Abstract:
The present invention pertains to an engine assembly that utilizes magnetically and air pressure driven pistons. The engine assembly of the present invention utilizes the design and functionality of typical internal combustion engines, while incorporating energy efficient technologies found in electric/magnetic type engines and others.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the art of engine devices. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    An engine (or motor) is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. 
         [0004]    Engines come in many types. A common type is a heat engine, such as an internal combustion engine, which typically burns a fuel with air and uses the hot gases for generating power. External combustion engines, such as steam engines, use heat to generate motion by way of a separate working fluid. 
         [0005]    The electric motor is another type of engine that takes electrical energy and generates mechanical motion by way of varying electromagnetic fields. 
         [0006]    Typical engines burn, or otherwise consume fuel, and are differentiated from an electric motor that derives power without changing the composition of matter. An automobile powered by an internal combustion engine may make use of various motors and pumps, but ultimately all such devices derive their power from the engine. 
         [0007]    The gradual depletion of fossil fuels has sparked a major interest in designing engines that are more energy efficient. Magnetic/electric engines and hybrid engine designs (electric and combustion engines working in concert) are answers to the fossil fuel dilemma. The internal combustion engine has years of proven use and success in automobiles, planes, motorcycles, lawnmowers, recreational vehicles, etc.; therefore, there is a need for an engine that utilizes the proven design and functionality of typical internal combustion engines, while incorporating energy efficient technologies such as found in electric/magnetic type engines. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For illustrating the invention, the figures are shown in the embodiments that are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  depicts at least one embodiment of the invention, namely a cross-sectional view of a magnetic air engine. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts at least one embodiment of the invention, namely a cross-sectional view of a magnetic air engine with dual pistons. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  depicts at least one embodiment of the invention, namely a cross-sectional view of a magnetic air engine with dual pistons in a V-shaped orientation. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  depicts at least one embodiment of the invention, namely a cross-sectional view of a magnetic air engine with four (4) pistons. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  depicts at least one embodiment of the invention, namely a detailed view of an air supply valve and piston housing. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  depicts at least one embodiment of the invention, namely an exploded view of the air supply valve of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The present invention depicts an inventive solution to the fore mentioned issues related to engines. 
         [0016]    Unless otherwise defined, all terms of art, notations and other scientific terms or terminology used herein are intended to have the meanings commonly understood by those of skill in the art to which this invention pertains. In some cases, terms with commonly understood meanings are defined herein for clarity and/or for ready reference, and the inclusion of such definitions herein should not necessarily be construed to represent a substantial difference over what is generally understood in the art. Many of the techniques and procedures described, or referenced herein, are well understood and commonly employed using conventional methodology by those skilled in the art. 
         [0017]    The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” 
         [0018]    The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified unless clearly indicated to the contrary. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B,” when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A without B (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B without A (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc. 
         [0019]    As used herein in the specification and in the claims, or should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, or or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as only one of or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term or as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. one or the other but not both“) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law. 
         [0020]    The present invention utilizes magnetic and/or air pressure forces in concert with the piston/crankshaft design of typical internal combustion engines; however, no internal combustion via fuel is necessary. 
         [0021]    In at least one embodiment, the present invention pertains to an engine assembly, comprising at least one engine cylinder; at least one air valve comprising a supply opening and an exhaust opening which are alternatively openable and closable in relation to the at least one engine cylinder; at least one piston assembly, wherein the at least one piston assembly comprises at least one piston and at least one piston rod; a crank shaft, wherein the crank shaft is operatively coupled between the at least one piston assembly and the at least one air valve, whereby the at least one air valve opens and closes based on the position of the at least one piston assembly. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the at least one piston may be magnetic. In some embodiments, the engine assembly may further comprise at least one magnetic coil positioned relative to the at least one engine cylinder, whereby the at least one magnetic coil provides a magnetic field within or around the at least one engine cylinder; and at least one polarity timing device, wherein the at least one polarity timing device is operatively coupled between the crank shaft and the at least one magnetic coil, whereby the polarity of the at least one magnetic coil is affected based on the position of the crank shaft. 
         [0023]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, an engine assembly is shown in  FIG. 1 . In at least one embodiment, the present invention pertains to an engine assembly, comprising at least one engine cylinder  100 ; at least one air valve  200  comprising a supply opening  210  and an exhaust opening  220  which are alternatively openable and closable in relation to the at least one engine cylinder  100 ; at least one piston assembly  300 , wherein the at least one piston assembly  300  comprises at least one piston  310  and at least one piston rod  320 ; and a crank shaft  400 , wherein the crank shaft  400  is operatively coupled between the at least one piston assembly  300  and the at least one air valve  200 , whereby the at least one air valve  200  opens and closes based on the position of the at least one piston assembly  300 . 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, the at least one air valve  200  is a rotating valve. In some embodiments, upper ball bearings  800  are utilized to aid in rotation of the at least one air valve  200 . In some embodiments, lower ball bearings  810  are utilized to aid in rotation of the crank shaft  400 . 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the at least one engine cylinder  100  is made of metal. The metal is selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, nickel and combinations thereof. It would be understood by those skilled in the art that any metal capable of withstanding engine environmental conditions and strains would be usable as a metal for the at least one engine cylinder  100 . 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the at least one piston  310  is magnetized. The at least one piston  310  may be constructed of a metal capable of being magnetized, or it may be constructed of a permanent magnet. The metal may be selected from the group consisting of iron, steel, nickel and combinations thereof. It would be understood by those skilled in the art that any metal capable of being magnetized and capable of withstanding conditions found inside an engine could be used. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the entire piston is made of a magnetizable metal. In other embodiments, only a portion of the piston is made of a magnetizable metal. The magnetized piston may be made of a non-magnetic metal surrounded by a metal capable of being magnetized. In other embodiments, the magnetized piston is made of a combination of a non-magnetic metal and a metal capable of being magnetized. In some embodiments, the entire piston is made of a permanent magnet. In other embodiments, only a portion of the piston is made of a permanent magnet, while the rest of the piston is made of another metal. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the engine assembly further comprises at least one magnetic coil  110  positioned relative to the at least one engine cylinder  100 , whereby the at least one magnetic coil  110  provides a magnetic field within or around the at least one engine cylinder  100 . In some embodiments, the engine assembly further comprises at least one polarity timing device  500 , wherein the at least one polarity timing device  500  is operatively coupled between the crank shaft  400  and the at least one magnetic coil  110 , whereby the polarity of the at least one magnetic coil  110  is affected based on the position of the crank shaft  400 . The at least one polarity timing device is also linked to a power source to provide an electric current for the at least one magnetic coil  110  to produce a magnetic field. The power source may be a battery, battery array, one or more solar panels, and combinations thereof. 
         [0029]    The at least one polarity timing device  500  may be a mechanical or electronic timing device or combinations of both. In some embodiments, a single polarity timing device may be utilized for each engine cylinder contained in the engine of the present invention. In other embodiments, a single polarity timing device may be utilized for multiple engine cylinders. In other embodiments, multiple polarity timing devices may be utilized for multiple engine cylinders. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment of the invention, the said polarity timing device  500  and said air supply, (controlled by air valves  200 ), were systematically controlled by a micro-processor module. Said micro processor module was programmed to synchronize the polarity switch and the amount of air forced against the piston in the cylinder and the opening and closing of the valves  200 . Said microprocessor may comprise of multiple internal function units. A basic design has an arithmetic logic unit, a control unit, a memory interface, an interrupt or exception controller, and an internal cache. More sophisticated microprocessors might also be used for the same purpose of controlling and distributing air and magnetic field direction within the engine. 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, multiple magnetic coils are arranged along the engine cylinder. If multiple magnetic coils are utilized within a single engine cylinder, in some embodiments a single polarity timing device is utilized, and in other embodiments, multiple polarity timing devices are utilized. The magnetic forces in each coil reverse once the polarity is reversed. As such, in some embodiments, a single polarity timing device is used for each engine cylinder. 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, the engine assembly further comprises at least one timing linkage  600 , wherein the timing linkage  600  operatively links the crankshaft  400  and the at least one air valve  200 . The timing linkage  600  may be selected from the group consisting of a timing belt, timing chain or combinations thereof. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, the engine assembly further comprises at least one flywheel  700 . 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, the at least one air valve  200  is linked to an air pressure supply. The air pressure serves to push the piston downward in the engine cylinder. When a magnetized piston is utilized, the combination of magnetic forces and air pressure serve to push the piston downward. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the engine assembly of the present invention may be utilized in various engine cylinder arrangements and numbers. As shown in  FIG. 2 , one embodiment of the present invention is shown where two engine cylinders  100  are arranged back-to-back such that there are two piston assemblies  300 , wherein the piston rod  320  of each attaches to a single crank shaft  400 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , another embodiment of the present invention is shown where two engine cylinders  100  are arranged in a V-shaped arrangement such that there are two piston assemblies  300 , wherein the piston rod  320  of each attaches to a single crank shaft  400 . 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of the present invention is shown where two sets of back-to-back engine cylinders  100  are arranged such that there are four piston assemblies  300 , wherein the piston rod  320  of each attaches to a single crank shaft  400 . Also, a timing linkage  600  is utilized such that each engine cylinder remains in proper timing with the crankshaft moving the piston and the air valves opening and closing. As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the engine assembly could be made up of more than four engine cylinders. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of the present invention, wherein a more detailed view of the at least one air valve  200  comprising a supply opening  210  and an exhaust opening  220  is shown. As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the supply opening and the exhaust opening could be interchanged. As shown, the timing linkage  600  operatively links the crankshaft  400  and the at least one air valve  200 . Such linkage may utilize a timing chain or timing belt operatively linking the crankshaft  400  and at least one air valve  200  by way of a crankshaft gear  410  and an air valve gear  230 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention depicted in  FIG. 5 . A detailed view is shown of the at least one air valve  200 . The at least one air valve  200  contains a rotating internal structure that allows for repetitive opening and closing of the supply opening  210  and exhaust opening  220 , respectively. Likewise, the supply opening  210  is in the closed position when the exhaust opening  220  is in the opened position, and vice versa. Ball bearings  800  are utilized in rotating parts of the at least one air valve to aid in rotation. When the supply opening  210  is in the “open” position, pressurized air enters the engine cylinder and pushes the piston in the downward position. When magnetized pistons are utilized in combination with a magnetic coil and polarity timing device and air valve, the magnetic forces work in concert with air pressure to “push” the piston downward. When the piston begins the return upward in the engine cylinder, the exhaust opening  220  is in the “open” position (supply opening  210  is in the “closed” position), allowing for release of air while the magnetic forces retract the magnetized piston, completing a cycle. 
         [0039]    The magnetic functions of this invention are related to lineal magnetic force and lineal magnetic actuaries. 
         [0040]    It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and not the Abstract section, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Abstract section may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventor (s), and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims in any way. 
         [0041]    The present invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed. 
         [0042]    The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance. The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.