REPORT: Bill Gates files patent for electromagnetic generator, plasma injector
What's this? A Mr. William H. Gates, III, (that would be Bill Gates of Microsoft fame, of course) is listed as one of the inventors on a recent patent application for an "Electromagnetic engine." What's that mean? According to the filing at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the contraption somehow "converts mechanical energy of a piston to and from electrical energy during each piston cycle." There are two engine designs illustrated in the patent, and the basic premise of both is to combine the electrical generating capabilities of a generator with the moving pistons of an internal combustion engine.
Also on the patent filing is a design for a "plasma injector." Ostensibly a replacement for a spark plug, the plasma injector would kick off "a chemical reaction" (think: combustion cycle) that would be required to get the piston moving in the first place. It's all rather interesting stuff, and if you've got an hour or two (or ten) to digest it, click here.
[Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office via Jalopnik]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Arthur 10:13PM (4/15/2009)
Is this some kind of joke?...
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Michael 6:05PM (4/15/2009)
If this is anything like the Flex Capacitor, sign me up!
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ronEbear 6:06PM (4/15/2009)
I hope that it`s more like a flux capacitor, to be honest.
joe 6:27PM (4/15/2009)
I prefor an Edge Capacitor myself. I guess I'd also take a fusion Capacitor or a Mustang Capacitor
Kumail 6:05PM (4/15/2009)
So I guess Apple will end up making a car after all, you when, since Microsoft is in the market.
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Jon 8:14AM (4/16/2009)
Microsoft cars... they won't crash by themselves, would they? lol
Taglane 6:10PM (4/15/2009)
As long as I don't catch a bad case of Conficker, I'm fine.
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Jake 6:11PM (4/15/2009)
So, they are able to maintain a stable warp field, with anti-matter containment coils, and electro-dynamic warp plasma injectors. I wonder how they have overcome the effects of non-linear expansion of the anti-polar tachyon field in the dilithium stablization field projector array.
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PJ 6:14PM (4/15/2009)
Reverse the polarity, duh
Rick C. 6:17PM (4/15/2009)
The trick is in the subspace quantum dampener.
Aprime 6:28PM (4/15/2009)
Needs more turbo encabulator.
Josh 8:49PM (4/15/2009)
"To be frank, I don't give a damn."
BoneHeadOtto 9:05PM (4/15/2009)
>>I wonder how they have overcome the effects of non-linear expansion of the anti-polar tachyon field in the dilithium stablization field projector array.
By secretly replacing the dilithium crystals with new Foldgers crystals.
1970Dodge 6:16PM (4/15/2009)
Wow, that's incredibly simple. I've seen this invention somewhere else.... I guess that one wasn't patented.
For people not in a physics class currently: Moving magnets + coil(s) of wire = Induced current.
Instead of a connecting rod and crankshaft and all that jazz. Its all replaced with a coil of wire and a battery, to presumably power an electric motor.
Good work Bill.
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Kappy 6:52PM (4/15/2009)
yes but according to the second law of thermodynamics the energy required to move the magnet would be more than the magnet produces, so the question is how are they moving the magnet? Somehow I think this invention is more complicated than simply an electromagnet.
PaulG 8:29PM (4/15/2009)
"Instead of a connecting rod and crankshaft and all that jazz."
Wow, wow wow. How do you suppose the Piston will move back to the top of it's "stroke". Please don't tell me EMF.
1970Dodge 9:03PM (4/15/2009)
You mean the First Law of Thermodynamics right?
Anyways, both designs utilize IC to move the magnet through the coil. The main advantage (afaik) is that this bypasses the inefficiencies in converting longitudinal motion of pistons to rotational motion at the crankshaft. Instead its converted to electrical energy to directly drive a motor.
PaulG: No way, EMF can't do that here. What appears to be done is to put another one of these cylinders on both sides of the magnet. Once one cylinder fires, it moves the magnet, and simultaneously compresses the other chamber; prepping it to fire and start the process again in the other direction.
BoneHeadOtto 11:28PM (4/15/2009)
@1970Dodge
good suggestion but that engine already exists and it is called a free piston engine.
http://nextbigfuture.com/2008/09/free-piston-engine-could-be-twice-as.html
If we are to drive range extended EVs in the future, i think that an EV with a free piston range extender is the way to go.
I imagine there is more to Gate's invention than the napkin drawing tells us. I could see how incorporating an electric engine into a gas engine could make some sense, however when the gas engine is working hard to power the car, it will be fighting the magnetic coils and electric generation. Perhaps the cylinders on the compression stroke are given electricity to overcome the resistance of other cylinders? im curious for sure
The Other Bob 9:25AM (4/16/2009)
"Wow, wow wow. How do you suppose the Piston will move back to the top of it's "stroke". Please don't tell me EMF. "
I have seen this proposed elsewhere. There would be an opposing piston on the other side, kinda like a boxer arrangement.
Stan Peterson 1:12PM (4/16/2009)
The Spark in a spark plugIs a plasma for anyone who has never had a science course.
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