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EP1861600A1 - A power system for producing electricity from an internal combustion engine by means of a linear generator - Google Patents

A power system for producing electricity from an internal combustion engine by means of a linear generator

Info

Publication number
EP1861600A1
EP1861600A1 EP06728493A EP06728493A EP1861600A1 EP 1861600 A1 EP1861600 A1 EP 1861600A1 EP 06728493 A EP06728493 A EP 06728493A EP 06728493 A EP06728493 A EP 06728493A EP 1861600 A1 EP1861600 A1 EP 1861600A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
power system
rod
pistons
engine
linear
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP06728493A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Attilio Caleffi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1861600A1 publication Critical patent/EP1861600A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B71/00—Free-piston engines; Engines without rotary main shaft
    • F02B71/04—Adaptations of such engines for special use; Combinations of such engines with apparatus driven thereby
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K7/00—Arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with dynamo-electric machines, e.g. structural association with mechanical driving motors or auxiliary dynamo-electric machines
    • H02K7/18—Structural association of electric generators with mechanical driving motors, e.g. with turbines
    • H02K7/1869—Linear generators; sectional generators
    • H02K7/1876—Linear generators; sectional generators with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts
    • H02K7/1884—Linear generators; sectional generators with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts structurally associated with free piston engines
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/64—Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a power system for converting the mechanical output of an internal combustion (i.e.) engine into electric energy. More in detail, the invention relates to a power system wherein an i.e. engine is coupled to a linear generator for producing electric energy.
  • One particular aspect of the invention is an electric-traction car or vehicle, powered by one or more electric motors and wherein the energy for the electric motors is directly produced on the vehicle itself by means of an internal combustion engine coupled to a linear generator.
  • a linear generator is a device adapted to convert an alternate linear movement into electric energy, substantially comprising a linear stator formed by one or more windings, and a moving magnet. Electrical energy is produced by alternate movement of said magnet through the windings of the stator.
  • a linear generator as a matter of principle, can be coupled to a thermal engine or even to a pump.
  • a promising field for the use of a linear generator together with a thermal engine has appeared to be the powering of hybrid vehicles, wherein a thermal engine is used to operate an electric generator, and energy produced by said generator is sent to one or more electric motors.
  • An aim of the invention is to solve the above problems providing an efficient arrangement for coupling a thermal engine with a linear electric generator.
  • a further aim is to realize a unit of the above type with a reduced length compared to power output.
  • a power system for producing electricity from an internal combustion engine comprising: - an internal combustion engine with at least one pair of opposed cylinders, said opposed cylinders being aligned on one axis and having pistons connected by a rigid bar parallel to said axis;
  • said movable means are obtained with a rod and said stating means are obtained with suitable screens. Said screens are provided on both sides of the rod and have slots facing the end portions of the rod itself; each end portion of the rod has a reduced section adapted to pass through the slot and forming a shoulder larger than the slot, thus acting as a stop means.
  • said rod can also be used to control the valves and fuel injectors, through mechanical or electronic means.
  • a plurality of linear electric generators are disposed in a "star" arrangement around the axis of the engine, i.e. the generators are radially arranged around the rigid bar connecting the pistons, thus achieving a high output with a small overall length.
  • an electric vehicle is provided with the above described power system; the vehicle further comprises means for converting the output of the linear generator into a DC current, a battery and one or more electric motors.
  • Advantageous effects of the invention are: arrangement suitable for use a linear electric generator with known thermal engines, simplified construction of the engine, high power output with reduced length.
  • Fig. 1 is a scheme of a part of a power system according to the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic section of the power system of Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 3 is a scheme of one of the linear generators of the power system of Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 4 is a cross section of the linear generators according to a preferred form, and
  • Fig. 5 shows further details of Fig.1 regarding the stop means for the pistons.
  • a power system according to the invention comprising a thermal i.e. engine with four cylinders 1, 2, 3 and 4.
  • the cylinders as shown, are disposed in a flat arrangement, with cylinder 1 and 2 forming a first pair of opposite cylinders aligned on a first axis, and cylinders and 4 forming a second pair of opposite cylinders aligned on a second axis parallel to the first.
  • Pistons of the thermal engine are shown as A, B, C and D.
  • Pistons A and B are connected by a rigid linear element or bar 5 parallel to the axis of cylinders 1 and 2, while pistons C and D are connected by another rigid linear element or bar 6, parallel to the axis of cylinders 3 and 4.
  • Bars 5 and 6 are firmly connected to a rod 7 parallel to said bars.
  • Rod 7 cooperates with suitable static means to act as a stop means for the pistons and allows control of valves fuel injectors and other components. This will be described in greater detail hereinbelow.
  • the power system comprises at least one linear electric generator.
  • a preferred arrangement is seen in Fig. 2, wherein a number of electric generators E1 , E2, ...En are radially arranged around the axis of cylinders 1 , 2 and around the axis of cylinders 3, 4.
  • Fig. 2 makes clear the modular construction of the power system, which can be seen as comprising a first module M1 and a second module M2, each module being formed by two opposed cylinders of the thermal engine and electric generators around the axis of the two opposed cylinders.
  • This particular arrangement provides a high output compared to the length of the whole unit, because a plurality of shorter electric generator are used, instead of one longer generator.
  • Rigid connecting means are provided to connect the moving magnet of each electric generator to the respective bar.
  • each linear electric generator substantially comprises a linear stator 10 and a moving magnet 11.
  • Linear stator 10 comprises a plurality of coils or windings 12 and insulating portions 13; the moving magnet 11 is formed by permanent magnets 14 spaced by dielectric elements 15. The moving magnet 11 is firmly connected to the bar 5 by crosspieces 16.
  • stator 10 is substantially a cylindrical armature, and the magnet 11 is a coaxial, cylindrical element (Fig. 4).
  • a net 12 is provided surrounding the linear electric generators to shield the electromagnetic fields.
  • said static means are in the form of screens 20 and 21 which are provided on both sides of the engine. Screens 20 and 21 have slots 22 and 23 aligned with the rod 7.
  • the rod 7 has and end portion 24 facing the screen 20, said end portion 24 having a reduced section adapted to pass through the slot 22, and forming a shoulder 25.
  • Said shoulder 25 is larger than slot 22, so that is constitutes a stop means for the stroke of the pistons A-D connected to the rod 7.
  • the opposite end portion of the bar 7, facing the screen 21 is substantially identical.
  • end portions of the rod 7 can act as stop means against the screens 20 and 21, limiting the stroke of the pistons.
  • End portions of the rod 7 can also be used as a means for detecting the position of the pistons and control the valves, injectors, etc... of a 4-stroke motor.
  • detecting means may be provided to detect the end portions of rod 7 reaching the slots 22, 23; the signal is sent to an electronic board which controls the fuel injectors, valves and so on.
  • the valves may be opened or closed by electronically- controlled actuating means (e.g. pneumatic).
  • mechanical actuating means may be provided, so that the end portions of the rod 7, reaching the position near the end of stroke, can directly actuate the valves of the motor.
  • the number of cylinders of the thermal engines is equal to the number of strokes or a multiple of it;
  • the thermal energy, according to the invention may be Otto or Diesel cycle and use any fuel including natural gas or hydrogen.
  • the above power system can be used for producing electric energy or for powering a vehicle.
  • the electric energy is sent to a battery feeding one or more electric motors, preferably one motor for each driving wheel.
  • the linear generator can also be used to start the thermal engine.
  • means can be provided to recover as much energy as possible, e.g. by charging the battery using the electric motors as generators when the vehicle is braking.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Reciprocating, Oscillating Or Vibrating Motors (AREA)

Abstract

A power system for converting thermal energy into electric energy, comprising a thermal engine with at least one pair of opposed cylinders with pistons connected by a rigid bar (5), and at least one linear electric generator comprising a moving magnet (11) connected to said bar (5); said bar (5) being also connected to movable means (7) which cooperate with static means (20, 21) for acting as stop means for the pistons. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of linear electric generators are radially arranged around the cylinders. An electric vehicle powered by such system is also disclosed.

Description

A power system for producing electricity from an internal combustion engine by means of a linear generator
DESCRIPTION
The invention relates to a power system for converting the mechanical output of an internal combustion (i.e.) engine into electric energy. More in detail, the invention relates to a power system wherein an i.e. engine is coupled to a linear generator for producing electric energy.
One particular aspect of the invention is an electric-traction car or vehicle, powered by one or more electric motors and wherein the energy for the electric motors is directly produced on the vehicle itself by means of an internal combustion engine coupled to a linear generator.
A linear generator is a device adapted to convert an alternate linear movement into electric energy, substantially comprising a linear stator formed by one or more windings, and a moving magnet. Electrical energy is produced by alternate movement of said magnet through the windings of the stator.
A linear generator, as a matter of principle, can be coupled to a thermal engine or even to a pump. In recent years, a promising field for the use of a linear generator together with a thermal engine has appeared to be the powering of hybrid vehicles, wherein a thermal engine is used to operate an electric generator, and energy produced by said generator is sent to one or more electric motors.
Some problems arise, however, when attempt is made to modify known fuel engines for use with an electric linear generator. In particular, the well-known arrangement of rods and crankshaft is no more required, as there is no need of transforming an alternate movement into a rotation. Eliminating these components may simplify the construction, but poses the main problem of how to limit of the stroke of the pistons. A further, major problem encountered in the field of vehicle propulsion is that a linear generator suitable for powering a vehicle, particularly a car, may have a considerable length, thus not fitting into a common car's engine compartment.
An aim of the invention is to solve the above problems providing an efficient arrangement for coupling a thermal engine with a linear electric generator. A further aim is to realize a unit of the above type with a reduced length compared to power output.
These aims are reached by a power system for producing electricity from an internal combustion engine, comprising: - an internal combustion engine with at least one pair of opposed cylinders, said opposed cylinders being aligned on one axis and having pistons connected by a rigid bar parallel to said axis;
- at least one linear electric generator comprising a linear stator and a moving magnet, wherein said moving magnet is connected to the rigid bar of the pistons, and said rigid bar is connected to movable means which cooperate with static means for acting as stop means for said pistons. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said movable means are obtained with a rod and said stating means are obtained with suitable screens. Said screens are provided on both sides of the rod and have slots facing the end portions of the rod itself; each end portion of the rod has a reduced section adapted to pass through the slot and forming a shoulder larger than the slot, thus acting as a stop means.
With a 4-stroke engine, said rod can also be used to control the valves and fuel injectors, through mechanical or electronic means.
According to another aspect of the invention, a plurality of linear electric generators are disposed in a "star" arrangement around the axis of the engine, i.e. the generators are radially arranged around the rigid bar connecting the pistons, thus achieving a high output with a small overall length.
According to another aspect of the invention, an electric vehicle is provided with the above described power system; the vehicle further comprises means for converting the output of the linear generator into a DC current, a battery and one or more electric motors. Advantageous effects of the invention are: arrangement suitable for use a linear electric generator with known thermal engines, simplified construction of the engine, high power output with reduced length.
The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a scheme of a part of a power system according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic section of the power system of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is a scheme of one of the linear generators of the power system of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 is a cross section of the linear generators according to a preferred form, and
Fig. 5 shows further details of Fig.1 regarding the stop means for the pistons. With reference to the figures, a power system according to the invention is shown, comprising a thermal i.e. engine with four cylinders 1, 2, 3 and 4. The cylinders, as shown, are disposed in a flat arrangement, with cylinder 1 and 2 forming a first pair of opposite cylinders aligned on a first axis, and cylinders and 4 forming a second pair of opposite cylinders aligned on a second axis parallel to the first. Pistons of the thermal engine are shown as A, B, C and D.
Pistons A and B are connected by a rigid linear element or bar 5 parallel to the axis of cylinders 1 and 2, while pistons C and D are connected by another rigid linear element or bar 6, parallel to the axis of cylinders 3 and 4.
Bars 5 and 6 are firmly connected to a rod 7 parallel to said bars. Rod 7 cooperates with suitable static means to act as a stop means for the pistons and allows control of valves fuel injectors and other components. This will be described in greater detail hereinbelow.
The power system comprises at least one linear electric generator. A preferred arrangement is seen in Fig. 2, wherein a number of electric generators E1 , E2, ...En are radially arranged around the axis of cylinders 1 , 2 and around the axis of cylinders 3, 4. Fig. 2 makes clear the modular construction of the power system, which can be seen as comprising a first module M1 and a second module M2, each module being formed by two opposed cylinders of the thermal engine and electric generators around the axis of the two opposed cylinders. This particular arrangement provides a high output compared to the length of the whole unit, because a plurality of shorter electric generator are used, instead of one longer generator.
Rigid connecting means are provided to connect the moving magnet of each electric generator to the respective bar.
Referring to Fig. 3, each linear electric generator substantially comprises a linear stator 10 and a moving magnet 11. Linear stator 10 comprises a plurality of coils or windings 12 and insulating portions 13; the moving magnet 11 is formed by permanent magnets 14 spaced by dielectric elements 15. The moving magnet 11 is firmly connected to the bar 5 by crosspieces 16.
The stator 10 is connected to a suitable electric circuit, so that alternate movement of the magnet 11 relative to the stator 10 can be converted into an electric current. Said circuit preferably comprise means for converting output of the linear generator in a direct current, and a battery for storing the energy which is not immediately used.
In a preferred form, the stator 10 is substantially a cylindrical armature, and the magnet 11 is a coaxial, cylindrical element (Fig. 4). A net 12 is provided surrounding the linear electric generators to shield the electromagnetic fields.
The function of rod 7 is now described in detail. Turning again to Fig. 1 , said static means are in the form of screens 20 and 21 which are provided on both sides of the engine. Screens 20 and 21 have slots 22 and 23 aligned with the rod 7.
As better seen in Fig. 5, the rod 7 has and end portion 24 facing the screen 20, said end portion 24 having a reduced section adapted to pass through the slot 22, and forming a shoulder 25. Said shoulder 25 is larger than slot 22, so that is constitutes a stop means for the stroke of the pistons A-D connected to the rod 7. The opposite end portion of the bar 7, facing the screen 21 , is substantially identical.
Thus, end portions of the rod 7 can act as stop means against the screens 20 and 21, limiting the stroke of the pistons. End portions of the rod 7 can also be used as a means for detecting the position of the pistons and control the valves, injectors, etc... of a 4-stroke motor. According to one embodiment, detecting means may be provided to detect the end portions of rod 7 reaching the slots 22, 23; the signal is sent to an electronic board which controls the fuel injectors, valves and so on. The valves may be opened or closed by electronically- controlled actuating means (e.g. pneumatic).
According to further embodiments, mechanical actuating means may be provided, so that the end portions of the rod 7, reaching the position near the end of stroke, can directly actuate the valves of the motor.
It is to be noted that the force produced on the pistons is balanced by the force absorbed by electric generators, so that any impact against screens 20 and 21 is negligible and cannot damage the system.
Preferably, the number of cylinders of the thermal engines is equal to the number of strokes or a multiple of it; the thermal energy, according to the invention, may be Otto or Diesel cycle and use any fuel including natural gas or hydrogen. The above power system can be used for producing electric energy or for powering a vehicle. In this last case, the electric energy is sent to a battery feeding one or more electric motors, preferably one motor for each driving wheel.
In a vehicle, the linear generator can also be used to start the thermal engine. According to known technique, means can be provided to recover as much energy as possible, e.g. by charging the battery using the electric motors as generators when the vehicle is braking.

Claims

1. A power system for producing electricity from an internal combustion engine, said system comprising:
- an internal combustion engine with at least one pair of opposed cylinders, said opposed cylinders being aligned on one axis and having pistons (A, B) connected by a rigid bar (5) parallel to said axis;
- at least one linear electric generator comprising a linear stator (10) and a moving magnet (11), wherein said moving magnet (11) is connected to the rigid bar (5) of the pistons (A, B), and said rigid bar (5) is connected to movable means (7) which cooperate with static means (20, 21) for acting as stop means for said pistons (A, B).
2. A power system according to claim 1, wherein said engine is 4- stroke and said movable means are a rod (7) which is further used as a means for controlling valves and fuel injectors of the engine.
3. A power system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said static means are obtained with screens (20, 21) provided on both sides of said rod (7), said screens (20, 21) having slots (22, 23) aligned with the rod (7) itself, and each end of the rod (7) has an end portion (24) facing the respective screen (20); said end portion (24) has a reduced section adapted to pass through the slot (22) and forming a shoulder (25) larger than the slot (22), so that the rod (7) can act as a stop means against the screen (20).
4. A power system according to claim 3, wherein detecting means are provided to detect the end portions of the rod (7) reaching the slots (22, 23) of said screens (20, 21), and said detecting means provide a signal to an electronic board for controlling the fuel injectors and valves of the engine.
5. A power system according to claim 3, wherein each end portion (24) of said rod (7) is connected to mechanical means for controlling the valves of the engine. 6. A power system according to any one of preceding claims, wherein a plurality of linear electric generators (E1 , E2,... En) are radially arranged around the axis of the rigid bar (5,
6) connecting the pistons of the thermal engine.
7. A power system according to any one of preceding claims, comprising a plurality of pairs of opposed cylinders (1, 2; 3, 4), wherein the pistons of each pair of cylinders are connected to a respective bar (5, 6), and said bars are connected to a common rod (7) acting as stop means for the pistons.
8. A power system according to any one of preceding claims, comprising a net (12) surrounding the linear electric generators to shield the electromagnetic fields.
9. An electric traction vehicle, comprising at least one electric motor and a power system according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the energy for the electric motor is directly produced on the vehicle itself by means of said power system.
10. A vehicle according to claim 9, said vehicle being a car.
EP06728493A 2005-03-16 2006-03-15 A power system for producing electricity from an internal combustion engine by means of a linear generator Withdrawn EP1861600A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000017A ITMN20050017A1 (en) 2005-03-16 2005-03-16 ELECTRIC ENERGY PRODUCTION FROM COMBUSTION ENGINES THROUGH LINEAR DYNAMO
PCT/IT2006/000161 WO2006097968A1 (en) 2005-03-16 2006-03-15 A power system for producing electricity from an internal combustion engine by means of a linear generator

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1861600A1 true EP1861600A1 (en) 2007-12-05

Family

ID=36463508

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06728493A Withdrawn EP1861600A1 (en) 2005-03-16 2006-03-15 A power system for producing electricity from an internal combustion engine by means of a linear generator

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1861600A1 (en)
IT (1) ITMN20050017A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2006097968A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102042083B (en) * 2010-12-09 2012-09-26 潍坊威度电子科技有限公司 Quasi-free piston internal combustion engine
CN103573407A (en) * 2013-10-28 2014-02-12 北京理工大学 Self-balancing free-piston internal-combustion generator

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2473625A1 (en) * 1980-01-11 1981-07-17 Vironneau Pierre Four stroke IC engine with in=line cylinders - has four, rigidly interconnected pistons which each function in accordance with one operating stroke and in mutual synchronism
IT1145573B (en) * 1981-10-30 1986-11-05 Egidio Allais FREE-PISTON MOTOR WITH SELF-INDIVIDUAL CAM SOECALLY FOR THE OPERATION OF LINEAR ALTERNATORS
GB9919519D0 (en) * 1999-08-19 1999-10-20 Dawson Richard F Power generator
DE10028738A1 (en) * 2000-06-09 2002-08-29 Schneider Erich Free piston engine with spring mass system has two springs between housing and piston unit acting contrary to each other for better energy efficiency

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2006097968A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITMN20050017A1 (en) 2006-09-17
WO2006097968A1 (en) 2006-09-21

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