DEVICE FOR A COMBUSTION ENGINE ASSOCIATED WITH A LINEARLY MOVABLE INDUCTION COIL

This invention relates to a combustion engine associated with a linearly movable induction coil. More particularly it con- cerns a combustion engine comprising a piston and a piston cylinder together with necessary auxiliary systems of a design known per se. The piston is, via the piston rod and a rocker arm, coupled to a linearly movable induction coil cooperating with a fixed mounted permanent magnet, and which thereby is arranged to be able to produce electrical energy when the piston is displaced in the piston cylinder.

Otto-engines comprise a piston, which via a piston rod and a crankshaft are coupled to a flywheel. In combustion engines based on this principle, and where the energy is taken out via the crankshaft, the crankshaft is close to its top dead center when the combustion pressure is at its maximum. This unfortunate condition causes the torque acting on the crankshaft, at the first part of the combustion, to be relatively modest .

This, together with other conditions, contributes to a combustion engine of this type exhibiting a relatively modest efficiency. The objective of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of prior art .

The objective is achieved in accordance with the invention by the features given in the description below and in the following claims.

A combustion engine in accordance with the invention com- prises a piston and a piston cylinder together with the necessary auxiliary systems of a design known per se, and is characterized by the piston via the piston rod and a rocker arm being coupled to a linearly movable induction coil cooperating with a fixed mounted permanent magnet, and which is thereby arranged to produce electric energy when the piston is displaced in the piston cylinder.

The permanent magnet, which is typically constituted by a ring magnet, but which may be constituted by a number of bar magnets, is fixedly mounted in the combustion engine near the induction coil rocker arm.

It has turned out that so-called Neodymium magnets are well suited for this purpose.

The induction coil is shaped such that it surrounds the permanent magnet during the whole of the piston stroke. The gen- erated energy can then be collected from the coil in the form of alternating current (AC) with a frequency corresponding to the piston frequency.

The engine will be able to produce electricity during all piston strokes. To maintain an even piston frequency, the piston via the piston rod and the rocker arm is coupled to an idle flywheel. More pistons may in a way known per se be coupled to a common rocker arm.

The permanent magnet attachments are made of heat insulating material as the magnet output decreases at an upper tempera- ture threshold. Earlier solutions placing the permanent mag-

net in the piston itself are influenced by this temperature factor and results in a limited energy yield.

It is advantageous to let the induction coil be the movable part in the induction process, as this will have considerably less weight than the permanent magnet . In producing energy from pulsating elements, the weight of the pulsating and energy-producing element is significant for the energy yield.

A combustion engine according to the invention provides a relatively simple and efficient way of transforming mechani- cal energy into electrical energy. Advantageously, the engine may be utilized in vehicles where the whole transmission may be replaced by an electric motor in each driving wheel. The engine will be able to work at a frequency giving the best possible combination of power, efficiency and relatively small emissions.

Using hydrogen as fuel, the pollutive emissions from petrol and diesel fuel may be eliminated.

In the following a non-limiting example of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings is de- scribed, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-section of a 2 -cylinder combustion engine of the invention, where one of the pistons is at its top dead centre, and the other piston at its bottom dead centre;

Fig. 2 shows schematically the same as fig. 1, but here the pistons have moved half a stroke in the cylinder; and

Fig. 3 shows schematically the same as figs. 1 and 2, but here 4 cylinders are coupled to a common rocker arm. The flywheel is positioned symbolically.

In the drawings the reference numeral 1 is a multi cylinder combustion engine comprising the piston cylinders 2 and the pistons 4. The pistons 4 are coupled to a flywheel 6 via the piston rods 8, the rocker arm 9 and the flywheel rod 10. The combustion engine 1 is provided with necessary auxiliary systems (not shown) for, among other things, such as fuel sup- ply _/ exhaust, ignition and cooling.

The induction coils 3, surrounding the fixed mounted permanent magnets 5, are attached to the rocker arm 9. The permanent magnets 5 are attached by heat insulating brackets 7 to the engine housing 11.

Wires 12 are connecting the induction coils 3. In the drawings, the designations "N" and "S" indicate possible polarizing directions in the permanent magnets 5.

When the combustion engine is operating, voltage is induced in the induction coils 3 every time they are displaced along the surrounded permanent magnets 5. Electrical energy may thereby be drawn from the leads 12 as alternating current.