Abstract:
An energy producing apparatus utilizing magnetic pistons is provided. Permanent magnets of like polarity are employed within a cylinder of each piston and upon a top portion of said piston. The like polarity pistons have a natural desire to repel one another. A ferromagnetic slipper unit is inserted into a gap in said cylinder between the permanent magnets of like polarity to interfere with said magnetic repulsive field and to cause a magnetic attractive field. Each piston is attached to a push rod which in turn is attached to shaft and flywheel system. The change in magnetic fields from repulsion to attraction cases the piston to push up and down and turn the shaft and flywheel system. Two pistons in coincidence can be used so that while one piston is repelling, the other is attracting causing an increase in motive power.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a magnetic energy producing apparatus. More particularly, it relates to an engine or generator utilizing magnetic pistons to produce energy by interfering with the repulsive magnetic force of like polarity permanent magnets associated with said pistons thereby moving said pistons. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Magnetism is a phenomenon by which materials exert an attractive or repulsive force upon other materials. Some well known materials that exhibit detectable magnetic properties include iron and steel, a metal alloy whose major component is iron with carbon being the primary alloying material. However, all materials are influenced to a greater or lesser degree by the presence of magnetic fields. Magnetic forces are fundamental forces that occur from the movement of an electrical charge. Accordingly, magnetism is present whenever electrically charged particles are in motion. This can happen from movement of electrons in an electric current, resulting in electromagnetism, or from quantum-mechanical spin and orbital motion of electrons, resulting in what is now known as permanent magnets. 
     Magnetic fields are made of dipoles, two equal and opposite point charges, and are commonly referred to as the “North pole” and the “South pole” or the positive and negative charged sides. As well known in the prior art, two magnets of like poles repulse one another while two magnets of different poles attract one another. This is because a magnetic dipole tends to align itself in an opposed polarity to that magnetic field, thereby canceling the net field strength as much as possible and lowering the energy stored in that field to a minimum. 
     As stated before, there are two types of magnets known in the prior art, electromagnets and permanent magnets. Electromagnets rely upon an electric current to generate a magnetic field such that when the current increases so does the magnetic field. The simplest type of electromagnet is a coiled piece of wire, such as a solenoid. The magnetic field is generated when an electrical charge is placed on the wire. A much stronger magnetic field can be produced if said wire is wrapped around a core of paramagnetic or ferromagnetic material, such as iron. The magnetic field produced by the coil causes the core to magnetize and thereby produce an even stronger total magnetic field than that of the coil alone. A very useful type of electromagnetic is that which is seen in junk yards whereby large cranes having an electromagnet attached to a bottom end move over a vehicle to pick it up. By charging the electromagnet, the vehicle is magnetically attracted to the magnet and can be moved and subsequently released by eliminating the charge to the electromagnet. There are some disadvantages to electromagnets, such as when residual magnetization remains from the process of turning the electromagnetic on and off. This is known as hysteresis which can build up (aggregately) to a point such that even when the electric charge is turned off, the magnetic properties of the electromagnet remains present, residually. 
     Permanent magnets do not rely on an induced electric charge (or other outside influence) to generate a magnetic field. They are simply inherently magnetic due to quantum mechanical spin of the particles (protons, neutrons and electrons) that make up all matter. Because of a phenomenon known as “long range ordering,” some materials exhibit a stronger magnetic filed than others. Examples of permanent magnets include Rare Earth or Neodymium magnets, Samarian-Cobalt magnets, Ceramic magnets, Plastic magnets and Alnico magnets. 
     The use of magnetism to produce energy is known in the prior art. For many years people have been trying to harness the energy associated with magnets and the energy that can be produced from their use in motors, generators and switches. However, much is left to be developed. 
     The use of magnetism to produce energy is more environmentally friendly (i.e., cleaner), cost effective and more efficient than the use of fossil fuels. Accordingly, there has been a surge in inventions in this technology. There is no doubt that in industrialized countries of the world, and in emerging third world countries, there is an addiction to natural resources. This addiction is no greater than that of the addiction to oil. Countries such as the United States consume as much as 20 million barrels of oil every day. China, currently the fastest growing nation in the world consumes upwards of 6.5 million barrels of oil a day and its consumption is on the rise. But oil, like so many other natural resources, is of a limited quantity. And, its supply and demand is extremely political causing governmental tension and sometimes war. It is likely that the world could be completely devoid of any oil within a hundred years. And the Earth will simply not be able to naturally produce anymore oil for millions of years. Further, fossil fuels are extremely hazardous to the environment and cause huge amounts of waste of which are both volatile and difficult to dispose. So what are people going to do? Most likely, people will look to alternative means of energy production, including, but not limited to hydro-electric, wind and solar. But these forms of energy production can also be limited in that the on-going destruction and manipulation of the environment could have an adverse effect on how we harness these important natural resources. Therefore, many people have looked to use of magnets and magnetism. 
     Many have attempted to use magnets in motors and generators. Reasons for their use include that they operate cleanly, they are efficient, cost effective, easy to produce or are readily available, and most importantly their use reduces our additive use to fossil fuels, like oil. 
     One such example of a magnetic energy producing apparatus is U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,486 to Minato wherein a magnetic rotation apparatus is provided with first and second rotors rotatably supported and juxtaposed such that they are rotatable in opposite, but in a cooperating manner. Permanent magnets are employed wherein one magnetic polarity is located radially outward from the rotors while the other magnetic polarity is located inward towards the rotors. The attractive force of the opposite polarities rotates the wheels. An electromagnet can be introduced into the system to change polarities to make the rotors reverse directions. However, this invention fails to appreciate the equal and just as powerful force of repulsion in a system wherein magnets of like polarity are positioned in close proximity to one another for moving an energy producing device. Further, the use of electromagnets to reverse directions complicates the invention and requires an additional power source to apply current to said electromagnets. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,034 to Wortham provides for a vehicle having a magnetic motor. The engine block of the motor has multiple cylinders for receiving magnetic pistons attached to a crankshaft and with electromagnets mounted in the engine head for magnetically operating the magnetic pistons by electric current reversal. This invention too complicates the art by introducing a system that requires a current producing device to reverse directions of the pistons. The need to change polarities to affect piston reversal is also inefficient and costly. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,724 to Patton has many of the same problems. A plurality of permanently polarized ceramic magnets is located upon a plurality of pistons, each mounted in a cylinder. An electromagnet is located at each end of each cylinder and is energized to alternately attract and repel the ceramic magnet so that each piston is caused to reciprocate in the cylinder under the influence of electromagnetism. The need to enter an energy source to provide a current to the electromagnet is inefficient and complicates this magnet motor. Further, it is known that electromagnets lose some of their magnetic power over time and are not ideal for use in a pure magnetic generating apparatus. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,146 to Takara also utilizes a magnetic piston inside of a cylinder. However, in this reference, the cylinder is alternately magnetized by electromagnetism to cause attraction and repulsion moving the piston up and down. Again, electromagnetism is used thereby requiring a more complicated system and a current generating device to apply to said electromagnet. Additionally, hysteresis can occur over-time after use thereof. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,954,019 describes an apparatus and process for generating energy though the use of a rotating shaft that is moved by magnets in a single circular direction. Permanent magnets are disposed about a bottom plate member and work in coincidence with an opposed polarity magnet on a top plate member. An electromagnet is disposed at an end of the row of permanent magnets to operate a continuous flow of said shaft. 
     Clearly, the prior art demonstrates that magnetic energy producing apparatuses are known, but that there are improvements needed in the art. Too many of the advancements in the art rely upon electromagnets which complicate systems by requiring additional power sources and control mechanisms to switch current in and out of said electromagnets. Further, it is known that electromagnets can degrade in quality (ability to produce a workable magnetic field) over time. There is no suggestion in the prior art to utilize the natural attractive and repulsive magnetic force of permanent magnets with at least two pistons working in coincidence such that while one piston is attracting to a magnetic material, the other piston is repulsing from two magnets of like polarity exposed to one another for moving a flywheel system in one continuous direction. Clearly, the prior art has failed to suggest that the interference of a repelling magnetic field can be used to harness energy. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     I have invented a system that harnesses magnetic field repulsion to create energy through the interference of like polarity magnets. More particularly, I have invented a coincident magnetic combustive engine. 
     My system is a fuel-less energy producing apparatus that utilizes permanent magnetic pistons. My invention principally works by interfering with a magnetic field within a cylinder wherein pistons are employed and a slipper element is introduced in said cylinder to cause attraction between two permanent magnets of like polarity. At least one magnet is stationary within the cylinder while another is moveable upon the piston. When the slipper is removed, the magnets of like polarity repel one another and move the piston in a direction that causes force upon a push rod which in turn moves a flywheel system and shaft. At least a second piston is working in coincidence and mounted above said first piston and working in the same manner at an opposed force but working to move the flywheel and shaft in the same direction. More particularly, when the slipper is removed from the first piston causing a repelling force in its respective cylinder, the other piston has its slipper introduced. This causes an interference with the repulsion of the like magnets which causes an attraction in its respective cylinder. Regardless of which piston is repelling or attracting, the flywheel is always being forced upon in the same direction. 
     A timing scheme is also introduced so that any “top dead center” de-acceleration (the moment of least efficiency) is reduced to a non-affecting level or completely eliminated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description of the invention, contained herein below, may be better understood when accompanied by a brief description of the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a piston of the present invention having a permanent magnetic head portion in proximity to another stationary permanent magnet in a cylinder whereby a slipper unit is introduced between said two permanent magnets causing magnetic attraction; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a piston of the present invention having the permanent magnetic head portion in proximity to another stationary permanent magnet in the cylinder whereby the slipper unit is removed (no longer interfering) between said two permanent magnets causing magnetic repulsion; 
         FIG. 3  is perspective view of a coincident two piston system of the present invention illustrating a first slipper unit removed from a top cylinder causing the piston to push downwards due to magnetic repulsion and a second slipper unit introduced (thereby interfering) into a bottom cylinder causing the piston located therein to pull downwards due to magnetic attraction; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a slipper sleeve for guiding the slipper into a gap of the cylinder; 
         FIG. 5  is an alternate embodiment of a coincident two piston system operating like the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , but with different slipper units; 
         FIG. 6  is another alternate embodiment of a coincident two piston system operating like the embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 5 , but with different slipper units; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an energy producing apparatus utilizing a plurality of magnetic pistons of the present invention in a rotary configuration wherein each piston is operated by its own motor unit but all controlled with a single control member, two respective pistons of the plurality working in coincident; and 
         FIG. 8  is another block diagram of an energy producing apparatus utilizing a plurality of magnetic pistons of the present invention in a rotary configuration wherein all of the pistons are operated by a single motor unit and all controlled by a single control member, two respective pistons of the plurality working in coincident. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a coincident magnetic combustive energy producing apparatus  10  is shown. Apparatus  10  includes a first and second piston,  12  and  14 , working in coincidence to operate a flywheel system  16  to turn a shaft  18  to produce kinetic energy. First and second pistons,  12  and  14 , are moveable within first and second cylinders,  20  and  22  respectively. Pistons  12  and  14  utilize a magnetic field to affect motion and therefore are fuel-less. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , each piston,  12  and  14 , is attached to a push rod  24  which, in turn, attaches at an opposed end to shaft  18 . Further, each piston,  12  and  14 , have a first permanent magnet  26  mounted on a top end  28  of the piston. Permanent magnet  26  can be attached to piston top end  28  in a variety of manners. For instance, permanent magnet  26  can be integrally welded to piston top end  28 . Or, permanent magnet  26  can be attached to piston top end  28  by a clamping mechanism. Still further, permanent magnet  26  could be glued to piston top end  28 . However, as practiced in the preferred embodiment, each piston,  12  and  14 , has a small hinged door member  30  that swings opens and allows permanent magnet  26  to slide in and be retained thereby. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 3 , each piston,  12  and  14 , are moveable within their respective cylinder,  20  and  22 , along an inside channel  32 . Push rods  24  enter into channel  32  of cylinders  20  and  22  at open bottom ends  34  thereof. Each cylinder  20  and  22  also has a closed top end  36  wherein a stationary second permanent magnet  38  is employed. Second permanent magnet  38  can also be affixed to cylinder top end  36  in a variety of manners. For example, it can be welded or glued. Or, second permanent magnet  38  can be affixed by a series of small crimp like hands (not shown) that hold it in place. However, in the preferred embodiment, second permanent magnets  38  are held in place by sliding it into an area accessible by a hinged door  40  along an outer circumference  42  of each cylinder  20  and  22 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bottom portion of the coincident magnetic combustive energy producing apparatus  10  is shown. Apparatus  10  also includes a partial circumferential gap  44  formed in cylinder outer circumference  42  near closed top end  36 . Gap  44  provides an entry area for a second slipper unit  46  to insert within second cylinder  22 . It is noted that the same configuration is formed in the upper portion of coincident magnetic combustive energy producing apparatus  10  except that a first slipper unit  48  inserts within gap  44  of first cylinder  20  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     Referring now back to  FIG. 3 , it is shown that first and second slipper units,  48  and  46  respectively, alternately enter gaps  44  of first and second cylinders  20  and  22 , respectively. Accordingly, when first slipper unit  48  is removed from gap  44  of first cylinder  20 , second slipper unit  46  is inserted within gap  44  of second cylinder  22 . Slipper units  46  and  48  are operated by a power and control apparatus  50 . Apparatus  50  can include a solenoid and therefore be electrical or can be activated hydraulically, pneumatically or being manually operated. Apparatus  50  also can include a timing mechanism such as a clock, a cylindrical timing wheel or an IC. When a cylindrical timing wheel is employed, a 37 lbs wheel can be employed, for example, which helps carry the momentum of flywheel system  16 . Further, if a timing wheel is employed, a simple electrical switch can be in contact with an outer circumference of said timing wheel and engage an elevated surface thereon to switch motors on and off to a control arm which moves the slippers, alternately, in and out of their respective gaps  44 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , first and second permanent magnets,  26  and  38  respectively, in each of first and second cylinders,  20  and  22  respectively, are of like polarity. Whether they are both of a North Pole or South Pole polarity is irrelevant to the operation of coincident magnetic combustive energy producing apparatus  10 , so long as respective first and second permanent magnets,  26  and  28 , are of a like polarity. Since both magnets  26  and  28  are of like polarity, the magnetic field created thereby continuously repels so long as nothing interferes there between. When slippers  46  or  48  enter their respective gap  44 , they interfere with the magnetic field of repulsion and magnetic attraction occurs due to slippers  46  and  48  being ferromagnetic. In the preferred embodiment, slippers  46  and  48  are made of steel. The timing mechanism of power and control apparatus  50  ensures that slippers  46  and  48  alternately enter and extract from their respective gaps  44 , to cause a coincident moveable relationship of flywheel system  16 . More particularly, as first piston  12  is repelling (due to no interference by slipper  48 ) second piston  14  is attracting due to the actual interference by slipper  46 , and vice a versa. These motions move flywheel system  16  in the same direction on shaft  18  as indicated by arrow  52 . And, momentum in flywheel system  16  assists in the continual movement of shaft  18  as slippers  46  and  48  continue to enter and extract from gaps  44  ensuring that any top dead center de-acceleration (the moment of least efficiency) does not occur before the next push of the coincidental operational pistons. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , slippers  46  and  48  have a unique shape that contributes to their function. In particular, slippers  46  and  48  have a leading edge  54  that resembles a hatchet blade. That is, leading edge  54  depends to a thin edge from its trailing edge  56 , which is more “squared-off.” The leading edge  54  is the edge that enters gap  44  and ensures that just before any “lock-up” can occur between one of the two permanent magnets and the slipper, the slipper can be removed by control apparatus  50  with a decrease in drag. In other words, the force needed to release a slipper from the magnetic attractive field occurring within gap  44  is lessened by the hatchet-like shape of leading edge  54 . Further, the timing mechanism of control apparatus  50  also maintains slippers  46  and  48  in gaps  44  just long enough to allow pistons  12  and  14  to maximize the attractive magnetic field. And, just before any “lock-up” occurs, they are removed to provide maximum opposite thrust by repulsion since a repelling magnetic field is greatest when two magnets of like polarity are at their closest physical proximity. And hence, coincident magnetic combustion occurs. It is noted that this coincident magnetic combustion that repels the two permanent magnets of like polarity away from each other is much stronger than any gravitational forces that may try to interfere and cause the piston to fall downward. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 4 , a slipper sleeve  35  is provided attached to the cylinder around gap  44 . Slipper sleeve  35  a slipper in entering and exiting the cylinder. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a first alternate embodiment of the coincident magnetic combustive energy producing apparatus  10  is shown. The only difference in this first alternate embodiment is the shape of the slippers,  58  and  60  respectively. However, the operational principles are the same. Further, referring to  FIG. 6 , a second alternate embodiment of the coincident magnetic combustive energy producing apparatus  10  is shown. Again, the only difference is the shape of the slippers  62  and  64  respectively. However, notable to the second alternate embodiment is that instead of slippers  62  and  64  entering and extracting a single “blade” portion (as in the preferred or first alternate embodiment), multiple blades on a spiraling wheel enter and exit gaps  44  based upon the timing mechanism in control apparatus  50  such that a ferromagnetic blade portion of slipper  64  is entering gap  44  of second cylinder  22  while a ferromagnetic blade portion of slipper  62  is exiting gap  44  of first cylinder  20 . In doing such, the coincident operation of the two pistons continues indefinitely whereby attraction is occurring in one cylinder while repulsion is occurring in the other cylinder and hence moving flywheel system  16  in the direction of arrow  52 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a rotary configuration for the coincident magnetic combustive energy producing apparatus  10  is shown. This configuration is similar in operation to a Gnome engine first made popular in the early part of the 20 th  Century. In such embodiment, any two opposed pistons,  66  and  68 , work in coincidence as described previously. Accordingly, any of the different embodiments of slippers shown in the preferred, first or second embodiments, previously described, can be employed. However, all pistons act upon a single shaft  18 . Accordingly, multiple sets of these configurations shown in  FIG. 7  could be employed along one long shaft  18 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , one control apparatus  50  acts upon all piston sets which are each powered by their own power source  70 . In contrast, the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , only one power source  70  is coupled to all slippers and only one control apparatus  50  provides the timing. The advantage to the embodiments of  FIGS. 7 and 8  are that smaller increments of pushing power upon the flywheel system and shaft  18  can be affected at small intervals thereby providing for a smoother flowing apparatus. The embodiment of  FIG. 8  can also include multiple sets of rotary configured coincident operative pistons as shown therein, that affect rotation on a single common shaft  18  thereby maximizing energy production. 
     With reference to both  FIGS. 7 and 8 , when rotary configurations are employed, timing can be very important. Accordingly, for an example, if using a six piston configuration (as shown in both  FIGS. 7 and 8 ) is used, the coincident piston will be staggered to allow for maximum thrust. In other words, for an example, as a first coincident pair of pistons has a slipper fully in one piston and fully extracted in its opposed piston, the adjacent set may be in a state where one piston is two-thirds attracting while its opposed piston is one-third repelling and then the next adjacent piston is one third attracting while its opposed piston is two-thirds repelling. This ensures a very smooth turning shaft. 
     It is further noted that any of the embodiments of the present invention, shown herein, can include a battery, a starter and a generator unit as part of power and control apparatus  50  or power source  70 . Further, once a small amount of power is applied to activate the slippers in any of the embodiments, the energy that is produced can be used to further the slipper movement. The energy needed is very slight and would take away from the overall energy produced, even in a simple coincident two piston embodiment. Further, as coincident operative piston sets are added, the overall energy needed to operate these added piston sets diminishes as compared to the overall aggregate energy being produced. In other words, there is an inversely proportional need for more energy to run a larger system compared to the energy produced by the coincident magnetic combustive energy producing apparatus  10 . 
     As noted before, in the preferred embodiment, push rod  24  is attached to shaft  18  which has a flywheel system  16  (a pair of opposed flywheels attached at opposed ends of said shaft) for producing energy. However, in alternate embodiments, push rod  24  could be acting upon a multitude of different apparatuses. For example, in a single piston apparatus of the present invention, push rod  24  could be acting upon a jack to lift an object, like an automobile. Or, push rod  24  could be acting upon a hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical system to push air, move water, run motors or generators, charge alternators or batteries or rotate shafts. 
     Equivalent elements can be substituted for ones set forth herein to achieve the same results in the same way and in the same manner.