Abstract:
The present invention is a method for modifying a current gas or diesel engine, or building a new one, which utilizes a magnetic field produced by solenoids in the cylinders or cylinder cover to exert force on a modified piston to turn a crankshaft. The present invention removes the need for fuel and eliminates emissions. The present invention utilizes the alternator in normal operation to provide the current through the solenoids to produce magnetic fields. Vehicle speed is controlled by changing the amount of current going through the solenoid. This process changes the magnitude of the originating and induced magnetic fields of the solenoid and piston. The operation of the vehicle remains similar to traditional operation, except the greatly beneficial aspects of not needing fuel or producing emissions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a conversion of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/902,358 filed Feb. 21, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to gasoline and diesel engines. More particularly, the present invention modifies combustion engines by replacing the combustion mechanism for generating downward force on a piston with an induced magnetic field mechanism. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The idea of using a solenoid to induce a magnetic field on a piston is new and unique. The benefits of this invention are substantial. The present invention does not require the user to use any type of fuel or charge a battery in order for the vehicle to operate. The engine also produces no emissions. 
         [0004]    Apparatuses and methods for generating a force on a piston to turn a crankshaft by combustion are ubiquitous. Generally, fuel/air mixture in the cylinder burns, the temperature rises and the fuel is converted to exhaust gas. This transformation causes the pressure in the cylinder to increase dramatically which forces the piston down. These apparatuses and methods require extreme dependence on oil, from which fuels are refined. They also produce emissions which are harmful to the environment and humans. The present invention eliminates the negative effects of dependence of fossil fuels, such as oil, using extensive battery systems, and producing harmful emissions. The present invention also does not reduce engine performance or convenience, which drivers are accustomed to. 
         [0005]    Alternative engines such as hybrids rely in part on an electric motor to provide energy to turn the crankshaft. Hybrids also require an extensive battery system. These batteries need replacement generally within  6  years of use, at substantial cost to the owner. The other drawback to hybrid vehicles is that they still rely on gasoline or diesel, in conjunction with the electric motor, to operate. The present invention eliminates the need for an extensive battery system, fuel to operate and exhaust emissions. 
         [0006]    Biodiesel vehicles utilize biodiesel fuel, which is a combination of diesel and biomaterials. While this technology is a great improvement over gas and diesel engines, it still requires the diesel component and as a result produces emissions. 
         [0007]    What is needed is an efficient and effective method and apparatus for driving a piston to turn a crankshaft without combustion. 
         [0008]    Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve over the state of the art. 
         [0009]    It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a non-combustion alternative for an existing combustion driven engine. 
         [0010]    Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide solenoid induced magnetic field piston driving applications. 
         [0011]    A still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a solenoid wrapped cylinder wall to impart movement to a piston for driving a crankshaft. 
         [0012]    Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a control associated with the electronics of an existing or new engine to manage current provided to a solenoid based on input from an accelerator or throttle. 
         [0013]    A still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a solenoid positioned in an existing porthole into the cylinder to induce a current in the piston to repel the piston to drive the crankshaft. 
         [0014]    Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a hollow core in a piston of an engine to pass a magnetic field from the solenoid through the core to induce a current in the piston for repelling the piston away from the solenoid. 
         [0015]    A still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a solenoid positioned relative to a piston to expose the piston to magnetic flux from the solenoid to move the piston relative to the position of the solenoid. 
         [0016]    These and/or other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent. No single embodiment of the present invention need achieve all or any particular number of the foregoing objects, features, or advantages. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    According to one aspect of the present invention a method for driving an engine without combustion is disclosed. The method includes providing an engine block with a plurality of cylinders formed by cylinder walls, a piston within each cylinder and a crankshaft connected to and driven by the piston, placing a solenoid relative to each piston, applying current to the solenoid to generate a magnetic flux, and moving the piston relative to the position of the solenoid with magnetic flux from the solenoid to drive the crankshaft. 
         [0018]    In a preferred form, the method includes wrapping the solenoid around the cylinder wall at an optimum location to affect movement of the piston, pulling the piston toward a center location of the solenoid using magnetic flux from the solenoid to drive the crankshaft, pushing the piston away from the center location of the solenoid using magnetic flux from the solenoid to drive the crankshaft, connecting the solenoid to an electronic controller associated with the engine, controlling electrical current from the electrical system associated with the engine to the solenoid to increase or decrease rpm of the engine with the electronic controller, connecting the solenoid to a resistor element associated with an electrical system for operating the engine, applying current to the solenoid step includes applying current from a constant current source associated with the engine, programming an electronic controller associated with the engine to increase or decrease the rate of solenoid firing from the constant current source based on input from a throttle or accelerator associated with the engine, controlling timing and firing of solenoid in each piston with the electrical system for sequenced solenoid firing and ordered pushing and/or pulling on the crankshaft, and connecting the resistor element to a throttle or accelerator associated with the engine to change the current to the solenoid and rpm of the engine. The method may also include the piston having a ring with a hollow core, positioning the solenoid above the piston such that an applied magnetic field from the solenoid travels through the hollow core to produce an electrical current in the piston resulting in an induced magnetic field repelled by the applied magnetic field for driving the piston to turn the crank shaft, inserting the solenoid into a porthole in communication with the cylinder, passing an applied magnetic field from the solenoid through the hollow core to produce an electrical current in the piston resulting in an induced magnetic field repelled by the applied magnetic field for driving the piston downward to turn the crank shaft. According to another aspect of the present invention an engine driven without combustion is disclosed. The engine includes an engine block having a plurality of cylinders formed by cylinder walls, a piston in each cylinder, a crankshaft connected to and driven by the piston, a solenoid positioned relative to each piston, current from an electrical system associated with the engine applied to the solenoid to generate a magnetic flux, and the piston moved flux relative to the position of the solenoid by the magnetic to drive the crankshaft. 
         [0019]    In a preferred form, the engine may also include the solenoid being wrapped around the cylinder wall at an optimum location to affect movement in the piston to drive the crankshaft, a resistor element is connected to the electrical system, and the resistor element adapted to control current from the electrical system to the solenoid to increase or decrease rpm of the engine wherein the resistor element is connected to a throttle or accelerator associated with the engine to change the current to the solenoid and rpm of the engine. The engine may also include the piston having a ring with a hollow core wherein the solenoid is positioned above the piston such that an applied magnetic field from the solenoid travels through the hollow core to produce an electrical current in the piston resulting in an induced magnetic field repelled by the applied magnetic field to drive the piston downward and turn the crankshaft. The engine may yet include a porthole in communication with the cylinder having a solenoid position therein and an applied magnetic field from the solenoid passes through the hollow core to produce an electrical current in the piston resulting in an induced magnetic field repelled by the applied magnetic field for driving the piston downward to turn the crankshaft wherein the porthole is a hole for a glow plug, a hole for a spark plug, a hole for an injector, a hold for a valve, or any hole providing access into the cylinder. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of the drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented therein. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of the magnetic field produced by a solenoid. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of Lenz&#39;s Law. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of a standard piston assembly. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a sectional perspective view of a standard combustion engine assembly. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a modified piston according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of modified piston according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a perspective cross-sectional view of a modified engine assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a perspective cross-section of a modified engine assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    The present invention is directed towards an apparatus and related methods for using an induced magnetic field for turning a crankshaft of an engine. 
       Apparatus 
       [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a solenoid  10  as are known by those skilled in the art and commercially available. Solenoids can take the form of either an air core or iron core depending on the preferred application.  FIG. 1  illustrates an air core solenoid. Core  12  of solenoid  10  is formed by windings  14 . Those skilled in the art can appreciate the numerous types of materials available for use as windings  14 . Suffice it to say, solenoid  10  may use any number of electrically conductive wire as windings  14 . An applied current  18  to windings  14  creates an applied magnetic field  16  concentrated into a nearly uniform field in the center of core  12  of solenoid  10 . In most cases, the applied magnetic field  16  outside core  12  of solenoid  10  is generally weaker and divergent from the stronger applied magnetic field  16  within core  12  of solenoid  10 . The magnitude of the applied magnetic field  16  depends on applied current  18  through solenoid  10  and the number of windings  14  per unit length of solenoid  10 . Therefore, adjustments to the number of windings  14  and applied current  18  increases the strength of the applied magnetic field  16  of solenoid  10 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  illustrates generally the concept and teachings of Lenz&#39;s Law. Lenz&#39;s Law states generally that an induced electromotive force generates a current that induces a counter magnetic field that opposes the magnetic field generating the current. Basically, the direction of the induced current is such that the induced magnetic field always opposes the change in the flux. For example, solenoid  10 , when current  18  is applied to windings  14 , produces an applied magnetic field  16  that has field lines  20  (also known as magnetic flux) which are representative of the magnetic influence of solenoid  10 . As ring  26 , which is a conducting ring, approaches the field of influence or field lines  20  of solenoid  10 , a current  22  is induced within ring  26 , which in-turn creates an induced magnetic field  24  about ring  26 . Moving solenoid  10  into close proximity to ring  26  causes induced current  22  to travel in a clockwise direction by operation of the right hand rule. The clockwise induced current flow  22  within ring  26  causes the induced magnetic field  24  to travel in a direction so as to oppose the change in the applied magnetic field  16  resulting from movement of solenoid  10 . Thus, by application of Lenz&#39;s Law, the applied current  18  in solenoid  10  creates an applied magnetic field  16  that induces a counter magnetic field or induced magnetic field  24  that opposes the applied magnetic field  16  generating induced current  22 . Simply put, when windings  14  of the solenoid  10  see applied current  18 , applied magnetic field  16  results which in turn pushes ring  26  away from solenoid  10 . Using one or more principles of electricity and magnetism, including but not with limitation Lenz&#39;s Law, the present invention seeks to provide apparatuses and methods for driving an engine without combustion using a resulting magnetic field to turn a crankshaft of an engine. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates a standard piston assembly  28  which are commercially available and well known to those in the art. Piston assembly  28  includes piston  30  which has a number of rings  36  disposed about the outer circumference. Piston pin  32  connects connecting rod  34  to piston  30 . Rod cap  38  attaches connecting rod  34  to a crankshaft, like crankshaft  76  shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . Generally speaking piston  30  is driven downward by combustion to transfer energy from the moving piston through connecting rod  34  to drive crankshaft  36 . The present invention seeks to obviate the need for combustion to drive piston  30  to transfer energy from piston  30  to connecting rod  34  and crankshaft  76 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  illustrates a standard engine assembly  62  as are commercially available and well known to those skilled in the art. Standard engine assembly  62  operates using standard piston assembly  28  shown in  FIG. 3 . A standard engine assembly like standard engine assembly  62  shown in  FIG. 4  includes an engine block  63 . Engine block  63  is configured to form a cylinder  74  from cylinder wall  78  for housing standard piston assembly  28 . Piston assembly  28 , as described earlier with regard to  FIG. 3 , drives crankshaft  76 . Thus, as piston  30  moves up and down within cylinder  74 , the same movement is transferred through connecting rod  34  to crankshaft  76  to rotate crankshaft  76 . In addition to including cylinder  74 , standard engine assembly  62  also includes intake  66  and exhaust  68  ports for communicating non-combusted materials into cylinder  74  and combusted materials out of cylinder  74 . The intake and exhausting of combusted and non-combusted materials is controlled by valves  70 . The change in pressure within cylinder  74  resulting from combustion is sealed between valve  70  and the uppermost part of piston  30  using rings  36 . An igniter  64  passes through porthole  72  in communication with cylinder  74 . The igniter  64  may include a glow plug or a spark plug depending upon the type of engine. Thus, combustible material is brought into cylinder  74  through intake port  66 , compressed by piston  30  and ignited by igniter  64  to drive piston  30  downward to turn crankshaft  76 . Combusted material is then exhausted from cylinder  74  through exhaust port  68  by release of valve  70 . Thus, the standard engine assembly  62  is dependent upon combustion to drive cylinder  74  and transfer energy from cylinder  74  to crank shaft  76 . The present invention seeks to provide methods and apparatuses to obviate the need for combustion for driving crankshaft  76 . In fact, the present invention replaces the combustion mechanism described and occurring in standard engine assembly  62  for generating downward force on piston  30  with a magnetic field mechanism according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate two exemplary embodiments of modified piston  42  and  52  respectively. Similar to the standard piston assembly  28  shown in  FIG. 3 , piston assembly  40  shown in  FIG. 5  includes a piston pin  44  for attaching connecting rod  46  to modified piston  42 . Connecting rod  46  is adapted to attach to crankshaft  76  using rod cap  48 . Modified piston  42  may or may not include rings, such as rings  36  shown in  FIG. 3 . Those skilled in the art can appreciate that modified piston  42  need not necessarily have rings  36  if combustion is not being used to drive modified piston  42 . However, rings  36  may be used to facilitate lubrication of cylinder  74 . Thus, modified piston  42  need not but may have some of the same characteristics associated with piston  30  of standard combustion piston assembly  28  shown in  FIG. 3 . For example, modified piston  42  could be shorter than standard piston  30  shown in  FIG. 3 . Preferably, modified piston  42  is constructed of material that would respond to a resulting magnetic field emanating from one or more solenoid types, such as solenoid  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Generally speaking, modified piston  42  is configured in a manner that best suits driving piston  42  using a magnetic field  16  from a solenoid as opposed to being configured to be best driven by combustion. For example, as stated earlier, modified piston  42  may be configured with a smaller body to maximize the travel of piston, stroke or torque using a magnetic field from the solenoid  10 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a piston assembly  50  having a modified piston  52 . Modified piston  52 , like modified piston  42  shown in  FIG. 5 , is configured to operate by influence of solenoid windings  88  and solenoid plug  90  shown in modified engine block  84  of  FIG. 8 . Modified piston  52  of piston assembly  50  includes a hollow core  54 . The hollow core  54  of modified piston  52  forms a hollow ring for passing the magnetic field resulting from solenoid plug  90  and solenoid windings  88  therethrough (similarly shown in  FIG. 2 ). The hollow core  54  passes through the entirety of the body of modified piston  52 . The modified piston  52  is connected to connecting rod  58  with piston pin  56  and to crankshaft  76  using the rod cap  60  as are well known in the art. The piston  52  face has a hollow core  54  in order to induce current in an orderly manner, if not, eddy currents would result in interference of the magnetic field and a reduction in power available from the magnetic field. 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  illustrates exemplary embodiments of the methods and apparatuses of the present invention.  FIG. 7  modifies the standard engine assembly  62  shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 7  shows standard engine assembly  62  shown in  FIG. 4  having been modified and now including solenoid  82 . Preferably, solenoid  82  is wrapped around cylinder wall  78  of cylinder  74 . Current may be provided to solenoid  82  within cylinder  74  using an electrical system associated with the existing standard engine assembly  62 . For example, solenoid  82  could be electrically fed by an existing distributor system associated with the standard engine assembly  62  used to send voltage through igniter  64 . Those skilled in the art can appreciate that solenoid  82  can be wound such that the desired magnetic field results to move modified piston  42  within cylinder  74 . An applied magnetic field results by providing current to solenoid  82 . The applied magnetic field resulting from the applied current to solenoid  82  can be configured to pull modified piston  42  toward the center position of solenoid  82 . Pulling piston  42  connected to crankshaft  76  toward center of solenoid  82  turns crankshaft  76 . Those skilled in the art can appreciate the resulting advantage of reconfiguring piston  30  to a modified piston, such as modified piston  42  shown in  FIG. 4 . For example, by reducing the height of modified piston  42  increases the stroke of the modified piston assembly  40 . By adjusting the number of windings and the applied current to solenoid  82 , the desired power output of the modified engine assembly  80  can be controlled. For example, increasing the applied current to solenoid  82  by way of a throttle or accelerator associated with the standard engine assembly  62  allows modified engine assembly  80  power output and rpm to be controlled. The applied magnetic field resulting from solenoid  82  immediately collapses to zero, and the force applied to the modified piston  42  is removed when current is removed from the solenoid  82  by way of a control means, such as a throttle or accelerator. The present invention contemplates numerous concepts for controlling the current applied to solenoid  82  for driving the crankshaft  76 . For example, a resistor element (not shown) associated with or integrated into the existing engine assembly  62 , by operation or connection to a throttle or accelerator, may be used to control the amount of current being applied to solenoid  82  and thus resulting in a change in the force applied to modified piston  42  from the applied magnetic field emanating from the solenoid  82 . In this manner, rpm of the modified engine assembly  80  may be increased or decreased using an existing throttle or accelerator associated with the standard engine assembly  62 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  illustrates modified piston  52  configured into modified engine assembly  86 . Modified engine assembly  86  includes a modified engine block  100 . Modified engine block  100  has a porthole  72  for keeping igniter  64  in communication with cylinder  74 , as is customary with a standard engine assembly. The existing porthole  72  is used to house solenoid windings  88  attached to solenoid plug  90 . The resulting magnetic flux from solenoid windings  88  passes through the hollow core  54  of modified piston  52 . The flux or applied magnetic field from solenoid windings  88  traveling through the hollow core  54  of modified piston  52  produces a current in the modified piston  52  which results in an induced magnetic field opposing the applied magnetic field from solenoid windings  88 . The applied magnetic field repels the induced magnetic field from modified piston  52  and thereby pushes the modified piston downward which rotates crankshaft  76 . Similar to modified engine assembly  80  in  FIG. 7 , the applied magnetic field resulting from the solenoid windings  88  collapses and goes to zero when the current to the solenoid windings  88  is removed. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that solenoid  88  may be air core or iron core solenoid depending on the application. Solenoid  88  may be mounted in the chamber wall, in current holes for spark or glow plugs or fuel injectors, or in a new configuration in new engines. 
       Method 
       [0038]      FIG. 2  illustrates Lenz&#39;s law and the action of the ring when the solenoid  10  is given current  18 . The ring  26  will push away. Applied magnetic fields  16  can be generated by various exemplary methods. For example, in one aspect of the present invention, a solenoid  82  is wrapped around the cylinder wall  78  as best illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In an alternative aspect of the present methods a solenoid  88  inside the cylinder  74  or in an existing porthole  72 , used previously by spark plugs or fuel injectors, is disclosed. The solenoid  82 ,  88  may be electrically fed by distributor systems used in an existing engine to send voltage through spark plugs in gasoline engines or glow plugs in diesel engines. In either configuration, current generates magnetic flux or an applied magnetic field to drive the piston  42 ,  52  either into the solenoid  82 ,  88 , or away, depending on the specific configuration. In the configuration shown in  FIG. 7 , the magnetic flux from solenoid  82  will pull the piston  42  toward the center of the solenoid  82 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 8 , the magnetic flux from the solenoid  88  travels through the hollow core  54  or middle of the ring formed by modified piston  42 . The flux or applied magnetic field resulting from solenoid  82  produces a current in modified piston  42 , and an induced magnetic field which opposes the applied magnetic field. Because opposite currents repel, the magnetic fields oppose each other and the piston  42  is pushed downward. The timing of repelling piston  42  can be electrically controlled by sequenced and/or ordered firing of solenoid  88  and pushing of respective pistons. Those skilled in this art can appreciate the steps and configuration needed to use timing systems of an existing engine to control firing of solenoids  82 ,  88 . When current is removed from the solenoid  82 ,  88 , the magnetic field instantly collapses to zero and the force on the piston is removed. 
         [0039]    The present invention considers other aspects for controlling solenoid firing. For example, in one aspect, the present invention includes connecting the solenoid  82 ,  88  to an electronic controller (not shown) associated with the engine  80 ,  86 , controlling electrical current from the electrical system associated with the engine  80 ,  86  to the solenoid  82 ,  88  to increase or decrease rpm of the engine  80 ,  86  with the electronic controller, connecting the solenoid  82 ,  88  to a resistor element (not shown) associated with an electrical system for operating the engine  80 ,  86 , applying current to the solenoid  82 ,  88  includes applying current from a constant current source associated with the engine  80 ,  86 , programming an electronic controller (not shown) associated with the engine  80 ,  86  to increase or decrease the rate of solenoid  82 ,  88  firing from the constant current source based on input from a throttle or accelerator associated with the engine  80 ,  86 , controlling timing and firing of solenoid  82 ,  88  in each cylinder  74  with the electrical system for sequenced solenoid  82 ,  88  firing and ordered pushing and/or pulling on the crankshaft  76 , and connecting the resistor element to a throttle or accelerator associated with the engine  80 ,  86  to change the current to the solenoid  82 ,  88  and rpm of the engine  80 ,  86 . In another aspect, a resistor element, actuated by the acceleration pedal, which changes the amount of current going through the solenoid  82 ,  88 , could be used. The change in current adjusts the force applied to the piston  42 ,  52  and controls engine  80 ,  86  speed. 
         [0040]      FIG. 7  is a perspective cross sectional view of a modified pull-in diesel cylinder according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  illustrates how solenoid  82  lines the cylinder wall  78 . In a preferred form, solenoid  82  is wound to produce an upward magnetic field that will draw piston  42  up into the center of the solenoid  82 . As is customary, engine block  84  provides the ground for the solenoid circuit. The voltage circuit associated with engine  80  connected to the solenoid  82  completes the circuit path. This circuit may be timed to produce a current when the piston  42  is at bottom dead center only or some other opportune position. The magnetic force from solenoid  82  pulls the piston  42  up to turn crankshaft  76 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  is a perspective sectional view of a modified push-out diesel cylinder according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 8  best illustrates one possible placement of solenoid  88 . One skilled in the art can appreciate that intake and exhaust valves are not necessary for operation. The engine block  100  provides the ground for the solenoid  88 . The voltage circuit associate with the engine could be connected to solenoid  88  to complete the circuit. The voltage circuit could be timed to produce a current when the piston  52  is at top dead center, which creates a momentary jump in magnetic flux and an opposing magnetic field to drive the piston  52  away from the solenoid  88  and turn crankshaft  76 . 
         [0042]    Therefore apparatuses and methods for non-combustive driving a piston and turning a crankshaft have been disclosed. The present invention contemplates numerous variations, options, and alternatives and is not to be limited to the specific embodiment described herein.