Electrical Generator

A method to control an electrical generator having a magnet assembly separated from a coil assembly by an air gap wherein the magnet assembly is coupled to a primary internal combustion engine;

• the coil assembly is coupled to a secondary internal combustion engine;
• and the secondary engine has a selectable locking mechanism, the method comprising:
• starting the primary engine via the electrical generator acting as a motor;
• generating electricity by operating the primary engine while the secondary engine remains stationary;
• unloading the generator when a transition from a first stage of operation to a second stage of operation is indicated;
• releasing the locking mechanism;
• rotating the secondary engine in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the primary engine;
• and
• restoring load on the generator in response a determination that the secondary engine is operating independently.

An electrical generator, comprising:

• a primary internal combustion engine coupled to a magnet assembly;
• a secondary internal combustion engine coupled to a coil assembly with magnets of the coil assembly separated from coils of the coil assembly by an air gap;
• a locking mechanism associated with the second internal combustion engine, the locking mechanism being actuated to prevent rotation of the secondary internal combustion engine upon startup of the primary internal combustion engine;
• and
• a power electronics controller for controlling current through the coils.

An electrical generator, comprising:

• a magnet rotor assembly including a plurality of magnetic elements;
• a coil assembly containing a plurality of electrically conductive coils positioned coaxially with the magnet rotor assembly and adjacent thereto to receive induced flux when the magnet rotor assembly is rotated with respect to the coil assembly;
• an internal combustion engine having an output shaft coupled directly to one of the magnet rotor assembly and the coil assembly;
• a reversing gear assembly including a central sun gear coupled directly to the output shaft and a plurality of planetary gears engaging with the sun gear;
• and
• a ring gear engaging with the planetary gears, the ring gear coupled to the other of the magnet rotor assembly and the coil assembly.