# US 4,392,457 A · Combustion and electric engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,392,457 A - Document ID: US4392457A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/221,718 - Filed: 1980-12-31 - Granted: 1983-07-12 - Earliest claimed: 1980-12-31 - Inventors: Jesse J. Martin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392457A ## CPC - F02B 73/00: Combinations of two or more engines, not otherwise provided for - B60L 50/16: with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion - F02B 63/04: for electric generators - F02B 63/041: {Linear electric generators} - F02B 75/00: Other engines - H02K 7/065: Electromechanical oscillators; Vibrating magnetic drives - B60L 2240/36: Temperature of vehicle components or parts - F02B 75/22: with cylinders in V, fan, or star arrangement - F02B 2063/045: {Frames for generator-engine sets} - Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles - Y10S 123/01: Interchangeable - Y10S 123/07: Convertible - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A combination internal combustion and electric engine has a predetermined plurality of cylinders. A number of cylinders less than the predetermined plurality of cylinders are configured in conventional fashion and each has a conventional fuel powered piston located within it. A solenoid powered piston is positioned in each one of the remaining cylinders which does not have a conventional fuel powered piston therein. Additionally, a method of converting a conventional internal combustion engine having a predetermined plurality of cylinders in fluidic communication with a carburetor and an equal number of pistons into a combination internal combustion and electric engine includes blocking off less than all of the cylinders to prevent fluidic communication between the blocked cylinders and the carburetor and replacing a number of the fuel powered pistons within the blocked cylinders with electrically powered pistons. The invention is equally applicable to four, six, and eight cylinder engines. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A combination internal combustion and electric engine comprising: (a) a predetermined plurality of cylinders; (b) a number of said cylinders less than said predetermined plurality comprising conventional fuel powered cylinders and a conventional fuel powered piston located in each of said conventional cylinders; and (c) an electrically powered piston located in each of the remaining cylinders. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A combination engine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrically powered pistons are solenoid powered. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A combination engine in accordance with claim 1 wherein a metallic sleeve is positioned within each of said remaining cylinders and a solenoid coil is positioned about each of said sleeves. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A combination engine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said electrically powered pistons comprise carbon pistons. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A combination engine in accordance with claim 3 wherein each of said solenoids is activated by a switching device connected to a cam shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A combination engine in accordance with claim 3 wherein each of said cylinders is connected to a carburetor by an inlet manifold and the inlet manifolds leading to said remaining cylinders have blocking elements positioned therein which are adapted to prevent fluidic communication between said carburetor and said remaining cylinders. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A combination engine in accordance with claim 6 further comprising selectively operated valves which allow fluidic communication between said conventional cylinders and said carburetor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) A combination engine in accordance with claim 3 wherein all of said fuel powered pistons and said electrically powered pistons are connected to a crank shaft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A combination engine in accordance with claim 8 wherein a valve is positioned adjacent to each of said remaining cylinders, said valves being inoperable. ### Claim 10 A method of converting a conventional internal combustion engine having a predetermined plurality of cylinders in fluidic communication with a carburetor and an equal number of fuel powered pistons positioned within said cylinders into a combination internal combustion and electric engine, said method comprising blocking off less than all of said predetermined plurality of cylinders to prevent fluid communication between said blocked cylinders and said carburetor and replacing the fuel powered pistons located within the blocked cylinders with electrically powered pistons. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method in acordance with claim 10 wherein said fuel powered pistons comprise solenoid powered pistons. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising both the fuel powered pistons and the electrically powered pistons to a crankshaft. ### Claim 13 A combination internal combustion and electric engine comprising a predetermined plurality of cylinders, a number of said cylinders less than said predetermined plurality comprising conventional fuel powered cylinders, a conventional fuel powered piston being located in each of said conventional cylinders, an electrically powered piston being located in each of the other of said predetermined cylinders, a metallic sleeve being positioned within each of said other cylinders and a solenoid coil being positioned about each of said sleeves, all of said predetermined plurality of cylinders being connected to a carburetor by an inlet manifold, said inlet manifold leading to said other cylinders including blocking elements positioned therein, said blocking elements comprising means for preventing fluidic communication between said carburetor and said other cylinders.