GENERATORS FOR MINIATURE RECIPROCATING ENGINES WITH SUSTAINED POWER LEVELS FROM 1 WATT TO 1 KW.

A SOLID STATE GENERATOR IS PROPOSED THAT EMPLOYS A PULSATILE HYDRAULIC OUTPUT CYCLICALLY TO STRESS A STACK OF FERROELECTRIC ELEMENTS. THE HYDRAULIC ENERGY IS CONVERTED TO ELECTRICAL ENERGY IN THE FERROELECTRIC MATERIAL AND THE OUTPUT IS TRANSFORMED FROM RELATIVELY HIGH TO LOW VOLTAGE SUBSEQUENTLY TO BE RECTIFIED AND CAPACITIVELY STORED. THE PULSATILE HYDRAULIC OUTPUT IS DERIVED FROM A SMALLECCENTRIC DRIVING A SCOTCH CRANK THAT INTRUDES A PLUNGER INTO A CLOSED OIL VOLUME. THE SYSTEM PROPOSED TO BE FABRICATED AND TESTED IN PHASE I WILL GENERATE 8.4W WITH AN EFFICIENCY OF 38%. THE ECCENTRICITY OF THE DRIVING CRANK FOR SYSTEM IS ONLY 0.005 INCH. A DESIGN IS PRESENTED THAT SHOWS FEASIBILITY FOR A 112W GENERATOR, WITH SIMILAR EFFICIENCY, THAT CAN BE DRIVEN BY A MODEL AEROPLANE I.C. ENGINE FOR DEVELOPMENT IN PHASE II. THIS TYPE OF GENERATOR IS NEITHER SENSITIVE TO NOR PRODUCES MAGNETIC FIELD. IT ADDS NOTHING TO THE GYROSCOPIC COUPLE OF THE POWER PLANT BECAUSE IT ADDS NO ROTATING INERTIA. FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS ARE VERY INERT, RESISTANT TO ENVIRONMENTAL EXTREMES AND CORROSIVE ATTACK. THEY HAVE BEEN TESTED TO VERY HIGH LEVELS OF SHOCK, VIBRATION AND RADIATION. KINETIC SYSTEMS PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS FOR OVER 22 YEARS. ANTICIPATED BENEFITS/POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS - MINIATURE LIGHTWEIGHT POWER SUPPLIES OF LOW TO HIGH VOLTAGE OUTPUT CAN HAVE MANY BENEFITS IN MISSILES, SPACE VEHICLES, PILOTLESS AIRCRAFT OR AS SATELLITE GENERATORS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PULSATILE ENERGY EITHER HYDRAULIC, GAS PRESSURE OR MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS.