Field of the invention

The present invention is in the field of electric generators. More specifically, the invention relates to the field of an electric generator that is suitable to operate on a temperature-controlled superconductor as a source of initial movement of the components of the generator.

Background of the invention

An electric generator translates a mechanical input into an electrical current. It is known, for example, to utilize a belt-driven shaft to provide an input to the alternator. Alternators utilize induction to generate electricity. It is known, for example, to generate electric current utilizing relative motion between permanent magnets and windings (i.e., coils) of electrically conductive wire to generate current. Different configurations of magnets and windings are being used to different effects upon the generated current.

For example, the generator can be a linear generator that includes a stationary cylinder and a piston located within the cylinder and is suitable to move within the cylinder linearly. By positioning a magnet (or magnets) on the inner wall of the cylinder and positioning coils on the outer surface of the piston, the movement of said piston inside said cylinder creates the flow of electrical current through the coils. According to other exemplary linear generators, the positioning of the magnet(s) and coils is opposite so that the magnets are positioned on the outer surface of the piston, while the coils are placed on the inner surface of the cylinder.

Many opposed-piston engines include a combustion chamber disposed between two pistons according to the prior art. As combustion occurs within the combustion chamber, the pistons are driven in opposite directions, away from the combustion chamber. Such engines also include a rebound mechanism suitable to cause the pistons to return toward the center of the apparatus in preparation for the next cycle, thus preventing the need to use a crankshaft. It is an object of the present invention to provide a generator that allows an operation with a temperature-controlled superconductor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect, the present invention is a superconductor-based engine comprising a temperature-controlled superconductor that acts as a source for mechanical motion transmission.

In one aspect, the temperature-controlled superconductor is located within a central chamber that is adapted to receive a chilling fluid suitable to decrease the temperature of said superconductor in order to achieve a superconducting state.

In one aspect, the central chamber comprises an intake port through which the chilling fluid enters said central chamber in order to reduce the temperature of the superconductor.

In one aspect, at least one pair of magnets and at least one element that stores mechanical energy to which each magnet is attached are configured to perform a linear motion in accordance with the superconducting state of the superconductor, wherein each magnet is configured to linearly move inside an inner void of a lateral chamber with respect to the central chamber.

In one aspect, an oscillating motion of the magnets is obtained in accordance with switching alternately between the superconductivity state and a non superconductivity state of the temperature-controlled superconductor. In yet another aspect, the engine comprises an essentially round superconductor having two peripheral chambers, concentrically confined by a rotor having a magnetic portion, wherein said two peripheral chambers are adapted to allow the inlet of chilling fluid from a fluid tank through corresponding tubes, thus to enable the temperature reduction of said superconductor, resulting in the rotation of said rotor.

In one aspect, the chilling fluid is liquid nitrogen.

In one aspect, a regulating unit controls the insertion of the chilling fluid into the central chamber. The regulating unit may comprise a flow valve, and wherein a computerized controller controls the regulating unit.

In one aspect, each pair of magnets are arranged to attract or repel each other during the superconducting state.

In yet another aspect, the engine further comprises at least one electronic unit and/or sensors. The electronic unit may communicate with one or more sensors in a wired or wireless manner.

In one aspect, the electronic unit is configured to receive data from the one or more sensors, process the received data, and accordingly control the insertion of the chilling fluid into the central chamber.

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a superconductor-based engine that comprises a cylinder that includes a central chamber, a superconductor located within said central chamber, at least one set of magnets, wherein each magnet is suitable to move inside an inner void of a lateral chamber linearly, and wherein each of said magnets is connected to an element that stores mechanical energy. According to one embodiment of the invention, the central chamber further comprises at least one opening suitable to allow the inlet of fluids suitable to reduce the temperature of said superconductor.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one opening is suitable to be connected to a fluid source by suitable connection means, such as suitable connecting tubes. According to one embodiment of the invention, the fluid source is a nitrogen tank. According to another embodiment of the invention, the connection means between the opening and the fluid source comprise a controllable flow valve.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the element that stores mechanical energy comprises a rebound mechanism. Such a rebound mechanism can be, for example, a mechanical spring.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a transparent perspective view of a superconductor-based engine in the form of a linear generator, according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the two magnets move away from the superconductor as a result of a flow of a material that chills the superconductor;

Fig. 2 is a transparent perspective view, similar to the one in Fig. 1, but in a position wherein the two magnets move toward the superconductor in opposite to the direction that is shown in Fig. 1, as a result of ceasing the flow of the material; and

Figs. 3A-3B schematically illustrate a superconductor-based engine in the form of a rotary engine, according to another embodiment of the invention.

A detailed description of the invention

The present invention relates to a superconductor-based engine, which can also be referred to simply as "engine" along the description for the sake of brevity. According to the present invention, the engine comprises a temperature-controlled superconductor that acts as a source for mechanical motion transmission. The engine suggested by the present invention utilizes the state of matter that has no electrical resistance and does not allow magnetic fields to penetrate, which can be achieved at very cold temperatures.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the engine can be in the form of a linear electric generator and may comprise a central cylinder (may also refer here as a superconductor chamber); a superconductor, which is located within the central cylinder; an intake port through which a chilling fluid (e.g., nitrogen) enters into the central chamber in order to reduce the temperature of the superconductor; at least one pair of magnets; and at least one pair of elements that stores mechanical energy to which the magnets are attached (e.g., the elements can be a pair of springs or other forms of an elastic object that stores mechanical energy and exerts an opposing force approximately proportional to its change in length). According to another embodiment of the invention, the engine can be in the form of a rotary engine and may comprise a stator, a rotor, and a temperature-controlled superconductor that acts as a source for mechanical motion transmission between the stator and the rotor.

As will be further described with reference to the drawings, a significant advantage of the present invention is the use of a temperature-controlled superconductor that acts as a source for mechanical motion transmission. As a result, the magnets linearly oscillate. Using a chilling fluid to control the temperature of the superconductor replaces the use of a mechanical connecting rod for motion transmission, which allows the stroke-like linear motion of the magnets in their chamber to the activation of the elements that store mechanical energy (e.g., springs that when they are stretched (or compressed) from their resting position, they exert an opposing force approximately proportional to its change in length).

The operation of the engine is based on the insertion of a chilling fluid into the superconductor chamber. The chilling fluid is also referred to as "inlet fluid" and can be, for example, nitrogen. According to the present invention, references are made to the accompanying drawings in the following detailed description, which illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the invention. This embodiment may be combined with other components, other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a transparent perspective view of a superconductor-based engine 10, according to one embodiment of the invention. Engine 10 comprises a central chamber 16 in which a superconductor IB is stored, and a pair of lateral chambers 11 and 12 in the form of a cylindrical body. In this embodiment, the diameter of the lateral chambers 11, 12 is identical.

Fig. 1 also shows two opposed magnets - a first magnet 15 and a second magnet 14. The inner volume of chamber 11 comprises the first magnet 15, and the inner volume of chamber 12 comprises the second magnet 14.

The central chamber 16 comprises superconductor 13. Central chamber 16 is located between the pair of lateral chambers 11, 12. Central chamber 16 is adapted to receive chilling fluid, such as nitrogen, that is suitable to chill superconductor 13 (i.e., in order to decrease the temperature of superconductor 13 and to achieve a superconducting state).

Fig. 1 shows a position wherein the two magnets 14, 15 move in the opposite direction with respect to one another (i.e., move away from the superconductor 13), at a stage that occurs when chilling fluid enters the central chamber 16 and decreases the temperature of superconductor 13 to a superconductivity state. Fig. 2 shows a transparent perspective view of engine 10, similar to the one of Fig. 1, but in a position wherein the two magnets 14, 15 move toward each other (i.e., they attracted and moved toward the superconductor 13 - in the opposite direction to the positioning that is shown in Fig. 1). This occurs when the chilling fluid ceases entering central chamber 16, thus, the temperature of superconductor IB increases and causes the re-attraction of magnets 14, 15 toward superconductor 13.

In this embodiment, the magnets 14, 15 move away from superconductor 13 in a linear motion, due to the return of springs 18, 20 to their resting position (as shown in Fig. 1). When the temperature of superconductor 13 increases (i.e., a non superconducting state), magnets 14, 15 are attracted toward each other (i.e., move toward superconductor 13), and the springs 18, 20 become tensioned (i.e., as shown in Fig. 2). At this point, another cycle of linear movement and spring tension/release can occur.

According to an embodiment of the invention, depending on the required implementation, the arrangement of the magnets in combination with the spring in order to generate linear movement cycles of mechanical motion transmission can be provided in a variety of ways. For example, instead of the attraction to each other, the magnets can be arranged in a way that they may repel each other.

According to some embodiments of the invention, engine 10 comprises one or more sensors (not shown in the figures). Such sensors can provide, for example, temperature, speed or motion monitoring, thus providing the ability to process such measurements and use them to control the apparatus and enable to schedule the cycles of engine 10. According to one embodiment of the invention, such sensors can be located at different locations inside engine 10, which do not interfere with the movements of the internal components and are suitable to communicate with an external electronic unit. According to another embodiment of the invention, such sensors are connected to an electronic unit by wires and reach the inner void of engine 10 by passing through designated drills. Although the drills are not shown in the figures, it is obvious to any person skilled in the art how to combine them with the apparatus of the present invention. According to one embodiment of the invention, engine 10 also comprises an electronic unit (not shown), which receives information from the different sensors and the output of the apparatus (such as electric current, voltage, frequency, etc.), and according to provide different calculations.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the electronic unit can also send commands to a user and/or to regulating components, such as flow valves or any other components that control engine 10. The gathered information regarding the performance of the engine can indicate the need for change, for example, the supply rate of the chilling fluid. Figs. 1 and 2 show an exemplary flow valve 17 that controls fluid flow from its source- in this case, a nitrogen tank 19, into central chamber 11.

It should be noted that the invention is not restricted to the use of nitrogen. It should also be noted that the use of nitrogen or other fluids can be replaced with other methods that provide the decreased temperature within the central chamber, thus causing the movements of the magnets of the engine.

According to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, upon demand for energy, the chilling fluid (which is initially stored inside fluid tank 19) is injected into central chamber 16. As a result, the temperature of the superconductor 13 reduces, and together with the release of springs 18, 20, magnets 14, 15 move in a linear motion. The movement of the magnets 14, 15 occurred due to the tension release of springs 18, 20 while returning to their resting state. Upon ceasing the supply of the chilling fluid, the temperature of superconductor 13 increases, and magnets 14 and 15 move toward superconductor 13 located at the center of the engine (i.e., due to the attraction force caused by the increased temperature of superconductor 13). As a result, springs 18, 20 are being stretched (i.e., tension is generated by the movement of magnets 14, 15 due to the attraction force).

Figs. 3A-3B schematically illustrate a superconductor-based engine in the form of a rotary engine 30, according to another embodiment of the invention. Engine 30 comprises an essentially round superconductor 31 that has two peripheral chambers 31a and 31b that are suitable to allow the insertion of chilling fluid (i.e., a chilling substance in a gaseous/liquid form, such as liquid nitrogen), that is suitable to chill the superconductor 31 (i.e., reduces the temperature of the superconductor 31). Superconductor 31 is concentrically confined by a rotor 32 comprising a magnetic portion 32a.

Fig. 3A illustrates a first stage that occurs when chilling fluid from a chilling fluid tank 33 flows through tube 31a into chambers 31a, chilling the proximal portion of superconductor 31, resulting in a rotation of rotor 32 to an extent where magnetic portion 32a is away from the chilled portion of superconductor 31, where Fig. 3B illustrates a second stage that occurs when chilling fluid initially stored inside fluid tank 33 flows through tube 31b into chambers 31b chilling the proximal portion of superconductor 31, resulting in further rotation of rotor 32.

Suitable regulating components can control the flow of chilling fluid through either tubes 33a or 33b (e.g., a controlled flow valve), which can be managed by suitable control means for obtaining rotation of rotor 32 (e.g., at a desirable speed).

Along with the description, references are made to "fluid", and it should be noted that the phrase refers to any fluid, gas or liquid, such as air, hydraulic fluid, a mixture of gases, etc. According to some embodiments of the invention, the fluid that flows into the central chamber is redirected toward the superconductor.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be understood that the invention may be carried out with many variations, modifications, and adaptations without exceeding the scope of the claims.