US 12,000,331 B2
High-efficiency linear generator
Adam Simpson, San Francisco, CA (US); Shannon Miller, Belmont, CA (US); and Matt Svrcek, Redwood City, CA (US)
Assigned to Mainspring Energy, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed by MAINSPRING ENERGY, INC., Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/077,007.
Application 18/077,007 is a continuation of application No. 17/106,695, filed on Nov. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,525,391.
Application 17/106,695 is a continuation of application No. 16/274,003, filed on Feb. 12, 2019, granted, now 10,851,708, issued on Dec. 1, 2020.
Application 16/274,003 is a continuation of application No. 16/016,393, filed on Jun. 22, 2018, granted, now 10,221,759, issued on Mar. 5, 2019.
Application 16/016,393 is a continuation of application No. 15/390,431, filed on Dec. 23, 2016, granted, now 10,024,231, issued on Jul. 17, 2018.
Application 15/390,431 is a continuation of application No. 14/964,463, filed on Dec. 9, 2015, granted, now 9,567,898, issued on Feb. 14, 2017.
Application 14/964,463 is a continuation of application No. 14/160,359, filed on Jan. 21, 2014, abandoned.
Application 14/160,359 is a continuation of application No. 13/298,206, filed on Nov. 16, 2011, granted, now 8,662,029, issued on Mar. 4, 2014.
Application 13/298,206 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/102,916, filed on May 6, 2011, granted, now 8,453,612, issued on Jun. 4, 2013.
Application 13/102,916 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/953,270, filed on Nov. 23, 2010, abandoned.
Application 12/953,270 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/953,277, filed on Nov. 23, 2010, granted, now 8,413,617, issued on Apr. 9, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2023/0101969 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. F02B 71/04 (2006.01); F01B 11/00 (2006.01); F02B 25/08 (2006.01); F02B 63/04 (2006.01); F02B 71/00 (2006.01); F02B 75/28 (2006.01); H02K 7/18 (2006.01); H02K 35/02 (2006.01); F01B 7/02 (2006.01); F02B 1/12 (2006.01)
CPC F02B 71/04 (2013.01) [F01B 11/001 (2013.01); F02B 25/08 (2013.01); F02B 63/041 (2013.01); F02B 71/00 (2013.01); F02B 75/282 (2013.01); H02K 7/1892 (2013.01); H02K 35/02 (2013.01); F01B 7/02 (2013.01); F01B 11/007 (2013.01); F02B 1/12 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A generator comprising:
at least one cylinder comprising a compression section;
a piston assembly comprising a piston and a piston rod rigidly attached to the piston, the piston assembly disposed adjacent to the compression section, wherein the piston assembly moves linearly within the at least one cylinder during operation of the generator;
a driver section coupled to the piston assembly;
a gas bearing, arranged between the compression section and the driver section, on which the piston rod moves during operation of the generator; and
a linear electromagnetic machine arranged relative to the piston assembly to directly convert kinetic energy of the piston assembly into electrical energy.