Shannon D Miller

US Patent:

8402931, Mar 26, 2013

Filed:

May 3, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/463724

Inventors:

Adam Simpson - San Francisco CA, US
Shannon Miller - Belmont CA, US
Matt Svrcek - Redwood City CA, US

Assignee:

EtaGen, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

F02B 71/00

US Classification:

123 46E, 123 46 A, 123 46 B

Abstract:

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a linear combustion engine, comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder wall and a pair of ends, the cylinder including a combustion section disposed in a center portion of the cylinder; a pair of opposed piston assemblies adapted to move linearly within the cylinder, each piston assembly disposed on one side of the combustion section opposite the other piston assembly, each piston assembly including a spring rod and a piston comprising a solid front section adjacent the combustion section and a gas section; and a pair of linear electromagnetic machines adapted to directly convert kinetic energy of the piston assembly into electrical energy, and adapted to directly convert electrical energy into kinetic energy of the piston assembly for providing compression work during the compression stroke.

US Patent:

8413617, Apr 9, 2013

Filed:

Nov 23, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/953277

Inventors:

Adam Simpson - San Francisco CA, US
Shannon Miller - Belmont CA, US
Matt Svrcek - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

EtaGen, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

F02B 71/00

US Classification:

123 46E

Abstract:

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a two-piston linear combustion engine, comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder wall and a pair of ends, the cylinder including a combustion section disposed in a center portion of the cylinder; a pair of opposed piston assemblies adapted to move linearly within the cylinder, each piston assembly disposed on one side of the combustion section opposite the other piston assembly; a pair of driver sections, each driver section comprising a compression mechanism that directly provides at least some compression work during a compression stroke of the engine; and a pair of linear electromagnetic machines adapted to directly convert kinetic energy of the piston assembly into electrical energy, and adapted to directly convert electrical energy into kinetic energy of the piston assembly for providing compression work during the compression stroke, wherein each linear electromagnetic machine is located distal to an end of the cylinder; wherein the engine includes a variable expansion ratio greater than 50:1.

US Patent:

8453612, Jun 4, 2013

Filed:

May 6, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/102916

Inventors:

Adam Simpson - San Francisco CA, US
Shannon Miller - Belmont CA, US
Mark Svrcek - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

EtaGen, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

F02B 71/00

US Classification:

123 46E, 123 46 R

Abstract:

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a linear combustion engine, comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder wall and a pair of ends, the cylinder including a combustion section disposed in a center portion of the cylinder; a pair of opposed piston assemblies adapted to move linearly within the cylinder, each piston assembly disposed on one side of the combustion section opposite the other piston assembly, each piston assembly including a spring rod and a piston comprising a solid front section adjacent the combustion section and a hollow back section comprising a gas spring that directly provides at least some compression work during a compression stroke of the engine; and a pair of linear electromagnetic machines adapted to directly convert kinetic energy of the piston assembly into electrical energy, and adapted to directly convert electrical energy into kinetic energy of the piston assembly for providing compression work during the compression stroke; wherein the engine includes a variable expansion ratio greater than 50:1.

US Patent:

20120125291, May 24, 2012

Filed:

Nov 16, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/298206

Inventors:

Adam Simpson - San Francisco CA, US
Shannon Miller - Belmont CA, US
Matt Svreek - Redwood City CA, US

International Classification:

F02B 71/04

US Classification:

123 46 E

Abstract:

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a linear combustion engine, comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder wall and a pair of ends, the cylinder including a combustion section disposed in a center portion of the cylinder; a pair of opposed piston assemblies adapted to move linearly within the cylinder, each piston assembly disposed on one side of the combustion section opposite the other piston assembly, each piston assembly including a spring rod and a piston comprising a solid front section adjacent the combustion section and a gas section; and a pair of linear electromagnetic machines adapted to directly convert kinetic energy of the piston assembly into electrical energy, and adapted to directly convert electrical energy into kinetic energy of the piston assembly for providing compression work during the compression stroke.

US Patent:

20120126543, May 24, 2012

Filed:

Nov 23, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/953270

Inventors:

Adam Simpson - San Francisco CA, US
Shannon Miller - Belmont CA, US
Matt Svrcek - Palo Alto CA, US

International Classification:

H02K 7/18

US Classification:

290 1 A

Abstract:

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a linear combustion engine, comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder wall, the cylinder including a combustion section disposed in a lower portion of the cylinder; a piston assemblies adapted to move linearly within the cylinder, the piston assembly located above the combustion section; a driver section disposed in an upper portion of the cylinder, the driver section comprising a compression mechanism that directly provides at least some compression work during a compression stroke of the engine; and a linear electromagnetic machine adapted to directly convert kinetic energy of the piston assembly into electrical energy, and adapted to directly convert electrical energy into kinetic energy of the piston assembly for providing compression work during the compression stroke, wherein the linear electromagnetic machine is above the upper end of the cylinder; wherein the engine includes a variable expansion ratio greater than 50:1.

US Patent:

20130167718, Jul 4, 2013

Filed:

Dec 21, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/725987

Inventors:

John Lawler - San Francisco CA, US
Shannon Miller - Belmont CA, US

Assignee:

Etagen, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

F16J 1/09
F16J 1/10

US Classification:

92172

Abstract:

A piston engine may include a heat pipe capable of transferring heat away from a portion of the piston engine such as a combustion section. The heat pipe may be included as part of a piston assembly, a cylinder, or both. The heat pipe may be filled with a suitable heat pipe fluid that may undergo a phase change such as, for example, water, ethanol, ammonia, sodium, other fluids or combinations thereof. Boiling and condensing of the fluid within the heat pipe may utilize the latent heat of the fluid during heat transfer. Multiple heat pipes may be used in some instances.

US Patent:

20130167794, Jul 4, 2013

Filed:

Dec 29, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/340538

Inventors:

Matt Svrcek - Redwood City CA, US
John Lawler - San Francisco CA, US
Shannon Miller - Belmont CA, US

International Classification:

F02F 1/00
F02F 3/00

US Classification:

1231932, 1231936

Abstract:

A piston engine may include a heat pipe capable of transferring heat away from a portion of the piston engine such as a combustion section. The heat pipe may be included as part of a piston assembly, a cylinder, or both. The heat pipe may be filled with a suitable heat pipe fluid that may undergo a phase change such as, for example, water, ethanol, ammonia, sodium, other fluids or combinations thereof. Boiling and condensing of the fluid within the heat pipe may utilize the latent heat of the fluid during heat transfer. Multiple heat pipes may be used in some instances.

US Patent:

20230101969, Mar 30, 2023

Filed:

Dec 7, 2022

Appl. No.:

18/077007

Inventors:

- Menlo Park CA, US
Shannon Miller - Belmont CA, US
Matt Svrcek - Redwood City CA, US

International Classification:

F02B 71/04
F01B 11/00
F02B 63/04
F02B 71/00
F02B 25/08
F02B 75/28
H02K 7/18
H02K 35/02

Abstract:

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a linear combustion engine, comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder wall and a pair of ends, the cylinder including a combustion section disposed in a center portion of the cylinder; a pair of opposed piston assemblies adapted to move linearly within the cylinder, each piston assembly disposed on one side of the combustion section opposite the other piston assembly, each piston assembly including a spring rod and a piston comprising a solid front section adjacent the combustion section and a gas section; and a pair of linear electromagnetic machines adapted to directly convert kinetic energy of the piston assembly into electrical energy, and adapted to directly convert electrical energy into kinetic energy of the piston assembly for providing compression work during the compression stroke.