Integrated combustion and electric hybrid engines and methods of making and use thereof

Abstract

A new approach to achieving greater fuel efficiencies in the design and implementation of hybrid automotive vehicles. Efficiency and power benefits accrue from the integration of electric motor components into various components of combustion-fueled engines, thus obviating the need for much separate equipment, such as discrete electric motors) and gear arrangements in order to obtain hybrid operation. Among other things, a significant savings of weight in the vehicle and increased control of the coordination between combustion-fueled and electric motor propulsion of the vehicle is obtained.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A rotary combustion engine, comprising:
 a rotor, the rotor having a magnetic field producing component contained therein;   a combustion engine block having a chamber for receiving the rotor; and   a magnetic field inducing component contained within the engine block for inducing an electric field in proximity to the rotor.   
     
     
         10 . The engine of  claim 9 , wherein the rotor is rotationally moveable within the chamber via combustion of fuel within the chamber or via induction of the electric field in proximity to the rotor. 
     
     
         11 . The engine of  claim 9 , wherein magnetic field producing component comprises a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. 
     
     
         12 . The engine of  claim 9 , wherein the magnetic field component comprises a coil. 
     
     
         13 . The engine of  claim 10 , wherein the electric field is selectively induced via a control module. 
     
     
         14 . The engine of  claim 13 , wherein the control module comprises a processing system. 
     
     
         15 . A rotary combustion engine, comprising:
 a first cell, the first cell including:
 a first rotor, the first rotor having a magnetic field producing component contained therein; 
 a first cell housing having a chamber for receiving the first rotor; and 
 a magnetic field inducing component contained within the first cell housing for inducing an electric field in proximity to the first rotor. 
   a second cell, the second cell including:
 a second rotor; and 
 a second cell housing having a chamber for receiving the second rotor; 
   wherein the first rotor moves within the chamber of the first cell in response to induction of a magnetic field by the magnetic field inducing component; and   wherein the second rotor moves within the chamber of the second cell housing via combustion within the chamber of the second cell housing.   
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A combustion and electrically driven hybrid engine, comprising:
 a combustion engine housing, the combustion engine housing containing one or more cylinders, the one or more cylinders each receiving a piston for producing reciprocal motion via combustion, or the combustion engine housing containing one or motor rotary engine chambers for receiving one or more engine rotors for producing rotational motion via combustion;   an output shaft extending within and from the combustion engine housing for producing rotational output from motion of the one or more pistons or one or more rotors; and   an electric motor housed within the combustion engine housing, the electric motor component including:
 an electric motor rotor component coupled to the output shaft; and 
 an electric motor stator component located proximally to the electric motor rotor component, wherein a field produced by the electric motor stator component induces rotational motion of the electric motor rotor component, the rotational motion being transferred to the output shaft. 
   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)