US2012160189A1PendingUtilityA1

Electromagnetic engine

49
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Oct 4, 2007Filed: Feb 28, 2012Published: Jun 28, 2012
Est. expiryOct 4, 2027(~1.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Roderick A. HydeWilliam GatesMuriel Y. IshikawaJordin T. KareNathan P. MyhrvoldClarence T. TegreeneThomas A. WeaverCharles WhitmerLowell L. Wood, Jr.Victoria Y.H. Wood
Y02T10/7072Y02T10/72Y02T10/64B60L 2240/662B60L 2240/441B60L 2240/421B60L 2250/26B60L 2220/12B60L 2240/36B60L 15/2009B60L 3/0023B60L 2240/14F01B 9/047B60L 2240/423B60L 2240/445B60L 2270/12Y02T10/70B60L 2240/429B60L 50/40F02B 75/32F02B 71/04B60L 2240/12B60L 2240/642F02B 63/04B60L 2210/40B60L 50/16Y02T90/16B60L 2220/14F02B 75/28
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Claims

Abstract

A converter converts mechanical energy of a piston to and from electrical energy during each piston cycle.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 .- 82 . (canceled) 
     
     
         83 . A method of operating an internal combustion engine including a first piston slidably disposed in a first cylinder and a first converter operable with the first piston to convert mechanical energy of the first piston from and to electrical energy, the method comprising:
 introducing a reactant into a closed end of the first cylinder;   applying electrical energy to the first converter to slide the first piston in the first cylinder toward the closed end;   triggering a chemical reaction of the introduced reactant, thereby transforming chemical potential energy to mechanical energy of the first piston; and   converting the mechanical energy of the first piston to electrical energy via the first converter.   
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein introducing the reactant into the closed end of the first cylinder includes applying electrical energy to the first converter to slide the first piston in the first cylinder away from the closed end. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 83 , further comprising applying electrical energy to the first converter to slide the first piston toward the closed end after triggering the chemical reaction. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein applying electrical energy to the first converter to slide the first piston in the first cylinder toward the closed end includes compressing the introduced reactant. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein compressing the introduced reactant comprises compressing the reactant substantially adiabatically. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein compressing the introduced reactant comprises compressing the reactant substantially isothermally. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the first piston travels a greater distance immediately subsequent to triggering the chemical reaction than during introduction of the reactant into the closed end of the first cylinder. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the first piston travels a distance immediately subsequent to triggering the chemical reaction greater than about two times an inner diameter of the first cylinder. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the first piston travels a distance immediately subsequent to triggering the chemical reaction greater than about four times an inner diameter of the first cylinder. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the internal combustion engine further includes a second piston slidably disposed in a second cylinder. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 92 , further comprising triggering a chemical reaction in the second cylinder at substantially the same time the chemical reaction is triggered in the first cylinder. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 92 , further comprising triggering a chemical reaction in the second cylinder at an operating frequency substantially similar to an operating frequency of the first cylinder. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 92 , further comprising triggering a chemical reaction in the second cylinder at a different operating frequency from an operating frequency of the first cylinder. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 92 , further comprising
 determining an actual or predicted operating condition; and   determining whether to trigger the chemical reaction in the second cylinder on the basis of the determined operating condition.   
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 96 , wherein determining the operating condition includes determining at least one factor selected from the group consisting of incline, temperature, current draw, speed, acceleration, braking, load, fuel composition, engine emissions, power, local rules, and engine settings. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 83 , further comprising determining an operating frequency for the first cylinder based at least in part on an actual or predicted operating condition. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 98 , wherein the actual or predicted operating condition includes at least one factor selected from the group consisting of incline, temperature, current draw, speed, acceleration, braking, load, fuel composition, engine emissions, power, local rules, and engine settings. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 83 , further comprising determining a compression ratio for the first cylinder based at least in part on an actual or predicted operating condition. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 100 , wherein the actual or predicted operating condition includes at least one factor selected from the group consisting of incline, temperature, current draw, speed, acceleration, braking, load, fuel composition, engine emissions, power, local rules, and engine settings. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein introducing the reactant into a closed end of the first cylinder includes introducing the reactant when the first piston is in a selected position. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein introducing the reactant into a closed end of the first cylinder includes opening an intake valve. 
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein opening the intake valve includes rotating a camshaft. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein opening the intake valve includes electronically triggering opening of the intake valve. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein triggering the chemical reaction includes triggering the chemical reaction when the first cylinder is in a selected position. 
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein triggering the chemical reaction includes generating an energy discharge. 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 107 , wherein triggering the chemical reaction includes generating a spark. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein triggering the chemical reaction includes triggering the chemical reaction by a method selected from the group consisting of photoignition, thermal ignition, chemical ignition, exposure to a catalyst, hypergolic injection, exposure to a particle beam, and plasma injection. 
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein triggering the chemical reaction includes holding the first piston substantially still during the chemical reaction. 
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein holding the first piston substantially still includes applying a force to the first piston via the converter. 
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 110 , further comprising releasing the first piston when the chemical reaction is substantially complete. 
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the chemical reaction produces a reaction product, and wherein converting the mechanical energy of the first piston to electrical energy includes expanding the reaction product substantially adiabatically. 
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the introduced reactant includes a fuel. 
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein the introduced reactant further includes an oxidizer. 
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 115 , wherein the fuel and the oxidizer are mixed prior to introduction into the closed end of the first cylinder. 
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 115 , wherein the fuel and the oxidizer are separately introduced into the closed end of the first cylinder. 
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 115 , wherein the oxidizer includes oxygen. 
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 118 , wherein the oxidizer includes air. 
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein the fuel includes a hydrocarbon fuel. 
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the introduced reactant includes a decomposing reactant. 
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 83 , further comprising exhausting a reaction product from the first cylinder. 
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the first converter is connected to an energy management system. 
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein converting the mechanical energy of the first piston to electrical energy includes transferring electrical energy to the energy management system. 
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein applying electrical energy to the first converter includes drawing electrical energy from the energy management system. 
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the energy management system includes an energy storage device. 
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 126 , wherein the energy storage device is selected from the group consisting of a battery, a capacitor, an inductor, and a mechanical energy storage device. 
     
     
         128 .- 424 . (canceled)

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