Magnetic bearing for use in reciprocating internal combustion engines
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsRadu C. Florea, Darius Mehta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of reciprocating pistons within an engine block, each piston having linear movement convertable to rotating movement via a connecting rod connecting each piston to a crankshaft; the crankshaft rotatable about a linear axis, the crankshaft having a plurality of main journals, each main journal rotatable on a main bearing which supports the crankshaft within the engine block; and wherein at least one of the main bearings comprises a fluid film bearing and a magnetic bearing.
Claims38
An engine comprising:
- an internal combustion engine having a plurality of reciprocating pistons within an engine block, each piston having linear movement convertable to rotating movement via a connecting rod connecting each piston to a crankshaft;
- the crankshaft rotatable about a linear axis, the crankshaft having a plurality of main journals and a plurality of main bearings, each one of the plurality of main journals rotatable on one of the plurality of main bearings;
- and
- wherein at least one of the main bearings comprises a fluid film bearing and a magnetic bearing.
A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising:
- providing an internal combustion engine comprising,
- a plurality of reciprocating pistons within an engine block, each piston having linear movement convertable to rotating movement via a connecting rod connecting each piston to a crankshaft;
- the crankshaft rotatable about a linear axis, the crankshaft having a plurality of main journals and a plurality of main bearings, each one of the plurality of main journals rotatable on one of the plurality of main bearings;
- wherein at least one of the main bearings comprises a fluid film bearing and a magnetic bearings;
- and
- wherein the magnetic bearing comprises first and second magnets arranged to inhibit contact of the fluid film bearing by the crankshaft by arrangement of at least two interacting repulsive magnetic fields;
- and
- inhibiting contact of the fluid film bearing by the crankshaft with the at least two interacting repulsive magnetic fields provided between the two magnets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.