Patent ID: 8492914

Claim:
A starter/generator for a reciprocating engine, comprising: a plurality of permanent magnetic elements that establish a magnetic flux field, each of the plurality of permanent magnetic elements being attached to a surface of a crankshaft for a reciprocating engine so as to rotate in a prescribed path responsive to rotation of the crankshaft; a plurality of stator elements being arranged and configured within the reciprocating engine so as to be maintained in fixed relation to a corresponding permanent magnetic element as the magnetic element rotates in the prescribed path past a surface of the corresponding stator element; and control circuitry that is configured and arranged to control the functionality of each stator element, such that in one mode a corresponding stator element is controlled so that movement of the corresponding permanent magnetic element by the corresponding stator element cause electrical energy to be generated in the respective stator element and such that in another mode the each stator element permanent magnetic element combination operates said motor/generator as a motor, wherein the plurality of permanent magnetic elements, the plurality of stator elements, and the control circuitry of the starter/generator are integrated in the reciprocating engine.