A piston-type energy generating apparatus

Abstract

An electrical energy generating apparatus comprising at least one piston (la, lb) fitted for reciprocation within a cylinder (2a, 2b), in which a head and a skirt of each piston is provided with a permanent magnet (Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b), a pair of magnetic modules (21a, 21b, 22a, 22b) for each cylinder(2a, 2b), in which one module (21a, 21b) of the pair being disposed at a top portion of the cylinder (2a, 2b) and the other module (22a, 22b) of the pair being disposed at a bottom portion of the cylinder (2a, 2b); and one or more sensors (213a, 213b, 223a, 223b) associated with each magnetic module (21a, 21b, 22a, 22b) that is adapted to detect a presence of the permanent magnets (Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b) disposed at either the head or the skirt of the piston (la, lb) within its proximity; wherein the magnetic modules (21a, 21b, 22a, 22b) are each provided with a magnetic block (211a, 211b, 221a, 221b) and a pulse-based electromagnet (212a, 212b, 222a, 222b) embedded within said magnetic block (211a, 211b, 221a, 221b), the arrangement being such that the sensor (213a, 213b, 223a, 223b) associated with each magnetic module (21a, 21b, 22a, 22b) triggers its associated pulse-based electromagnet (212a, 212b, 222a, 222b) to facilitate the reciprocation of the associated piston (1a, 1b).

Description

[0001] APISTON-TYPE ENERGY GENERATING APPARATUS

[0002] FIELD OF INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to a system for generating electricity. In particular, the invention discloses an apparatus for engaging a generator to generate power in the generator through movement of the apparatus.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Electricity plays a vital role for modern infrastructure to function. Whether it is for domestic or commercial use, most situations are reliant on a consistent inflow of electricity to power electrical appliances to maintain the function of daily routines. The significance of an electricity generator lies in its ability to provide a constant current flow for appliances engaged with it. In general, most countries have a power grid to supply power to their inhabitants. The reliability of this power supply depends on the efficiency of the local governing entity. Hence, some would prefer to have their own means of generating power to continue their daily routines or provide aid to others in case the local power grid is disabled. Furthermore, generators provide the extra power required by an entity either to perform their routines that exceed the capabilities of the local power grid; or in a situation inaccessible to the local power grid.

[0006] Many technologies involved in generating power have been developed and utilised in various industries. One of the methods of generating power is by converting mechanical energy in a system into a current within a conductor using a magnetic field. Over the years since electricity was first generated, the system that generates the mechanical energy to be converted into current has been extensively developed to maximise its capabilities. Some systems employ the use of magnets to ensure a continuous supply of mechanical energy to be converted into electrical power in the power generator.

[0007] One example of such a system is the United States patent US7330094B2. The patent discloses a piston and cylinder system that has permanent magnets disposed at the piston head and cylinder with like polarities facing each other. The repelling force between the permanent magnets pushes the piston away from the end of the cylinder. A ferromagnetic slipper is inserted into a gap between the permanent magnets to alter the repulsive magnetic field, causing it to change into an attractive magnetic field; and in turn pulls the permanent magnets towards each other. The continuous change in the magnetic field causes the piston to oscillate in the cylinder. The piston is connected to a push rod that is further attached to a shaft and flywheel system to generate power from the rotation of the flywheel.

[0008] Another example of the system is the United States patent US20140265944A1. The system discloses an employment of multiple linear magnetic motors to mechanically provide linear forces to equiangularly situated connecting rods that are pivotally attached to a crankshaft to produce rotary motion in a crankshaft. The rotary motion in the crankshaft in turn generates an alternating current in a generator. The crankshaft is further engaged to a pulley drive engaged with an alternator that generates DC output to be stored in a battery.

[0009] Finally, the United States patent US20120007447A1 discloses a magnetic motor that comprises elongated tubular shafts that have permanent magnets on each top and bottom end of the shaft. Each elongated tubular shaft is attached to a stationary solenoid coil that acts as a temporary magnet with its polarity controlled by an actuator. The polarities of the permanent magnets on the tubular shafts reciprocate the polarity across the solenoid coils and oscillate each tubular shaft along their solenoid coil. These motions turn a crankshaft that is pivotally engaged with the tubular shafts. The crankshaft then rotates a work object that can be attached to a generator to convert the rotation movement into power.

[0010] Among the described systems, there is an innate magnetic field of the permanent magnet interfering with the reciprocating motion of the pistons or tubular shafts. The pistons and tubular shafts experience the magnetic fields from both magnets regardless of the position of the piston. This will cause the oscillating body to experience a large degree of damping, losing its capability to rotate its crankshaft for power generation. As such, a mechanism to maintain the oscillation of the piston is required to overcome the damping caused by the magnetic fields of the permanent magnets.

[0011] SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0012] The main objective of the invention is to provide a mechanism for maintaining the velocity of the reciprocation movement to overcome the damping of the pistons which will in turn maintain the kinetic energy of the mechanical apparatus.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a piston-type energy-generating apparatus that utilizes magnetic fields of permanent magnets and electromagnets to generate kinetic energy in the system for rotating a crankshaft that converts the kinetic energy into electrical power.

[0014] In the preferred embodiment, the invention provides an electrical energy generating apparatus comprising a piston and cylinder assembly which includes at least one piston fitted for reciprocation within a cylinder, in which a head and a skirt of each piston is provided with a permanent magnet, a pair of magnetic modules for each cylinder, in which one module of the pair being disposed at a top portion of the cylinder and the other module of the pair being disposed at a bottom portion of the cylinder; and one or more sensors associated with each magnetic module that is adapted to detect a proximity of the permanent magnets disposed at either the head or the skirt of the piston; wherein the magnetic modules are each provided with a pulsebased electromagnet embedded between spaced apart magnetic blocks, the arrangement being such that the sensor associated with each magnetic module triggers its associated pulse-based electromagnet to facilitate the reciprocation motion of the associated piston.

[0015] Preferably, the sensor associated with the magnetic module at the top portion of the cylinder is adapted to detect the proximity of the permanent magnet at the head of the piston, and the sensor associated with the magnetic module at the bottom portion of the cylinder is adapted to detect the proximity of the permanent magnet at the skirt of the piston.

[0016] Preferably, each piston of the apparatus is connected to a crankshaft by means of a connecting rod.

[0017] Preferably, the crankshaft carries a flywheel assembly which is operatively connected to an electrical generator.

[0018] Preferably, the magnetic blocks of each magnetic module are configured with like polarities that correspond to the polarity of the permanent magnet disposed on the pistons, such that magnetic fields generated from the magnetic blocks repel the permanent magnets of the pistons.

[0019] Preferably, the crankshaft connected to the pistons converts the reciprocating motion of the pistons into rotational motion that is subsequently transferred to the flywheel assembly. Preferably, the flywheel assembly is fitted with a one-way bearing in connection with the crankshaft, that ensures only one direction of rotation of said crankshaft.

[0020] Preferably, the rotational motion of the crankshaft induces a spinning motion of the flywheel assembly that is engaged with the electrical generator, which converts the spinning motion to electricity thereafter.

[0021] Preferably, the sensors are triggered to actuate the pulse-based electromagnets upon detecting the presence of the permanent magnet.

[0022] Preferably, the pulse-based electromagnets are configured to provide pulses of magnetic fields that interact with the permanent magnet upon being triggered by the sensors, such that said pulses strengthen a repulsive force between the like polarities of the magnetic modules and the permanent magnet, causing the pistons to reciprocate at a substantially high velocity.

[0023] One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments described herein are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention.

[0024] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings the preferred embodiments from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation and many of its advantages would be readily understood and appreciated. Fig- 1 is a diagram illustrating the full view of the piston-type energy generating apparatus

[0026] Fig- 2 is a diagram illustrating the front view of the piston-type energy generating apparatus

[0027] Fig- 3 is a diagram depicting the top view of the piston-type energy generating apparatus that is operatively connected to an electrical generator

[0028] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Hereinafter, the invention shall be described according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention and by referring to the accompanying description and drawings. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiments of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

[0030] The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings.

[0031] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 illustrates a full body view of a preferred embodiment of an energy generating apparatus with Fig. 2 illustrating a front view of said energy generating apparatus. Preferably, the apparatus may include a first piston la and a second piston lb, each being encased in a first cylinder 2a and a second cylinder 2b. Each piston la, lb may include a permanent magnet Ila, 11b provided at its head and another permanent magnet 12a, 12b provided at its skirt. Each cylinder 2a, 2b may further include a pair of magnetic modules 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b in which one of the pair of magnetic modules 21a, 21b is located at the top portion of the cylinder 2a, 2b and the other module 22a, 22b of the pair is located at the bottom portion of the cylinder 2a, 2b. Each piston la, lb is connected to a connecting rod 3a, 3b disposed below the pistons la, lb, and all connecting rods 3a, 3b are engaged with a crankshaft 4 and flywheel assembly 5 which will be further discussed herein.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the pistons la, lb provided are a cylindrical body, that may be of any suitable type of metal or alloy, which are preferably not iron-based metals, that serves as a weight to perform the reciprocating motion. Preferably, the head and the skirt of the pistons la, lb are provided with one or more permanent magnets Ila, 11b 12a, 12b by attaching or embedding to the pistons la, lb. For the purpose of illustration, the permanent magnets Ila, 11b at the head of the pistons la, lb may have their north poles, N, on top facing the magnetic modules 21a, 21b at the top portion of the cylinders 2a, 2b, and their south poles, S, attached to the pistons la, lb, whereas the permanent magnets 12a, 12b at the skirt of the pistons la, lb have their north poles, N, attached to the pistons la, lb, and their south poles, S, facing the magnetic modules 22a, 22b at the bottom portion of the cylinders 2a, 2b.

[0033] This arrangement allows the pistons la, lb to have a uniform magnetic field from its head to its skirt and prevents the magnetic field of the permanent magnets Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b from interfering with each other. Furthermore, the arrangement allows the permanent magnets Ila, 11b 12a, 12b to provide magnetic repelling forces to counter magnetic repelling forces generated by the magnetic modules 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b. Preferably, the permanent magnets Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b may be of any suitable magnetic rare earth metals such as neodymium. Both permanent magnets Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b are of similar magnetic strength to ensure even repelling force is applied on both sides of the pistons la, lb. The cylinders 2a, 2b are provided as a tube-shaped encasement for the pistons la, lb and their permanent magnets Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b. In the preferred embodiment, the cylinders 2a, 2b may be of a metal or alloy that may be the same or different material as the pistons la, lb. An inner diameter of the cylinders 2a, 2b may also be wider than a diameter of the pistons la, lb to allow free movement along an axis of the cylinders 2a, 2b. Optionally, an inner surface of the cylinders 2a, 2b may be lubricated to minimise friction between the pistons la, lb and cylinders 2a, 2b.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic modules 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b further comprise a set of magnetic blocks 211a, 211b, 221a, 221b being arranged in a way that the polarities of their magnetic fields repel the polarities of the permanent magnets Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b on the pistons la, lb. Preferably, the magnetic blocks 211a, 211b, 221a, 221b may be arranged adjacent to the pistons la, lb and have their polarities arranged to oppose the magnetic fields of the pistons la, lb. As illustrated, the north poles, N, of the magnetic blocks 211a, 211b may be arranged in an orientation that faces the permanent magnets Ila, 11b on the head of the pistons la, lb, whereas the south poles, S, of the magnetic blocks 221a, 221b may be oriented to face the permanent magnets 12a, 12b on the skirt of the pistons la, lb. Preferably, the magnetic blocks 211a, 211b, 221a, 221b may be configured in a disc shape that fits onto an opening on the top portion or the bottom portion of the cylinders 2a, 2b with a cutout in their dead centre for incorporating a pulse-based electromagnet 212a, 212b, 222a, 222b or the connecting rod 3a, 3b.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the pulse-based electromagnet 212a, 212b, 222a, 222b located in the dead centre of the magnetic blocks 211a, 211b, 221a, 221b functions to reinforce the magnetic fields of the magnetic blocks 211a, 211b, 221a, 221b for the pistons la, lb to continue its reciprocating motion. Preferably, the pulse-based electromagnets 212a, 212b, 222a, 222b are a pulse-based field magnet which are powered by a brief pulse of electric current through its windings rather than a continuous current, producing a brief but strong pulse of magnetic field when activated. The pulse-based electromagnets 212a, 212b, 222a, 222b may be operatively connected to an external power source and an integrated circuit or a microprocessor equipped with a variable time delay circuit that controls intervals in which said pulse-based electromagnets 212a, 212b, 222a, 222b are activated in response to signals received from at least one sensor 213a, 213b, 223a, 223b associated with each magnetic module 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b. Preferably, the external power source may be a renewable or non-renewable energy source, in which the power consumption of the pulse-based electromagnets 212a, 212b, 222a, 222b do not exceed the power generated by a generator 6. The pulses of magnetic field as released by said pulse-based electromagnets 212a, 212b, 222a, 222b increase the magnetic repelling force of the magnetic modules 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b against the permanent magnets Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b of the pistons la, lb. Additionally, the pulse-based electromagnets 212a, 212b, 222a, 222b may also be equipped with an adjustment module such that the strength of the pulse released may be adjustable on demand.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the sensors 213a, 213b, 223a, 223b may be, by way of example but is not limited to, an inductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a photoelectric sensor, or the like. The sensors 213a, 213b, 223a, 223b may be configured to detect a presence of the permanent magnets Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b on the pistons la, lb in their proximity as said pistons la, lb oscillate between the pair of magnetic modules 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b. Upon detecting the presence of the permanent magnets Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b of the piston la, lb in their proximity, the sensors 213a, 213b, 223a, 223b associated to each magnetic module 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b may transmit a signal to the integrated circuit or microprocessor operatively connected to the pulse-based electromagnets 212a, 212b, 222a, 222b, to trigger their associated pulse-based electromagnets 212a, 212b, 222a, 222b to activate and provide pulses of magnetic fields that interact with the permanent magnets Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b of said piston la, lb.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the first piston la or the second piston lb may be initially positioned at either the top portion or the bottom portion of the first cylinder 2a and the second cylinder 2b respectively. For the purpose of illustration, the first piston la may be initially positioned at the top portion of the first cylinder 2a, with the second piston lb being positioned at the bottom portion of the second cylinder 2b. The first piston la may descend from the top portion of the first cylinder 2a to the bottom portion of the first cylinder 2a and back to the top portion of said first cylinder 2a to complete one oscillation of the reciprocating motion. In contrast, the second piston lb may initially be positioned at the bottom portion of the second cylinder 2b and then ascend to the top portion of said second cylinder 2b before returning to its initial position to complete one oscillation of the reciprocating motion in tandem with the first piston la.

[0038] As mentioned above, the first piston la may be at the top portion of the first cylinder 2a, such that a first pulse-based electromagnet 212a in a first magnetic module 2a may release a pulse of magnetic field to reinforce the repelling force of a first magnetic block 211a onto the first piston la. The first piston la may then be pushed down from its initial position to travel down the first cylinder 2a consequent of the repelling force between a first permanent magnet Ila at the head of the first piston la and a first magnetic module 21a at the top of the first cylinder 2a. Upon reaching the bottom portion of the first cylinder 2a, the first piston la enters the proximity of a first sensor 223a of a first magnetic module 22a at the bottom portion of the first cylinder 2a. The first sensor 223a may then detect the presence of a first permanent magnet 12a disposed at the skirt of the first piston la within its proximity and trigger an associated first pulse-based electromagnet 222a to reinforce the magnetic field of a first magnetic block 212a.

[0039] Subsequently, the first piston la may be pushed up the first cylinder 2a due to the repelling forces between the first magnetic module 22a and the first permanent magnet 12a disposed at the skirt of the first piston la. Once the first piston la has returned to the top of the first cylinder 2a, the first magnetic module 21a at the top portion of the first cylinder 2a repels the first piston la in the same manner upon entering the proximity of a first sensor 213a. As a result, the system maintains the reciprocating motion of the pistons at a substantially high velocity. In order to maintain balance of the system, the second piston lb in the second cylinder 2b may experience the reciprocation motion at a period that lags behind the first piston la by a degree of it H. In particular, at the instant the first piston la travels up the first cylinder 2a, the second piston lb travels down the second cylinder 2b. The reciprocation motion of both pistons la, lb are in synchronism. Further, an amplitude of reciprocation motion of the pistons la, lb may be contained within a length of the cylinders 2a, 2b to ensure that the permanent magnets Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b do not hit the magnetic modules 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b during operation of the generator.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, each of the pistons la, lb may be connected to respective segments on the crankshaft 4 that extends the cylinders 2a, 2b therethrough by means of the connecting rods 3a, 3b. Preferably, the connecting rods 3a, 3b may be engaged with the crankshaft 4 such that the reciprocating motion of the pistons la, lb causes the rotational motion of the crankshaft 4 along its axis. Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the crankshaft 4 may include discs that act as partitions on its body according to the number of pistons la, lb in the apparatus. The crankshaft 4 may be further fitted with a flywheel assembly 5 at one end portion of said crankshaft 4, in which said flywheel assembly 5 may be incorporated with a one-way bearing 51 that ensures only one direction of rotation of the crankshaft 4.

[0041] Referring to Fig. 3, the rotational motion of the crankshaft 4 may be transferred to the flywheel assembly 5 that is operatively connected to the generator 6, whereby its spinning motion of the flywheel assembly 5 may be converted into electricity thereafter. Preferably, the electrical generator 6 may be an alternating current (AC) generator or a direct current (DC) generator, depending on the configuration required. The flywheel assembly 5 may be engaged to said electrical generator 6, particularly a rotor 62 of the electrical generator 6, by means of a drive mechanism 61, such as a chain drive or a belt drive. The rotor 62 of the electrical generator 6 continues to rotate and generate a rotating magnetic field as a result of the rotating motion by the flywheel assembly 5, which then induces a current in coils of a stator 63 of said electrical generator 6 through electromagnetic induction. Consequently, this current is the electrical energy output of the electrical generator 6, which may then be utilized for various purposes. Optionally, the electrical generator 6 may be operatively connected to the pair of magnetic modules 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b, such that minimal electrical energy produced may be reused in actuating the pulse-based electromagnets 212a, 212b, 222a, 222b to provide pulses to maintain a continuous reciprocating motion of the pistons la, lb in operation.

[0042] The present disclosure includes as contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An electrical energy generating apparatus comprising at least one piston (la, lb) fitted for reciprocation within a cylinder (2a, 2b), in which a head and a skirt of each piston is provided with a permanent magnet (Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b); a pair of magnetic modules (21a, 21b, 22a 22b) for each cylinder (2a, 2b), in which one module (21a, 21b) of the pair being disposed at a top portion of the cylinder (2a, 2b) and the other module (22a, 22b) of the pair being disposed at a bottom portion of the cylinder (2a, 2b); and one or more sensors (213a, 213b, 223a, 223b) associated with each magnetic module (21a, 21b, 22a 22b) that is adapted to detect a presence of the permanent magnet (Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b) disposed at either the head or the skirt of the piston (la, lb) within its proximity; wherein the magnetic modules (21a, 21b, 22a 22b) are each provided with a magnetic block (211a, 211b, 221a 221b) and a pulse-based electromagnet (212, 212b, 222a, 222b) embedded within said magnetic block (211a, 211b, 221a 221b), the arrangement being such that the sensor (213a, 213b, 223a, 223b) associated with each magnetic module (21a, 21b, 22a 22b) triggers its associated pulse-based electromagnet (212a, 212b, 222a 222b) to facilitate the reciprocation of the associated piston (la, lb).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (213a, 213b) associated with the magnetic module (21a, 21b) at the top portion of the cylinder (2a, 2b) is adapted to detect the proximity of the permanent magnet (Ila, 11b) at the head of the piston (la, lb), and the sensor (223a, 223b) associated with the magnetic module (22a, 22b) at the bottom portion of the cylinder (2a, 2b) is adapted to detect the proximity of the permanent magnet (12a, 12b) at the skirt of the piston (la, lb).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each piston (la, lb) of theapparatus is connected to a crankshaft (4) by means of a connecting rod (3a, 3b).

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the crankshaft (4) carries a flywheel assembly (5) which is operatively connected to an electrical generator (6).

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the crankshaft (4) connected to the pistons (Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b) converts the reciprocating motion of the pistons (la, lb) into rotational motion that is subsequently transferred to the flywheel assembly (5).

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the flywheel assembly (5) is fitted with a one-way bearing in connection with the crankshaft (4), that ensures only one direction of rotation of said crankshaft (4).

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the rotational motion of the crankshaft (4) induces a spinning motion of the flywheel assembly (5) that is engaged with the electrical generator (6), which converts the spinning motion to electricity thereafter.

8. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic blocks (212a, 212b, 222a, 222b) of each magnetic module (21a, 21b, 22a, 22b) are configured with polarities that correspond to the polarities of the permanent magnet (Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b) provided on the pistons (la, lb).

9. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensors (213a, 213b, 223a, 223b) are triggered to actuate the pulse-based electromagnets (212a, 212b, 222a, 222b) upon detecting the presence of the permanent magnet (Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b) provided on the pistons (la, lb).

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the pulse-based electromagnets (212a, 212b, 222a, 222b) are configured to provide pulses of magnetic fields that interact with the permanent magnet (Ila, 11b, 12a, 12b) upon being triggered by the sensors (213a, 213b, 223a, 223b).

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