FAST COMPANY

BILL GATES PATENTS ELECTROMAGNETIC

HYBRID ENGINE
BY CHRIS DANNEN
Microsoft founder Bill Gates appears as a principal applicant on a
patent published last week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,
but the concept in question isn't computer-based; it's an
electromagnetic combusion engine. The patent appears in the name
of a Delaware-based LLC named "Searete," a purported shell company
for joint-patent filings.
While the summary of the mechanism doesn't lend much insight into
just how an engine like this would work in an actual vehicle, it goes
into a detailed description of how the engine itself would generate
power. The engine "... may be configured to convert mechanical
energy of the first piston to electrical energy during a power stroke,
and to drive the first piston" in the non-power strokes (ie, when the
piston is intaking air or expelling exhaust.) In other words, the pistons
can be moved by either gas combusion or by electricity.
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It works like this: an engine's mechanical force, created by traditional

combustion, could be converted into electrical or electromagnetic
energy--which, in turn, could be used to help drive the pistons or for
some other application. The benefit: an hybrid engine without the
need for two discrete drivetrains, as with today's hybrids.
As the patent filing sees it, the application of an all-in-one engine like
this could be much more adaptive that today's hybrids. In the patent's
words: "... the engine may select between the first and second
modes," that is, electric and gas-powered, "in response to actual or
predicted operating conditions."
To be sure, this wouldn't look like your tradition engine; the patent
stipulates that each cylinder will be non-circular and non-linear,
meaning that an oddly-shaped piston will be traveling in an arc path
through the engine, driving a helical gear box and working in concert
with a battery source and a series of powerful electromagnets. For
more details, check out the summary here.

CHRIS DANNEN

I've written about innovation, design, and technology for Fast

Company since 2007. I was the founding editor of FastCoLabs.
Find me on Twitter @chrisdannen.
CONTINUE

April 14, 2009 | 12:25 AM

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5 COMMENTS
ZANGLEDROP CHRIS DANNEN

A YEAR AGO

Just nullify the inertia of a gas piston by applying the magnet to

the top of the piston when it's down and the bottom when it's up,
because the momentum of gas engine's piston is being wasted,
use a magnetic field on top and bottom to increase your gas
engines performance 400% Anti momentum technology is as real
as a better car. A drag racer with magnets on the top and bottom
of the pistons timed correctly, will wipe out the competition.

VIJEN CHRIS DANNEN

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2 YEARS AGO

The alternator has been used in cars for decades to convert

mechanical energy into electrical energy.

JOHN CHITTENDEN CHRIS DANNEN

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3 YEARS AGO

An electromagnetic engine was registered with the government

about 30 years ago. In 2008 the inventor who registered this
engine made a prototype electromagnetic engine and I videoed it
in action on it's stand. It ran with NO gas, NO water and did NOT
need to be plugged into an external energy source. Recently I
uploaded the video to youtube, facebook and myspace. I wrote
about the engine at http:/johnchittenden.50megs.co... along with

about the engine at http:/johnchittenden.50megs.co... along with

posting a few pictures.

MIRO SLODKI CHRIS DANNEN

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5 YEARS AGO

Interesting evolution if it can be made to work.

Honda is apparently doing something in a similar vein with their
upcoming hybrid engines in the sense that the two systems will be
integrated onto one powerplant (instead of two separate systems
like Prius) making it cheaper to produce...driving down
prices...opening the market to more consumers....
Chris, the link you supplied at the end to the patent isn't
functioning properly. can you revisit please
cheers

JOHN DALLAS CHRIS DANNEN

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6 YEARS AGO

Things to watch for if Bill Gates gets into the car business:
1. The Gatesmobile will stop occasionally, for no apparent
reason, and need to be restarted.
2. The Gatesmobile will need patches and upgrades once a
month, just to keep it running.
3. The Gatesmobile will go extremely slow at times, usually when
your running late for work.
4. The basic Gatesmobile will be useless, unless you purchase
expensive add-ons.
5. The Gatesmobile will be preceded by the Applemobile, a
much better vehicle.
6. Remember, left-click means go, right-click means stop.
Just be thankful Bill gates doesnt manufacture airplanes!
SJ

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