Zero emissions pneumatic-electric engine

Abstract

A reciprocating engine has several piston assemblies fitted with embedded magnets in positions that can be alternately repelled and attracted by electromagnetic coils within each of the piston cylinders. The magnetic piston assemblies are connected by rods to a crankshaft with a flywheel. The electromagnetic coils are vented to allow air intake and exhaust to flow through to the piston chambers. Valves and valve timing are controlled relative to the crankshaft rotation such that compressed air can be generated and stored in tanks. The compressed air is used to power air motors to turn electric generators for on-board battery charging. The reciprocating electric engine is configured to idle at a speed that overcomes friction.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A boxer reciprocating linear electric motor and compressor, comprising:
 a least one pair of 180° boxer-opposed cylinders in an aluminum cylinder block, and supporting a rotatable crankshaft and flywheel;   a number of aluminum pistons each disposed in and free to reciprocate within a cylinder in said cylinder block, and each connected by a rod to the crankshaft;   a rare earth permanent magnet embedded in each piston;   an electro-magnetic coil disposed in the top end of each cylinder in the cylinder block, and configured for magnetic coupling with said rare earth permanent magnet embedded in each corresponding piston;   an intake and exhaust valving and timing system configured to allow each piston to draw in and push out air as the crankshaft turns, and thereby function as multi-cylinder air compressor; and   an electric pulse controller individually wired to each of the electro-magnetic coils, and configured to provide coordinated, well-polarized and well-timed pulses of direct current (DC) electricity to the electro-magnetic coils to produce magnetic interactions with respective ones of the rare earth permanent magnets embedded in each piston;   wherein, an application of electrical power to the electric pulse controller will produce compressed air from the intake and exhaust valving and timing system, and mechanical torque at the flywheel.   
     
     
         2 . The boxer reciprocating linear electric motor and compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a number of compressed air storage tanks connected to receive, collect, and store a flow of compressed air from the intake and exhaust valving and timing system.   
     
     
         3 . The boxer reciprocating linear electric motor and compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pneumatic motor connected to receive compressed air from the compressed air storage tanks, and configured to produce auxiliary mechanical torque.   
     
     
         4 . The boxer reciprocating linear electric motor and compressor of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an electrical generator connected to receive mechanical torque from the pneumatic motor, and configured to produce an auxiliary electrical power output.   
     
     
         5 . The boxer reciprocating linear electric motor and compressor of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a battery system connected to be electrically recharged periodically by the electrical generator, and configured to supply electrical power to the electric pulse controller and electro-magnetic coils.   
     
     
         6 . The boxer reciprocating linear electric motor and compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an accelerator control mechanism connected to the electric pulse controller, and configured to allow a user to vary the speed of rotation of the crankshaft by dynamic adjustments of the character and strength of the coordinated, well-polarized and well-timed pulses of DC electricity to the electro-magnetic coils.   
     
     
         7 . The boxer reciprocating linear electric motor and compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a set of corresponding check valves configured to isolate each cylinder so every cylinder can work independently to produce compressed air, and to operate together as a simple intake and exhaust valving and timing system.   
     
     
         8 . The boxer reciprocating linear electric motor and compressor of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a mode of operation for idling when not under load in which the electric pulse controller keeps the whole running at a predetermined idle speed with zero accelerator control input.   
     
     
         9 . The boxer reciprocating linear electric motor and compressor of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a braking mode of operation in which decreasing positive or negative positions of the accelerator control mechanism instruct the electric pulse controller to issue electric pulses that will cause a deceleration in any drive train attached to the flywheel.   
     
     
         10 . The boxer reciprocating linear electric motor and compressor of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a variable relief check valve.   
     
     
         11 . The boxer reciprocating linear electric motor and compressor of  claim 6 , wherein:
 produces a compression cycle where inlet and exhaust ports gas flows are controlled with variable gas pressure relief valves causing the compression cycle to exhaust under control.   
     
     
         12 . The boxer reciprocating linear electric motor and compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gas passageway for interconnecting cylinders, and including an inlet valve and an outlet valve defining a pressure chamber there between, wherein the inlet valve and the outlet valve of the gas passage maintain at least a predetermined firing condition gas pressure in the pressure chamber during the entire same stroke cycle.   
     
     
         13 . A method for the simultaneous generation of mechanical torque and compressed air from an input of electrical power, comprising:
 configuring a piston with a magnet in a cylinder to be electro-magnetically and repetitively driven in a down stroke and an upstroke upon the application of an electrical power input to an electro-magnetic coil;   connecting the piston to a crankshaft configured to deliver an output of mechanical torque;   valving air to enter the cylinder on said down-stroke, and to be compressed on said upstroke; and   storing air compressed in this manner for use later as a source of pneumatic energy.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 generating auxiliary electrical power from any of said air previously compressed and stored.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 charging batteries with said auxiliary electrical power; and   configuring the batteries to provide at least some of the electrical energy applied to said electrical power input.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 controlling at least the frequency of said down strokes and upstrokes according to the position on an accelerator control.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 fixing the frequency of said down strokes and upstrokes to a predetermined idle rate when the position of said accelerator control is zero.