US3629596A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Free piston generator
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1970-12-29
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Granted: 1971-12-21
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Expires: 1990-12-29
Abstract
Abstract The structure of a free piston engine is integrated with a magnetic circuit. The magnetic circuit has alternate magnetic flux paths with common central legs having generating coils thereon. A portion of the reciprocating piston completes first one flux path and then the other. Permanent magnets are included in the circuit arranged so that the direction of magnetic flux in the central leg reverses as the piston reciprocates, thereby generating an alternating current.
Inventors
- 👤 James Milner Wills
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:24
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K35/00; H02K35/06; F; F02; F02B; F02B71/00; F02B71/04; H02K7/00; H02K7/18; H02K7/1869; H02K7/1876; H02K7/1884
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
A free piston generator comprising: a cylinder having a combustion chamber at each end; said cylinder having an enlarged central portion forming a bounce chamber at each end; a shuttle comprising a double-ended piston designed to reciprocate within said cylinder; said shuttle having an enlarged center portion constituting a double-ended scavenge piston; means for introducing a combustible mixture alternately to each of said bounce chambers; passage means connecting each of said bounce chambers with the combustion chamber at the opposite end of said cylinder; a magnetic circuit comprising a. alternate paths including a first leg adjacent to one end of said enlarged central portion of said cylinder, b. a second leg adjacent to the other end of said enlarged central portion of said cylinder, c. a central leg, d. each of said legs extending radially from said enlarged central portion of said cylinder, e. axially extending members closing said magnetic circuit between said first leg and said central leg, and said second leg and said central leg at the outer end of said first, second, and central legs, and f. said enlarged portion of said shuttle completing one alternate path of said magnetic circuit when it is at one end of said enlarged portion of said cylinder, and completing the other alternate path when it is at the other end of said enlarged portion of said cylinder; a coil surrounding said central leg of said magnetic circuit; and at least one element of said magnetic circuit constituting a permanent magnet so arranged that as said shuttle reciprocates within said cylinder the direction of magnetic flux in said central leg alternates and an alternating current is induced in said coil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
A free piston generator comprising: a cylinder having a combustion chamber at each end; said cylinder having an enlarged central portion forming a bounce chamber at each end; a shuttle comprising a double-ended piston designed to reciprocate within said cylinder; said shuttle having an enlarged center portion constituting a double-ended scavenge piston; means for introducing a combustible mixture alternately to each of said bounce chambers; passage means connecting each of said bounce chambers with the combustion chamber at the opposite end of said cylinder; a magnetic circuit comprising a. alternate paths including a first leg adjacent to one end of said enlarged central portion of said cylinder, b. a second leg adjacent to the other end of said enlarged central portion of said cylinder, c. a central leg, d. each of said legs extending radially from said enlarged central portion of said cylinder, e. axially extending members closing said magnetic circuit between said first leg and said central leg, and said second leg and said central leg at the outer end of said first, second, and central legs, and f. said enlarged portion of said shuttle completing one alternate path of said magnetic circuit when it is at one end of said enlarged portion of said cylinder, and completing the other alternate path when it is at the other end of said enlarged portion of said cylinder; a coil surrounding said central leg of said magnetic circuit; and at least one element of said magnetic circuit constituting a permanent magnet so arranged that as said shuttle reciprocates within said cylinder the direction of magnetic flux in said central leg alternates and an alternating current is induced in said coil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A free piston generator in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said passage means connecting each of said bounce chambers with the combustion chamber at the opposite end of said cylinder is in said shuttle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
285 words
A free piston generator comprising: a cylinder having a combustion chamber at each end; said cylinder having an enlarged central portion forming a bounce chamber at each end; a shuttle comprising a double-ended piston designed to reciprocate within said cylinder; said shuttle having an enlarged center portion constituting a double-ended scavenge piston; means for introducing a combustible mixture alternately to each of said bounce chambers; passage means connecting each of said bounce chambers with the combustion chamber at the opposite end of said cylinder; a magnetic circuit comprising a. alternate paths including a first annular disk adjacent to one end of said enlarged central portion of saId cylinder, b. a second annular disk adjacent to the other end of said enlarged central portion of said cylinder, c. a plurality of radially extending legs adjacent to the center of said enlarged central portion of said cylinder, d. axially extending members closing said magnetic circuit between said first annular disk and the outer ends of said radially extending legs, and between said second annular disk and the outer ends of said radially extending legs, and e. said enlarged portion of said shuttle completing one alternate path of said magnetic circuit when it is at one end of said enlarged portion of said cylinder, and completing the other alternate path when it is at the other end of said enlarged portion of said cylinder; coils surrounding each of said radially extending legs of said magnetic circuit; and at least one element of said magnetic circuit constituting a permanent magnet so arranged that as said shuttle reciprocates within said cylinder the direction of magnetic flux in said central leg alternates and an alternating current is induced in said coils.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
285 words
A free piston generator comprising: a cylinder having a combustion chamber at each end; said cylinder having an enlarged central portion forming a bounce chamber at each end; a shuttle comprising a double-ended piston designed to reciprocate within said cylinder; said shuttle having an enlarged center portion constituting a double-ended scavenge piston; means for introducing a combustible mixture alternately to each of said bounce chambers; passage means connecting each of said bounce chambers with the combustion chamber at the opposite end of said cylinder; a magnetic circuit comprising a. alternate paths including a first annular disk adjacent to one end of said enlarged central portion of saId cylinder, b. a second annular disk adjacent to the other end of said enlarged central portion of said cylinder, c. a plurality of radially extending legs adjacent to the center of said enlarged central portion of said cylinder, d. axially extending members closing said magnetic circuit between said first annular disk and the outer ends of said radially extending legs, and between said second annular disk and the outer ends of said radially extending legs, and e. said enlarged portion of said shuttle completing one alternate path of said magnetic circuit when it is at one end of said enlarged portion of said cylinder, and completing the other alternate path when it is at the other end of said enlarged portion of said cylinder; coils surrounding each of said radially extending legs of said magnetic circuit; and at least one element of said magnetic circuit constituting a permanent magnet so arranged that as said shuttle reciprocates within said cylinder the direction of magnetic flux in said central leg alternates and an alternating current is induced in said coils.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2362151A
Cited
US3102205A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-20 | 1975-06-21 | 1975-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-20 | 1979-06-21 | 1979-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-20 | 1983-06-21 | 1983-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |