Although some mechanical power probably could be obtained from this complicated reciprocating electric motor the inverse square law of attraction between magnetic materials probably would limit much effect. A normal rotating electric motor would, on all probability, be more efficient in converting electromagnetic energy to kinetic energy. But I could be wrong.

Had this idea myself some 20-odd years ago. The standard piston-run design of an internal combustion engine is probably not the most efficient means for utilizing the Mag-Engine concept. Last time I was drawing on it, I looked at a wankle shaft for better translation of power to torque. Too many moving parts in a piston engine. Each socket, joint, or gear robs power and converts it to heat. The Stanley Steamer only had 35 moving parts in the engine. Need to minimize the translation between the drivetrain and the wheels. Something I don't have the know-how to accomplish for a standard sedan or coup.

As said, a rotating electric motor is so far the best way to go.

How to measure the acceleration of the power: 0 X 0 = 0

It is unclear from your description where the power source is.

Most combustion engines work because: A lot more “Work” goes in---than comes out. A lot of Kinetic Energy (Combusted Gases) is exchanged for: Exhaust Heat, Mechanical Friction, Rotational Inertia ---which perpetuates the “Power-W” of the motor, and what we have left is what pulls the car along. Magnets couldn’t even come close to the payoff of combusted gases and the “Power-W” design of a combustion engine.

The weight of the windings alone would prohibit such a design, in any form. The EMF’s coming off the engine, unless shielded, would limit quit a few things, and shielding would be weight and cost prohibitive. We still haven’t taken into account the power source. One would assume from your description that you are relying on the attraction/repulsion of alternating polarity. To that, I’ll just say, “Find a good book on electric motors and magnets, and start reading.” Magnets are fascinating and semiconductors are even more so, but the idea isn’t plausible.

A little side note: I believe Tesla designed, or was working on a design, of a ‘Low-Friction Motor’ using alternating current and the adhering properties of water vapor. It had something to do with metal plates placed very close to each other and the steam rotating them, or something like that. Too much time has past, since reading it, for me to sort out the facts in my muddled noodle.

“Keep dreaming, but more importantly--- Keep learning, so you can make your dreams come true.” Bubba Buda, 2007; ), D-

Tesla created a vaneless turbine. Surface friction between the medium used between the driven and driving plates transferred the power. Vaneless pumps are used to pump fluids containing abrasive materials like mud and slurry. The automotive speedometer works on a similar idea. Tesla envisioned using geothermal heat sources to drive turbines that would produce electricity without pollution and at low cost. Oil companies allegedly hold leases on the best geothermal sites in this country.

Maybe magnets on a wheel, to be (first) pulled to a stationary point, and then repelled away as it passes the other side... but how can you get more juice out than you put in? Are we using electricity to create electricity? I probably misunderstood something fundamental (sorry).

The force from a magnet diminishes exponentially in variation to the distance from it. This concept has already been implemented in the form of a stepper motor. This is how the hard drive on your computer works.

Excellent basic concept, but it has already been developed.Keep coming up with ideas, your creative mind will eventually find a relationship that is original, practical, and useful.

Good job!

I have had an idea along the same lines, but the magnet on the piston always had the same polarity and the piston rod went all the way through the head. I also had magnets at the top and bottom of the cylinder. One would attract and the other would repel, then when the piston was at TDC, (Top Dead Center) the polarities of the top and bottom cylinder magnets would change, while the piston magnet remained the same.

Hey car freak. I applied for a patent on this invention. In Mexico only so far. Ive really just established my priority date. The comments so far are wrong. Buddy tells of the coils needing to be enormous and has to be sheilded to make it cost and weight prohibited. WRONG WRONG WRONG. Ive built several and they work like a dream! Its the perfect solution to the oil crisis. There are a few "tricks" involved but its not rocket science. Without piston rings(there's no need for compression) the force requirements are drastically reduced as is friction. I boost the current through ignition coils.Up to 20,000 volts. 250 wraps is the prime number of winds. I made the strength of the generator rods specifially so they would move the piston 16m/s at 3000 rpms. I was able to use the exsisting ecu unit for "spark" advance as well as the same spark plug wires too! It is very non invasive. As a test, my crazy freind welded a solid iron dumbell (80lbs) to an I beam of his fabrication shop. We wrapped as much wire as possible around the stem. We ran it from a 12 volt battery and an ignition coil from a '76 cordoba. It pulled a car (The cordoba) from 3 ft away right up to it. Hard and fast! It could have pulled a train. Its not necessary to use that much power but it was cool to watch. These motors will be in vehicles by 2010! Order one if you like.

i firmly agree with this idea of your i have had plans in my mind for the same idea only i view it more different if you want to talk about it email me at babskie1521@hotmail.com

You could do this, depending on what frequency you could get the electromagnets to fire at, but you would also need a ton of power (which until a better battery is designed would make the car really really heavy.) I had an idea of keeping the electromagnet on the same pole, but alternating the pistons, so every other piston in the motor was positive and negative (that way you don't need to worry about changing polls and it may allow for the pistons to move in a more uniform manner as well as make the recharge of the electromagnet a little faster, so you could keep the engine running at 10,000 rpm). One of the nice things about this idea, i think anyway, is that while it may not be as efficient as current motors, or even electric motors for that matter, it can be retrofitted to current cars, probably for a very small amount of money (maybe like 7,000 instead of like 35,000)....but always give it a shot

Yes, this could work, but it would be larger, heavier and less efficient than a conventional electric motor. It might be cheaper than replacing an existing engine with a complete electric motor, but then again, maybe not. You still have to provide the windings, magnets and many other components. Those parts constitute most of the cost of an electric motor anyway. The only motor parts being provided by the old engine are the block, crankshaft and bearings. Yes, it also supplies pistons and rods, but those parts are unnecessary in a conventional electric motor. The block and crankshaft are far larger and heavier than the motor case and shaft that they are substituting.

If you want to build it anyway, I can suggest some improvements. Instead of putting the windings above the piston, it would be much better to put them around the piston. To do this, I would suggest making the winding as a coil that fits inside the cylinder. Of course, the original piston won't fit inside the coil, but that's okay. You don't really want to use it anyway, it's needlessly heavy. Instead, you can use a much thinner rod shaped permanent magnet. The coil could push the magnet both up and down by reversing polarity. Putting a permanent magnet inside a coil would give you something more like a conventional linear motor. This should dramatically improve efficiency.

Its a good idea, in fact it has already been done and I have the proof, I have a vidio of this engine working it will not only run the car but will pull a 10,000lbs trailer as well and yes this is all on tape. As you may know, eletrical and or electromagnetic engines have full torque all the time.Here is the kicker though, our Government wants nothing to due with it. So much for trying to get away from oil.

DADNOVA, how about posting the video on youtube so we can see it? Why would you expect the gov't to be interested in it? They don't make cars. Why don't you show it to a car maker?

The fact that it works is no big deal really. Electric cars are a well proven concept. Unless your design has better range than existing electric cars, it doesn't really help anything.

I too have thought of this. The power issues are concerning but you can also overcome this by firing 2 cylinders at once. Most multiple cylinder engines have companion cylinders that move identically. When one cylinder is at the top of its compression stroke, its companion cylinder is at the top of its exhaust stroke. You can essentially turn a four stroke engine into a two stroke engine, maybe even doubling the power output, theoretically of course.

Of course this works, probably much better than the standard electric motor. Why? Simple:An electronic timing mechanism that quickly pulses 'sparks' both the electromagnet in the piston as it is a millimeter away from the repulsing electromagnet in the engine head, the same concept, the same thing as the RAIL GUN!!! The force pushes it away and the mechanical force pushes another piston up, another quick pulse, etc etc. Almost no different than how the standard internal combustion engine works.

this idea will,can,and do work.i am a 25yr vet in the auto industry.ihave been working on this 4 as many yrs.the real trick is powerdistribution?that can be acheived by having 2 distributors one at the front&rear of the cam. one having a positive other a neg.this is where u will need a mech.it all must be in time.the engine stroke will have too be shorten,(this cuts down on power uasage)a new on board computer 2 connect 2 the electric pedel 2 increase the power output and u are almost on your way. thats where my patend is pending

I thought someone already had this idea... I know it will work and work way beyond the expectations of the primitive electrical motor...