US3694679A

US3694679A - Electromagnetic engine

Info

Publication number: US3694679A
Application number: US147544A
Authority: US
Inventors: Everett W Erdoesy
Original assignee: GRETHA M ERDOESY
Current assignee: GRETHA M ERDOESY
Priority date: 1971-05-27
Filing date: 1971-05-27
Publication date: 1972-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-26

Abstract

An electromagnetic engine is disclosed. The engine has a rotational voltage power distributor, an air-cooled circular head having fixed electromagnets, an air-cooled engine block with crankshaft and an engine pan having a cooler blower system. The engine block contains electromagnetic pistons. The engine utilizes magnetic attraction and repulsion, in proper timed sequence, of the fixed electromagnets in the circular head and the electromagnetic pistons to drive the crankshaft.

Description

United States Patent Erdoesy ELECTROMAGNETIC ENGINE [72] .Inventor: Everett W. Erdoesy, Osprey, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Gretha M. Erdoesy, Osprey, Fla. a

part interest [22] Filed: May 27, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 147,544

1521 Us. c1. ..310/24, 310/16, 310/27, 310/3s,31s/11s,31s/127 [511 1111. c1. .110211 7/06 58 Field of Search ..310/1s, 16, 20 24, 310/27, 31-35, 313/115, 127, 128, 131, 134; 335/268 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,356,290 10/1920 Kellum ..310/24 x 1451 Sept. 26, 1972 Ford 310/24 Dremel ..3l0/16 ux Primary Examiner-J. V. Truhe Assistant Examiner-B. A. Reynolds Attorney-Kimmel, Crowell & Weaver [5 7] ABSTRACT An electromagnetic engine is disclosed. The engine has a rotational voltage power distributor, an aircooled circular head having fixed electromagnets, an air-cooled engine block with crankshaft and an engine pan having a cooler blower system. The engine block contains electromagnetic pistons. The engine utilizes magnetic attraction and repulsion, in propertimed sequence, of the fixed electromagnets in the circular head and the electromagnetic pistons to drive the crankshaft.

15 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATNTEUsEP2s I972 SHEET 1 [IF 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

EVERETT W E/EDOESV FIG. 1

W,M 8 MW A 7' TORNE VS PATENTED W SHEET 2 [IF 2 llllllulllb I 7C lNVENTO/Z EVERETT W ERDOESY K MW A T TORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to reciprocating engines and more specifically to an electromagnetic reciprocating engine.

Electromagnetic reciprocating engines are known in the art. Generally such prior art systems utilize what are essentially solenoids to drive the crankshaft. One such engine is described in U. S. Pat. No. 1,436,245. In this patented engine, the cylinders are surrounded by coils. These coils together with the associated piston form a solenoid. The coils are sequentially energized thereby sequentially drawing the pistons into the cylinders.

The reciprocating electromagnetic engine of this invention does not use this solenoid type piston arrangement and does not therefore require the apparatus necessary to sequentially energize and de-energize a plurality of coils. Instead of using the principle of the attraction of a solenoid plunger into its energized coil,

the engine of this invention utilizes the fact that like magnetic poles repel each other and unlike magnetic poles attract each other to drive a crankshaft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The electromagnetic engine of this invention comprises a rotating voltage power distributor, a rotating head that contains a plurality of fixed electromagnets, an air-cooled engine block that houses a plurality of electromagnetic pistons, a crankshaft coupled to said pistons and an engine pan containing a cooling blower. The cylinder walls within the engine block are non-circular and contain a conductive sleeve or strip to provide energization voltage to the electromagnetic pistons via carbon brushes. The block contains cooling channels. Self sealing bearings, with cooling fins, are provided for a number of the engine components.

The head is rotated by a gearing arrangement so that the fixed electromagnets are sequentially brought in position over the electromagnetic pistons. The orientation of the magnetic poles of a given fixed electromagnet is reversed from the orientation of the magnetic poles of the fixed electromagnets following and preceding that electromagnet so that each piston is sequentially subjected to opposite poles. That is when a given piston sees a north pole it will next see a south pole and then a north pole and so on. The pistons have their poles oriented such that the pistons are sequentially attracted and repelled by the fixed electromagnet in the head. The sequential attraction and repelling of the electromagnetic pistons by the fixed electromagnets provides the power to drive the crankshaft or in other words the engine of this invention converts electromagnetic energy to mechanical energy by means of a crankshaft driven by electromagnetic pistons. No fuel such as gasoline is needed to run the engine of this invention. Electricity in effect is the engine fuel.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a reciprocating engine.

It is another object of this invention to provide an electromagnetic engine.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an air-cooled electromagnetic engine.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a means for converting electromagnetic energy to mechanical energy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above mentioned and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a preferred embodiment of the invention with the parts separated to more clearly show the construction;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the engine of FIG. 1 with all the parts properly noted;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the engine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the voltage distributor of the invention with the distributor cover removed;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the circular head of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the engine block and the engine head and distributor shaft of the invention;

FIG. 7a is a top view of a cylinder and piston of the invention;

FIG. 7b is a side view of the wrist pin and connecting rod with the associated bearings;

FIG. 7c is a cross section of a piston showing the magnetic holder and brushes; and

FIG. 8 is a top view of the engine block of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The engine of this invention basically comprises, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a voltage distributor 1, a circular head 3, an engine block 5, a crankshaft 7 and a pan 9.

Voltage distributor 1 is cylindrical shaped and has a flange l9 and a cover 21. Flange 19 is used to secure distributor 1 to circular head 3 by means of the studs 27 as clearly shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Of course any suitable means other than the studs 27 could be used to secure voltage distributor 1 to head 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, voltage distributor 1 contains the four brushes 23 that are held in position by brush holders fabricated as part of distributor 1. Brushes 23 are spaced apart around a circle formed by a circular opening 37 through the center of distributor 1. As will be apparent later this opening 37 accommodates a shaft 36 that contains conductor strips 25 that contact with brushes 23.

Circular head 3 comprises the two integrally fabricated cylindrical sections 13 and 29 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Section 13 of head 3 is larger in diameter than section 29. A gear 17 is formed along the entire circumference of the lower edge of section 13. A hole having a bearing 35 is cut through the center of head 3 to accommodate shaft 36. As will become apparent, head 3 rotates on shaft 36 and, of course, bearing 35 provides a low friction surface to permit head 3 to rotate freely.

Circular head 3 contains the four chambers 39 (FIG. 1) that house the electromagnets 15. Electromagnets 15 are spaced 90 apart along the circumference of head 3 and are secured in their chambers by any suitable means. Electromagnets 15 do not move relative to head 3. As more clearly shown in FIG. 5, chambers 39 are cylindrical shaped except at their lower end where the cylinder wall flares outward at an angle of approximately 30 from the horizontal as indicated by the numeral 33. The reason for the flared ends will be apparent later.

Power for electromagnets 15 is obtained from brushes 23. Brushes 23 and electromagnets 15 are electrically connected by means of the wires 11. The holes 31 in distributor cover 21 provide access to brushes 23 for wires 11.

Engine block is also cylindrical in shape and contains a hole 34 in the center to accommodate shaft 36. Block 5 contains a pair of non-circular cylinders 4 each of which contains an electromagnetic piston 6. The top part of the circular portion of cylinder 4 flares outwardly at an angle of 30 as indicated at 16 in FIG. 6. While FIG. 6 is a side view of engine block 5 some of the dashed lines have been omitted for purposes of clarity. This 30 flare 16in cylinders 4 matches the 30 flare in the electromagnet chambers. Similarly, the bottom of the circular part of cylinders 4 has a 60 flare as indicated at 18.

In addition to the cylinders 4, block 5 has a pair of air-cooling holes 32 cut through the block as shown in FIG. 8. These holes 32 provide for internal cooling of the block. The gear 14 turns on pin 54 which is affixed to block 5.

Each of the cylinders 4 contains an electromagnetic piston 6. The structural details of these pistons is clearly shown in FIGS. 7a 7c. Referring to these figures, piston 6 comprises a wrist pin 24, brushes 22 with their associated brush holders, an electromagnet 50, and connecting rod 40. Electromagnet 50 is held in a holder 30 and held in place by means of pins 52, one of which is shown in FIG. 7a. A pin 52 is provided with each of the

sections

60, 61, 62 of magnet holder 30. Wrist pin 24 and connecting rod 40 are provided with self sealing bearing 26. The bearings have heat fins 28 to assist in dissipating the heat. Voltage to the electromagnets 50 is applied by means of the brushes 22. Brushes 22 are in contact with conductive strips 20 provided inside the cylinder 4 at the end of each of the brushes. Power is applied to these conductive strips 20 and picked off by brushes 22 to energize electromagnets 50. Conductive strips 20 of course run along the entire length of the cylinder.

Crankshaft 7 is essentially a conventional crankshaft having the end of each connecting rod 40 connected thereto as shown in FIG. 1. A flywheel 10 is connected to one end of crankshaft 7 and the gear 12 which meshes with and drives gear 14 is connected to the other end of crankshaft 7. Of course any other device that would be driven by the engine would obtain its power from crankshaft 7 by a gearing arrangement or suitable coupling.

The pan 9 is located directly below the crankshaft. Pan 9 contains a fan 42 and fan motor 44. Motor 44 is an electric motor and is used to drive fan 42 to provide cooling for the engine. The air from the fan blade will circulate up through the cooling holes 32 to cool block 5. The air passing through holes 32 will of course reach head 3 and help cool the head. The air from the fan will also pass up around the pistons and cool the pistons. In this respect note that cylinders 4 are of such size that only the brushes touch the conductive strips affixed to the cylinder walls. Thus the major part of a piston 6 does not touch the walls of its cylinder. This, of course, eliminates the friction that would otherwise occur if a large part of piston 6 rubbed against the walls of cylinders 4 and the space between the cylinder and piston provides a passage way for the cooling air.

The shaft 36 is cylindrical shaped and is secured to block 5 as indicated in FIG. 6. Shaft 36 is hollow having the hollowed out area 38 running the length of the shaft. Two conductive strips 25 are located at the top of the shaft. Head 3 is slipped over the shaft 36 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Head 3 is free to rotate on shaft 36. The upper part of shaft 36 protrudes into voltage distributor 1 such that brushes 23 are in contact with the conductive strips 25.

Power for the electromagnets is brought into the engine at the electrical connector 46 on pan 9. The power is brought from electrical connector 46 up through the hollow center 38 of shaft 36 to provide voltage on contacts 25 for energizing electromagnets 15. Any suitable wire or cable can be used to carry the voltage through shaft 36 to contacts 25. The voltage at electrical connector 46 is also applied to conductive strips 20 by any suitable means to provide power for the energization of electromagnetic pistons 6. The actual wiring of contacts 25 and conductive strips 20 is not shown in the drawing since such wiring would be conventional.

Now that the structural details of the invention have been described, the operation of the engine will be described. Assume that the engine is running and, therefore, electricity is applied to all the electromagnets. When the engine is running, head 3 rotates since it is being driven by means of gear 14 which is driven by gear 12 which is attached to crankshaft 7. As shown in FIG. 1, the two electromagnets 15 that have their north poles adjacent to block 5 are positioned above the two electromagnetic pistons 6. The electromagnetic piston on the right has its north pole pointing toward head 3 and the piston on the left has its south pole pointing toward head 3. Therefore, the piston on the right will be repelled and the piston on the left will be attracted toward head 3. Thus, the left piston will rise in its cylinder and the right piston will move downward in its cylinder. This action will of course turn the crankshaft thereby rotating gear 12 which in turn rotates head 3 through gear 14. In the next cycle the two electromagnets having their south poles oriented toward block 5 will be over the pistons and the pistons will move from their previous positions to the positions shown in FIG. 1. Then the two electromagnets 15 having the north poles pointing toward block 5 will move over the pistons and the pistons will move to the position the reverse of that shown in FIG. 1. This cyclic operation of the pistons continues as head 3 turns and thus the engine continues to run as long as all the electromagnets are energized. The engine is stopped as soon as power is removed from the electromagnets.

Voltage distributor l rotates with head 3 since it is attached. As voltage distributor 1 rotates the brushes 23 rotate on contacts 25 and continuously provide voltage to electromagnets 15. Similarly, the piston brushes 22 remain in contact with conductive strips 20 as the pistons move up and down in the cylinders. Conductive strip 20 runs the length of the cylinder. While the engine is running, motor 44 is energized to provide cooling air to the engine.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that the engine is started and stopped by applying the voltage to and removing the voltage from the electromagnets, respectively. Of course, if the electromagnets 15 are not properly positioned over the pistons, some starting means such as a hand crank or starting motor must be used. Any known means of turning the crankshaft can be used, therefore no particular starter is shown in the drawing. It should also be obvious that a starter can be eliminated by using conventional indexing means to assure that the head magnets and pistons will be properly aligned upon stopping of the engine.

While no load is shown connected to the engine it should be obvious that, power to drive a load would be taken off the crankshaft by, for example, a conventional gearing arrangement. The power of the engine is determined by the size of the electromagnets and the magnitude of the voltage applied to the electromagnets. Thus,the power of the engine can be increased by increasing the size of the electromagnets or by increasing the voltage or both. Of course a given electromagnet can only handle so much current without destroying the electromagnet. Therefore, generally speaking, the size and/or electrical parameters of the electromagnets will dictate the maximum voltage that can be used with a given engine.

While the inventionhas been described with reference to a specific embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to this specific embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electromagnetic engine comprising:

a rotating head having electromagnets;

an engine block having cylinders and electromagnetic pistons in said cylinders;

means to energize said electromagnets;

means to energize said electromagnetic pistons; and

means to rotate said head to position said electromagnets when energized with respect to said electromagnetic pistons when energized such that said pistons are alternately moved up and down in said cylinders.

2. An engine as defined in claim 1 wherein said engine includes a crankshaft having a flywheel and said pistons are connected to said crankshaft.

3. An engine as defined in claim 2 wherein said engine includes a pan attached to said block, said pan having a cooling fan positioned therein and means are provided for energizing said cooling fan when said engine is running.

4. An engine as defined in claim 3 wherein said head rotates on a hollow shaft having electrical contacts, said shaft being affixed to said engine block and extending upwardly through said block.

5. An engine as defined in claim 4 wherein said tacst with said cylinder conducti means for energizing said electromagnets includes a voltage distributor mounted on said shaft and affixed to said head.

6. An engine as defined in claim 4 wherein said voltage distributor includes a plurality of brushes in contact with said electrical contacts on said shaft and means are provided for electrically connecting said brushes to said electromagnets.

7. An engine as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for energizing said electromagnetic pistons includes a plurality of conductive strips mounted along the length of said cylinders and piston brushes in conengine as defined 1n cl iir i yilvherein each of said electromagnetic pistons comprises: a wrist pin, a connecting rod connected to said wrist pin and to said crankshaft, a plurality of brush holders to hold said piston brushes and a holder for a piston electromagnet, said holder being integrally fabricated with said wrist pin and brush holders such that said brush holders and wrist pin extend radially outward from said piston electromagnet holder.

9. An engine as defined in claim 8 wherein said cylinders are non-circular.

10. An engine as defined in claim 9 wherein said connecting rod and said wrist pin have self sealing bearings with cooling fins.

11. An engine as defined in claim 10 wherein channels are provided in said engine block to cool said engine block and to permit air from said cooling fan to reach said head.

12. An engine as defined in claim 11 wherein said rotating head is rotated by means of a gear train comprising a first gear mounted on said drive shaft, a

second gear rotatably mounted on said engine block and meshing with said first gear and a third gear integrally fabricated into said head and meshing with said second gear.

13. An engine as defined in claim 12 wherein said' pan has an electrical connector for connecting to an external power source and means are provided for connecting said pan contacts to said shaft contacts through

Claims

1. An electromagnetic engine comprising: a rotating head having electromagnets; an engine block having cylinders and electromagnetic pistons in saiD cylinders; means to energize said electromagnets; means to energize said electromagnetic pistons; and means to rotate said head to position said electromagnets when energized with respect to said electromagnetic pistons when energized such that said pistons are alternately moved up and down in said cylinders.

5. An engine as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for energizing said electromagnets includes a voltage distributor mounted on said shaft and affixed to said head.

7. An engine as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for energizing said electromagnetic pistons includes a plurality of conductive strips mounted along the length of said cylinders and piston brushes in contact with said cylinder conductive strips.

8. An engine as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said electromagnetic pistons comprises: a wrist pin, a connecting rod connected to said wrist pin and to said crankshaft, a plurality of brush holders to hold said piston brushes and a holder for a piston electromagnet, said holder being integrally fabricated with said wrist pin and brush holders such that said brush holders and wrist pin extend radially outward from said piston electromagnet holder.

9. An engine as defined in claim 8 wherein said cylinders are non-circular.

12. An engine as defined in claim 11 wherein said rotating head is rotated by means of a gear train comprising a first gear mounted on said drive shaft, a second gear rotatably mounted on said engine block and meshing with said first gear and a third gear integrally fabricated into said head and meshing with said second gear.

13. An engine as defined in claim 12 wherein said pan has an electrical connector for connecting to an external power source and means are provided for connecting said pan contacts to said shaft contacts through said hollow shaft.

14. An engine as defined in claim 13 wherein said crankshaft has self sealing bearings.

15. An engine as defined in claim 14 wherein means are provied to transmit power from said pan contacts to said cylinder conductive strips and said piston brushes are electrically connected to said piston electromagnets.