Electrical power generating system

Abstract

An electrical power generating system which includes a generator having a cylindrical main body having a hollow interior. A permanent magnet piston is arranged for reciprocal axial motion within the hollow interior between opposing ends of the cylinder. Both ends of the cylinder are fitted with end portions having arc discharge devices incorporated therein for igniting the gas which fills the tube. Alternating activation of the arc discharge devices produces reciprocal motion of the piston which produces sufficient magnetic flux to produce electrical power in windings which are positioned concentrically about the exterior of the tube. Control means for activating the arc discharge devices ensures the most efficient production of electrical energy, the control means and the igniter plugs being powered by a rechargeable battery which receives charging power from the output mains of the generator.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a generator. More particularly, the invention is directed to a device for generating electrical power, which uses energy created from the controlled ignition of noble gasses within a power cylinder.

2. Description of the Prior Art

With the current ecological and environmental problems plaguing the world, numerous approaches to reducing the amounts of pollutants introduced into the environment have been undertaken. One approach is the use of alternative power sources, especially for electrical power generation systems and the like. Most of the alternative approaches being pursued relate to new technology such as fuel cells and solar cells, or highly experimental refinements of known technology such as windmills, which have only a very limited application.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,391 issued to and owned by the applicant, discloses a fluid pressure driven motor concept which offers several advantages over conventional fluid pressure motors. The motor is pollution free, quiet running, and operates at relatively high torque with rapid acceleration. The horsepower to weight ratio is relatively high for a fluid pressure apparatus, and, as the motor is not an internal combustion motor, avoids the necessity of inclusion of conventional instrumentalities such as a carburetor, spark plugs, distributor, cam shaft, sprockets, and lifters. Finally, the motor is compact in size and can be oriented in any direction during operation.

The present invention is directed to a device for producing electrical power from the controlled ignition of a combustible substance. The controlled ignition causes oscillating movement of a permanent magnet which produces magnetic flux which interacts with a series of adjacent coils to produce electrical power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the invention comprises an electrical power generating system which includes a cylindrical main body having a hollow interior. A permanent magnet piston is arranged for reciprocal axial motion within the hollow interior between opposing ends of the cylinder. Both ends of the cylinder are fitted with end portions having arc discharge devices incorporated therein for igniting the gas which fills the tube. Alternating activation of the arc discharge devices produces reciprocal motion of the piston which produces sufficient magnetic flux to produce electrical power in windings which are positioned concentrically about the exterior of the tube. Control means for activating the arc discharge devices ensures the most efficient production of electrical energy.

It is a major object of this invention to provide an electrical power generator which uses a reciprocating permanent magnet piston to generate electrical power.

It is another object of the invention to provide a self contained electrical power generating unit which does not vent greenhouse gasses.

It is another object of the invention to provide an electrical power generating unit which has an electronically controlled ignition system.

Finally, it is a general goal of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

The present invention meets or exceeds all the above objects and goals. Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the electrical generator of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the generator.

FIG. 3 is an end view, partly in section, of the generator.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the generator.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of the overall diagram of the

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the generator device of the present invention, generally indicated by the numeral 10, is shown. The generator 10 can be seen to comprise an elongated, generally cylindrical housing 20 having an interiorly disposed combustion chamber 22 and exteriorly disposed mounting apparatus. The interior surfaces of the housing or cylinder 20 are preferably lined with stainless steel. Opposing end portions 24, 26 of the housing 20 include end walls 28, 30 in sealed engagement within respective end portions of the housing 20. Each end wall 28, 30 includes a centrally disposed bore 32, 34 through which an arc discharge device such as an igniter plug 36, 37 is removably inserted, and concave interior wall surfaces 40, 42 to ensure a uniform distribution of force upon piston 44 as will be explained in more detail later. The plugs 36, 37 may be threadedly or otherwise sealingly engaged within end walls 28, 30 to prevent the escape of combustion gasses.

Housing 20 includes upper and lower bracket members 45, 47 which are disposed at opposing ends of the housing 20 and held together by bolts 49 or other fastening arrangement as would be apparent to one of skill in the art. The bracket housing 20 helps to both support and stabilize the device 10. The housing 20 includes a pair of inlet/outlet valves 51 for the intake and exhaust of noble gasses to fill the combustion chamber 22 as will be explained in more detail below.

Disposed within the housing 20 in axially sliding relation is a permanent magnet piston 52. The piston 52 is sized for slidably sealing engagement with interior surfaces of the housing 20 as is well known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the piston 52 is a composite member having a central non-magnetic disc 53 sandwiched between solid cylinders of magnetic material 54, 56 having opposing polarity. A lubricant, such as silicone or other high tech non-liquid lubricant may be used to reduce sliding friction of the piston 52.

Two sets of coil windings 60, 62 are disposed proximate end portions of the housing 20, the windings 60, 62 being wound on exterior surfaces of the housing. The coil windings 60, 62 are electrically connected to a load 63 to deliver electrical power.

Motive power for causing axial reciprocation of the piston 52 is provided by controlled ignition of gas, preferably noble gasses within cylinder 20. Gas is introduced to the cylinder 20 from a gas source (not shown) via valves 51. The valves 51 may be one way valves, with one an intake valve and the other an exhaust valve. The valves 51 are closed during ignition of the plasma to transfer full energy to the piston 52, and may be selectively opened and closed by control circuit 70.

Control circuit 70 functions to control the activation of igniter plugs 36, allowing for the reciprocating speed, and therefore the output power to be precisely regulated. Rechargeable batteries 72, which may be cadmium batteries, supply operating power to the control circuit 70 and the igniter plugs 36. The batteries 72 may be two separate units, one for starting and the other for driving the generator. In one aspect of the invention, the batteries 72 are charged by diverting power from the load via, e.g. a diode rectifying circuit 73 to provide a source of DC current, and therefore have an extremely long life as can be seen in the schematic of FIG. 5. The control circuit 70 is preferably of the quartz controlled SCR switching type.

In operation of the generator 10, the cylinder 20 is filled with a noble gas such as argon via one of the one way valves 51 (intake). The igniter plug 36 is then activated causing ignition and then expansion of the gas within the cylinder 20 urging piston 52 toward the non-ignited plug 37. Both valves 51 are preferably closed during combustion to maximize transference of energy and momentum to piston 52. After a predetermined amount of travel, the spent gas is discharged via the other of valves 51 (exhaust), and more gas is introduced into the cylinder 20 via intake valve 51. The opposing igniter plug 37 is activated creating a heated gas plasma which expands and urges the piston 52 toward plug 36. The process is repeated to create reciprocating movement. The movement of the permanent magnet piston 52 in the vicinity of the coils 61, 62 causes an AC current to flow therein creating power which is delivered to the load 63, with some power diverted to the batteries 72 and control circuit as discussed above.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims:

Claims

1. A power generating device comprising:

a sealed cylindrical housing containing a gas and having opposing end portions, each end portion containing an arc discharge device;

a permanent magnet piston arranged in axially sliding relation within said housing;

a pair of coil windings arranged about exterior end portions of said housing, said coil winding electrically connected to a load for delivering electrical power thereto;

control means for selectively activating said arc discharge devices;

wherein ignition of said gas by selective activation of aid arc discharge devices causes reciprocating axial movement of said piston.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said piston is formed of a central non-magnetic disc sandwiched between solid cylinders of magnetic material having opposing polarity.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a pair of one way valves, one of said valves for intake and the other of said valves for exhaust of said gas.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said control circuit is powered by a battery.

5. The device of claim 4 including means for diverting some of said electrical power to said battery.