversed such that electromagnets 102 alternatively attract and repulse magnetic end elements 203, thus increasing the rotations of camshaft 205.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

[0036] Although the present invention has been described with a degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that other versions are possible. As various changes could be made in the above description without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be illustrative and not used in a limiting sense. The spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained in this disclosure.

[0037] All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstracts, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0038] Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state means for performing a specified function or step for performing a specified function should not be interpreted as a means or step clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. 112.

[0039] While the garment and method of using the same has been disclosed in connection with a number of embodiments shown and described in detail, various modifications should be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.