Abstract:
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an electric generating device accelerates a plurality of spaced magnetic disks inside a circular chamber. The exterior wall of the circular chamber includes a coil winding, so as the plurality of spaced magnetic discs move within the chamber, an electric current induces in the coil winding. A two-piston mechanical pump drives a gas into traveling compartments located between a pair of the spaced magnetic discs. By forcing fluid into the compartment, the discs are forced to travel within the circular chamber. A set of one-way flow valves ensures that the fluid is uni-directional and directs flow to cause the movement of the discs. A small portion of the generated electricity is returned to the system to energize a pair of helper motors. The electric helper motors, each couple to a respective cam. Rotation of the cams drives the piston pump.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to electrical generators and more specifically to an electric generator having pneumatic cylinder piston pump. 
         [0002]    An electric generator converts kinetic energy to electrical energy using electromagnetic induction. Typically a motor provides the mechanical energy for conversion. Types of motors used in electric generators include reciprocating or turbine steam engines, moving water channeled through a turbine or water wheel, an internal combustion engine, a wind turbine, or a hand crank. 
         [0003]    Each of these types of electromagnetic induction generators apply Faraday&#39;s discovery that an electrical conductor moving perpendicular to a magnetic field results in a potential difference, or current, between the opposite ends of the conductor. These principals led to today&#39;s generators, a single device that combines an engine and an electrical generator. Generators, which are more precisely termed an engine-generator set or gen-set, in a single device, typically include a diesel or gasoline engine to motivate a rotor relative to a stator. Commonly, the stator comprises either a naturally occurring permanent magnet or an electro-magnet, and the rotor comprises several coil windings that move around the magnetic field of the stator. Small versions of such generators are commonly used to generate electric power on a temporary basis as a standby power generator for a hospital, or as a portable generator for a construction site, for example. 
         [0004]    The prior-art electrical generation devices, however, have some limitations. One common limitation of known electric generators includes parasitic losses due to friction between mechanical components. These losses can result in inefficiencies and power loss, typically ranging from 10-40%. Therefore, there is a need for a power generating system that minimizes frictional losses. 
     
    
     
       DRAWING 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a front cross-sectional view of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention at a first position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a front cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1  in a second position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a front cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1  in a third position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a front cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1  in a fourth position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a cam according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the cam of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a front view of a magnetic plate according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the magnetic plate of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 10A  is a detail view of the magnetic plate at the reference mark detail A of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 10B  is a detail view showing the segment of  FIG. 6  marked  FIG. 10B . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Possible preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings and those skilled in the art will understand that alternative configurations and combinations of components may be substituted without subtracting from the invention. Also, in some figures certain components are omitted to more clearly illustrate the invention. 
         [0018]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention uses an inert gas, such as helium in its gaseous state, as a dynamic fluid to motivate a mechanical system coupled to a novel electrical generator. The gas, having fluidic properties, flows, compresses and expands according to well-understood principles and, the terms gas and fluid may be used interchangeably to indicate a gaseous substance. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a feedback system that apportions a small portion of the generated electricity to provide mechanical assistance via a motor. The motor can be A/C and draw current directly from the coil assembly, or DC after the alternating current is rectified using a rectifier, which is an electrical device that converts alternating current to direct current or at least to current with only positive value. The motor couples to a cam assembly to power a piston, which drives the fluid pump. Thus, once in a static state, the system according to a preferred embodiment is self-generating with an excess of current available for a storage system or to otherwise exit the system of the present invention. 
         [0019]    In a preferred embodiment, an electrical generating device comprises an annular ring assembly coupled to a piston pump and reservoir. As  FIGS. 1-6  show, the annular ring assembly  20  consists of a fluid intake means  26 , such as a one-way flow valve, or uni-directional check valve to prevent back-flow and direct the gas into the ring assembly. The ring assembly further includes a fluid outflow means  28 , such as a one-way flow valve, or uni-directional check valve to prevent back-flow and direct gas out of the ring assembly. Both fluid flow means  26  and  28  are in fluid communication with the piston pump. 
         [0020]    The piston pump consists of a first piston assembly  60  having a first variable-volume interior chamber  62 . A first inflow check-valve  64  enables fluid or, preferably a gaseous substance such as helium gas, to be drawn into the chamber from the ring assembly when the piston chamber&#39;s volume increases and pressure increases. A second outflow check valve  66  enables the gas to displace into a reservoir. The piston assembly includes a first piston adapted to reciprocate within the first variable-volume interior chamber  62  and, includes a compression member  76 . A first surface  70  of the first piston forms one wall of the first interior chamber. And, a first connecting rod  74  having a first end couples to a second surface  72  of the first piston in a manner well-understood to those skilled in this art. 
         [0021]    A reservoir tank  50 , in fluid communication with the first piston outflow check valve  66 , uses a fluid flow path, such as piping or intake line  52  to direct fluid or gas from the first piston assembly to the reservoir. 
         [0022]    Also in fluid communication with the reservoir, a second piston assembly comprising a second variable-volume interior chamber  82  draws the gas from the reservoir. The second chamber has a second inflow check valve  84  in fluid communication with the reservoir tank. And, a second piston reciprocates within the second variable-volume interior chamber. A first surface  90  of the second piston forms one wall of the second interior chamber. A second connecting rod  94  having a first end couples to a second surface  92  of the second piston. A second outflow check valve  86  in fluid communication with the fluid intake means of the annular ring creates a fluid flow path from the second piston interior chamber to the annular ring assembly. 
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment, the first piston assembly further comprises a link-rod  100  pivotably coupled to the first connecting rod  74  at a second end of the rod. At that same second end, or adjacent thereto, a first cam  110  couples to the connecting rod  74 . A small electric, direct current motor draws current from the coil assembly, for example 1.5 amps, and is coupled to the cam directly or by a shaft. Accordingly, whereby rotation of a shaft of the first motor  130  causes the first cam  110  to correspondingly rotate. This rotation is converted into the linear (up/down) displacement of the connecting rod  74  to the first piston assembly. 
         [0024]    The link-rod  100  further couples to the second piston assembly at a second end of the second connecting rod  94 . Accordingly, upward displacement of the first connecting rod  74  results in a reciprocal but opposite downward displacement of the second connecting rod  94 . 
         [0025]    The second piston assembly further comprises a second cam  120 , which is driven or motivated by a second motor  140 , which is similar in design and function as the previously discussed first motor  130 , the two motors operating and functioning similarly that the operation and function of the second motor is omitted here. 
         [0026]    As  FIGS. 2-5  illustrate, as the respective first and second pistons linearly reciprocate, the gas is drawn from the ring assembly into the first piston chamber during the upstroke of the first piston. At the same time, the second piston traveling downward, forces fluid or gas into the ring assembly. 
         [0027]    When the first piston reverses and travels downward, the drawn fluid or gas, now prevented from flowing back into the ring by the one way valve  64 , forces the fluid or gas into the line  52  via valve  66  and flows to the reservoir tank  50 . At the same time, the second piston reverses direction and travels upward. This draws fluid from the reservoir into the chamber using line  54  and one-way valve  84 , while valve  86  “closes” and prevents the piston from drawing fluid from the ring assembly. 
         [0028]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electrical generating device also includes an annular ring assembly  20 . The annular ring assembly consists of a annular housing  22 , which consists of a tubular shaped sidewall with a hollow interior portion, such as channel  24 . This forms an interior chamber or, more accurately, a hollow, enclosed pipe channel  24  having a generally circular cross-section. An exterior face of the ring assembly adapts to support a continuous coil-winding  40  about the sidewall&#39;s circumference. The hollow interior channel  24  forms a sealed and continuous chamber having a generally circular arrangement wherein no end-walls are required to create the sealed continuous chamber. 
         [0029]    Located inside the ring housing, at least one traveling compartment  30  consisting of oppositely position end walls, each end wall being a disc-like or coin-shaped magnetic member. Each traveling compartment  30  locates in the annular housing and adapt to slideably travel within the hollow channel. A first magnetic plate assembly  32  forms one endwall. The first magnetic plate assembly has a generally circular cross section and resembles a coin. The first magnetic plate includes an annular groove  38  adapted to couple to a sealing-ring member  34 . The sealing ring member has an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the coin-shaped first magnet  32 . Oppositely spaced, the second magnetic plate assembly  36  forms a second endwall. 
         [0030]    To prevent reverse travel, and to ensure one-directional travel of the traveling compartment  30 , a set of one-directional cam devices  25  and  27  are included. Those skilled in the art will appreciate their function, operation, and construction.  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6  illustrate the operation of the one-way cams  25  and  27 , which ensure one direction travel of the ring  20 .  FIG. 10B  details a possible cam  25  consisting of a pivot element and a small, rotating, triangular-shaped cam member with a travel-limiting and rotational-assist tension device (or spring) that travels from a near horizontal position to enable the magnetic plate to travel in one direction, to its normal, open position, which presents a near vertical sidewall to prevent the reverse travel of the magnetic plate assembly  32  (as shown in  FIG. 10A , for example). The vertical position of the cam  25  prevents reverse travel of the plate  32 . 
         [0031]    A fluid intake means  26 , such as a one-way flow valve or check valve, is disposed to create a one-directional fluid flow path to the traveling compartment  30  and a corresponding fluid outflow means  28  comprises an outflow one-way check valve adapted to channel gas or fluid from the traveling compartment and send it to the piston pump. 
         [0032]    By Faraday&#39;s Law, the voltage generated through the coil by the magnet traveling in the annular housing can be determined. As the disc-like magnet travels past the static coil winding, there is an apparent change in the magnetic field with respect to a given point on the coil winding. And, any change in the magnetic environment of a coil of wire will cause a voltage (emf) to be “induced” in the coil. Faraday&#39;s law is a fundamental relationship which comes from Maxwell&#39;s equations. It serves as a succinct summary of the ways a voltage (or emf) may be generated by a changing magnetic environment. The induced emf in a coil is equal to the negative of the rate of change of magnetic flux times the number of turns in the coil. It involves the interaction of charge with magnetic field. Thus, the coil winding, in a preferred embodiment, generates about 15 amps. 
         [0033]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the generated 15 amps is drawn off the coil winding  40  and split. About 1.5 amps is sent to the pair of AC motors driving the cams via feedback lead  42 , and the balance of the generated current is directed to an external device, such as a storage device, battery, appliance, etc. via connector  45 . 
         [0034]    Although the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.