Opposed piston linearly oscillating power unit

Abstract

A piston/cylinder internal combustion unit has opposed pistons connected to a common rod and driven in an oscillatory and reciprocating movement. The pistons operate out of phase with each other, such that the power stroke of one drives the compression stroke of the other, and a spring acts on the rod storing energy or exerting a restorative force as the rod is displaced with piston movement. Preferably, the moving rod carries a coil assembly near a stationary magnet (or a magnet near a stationary coil assembly) to produce electricity at the oscillatory frequency. The engine may employ a mechanical spring, an electromagnetic or a magnetic spring, or combinations thereof to stabilize or establish oscillation of the piston and rod assembly. The coil itself may fill this function and act to exert restoring force by coupling to an external control system that applies a control a signal to the coil in accordance with piston position to create an electromagnetic restoring force of appropriate level. The piston rod may couple to a first coil that acts as a spring, and a second coil that functions as an alternator to generate power. By driving the pistons in opposite phase, or by providing a magnetic/electromagnetic spring mechanism, a higher constant k is achieved, raising the frequency of oscillation and increasing power output of the engine.