Toyota developing free piston engine linear generator for hybrid cars

FoxNews.com ^ | 2 May 2014 | Fox News

[NYFreeper]

Toyota is hot on hydrogen fuel cells for its next-generation cars, but it’s not going cold on internal combustion just yet.

The company’s R&D division has developed a Free Piston Engine Linear Generator that can convert gasoline and other fuels into electricity more efficiently than existing systems.

[NYFreeper]

Interesting, it may have potential. This is one of those where you say, "now why didn't I think of that."

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Mazda had a piston free engine years ago, the Wankel.

[GeronL]

it will not be free - just getting Obama voters hopes up

[Squawk 8888]

Not piston-free, this is free piston- there is no crankshaft, the piston with a magnet moves within a coil. Interesting concept.

[Jeff Chandler]

Mazda had a piston free engine years ago, the Wankel.

You misspelled "wanker".

[Jeff Chandler]

I wonder how they would balance it — make it smooth?

[UCANSEE2]

I have a flashlight that works on the same principle, except I am the ‘fuel’.

[Squawk 8888]

The article mentions pairing them to cancel out vibrations, but other than that I have no idea.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Reciprocating mass without counterweights. That’ll shake your fillings right out. They need one on the opposite side moving in opposition. Synchronization would be an interesting challenge.

How about a small Brayton cycle? Burns any fuel, quiet, vibration free, only one moving part, no reciprocating mass. My Dad led a project in the 70s or 80s at GE to build a small Brayton cycle to provide aux power to RVs. The engine prototype was just beautiful. The oil shocks killed that project.

[Fresh Wind]

They would have to have pairs of these cylinders, horizontally opposed. This is the concept behind the Porsche, air-cooled VW, and Subaru “boxer” engines.

[andyk]

This is one of those where you say, "now why didn't I think of that."

Don't worry - I'm sure Apple will turn up a patent.

[Jeff Chandler]

horizontally opposed. This is the concept behind the Porsche, air-cooled VW, and Subaru “boxer” engines.

You forgot one:

.

.

[Jeff Chandler]

There’s an article?

[NYFreeper]

I wonder how they would balance it — make it smooth?

Adding more cylinders to balance out the vibrations is how I would do it. I would get rid of that gas spring chamber and replace it with another piston and combustion chamber.

[max americana]

“”now why didn’t I think of that.”

Another idea where it requires execution. Remember when those dudes in the 1930’s also made fancy drawings of flying cars complete with colorful schematics?

Here’s a perfect example...

[cynwoody]

I have a flashlight that works on the same principle, except I am the ‘fuel’.

Faraday flashlight

[virgil283]

In a way it reminds me of the Sterling engine...it had a rebound cylinder... .....;

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Mazda had a piston free engine years ago, the Wankel.
You misspelled “wanker”.

Designed by someone in Peggy Bundy’s family?

[353FMG]

Philips developed a flashlight right after WWII that required the user to continuously squeeze and unsqueeze the device which, in turn caused a generator to develop enough current to power a light bulb.

The faster the user squeezed and unsqueezed, the brighter the light.

When flash light batteries became available again, the device became defunct.

(to unsqueeze is a new verb, meaning to release the pressure generated by squeezing an object.)

[Java4Jay]

pinG