Reciprocating Electric Motor

[www.recumbents.com]

I was thinking about a different type of electric motor last night while staring at the ceiling in the middle of the night.

This motor would use large solenoids to drive pushrods which drive a driveshaft. It would basically be the electric analog of a reciprocating combustion engine. I'm sure it would be less efficient than a normal rotating electric motor, because it would require lots of bearings. Also that conservation of momentum thing would go right out the window with the solenoids going up and down. It would be a cool project though, and it would look and probably sound very cool on an ebike. You could almost use the block from a 4 cylinder motorcycle engine and just replace the pistons with big solenoids.

I'm not looking to build this, I just thought it was interesting and wondered if it had been done before.

-Warren.

 

[speedmd]

Hi Recumbents

I have been eying this linear actuator idea for some time now. One below is used in a shock for regen.

commercial short stroke actuator

A few years back there was some shown as you stated with gas suspension on both sides returning it to neutral position when power was released much like the shock at the top but for position control. Shows some promise. Look up voice coil actuators also.

 

[Miles]

Someone else had the same thought.....

http://visforvoltage.org/forum/13629-concepts-ebike-propulsion#comment-71064

 

[Kingfish]

OK, let’s think about this:
You want to take linear motion and turn it into rotary motion.

• Reciprocating pistons using Steam worked as an expanding gas, by reversing the concept of a compressor.
• ICEs work because volatile fluid (vaporized oxygenated petro) combusts to produce an expanding gas.
• Replace these systems with a linear actuator that converts the motion to rotary.

I do not see this as being more efficient because you have losses in the linkages and gears. The best method – using rotary motors to create rotary motion is already applied to good effect. Why complicate it?

Reciprocating in kind. KF

 

[speedmd]

Agree it would not be best to add a mechanical link/crank if going to a rotating motion. Standard motor would be better for this.

For propulsion, linear motors are finding traction applications in light rail.

Actuators have been finding potential in shock / active suspension applications.

 

[www.recumbents.com]

Yeah I know silly and inefficient, but can you imagine the sound and look of a bike with 8 solenoids rattling away and all working together to drive a driveshaft that actually powers a bike. Talk about a kinetic sculpture...

 

[Toorbough ULL-Zeveigh]

so you've seen this

[youtube]uhYEdD94vH0[/youtube]

hard time locating this thread.
didn't show using es search term 'solenoid'
this futter sounding motor needs a right proper name,
if only for use within the realm of the sphere.


in honour of the stalwart champion of the solenoid
i christen thee the E•S Buk__Futter motor.

 

[speedmd]

Yeah I know silly and inefficient, but can you imagine the sound and look of a bike with 8 solenoids rattling away and all working together to drive a driveshaft that actually powers a bike. Talk about a kinetic sculpture...

Yes but, if they were built into a recumbents suspension, you could at will effectively bunny hop potholes, small mounds and ruts by hitting a momentary switch or automatically to various degrees using optical sensors.

 

[www.recumbents.com]

so you've seen this

[youtube]uhYEdD94vH0[/youtube]

No I hadn't, but that is exactly what I was thinking of!

 

[www.recumbents.com]

Yeah I know silly and inefficient, but can you imagine the sound and look of a bike with 8 solenoids rattling away and all working together to drive a driveshaft that actually powers a bike. Talk about a kinetic sculpture...

Yes but, if they were built into a recumbents suspension, you could at will effectively bunny hop potholes, small mounds and ruts by hitting a momentary switch or automatically to various degrees using optical sensors.

Undoubtably!