Abstract:
An electromagnetic engine including a plurality of pistons and a plurality of corresponding electromagnets. The pistons are each connected to a crankshaft and fabricated of a ferrous material. The electromagnets are spaced from the pistons in alignment therewith. An electrical power source is provided to power the electromagnets, and a control assembly is provided to control the sequence of energizing the electromagnets, so that by energizing the electromagnets, the pistons will be pulled toward the electromagnets in response to a timely applied electromagnetic field. The force imparted on the piston is transmitted by the rod to the crankshaft, which provides power via an output shaft for desired uses.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US09/65908, filed Nov. 25, 2009, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/118,295, filed Nov. 26, 2008, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/232,109, filed Aug. 7, 2009, the contents of each being incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a reciprocating electromagnetic engine, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a magnetically driven engine for developing shaft power. 
     2. Brief Description of Related Art 
     The creation of magnetic energy by electricity is well known in the art. One of the most prevalent uses of such energy is electric motors. The direct use of such energy, however, is somewhat limited in industry to those applications where, for example, the magnetic attraction forces are used to lift objects or to separate magnetic particles from compounds containing both magnetic and nonmagnetic particles. A more prevalent direct use of magnetic energy is found wherever electrical solenoids are used. Such usage comprises making and breaking electrical contacts, opening and closing valves, and hot-melt glue guns or other such applications where a predetermined amount of a product is dispensed upon demand or at specific time intervals. More recently, the field created by magnetic energy has been used in particle acceleration devices such as cyclotrons and synchrotrons. 
     The fascination associated with the potential uses of magnetic energy has led to a number of devices other than the above, whereby electrical energy is converted into magnetic energy which is then converted into mechanical rotational motion. These devices are generally known as electromagnetic engines. They differ from the common electric motor in that they contain one or more pistons attached to a crankshaft which provides the mechanical output. In light of the number of attempts to produce an electromagnetic engine, there is an obvious need to effectively increase the power output and the efficiency of electromagnetic engines before they can, in fact, be considered to be competitive with other engines and motors such as electric motors and internal combustion engines. Moreover, based on the noncommercial use of such engines, the need for an electromagnetic engine having a high efficiency coupled with a high power output still exists today. It is to such an apparatus that the present invention is directed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an electro-mechanical engine for automotive or other use. An electromagnetic engine is provided with a plurality of pistons and a plurality of corresponding electromagnets. The pistons are each connected to a crankshaft and fabricated of a ferrous material. The electromagnets are spaced from the pistons in alignment therewith. An electrical power source is provided to power the electromagnets, and a control assembly is provided to control the sequence of energizing the electromagnets, so that by energizing the electromagnets, the pistons will be pulled toward the electromagnets in response to a timely applied electromagnetic field. The force imparted on the piston is transmitted by the rod to the crankshaft, which provides power via an output shaft for desired uses. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electromagnetic engine constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of the electromagnetic engine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a power distribution system. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are elevational views of a switch associated with a piston head and a corresponding electric magnet. 
         FIGS. 5A-5F  are elevational views of the switch showing a sequence of operation. 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a piston assembly shown at the top of its stroke. 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the piston assembly of  FIG. 6  shown at the bottom of its stroke. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , an electromagnetic engine  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown. Broadly, the electromagnetic engine  10  includes a support structure  12 , such as a frame or housing, a crankshaft  14  journaled to the support structure  12 , at least one piston assembly  16  operably connected to the crankshaft  14 , at least one electric magnet  18  for imparting reciprocating mechanical energy to the piston assembly  16  which in turn is translated into rotational motion of the crankshaft  14 , and a power distribution system  20  ( FIG. 3 ) for selectively energizing and de-energizing the electric magnet  18 . 
     The support structure  12  may be manufactured of any non-magnetically interfering composition, such as a non-ferrous material like a high strength plastic, ceramic, or aluminum. The support structure  12  may be in the form of a frame or base, as illustrated, so as to provide an open faced platform to reduce friction and heat related issues. However, the support structure may take the form of any functional structure, such as a more traditional engine block. 
     The crankshaft  14  is rotatably connected to the support structure  12  with a plurality of bearings  22 . One end of the crankshaft  14  is provided with a pulley  24  for translating the rotational motion imparted to the crankshaft  14  to a load source, such as a generator  26 . Although not shown, the pulley  24  may be provided with counterbalance weights for storing and releasing energy. The crankshaft  14  is shown to be a conventional six-cylinder crankshaft; however, it will be appreciated that a variety of crankshaft designs may be utilized. 
     The engine  10  is shown to include a plurality of piston assemblies  16 . Each of the piston assemblies  16  has a piston arm  30 , a piston rod  32 , and a piston head  34 . One end of the piston arm  30  is journaled to the crankshaft  14  in a conventional manner and the other end of the piston arm  30  is pivotally connected to the piston rod  32 . The piston rod  32  is reciprocally supported on the support structure  12  by a piston rod housing or sleeve  38 . The piston head  34  is connected to the distal end of the piston rod  32  and manufactured of a ferrous material, such as iron or steel. 
     The electric magnets  18  are mounted to the support structure  12  so that the electric magnets  18  are axially aligned with a corresponding piston head  34  and maintained in a spaced apart relationship with respect to such piston head  34  so that the magnetic fields created by the electric magnets  18  provide an attractive force which tends to pull the piston assembly  16  toward the electric magnet  18 . The electric magnets  18  are shown to be mounted to the support structure  12  with a magnet mount  40  in a flat arrangement to provide for a low profile engine. However, it will be appreciated that other mounting arrangements such as V-shaped, inline, or radial are also possible, as well as any other arrangement that is capable of imparting rotational motion to the crankshaft  14 . 
     The operation of the engine  10  is described by reference to the stroke of a piston assembly  16 . In one embodiment, the electric magnet  18  is energized so as to create an attractive force which pulls the piston assembly  16  toward the electric magnet  18 . As the piston head  34  reaches the top of its stroke, the electric magnet  18  is de-energized. To take advantage of the full attractive force of the electric magnet  18 , the electric magnet  18  is preferably positioned so that the electric magnet  18  is near the piston head  34  when the piston assembly  16  is at the top of its stroke (sometimes referred to as “top dead center”). By way of example, with a piston assembly that has a three inch stroke, the electric magnet may be spaced from the piston head a distance of about 1/16 of an inch when the piston assembly is at the top of its stroke. Such a distance is small enough for the piston head to receive the full attractive force of the electric magnet, yet great enough to avoid the electric magnet interfering with the reciprocating movement of the piston assembly. 
     At some point after the piston assembly  16  begins its return stroke, the electric magnet  18  must be energized again by the power distribution system  20  to repeat the stroke cycle. While the “firing” sequence for the energizing and de-energizing of the electric magnets are critical to the operation of prior art electromagnetic engines, the engine  10  attempts to avoid the problems encountered when attempting to precisely time the energizing and de-energizing. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the power distribution system  20  is broadly illustrated as including a starter switch  50 , a low voltage power source  52 , such as a 12 or 24 volt battery, and a starter motor  54  operatively connected to the crankshaft  14  for actuating the engine  10 . The power distribution system  20  further includes a generator  56  operably connected to the crankshaft  14 . The generator  56  may be used to power an AC power bank  58 . The generator  56  is also connected to an AC/DC converter  60  which is connected to a manifold  62 . The manifold  62  is electrically connected to each of the electric magnets  18 . 
     The precise timing of the actuation of the electromagnets has been the subject of prior art references. In an attempt to avoid such issues, the electric magnets  18  preferably remain energized throughout the stroke with the exception of when the pistons are near or at top dead center and for a distance during the return stroke. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the power distribution system  20  is shown to further include a switch  70  associated with each piston head and electric magnet combination. The switch includes a piston push arm  72  extending from the piston head  34  and a V-switch  74  provided with a contact plate  76  and pivotally connected to the electric magnet  18 , and a hot contact member  78 . As best shown in  FIGS. 4A and 5B , the contact plate  76  is electrically connected to the electric magnet  18 , while the hot contact member  78  is electrically connected to a power source or manifold. 
     As demonstrated in  FIGS. 5A-5F , with the contact plate  76  in electrical communication with the hot contact member  78 , the electric magnet  18  is energized. As such, the piston head  34  is pulled toward the electric magnet  18 . As the piston head  34  is pulled toward the electric magnet  18 , the piston push arm  72  will bypass a first leg  79  of the V-switch  74  and contact a second leg  80 . As the piston head  34  continues toward the electric magnet  18 , the V-switch  74  will be rotated thereby causing the contact plate  76  of the second leg  80  to disengage from the hot contact member  78  and in turn de-energize the electric magnet  18 . As the piston head  34  begins the return stroke ( FIG. 5F ), the piston push arm  72  will travel a distance and then catch the first leg  79  of the V-switch  74  so as to cause the V-switch  74  to rotate and cause the contact plate of the second leg  80  to electrically contact the hot contact member  78  and re-energize the electric magnet  18 . 
     It should be appreciated that the power distribution system  20  may be any suitable system for energizing and de-energizing the electric magnets  18  in a predetermined sequence. For example, a suitable power distribution system  20  may include a cam provided on the crankshaft  14  that actuates a series of switches (e.g., proximity switches) in a desired sequence. It should also be appreciated that the number of piston assemblies that may be employed in the engine  10  may be varied. In addition, the moving parts may be lubricated in any conventional manner, such as a drip oil system or a pressure oil system. 
       FIGS. 6-7  illustrate another embodiment of a piston assembly  100 . The piston assembly  100  includes a piston rod  102  and a piston head  104 . The piston head  104  is supported on the support structure  12  such that the piston head  104  travels along an angular path between the top of its stroke or at a top dead center ( FIG. 6 ) and the bottom of its stroke ( FIG. 7 ). In the embodiment shown herein, a lower end of the piston head  104  is pivotally connected to the support structure  12  with a hinge  106 , or any other suitable pivot connector, so that the piston head  104  is in a face-to-face relationship with the electric magnet  18  when the piston head  104  is at the top of its stroke ( FIG. 6 ) and angularly disposed relative to the electric magnet  18  otherwise, with the maximum angular displacement taking place at the bottom of the stroke. In addition, the piston head  104  preferably is positioned near the electric magnet  18  when the piston head  104  is at the top of its stroke in a manner similar to that described above in reference to the piston assembly  16 . 
     The piston rod  102  has one end journaled to the crankshaft  14  in a conventional manner. The other end of the piston rod  102  is pivotally connected to the piston head  104  with a hinge  108 , or any other suitable pivot connector, so that the piston rod  102  transmits a rotational force to the crankshaft  14  in response to the angular movement of the piston head  104 . To maximize stroke length, the piston rod  102  is pivotally connected to the piston head  104  at a location diametrically opposed to where the piston head  104  is pivotally connected to the support structure  12 . However, it should be appreciated that the piston rod  102  may be attached to the piston head  104  at any location to achieve a desired stroke length. 
     The piston rod  102  may be constructed such that its length is adjustable. To this end, the piston rod  102  may be provided with a turnbuckle assembly  110  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) or any other suitable adjustment mechanism. In addition, because the piston rod  102  is pivotally connected to the piston head  104 , the piston rod  102  is not required to be reciprocally supported on the support structure  12 . 
     From the above description it is clear that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the invention disclosed and as defined in the appended claims.