BACKGROUND

Field of Invention

Embodiments described herein generally relate to an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to an engine block and associated components, and a method of operating same for maximizing fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine.

Background of the Invention

Hydrocarbon based fuels are the primary fuels employed to power internal combustion engines. Such fuels are derived from a limited supply of oil found on the earth. As the human population increases, the use of internal combustion engines and the demand for hydrocarbon based fuels to power internal combustion engines increases. It is likely that the production of hydrocarbon based fuels from the limited supply of oil will not keep pace with growing demands. Further, it can be anticipated that at some point in time, the limited supply of oil will be exhausted.

One strategy to reduce the demand for hydrocarbon based fuels has been to use alternative fuels such as ethanol, natural gas, and hydrogen, for example, to power internal combustion engines. However, alternative fuels currently have limited availability. Making alternative fuels readily available to consumers will require significant capital investment in production facilities for alternative fuels and an infrastructure to distribute alternative fuels.

The production of alternative fuels typically requires consuming other resources such as electric energy to produce hydrogen and corn to produce ethanol, for example. The production of alternative fuels also can require the consumption of hydrocarbon based fuels. Accordingly, whether traditional hydrocarbon fuels or alternative fuels are employed increased fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines is required to minimize the consumption of oil and other natural resources.

Accordingly, there is an unmet need for an internal combustion engine and a method of operating the same, wherein the consumption of fuel by the internal combustion engine is minimized.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein relate to an internal combustion engine and a method of operating the same, wherein the consumption of fuel by the internal combustion engine is minimized, and wherein fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine is maximized.

In one embodiment, an engine comprises an engine block assembly including at least one electromagnet. An engine component is disposed in and movable relative to the engine block assembly. The movable engine component includes at least one permanent magnet. Specifically, a plurality of permanent magnets may be disposed in at least one of the piston and the crankshaft. A control system is adapted to selectively provide an electrical current to the at least one electromagnet to produce a desired magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field of the at least one electromagnet cooperates with a magnetic field of the at least one permanent magnet to affect a motion of the engine component in respect of the engine block assembly. Specifically the magnetic field of the at least one electromagnet cooperates with a magnetic field of the at least one permanent magnet to affect a motion of the piston and the crankshaft in respect of the engine block.

In another embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing an engine including an engine block having at least one cylinder bank including a plurality of cylinder bores formed therein. A piston is reciprocatingly disposed in each of the cylinder bores. The piston includes a top surface having a skirt depending therefrom. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted to the engine block. The crankshaft has at least one throw coupled thereto. A plurality of connecting rods have a first end and a second end. The first end is rotatably attached to the crankshaft and the second end is coupled to the piston. A cylinder head is mounted to the cylinder bank and covers the cylinder bores. The cylinder head includes an intake valve and an exhaust valve in fluid communication with each of the cylinder bores. An oil pan is mounted to a lower end of the engine block to form a crankcase area of the engine.

At least one first permanent magnet is disposed on a surface of the piston adjacent the top surface of the piston and/or at least one second permanent magnet is disposed on a surface of the throw or elsewhere in the crankshaft. A plurality of electromagnets is disposed in the engine block. A first set of the electromagnets is disposed along a path of travel of the piston and adjacent the piston and a second set of the electromagnets is disposed adjacent the throw, providing an electrical current to the first and second sets of electromagnets with a control system to produce a desired magnetic field. The magnetic field of the first set of electromagnets cooperates with a magnetic field of the at least one first permanent magnet to selectively attract and repel the at least one permanent magnet and the second set of electromagnets cooperates with a magnet field of the at least one second permanent magnet to selectively attract and repel the at least one second permanent magnet to affect a motion of the piston in respect of the engine block.

Another embodiment may include deactivating and reactivating the plurality of cylinder bores in a desired sequence. The control system may deactivate the plurality of cylinder bores by stopping a flow of fuel thereto and a flow of electrical energy to a spark plug for a deactivated cylinder bore, without deactivating an intake valve or an exhaust valve for the deactivated cylinder bore.

According to one embodiment of the internal combustion engine and a method of operating the same, an engine block has at least one cylinder bank including a plurality of cylinder bores formed therein. A piston is reciprocatingly disposed in each of the cylinder bores. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted to the engine block. The crankshaft has at least one throw being formed as a complete disc over at least a portion of its thickness. A plurality of connecting rods each has a first end and a second end. The first end of each connecting rod is rotatably attached to the crankshaft and the second end of each connecting rod is coupled to the piston. A cylinder head is mounted to the at least one cylinder bank and covers the cylinder bores. The cylinder head includes an intake valve and an exhaust valve in fluid communication with each of the cylinder bores. At least one permanent magnet is disposed in the disc of the at least one throw. At least one electromagnet is disposed in the engine block, a brace coupled to the engine block, and/or an oil pan mounted to a lower end of the engine block. The at least one electromagnet is positioned opposite the at least one permanent magnet. a control system selectively provides an electrical current to the electromagnets to produce a desired magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field of the electromagnets cooperates with a magnetic field of the permanent magnets to affect a motion of the crankshaft in respect of the engine block.

According to another embodiment of the internal combustion engine and a method of operating the same, a method of operating an engine includes several steps. The first step is providing an engine block with at least one cylinder bank including a plurality of cylinder bores formed therein. The second step is reciprocatingly disposing a piston in each of the cylinder bores. The third step is rotatably mounting a crankshaft to the engine block, the crankshaft having at least one throw being formed as a complete disc over at least a portion of its thickness. The fourth step is providing a plurality of connecting rods each having a first end and a second end, rotatably attaching the first end to the crankshaft, and coupling the second end to the piston. The fifth step is mounting a cylinder head to the cylinder bank and covering the cylinder bores therewith. The sixth step is including within the cylinder head an intake valve and an exhaust valve in fluid communication with each of the cylinder bores. The seventh step is disposing at least one permanent magnet in the disc of the at least one throw. The eighth step is disposing at least one electromagnet the engine block, a brace coupled to the engine block, and/or an oil pan mounted to a lower end of the engine block. The ninth step is positioning the at least one electromagnet opposite the at least one permanent magnet. The tenth step is configuring a control system to selectively provide an electrical current to the electromagnets to produce a desired magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field of the electromagnets cooperates with a magnetic field of the permanent magnets to affect a motion of the crankshaft in respect of the engine block.

