FREE PISTON ENGINE WITH ELECTRICAL POWER OUTPUT

摘要

A free piston internal combustion engine (14), particularly suitable for use in a vehicle having an electric motor (22) as a prime mover, has a combustion cylinder (24), a piston (26) reciprocally disposed within the cylinder, and a piston rod (28) coupled with a piston (26). A linear electric generator/motor (16) includes at least one magnet (36) carried by the piston rod (28) and at least one coil (38) positioned in association with the at least one magnet (36). An electrical circuit (20) is coupled with each of the at least one coil (38) and a battery (18). The at least one magnet (36) induces an electrical current within the coil (38) to energize a capacitor (48) within the electrical circuit (20). The charge from the capacitor (48) may be used to charge the battery (18). The capacitor (48) and/or battery (18) provides output electrical current which is used to drive the electric motor (22).