WO1982003894A1

WO1982003894A1 - Method and system utilizing electromagnets & hydraulic(or gas)pressure to amplify electrical energy

Info

Publication number: WO1982003894A1
Application number: PCT/US1982/000599
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Bryan Schleuter; Ignacio Divinagracia J Debuque
Original assignee: William Bryan Schleuter; Debuque Ignacio Divinagracia Jr
Priority date: 1981-05-07
Filing date: 1982-05-07
Publication date: 1982-11-11
Also published as: DK2683A; NL8220209A; GB2109478A; PH15897A; DK2683D0; EP0078317A1; BR8207681A; SE8300070D0; JPS58108961A; GB8300268D0; EP0078317A4; SE8300070L

Abstract

Method and system for amplifying initial electrical energy inputted into a prime mover to produce much higher levels of work output than would ordinarily be possible, by intermittently energizing an electromagnet (2) to develop strong, short-lived repelling magnetic power pulses between it and a similarly polarized permanent magnet (1); using such intermittent repelling magnetic pulses to drive a spring-loaded reciprocating piston (4); and rigging up such piston (4) to pressurize hydraulic fluid for use in a hydraulic motor (30), or to drive an engin crankshaft directly. Alternatively, the invention may be modified by using two electromagnets (Fig. 2, 1 and 2) to develop the necessary magnetic repelling pulses, or to pressurize gas instead of fluid for use as a driving medium in the prime mover.

Description

Description .

Method and System Utilizing Electro- Magnets & Hydraulic (Or Gas) Pressure To Amplify Electrical Energy

Technical Field This invention relates to a method, system and/or device developed by the- applicants for the purpose of conserving the world's limited supply of energy.

Summary of the Invention

The method and system subject of the present applica- tion finds its rationale in the concept that electro¬ magnets and hydraulic systems each possess certain inher¬ ent characteristics which, if combined and properly ex¬ ploited, could work to enhance, intensify or amplify the initial electrical inputted into a power system to pro- duce much higher horsepower levels than would otherwise be possible.

As such, the primary object of the present invention is to aid in solving the world's problem of energy by providing a power amplifier that will step up or amplify the power input of an engine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a power amplifier that is simple in construction and the major components of which can be fabricated locally.

Principles Used In Invention The proposed invention is based primarily on two well- known physical principles, viz.: a) When two magnets are placed very close together end to end with like poles ir and m_ separated by a dis¬ tance of d that is small compared with the extent of the surfaces, the magnets are repelled with a force F that is very strong. For each portion of one of the nearby sur- faces, that corresponding part of the other develops a ^ml^ιrι2 repelling force equal to F=—₇— where the product of -. ά^{Δ x} and π is expressed in dynes, d is the square of the dis¬ tance between the magnet ends in centimeters, and F is the total repelling force produced by the magnets, expressed likewise in dynes. b) Pressure applied on a confined fluid is transmit¬ ted undi inished in all directions, and acts with equal force on equal areas, and at right angles to them. (Pascal's Law) .

Brief Description of Drawings

In the accompanying drawings of the disclosed inven¬ tion, Fig. 1 shows a semi-schematic view of the preferred form of the disclosed invention with a power amplifier shown in cross section and the rest of the power amplifi- cation system (electrical sub-system and hydraulic sub¬ system) in pure schematic form.

Fig. 2 shows a semi-schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosed invention partially in cross section and the rest of the power amplification system (electrical sub-system and hydraulic sub-system) in pure schematic form. Detailed Description of the Preferred Form of the Invention

Referring now to Fig. 1, the inventive concept may be seen to comprise a power amplifier including the following major parts: a permanent magnet 1, an electromagnet 2, a piston 4 having a shaft 3, and a cylinder made up of two sections, namely, a support cylinder section 5 and a pres¬ sure cylinder section 11, the latter of which provides a pressure chamber 12. The two cylinder sections 5 and 11 are bolted together and are held between thick cylinder plates 13 and 13a which are connected by high tensile bars 34 of sufficient size and number to withstand the imposed load. Both cylinder sections 5 and 11, the piston 4, and the two cylinder plates 13 and 13a are made of strong non-magnetic material such as aluminum, certain types of stainless steel, boron or graphite epoxy, etc.

The electromagnet 2 is of cylinder shape with an out¬ side diameter, inclusive of its casing, equal to the sup¬ port cylinder's inside diameter. It is fixed or bolted to the top of the support cylinder section 5 and the top cylinder plate 13 to make it completely immobile. The electromagnet 2 is connected to an outside electrical power source by a line passing through the top cylinder plate 13.

The permanent magnet 1 is of the same shape and dia- meter as the electromagnet and is integrally connected to the piston shaft 3 for movement with piston 4 as a unit.

The end surfaces of the two magnets 1 and 2 facing each other are similarly polarized (S- to S-pole, or N-

OMPI to N-pole) and when the electromagnet 2 is not energized, are positioned flush and as close to each other as possi¬ ble.

The piston 4 is fitted with a return spring 6 wound around the piston shaft 3 and designed to work between the top of the piston 4 and the permanent magnet 1. The pis¬ ton 4 is fitted with piston rings 7 or O-ring seals to reduce to the utmost clearance between the piston 4 and the inside wall of the pressure cylinder. The piston 4 is positioned just above the pressure chamber 12 which contains the hydraulic fluid to be pres¬ surized. The pressure chamber 12 is provided with either a common inlet-outlet pipe 10 as shown in the drawing,' or with dual or multiple inlets and outlets where the de- signed rate of flow of hydraulic fluid so requires.

At a point in the support cylinder section 5 where the two magnets 1 and 2 meet when at rest, an air inlet pipe 14 fitted with check valve 15 and filter 16 is provided. Such air inlet pipe 14 is designed to allow air to be forced into the vacuum created between the two magnets on the piston's down stroke. On the up-stroke, as the per¬ manent magnet is pushed back up by action of the return spring 6, the air forced in is trapped and pressurized between the two magnets and expelled through a needle valve 17 the opening of which is adjusted so as to retard the speed of the piston's up-stroke and prevent the two magnets 1 and 2 from forcefully striking against each other. From the needle valve 17, the air passes into a

^^yj E

OMPl muffler 18 to reduce air exhaustion noise to acceptable levels.

The power amplifier A in turn is hooked up to a con¬ ventional electrical sub-system B that is designed to generate and transmit the_. electrical power needed to ener¬ gize the electromagnet in the intermittent or pulsing man¬ ner required to operate the power amplifier. Such elec¬ trical sub-system comprises a starting switch 19, which connects the system to an auxiliary power source, a line switch 20 connected to a relay 21, a motor-speed control¬ ler 22, a variable speed motor 23 connected to a rotary switch 24, and the necessary electrical lines connecting the foregoing components to a generator 31 driven off the hydraulic motor 30. The power amplification system includes a similarly conventional hydraulic sub-system C designed to harness and recycle the hydraulic fluid pressurized by the power amplifier to produce useful and continuous work output. The principal components of hydraulic sub-system C, start- ing from where the pressurized fluid leaves the pressure chamber 12 through the inlet-outlet pipe 10, comprises: a pressure line check valve 9; a hydraulic fluid cooler 25 for reducing the temperature of the hot pressurized fluid as it exhausts from the pressure chamber 12; and an accu- mulator 26 for eliminating pulsation and providing the hydraulic motor 30 with a steady supply of fluid; a pres¬ sure-relief valve 27 for protecting sub-system C from excessive hydraulic pressure, set to relieve just above

-gUREAl OMP- the designed working pressure; a volume control valve 28 to ensure that a constant volume of fluid is fed the hydraulic motor 30; a variable volume valve 29 to control the operating speed of hydraulic motor 30; a return-line check valve 8; and the necessary hydraulic lines connecting the foregoing elements.

In both electrical and hydraulic sub-systems B and C, the illustrated circuits represent the preferred and not the only method of connection, and may be modified as re-- quired provided they perform their basic functions in the system as a whole.

Alternative Form of the Invention

As shown in Fig. 2, an alternative form of the dis¬ closed invention may be seen to comprise the use of two electromagnets, one stationary electromagnet 2 and a mobile electromagnet 1; the incorporation of a second hydraulic motor 35 distinct and separate from the hydraul¬ ic motor 30 designed to drive the generator 31 that sup¬ plies the power amplifier with internally sourced elec- trical energy, such second hydraulic motor 35 being de¬ signed for use as the major prime mover of the modified system,such main motor being provided with: a three-way switch 35a that enables the operator to set the main hy¬ draulic motor 35 at forward, neutral and reverse, and a volume control valve 36 analogous in operation to a car's accelerator. The drawing depicts as well a liquid cool¬ ing system for the power amplifier composed of a support cylinder water jacket 5a, pressure cylinder water jacket

^■^RE 11a, water circulation lines 38a, 38b, 39a, 39c, and a water circulation pump 37. The main operating features of the modified system depicted in Fig. 2 is that the second and mobile electromagnet 1 is energized simultane- - ously with the stationary electromagnet 2 and that it will allow the main hydraulic motor 35 to be stopped without affecting the operation of the small generator 31 that supplies the internally sourced electrical energy to the power amplifier's electromagnets 1 and 2. Moreover, the cooling system will allow the power amplifier to run cooler, thus ensuring that the electromagnets 1 and 2 do not reach too high a temperature and weaken.

Description of Operation

When the switch 19, which is connected to an auxili- ary power source (e.g., a battery, an outside power line) as represented in the form of the invention in Fig. 1, is thrown, current flows through the normally closed con¬ tacts on the relay 21 to the main switch 20 and supplies power through the motor-speed controller 22 or rheostat to the variable speed motor 23. The variable speed motor 23 activates the rotary switch 24 to complete and break the circuit leading to the electromagnet 2 in an intermit¬ tent and short-lived manner. The electromagnet 2, ener¬ gized by such intermittent and short-lived burst of elec- trical current, develops a pulsing electromagnetic force. Since adjacent ends of electromagnet 2 and permanent magnet 1 are of the same polarity, the two develop be¬ tween them a strong magnetic repelling force which causes the mobile permanent magnet 1 to move sharply away from the electromagnet 2 and the piston 4 which is connected integrally to the permanent magnet 1 to exert a strong pushing force against the hydraulic fluid contained in the pressure chamber 12.

With the electrical current being transmitted in intermittent, short-lived bursts, the electromagnetic force developed is equally intermittent and short-lived and is simultaneously terminated just as soon as the piston 4 has completed its designed pressure stroke. As soon as the electromagnet is cut off from its power source, the strong repelling magnetic force acting upon the permanent magnet-piston assembly disappears. This causes such assembly to move abruptly back to its origi- nal position by action of the return spring 6. As it does so, hydraulic fluid flows into the pressure chamber from the inlet-outlet pipe 10 and fills the pressure chamber 12 in preparation for the next pressurizing stroke of piston 4. The next burst of electrical energy now comes on as the rotary switch 24 continues revolving and starts the electromagnet 2, the permanent magnet 1, and the piston 4 off on another pressurizing cycle.

The end result is that the intermittent or pulsing magnetic repelling force developed between the electro- magnet 2 and the permanent magnet-piston 1, 4 assembly on one hand, and the counter-action of the return spring 6 on the other, produces a reciprocating pumping action which causes the pressurized fluid to flow out of the pressure chamber 12 through the inlet-outlet pipe 10 passing the pressure check valve 9 and, successively, to the hydraulic fluid cooler 25, the accumulator 26, the pressure relief valve 27, the volume control valve 28, the variable volume valve 29 and finally the hydraulic motor 30 where the pressurized fluid is utilized to produce useful work out¬ put and collaterally to drive a small generator 31 that acts as the sustaining electrical power source for the electromagnet 2. After the energy contained in the pressurized hydrau¬ lic fluid has been used to drive the hydraulic motor 30, such fluid is exhausted from the low pressure side of motor 30 and vented into a reservoir 32 where it is fil¬ tered and returned via the full supply line check valve 8 and the inlet-outlet pipe 10, to the pressure chamber 12 for recycling.

As stated earlier, the fluid energy in the pressurized hydraulic fluid is converted by the hydraulic motor 30 either into mechanical energy, as where the motor's engine shaft is used to power an automotive drive train, or turn a ship's propeller, or into electrical energy by using it to drive an electrical generator with a capacity much greater than that needed to energize the electromagnet that initiates operation of the power amplifier. Operation of the embodiment of Fig. 2 is basically similar to the design in Fig. 1, with the main difference being that in the former each electrical pulse energizes the two opposing electromagnets 1, 2 simultaneously so as

OMPI to develop the repelling magnetic force that causes the piston-magnet assembly to push against the confined hy¬ draulic fluid. As such, the power amplifier is purely dependent on an electrical input for its operation. Another significant difference in the operation of the embodiment of Fig. 2 is that after the system has been started by an outside power source 19, the pressur¬ ized hydraulic fluid leaving the pressure chamber 12 is used to run two separate hydraulic motors 30, 35, one be- ing the small in-house hydraulic motor 30 whose function is to power the in-house generator 31 which develops the electrical current that energize the electromagnets 1 and 2, the other being the main hydraulic motor 35 which utilizes the bulk of the pressurized hydraulic fluid and acts as the system's main prime mover. In such an arrange¬ ment, even if the main prime mover 35 is stopped, the in- house motor-generator assembly 30, 31 and, consequently, the power amplifier proper continue functioning without any let-up. This, of course, allows the main prime mover 35 to be stopped for any reason, such as maintenance, check-ups, adjustments, repairs, etc., without requiring a shutdown of the whole system.

Variations of the Invention

Both the power amplifier and the power amplification systems shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are capable of the follow¬ ing variations each of which would by itself constitute a patentable feature:

OMPI W1P0 1. Instead of the piston pressurizing hydraulic fluid, it is used instead to pressurize gas or air which, after being compressed and stored in an appropriate high pres¬ sure vessel, is used to drive a pressurized gas- or air- driven prime mover.

2. Instead of using the power amplifier's piston to pressurize hydraulic fluid for use in a hydraulic motor, it is connected by means of the appropriate crank arm, gears, bearings, and other standard reciprocating engine components and devices to a crankshaft flywheel assembly by which the piston's reciprocating action is converted to useful work output.

3. Instead of using the power amplifier's piston to pressurize hydraulic fluid for use in a hydraulic motor, it is connected to a drive gear forming part of a gearbox by which the piston's reciprocating action is converted to useful work output.

4. Instead of only one piston-magnet assembly being driven by the stationary electromagnet, a mirror-image arrangement of the piston-magnet assembly and its support¬ ing devices including cylinder, pressure chamber, top and base cylinder plates, high-tensile retaining bars, hydrau¬ lic fluid supply and pressure lines, etc., are installed at the opposite pole of the stationary electromagnet such that every time the now center-positioned electromagnet is energized, two piston-magnet assemblies are driven in opposite directions by repelling magnetic force thus caus¬ ing them to pressurize fluid enclosed in two separate

- U EA OMPI pressure chambers positioned at the opposite ends of the new mirror-image or opposed-cylinder power amplifier;

5. Instead of only one piston-magnet assembly being driven by the stationary electromagnet working inside one cylinder and pressurizing fluid contained in only one pressure chamber, at least two sets of the foregoing are joined together in tandem and parallel fashion, whether on an in-line or circular pattern, such as to form an inte¬ gral, multi-cylinder power plant; 6. A combination of the variations described in the two paragraphs immediately preceding, such that the result¬ ing power amplifier design may now be defined as an opposed or mirror-imaged, multi-cylinder power plant; and

7. An arrangement where the power amplifier's station- ary electromagnet is bracketed by two other electromagnets positioned on each end of the stationary magnet's two poles such that the three electromagnets may be energized simultaneously to develop repelling magnetic force at both poles of the stationary electromagnet thus producing two separate but simultaneous reciprocating movements with only one electrical pulse.

Claims

1. A method utilizing magnetics to amplify the initial electrical energy fed into a power plant such that the latter is able to produce a higher level of work output than would ordinarily be derived from such initial electrical input, comprising the steps of: a) intermittently energizing an electromagnet fixed to the top portion of a hollow cylinder and adapted to develop strong repelling magnetic power pulses against a permanent magnet forming the top end portion of a piston-magnet assembly designed to fit and move in a reciprocating manner within said cylinder; b) utilizing said intermittent repelling magnetic power pulses to actuate a piston forming the bottom end portion of the piston-magnet assembly into pro¬ ducing a reciprocating pump action; and c) utilizing said reciprocating pumping action to drive a power transmission means.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the piston's reciprocating pumping action is used to drive a hy¬ draulic power transmission means, comprising the steps of: a) subjecting hydraulic fluid, confined within a chamber defined by the space formed between the work- ing face of the piston and the cylinder's closed end, to the pressure developed by the reciprocating piston action; b) passing the pressurized- hydraulic fluid ex¬ hausted from the pressure chamber through a fluid cooler; c) transmitting the cooled pressurized hydraulic fluid to an accumulator adapted to store the energy contained in the pressurized fluid; and d) utilizing the fluid energy stored in the accu¬ mulator to drive a hydraulically operated prime mover.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the piston's reciprocating action is used to drive a pneumatic power transmission means, comprising the steps of: a) compressing a gas, confined within a chamber defined by the space formed between the piston's work- ing face and the cylinder's closed lower end, by means of the pressure developed by the reciprocating piston action; b) transmitting the compressed gas to an accumula¬ tor adapted to store the energy contained in said compressed gas; and c) utilizing the compressed gas energy stored in the accumulator to drive a gas-operated prime mover.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the piston's reciprocating action is used to drive a mechanical power transmission means, comprising the steps of: a) transmitting the power developed by the pis¬ ton's reciprocating action to a crank arm by means of a connecting rod; b) transmitting the power developed in the crank arm to a crankshaft-flywheel assembly; c) utilizing the power transmitted to the crank- - shaft-flywheel assembly to drive a load.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the piston's reciprocating pumping action is used to drive a mechanical power transmission means, comprising the steps of: a) transmitting, by means of a drive gear attached to the piston, the power developed by the latter ^" s reciprocating action to a second gear forming part of a gearbox; b) utilizing the power transmitted to the gearbox to drive a shaft-flywheel assembly; and c) utilizing the power transmitted to the shaft- flywheel assembly to drive a load.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the magnet forming the top end portion of the piston-magnet assembly, instead of being a permanent magnet, is replaced by an electromagnet that is adapted to be energized simultaneously with the first electromagnet such that a repelling magnetic field of force is developed between them.

7. A system for amplifying the initial electrical energy input fed into a power plant such that the latter is able to produce much higher levels of work output than would ordinarily be possible, by intermittently energizing an electromagnet fixed to the top of a closed cylinder made of strong, non-magnetic material, so as to develop relatively rapid and short-lived repelling magnetic power pulses between it and a similarly polarized permanent magnet or electromagnet connected integrally by a shaft to a spring-loaded reciprocating piston, such that simultaneously with the repelling power pulses developed by the inter¬ mitted energization of the electromagnets, the piston- magnet assembly is driven in an equally intermittent manner such as to cause strong pressure pulses to bear against the hydraulic fluid contained in a pres- surizing chamber positioned between the free piston end and the bottom of the cylinder, such pressurized fluid then being transmitted through the appropriate valves, hydraulic lines, cooler and accumulator to a hydraulic motor or other type prime mover utilizing pressurized hydraulic fluid as a driving medium.

8. An apparatus utilizing magnetics to amplify the ini¬ tial electrical energy fed into a power plant such that the latter is able to generate a higher level of work output than would ordinarily be derived from the initial electrical input, such apparatus comprising a hollow cylinder made of non-magnetic material; an electromagnet fixed to the top portion of said

-SΪJREAT

0MP1 cylinder; a piston-magnet assembly shaped to fit and move in a reciprocating manner within the cylinder, such assembly including a permanent magnet that is joined to a piston made of non-magnetic material through a piston shaft provided with a return spring spirally wound around said piston shaft; an upper plate positioned over the top end portion of the cylin¬ der and a base plate positioned at the cylinder's bottom end, both said upper plate and base plate being made likewise of non-magnetic material and connected to each other by a plurality of high-tensile retaining bars; a retarder or snubber device adapted to prevent the working faces of the electromagnet and the magnet from striking against each other; a power transmission means deriving power directly from the reciprocating piston; and an electrical system adapted to operate the electromagnet.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the magnet forming the top portion of the piston-magnet assembly is an electromagnet and the electrical system is adapted to energize simultaneously the fixed electro¬ magnet and the second electromagnet forming the top portion of the piston-magnet assembly.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the power transmission means is a hydraulic system comprising a pressure chamber defined by the space formed between the piston's working face and the cylinder's closed bottom end adapted to confine the hydraulic fluid in¬ tended to be pressurized by action of the reciprocat¬ ing piston; inlet and outlet pipes provided with one¬ way check valves and connected to apertures in the bottom portion of the pressure chamber; a hydraulic fluid cooler connected to the pressure chamber, said hydraulic fluid cooler being adapted to lower the temperature of the hot pressurized fluid exhausted from the pressure chamber; an accumulator communicat- ing with the hydraulic fluid cooler, such accumulator being adapted to store the fluid pressure developed by the reciprocating piston action; a hydraulically driven prime mover operated by the fluid pressure stored in the accumulator; hydraulic fluid controls comprising a pressure relief valve positioned between pressure chamber and accumulator and another between accumulator and hydraulic prime mover; a pressure re¬ ducing valve placed after the accumulator; a volume- control valve placed between the accumulator and the hydraulic prime mover's inlet side to regulate the speed of operation of said prime mover; and a direc¬ tional flow-control valve positioned after the volume- control valve to effect a change in the direction of the prime mover's thrust whether to forward, reverse or neutral; and hydraulic gauges and monitors attached to the pressure chamber, circulation lines and hydraulic prime mover.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the power transmission means is a pneumatic system comprising a pressure chamber defined by the space formed be¬ tween the piston's working face and the cylinder's closed bottom end adapted to confine the gas in¬ tended to be compressed by reciprocating piston action; inlet and outlet pipes provided with one-way check valves and connected to apertures in the bot¬ tom portion of the pressure chamber; an accumulator communicating with the pressure chamber, such accumu¬ lator being adapted to store the energy contained in the pressurized gas; a gas-driven prime mover oper¬ ated by the compressed gas stored in the accumulator; a compressed-gas circulation system designed to recy- cle the gas between the pressure chamber and the fore¬ going components, such systems consisting of a fil¬ tered gas reservoir, gas supply line, pressurized gas line, and compressed-gas controls comprising a pres¬ sure relief valve positioned between pressure chamber and accumulator and another between accumulator and pneumatic prime mover; a pressure-reducing valve placed after the accumulator; a volume-control valve positioned between accumulator and the pneumatic prime mover's inlet side to regulate the speed of operation of said prime mover; and a directional flow-control valve placed after the volume control valve to effect a change in the direction of the prime mover's thrust whether to forward, reverse or neutral, and gas pressure gauges and monitors attached to the pressure chamber, circulation lines and pneumatic prime mover.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the elec- trical system to operate the electromagnet comprises a starting switch connected to an auxiliary power source, a main switch relay in contact with the starting switch, a main switch communicating with the relay, a motor-speed controller operated by the relay, and a rotary switch connected to the motor- speed controller adapted to supply intermittent elec¬ trical power to the electromagnet.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the de¬ vice to prevent the electromagnet and the magnet forming part of the piston-magnet assembly from striking against each other is a pneumatic device comprising an air inlet pipe provided with a check valve leading into the space defined between the working faces of the electromagnet and the magnet and an outlet line leading therefrom connected to a needle valve that can be set to open at varying pressures as desired.

14. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein circu- lation cooling system using liquid as a medium is used to cool the magnets, cylinders and pressure chamber, such system consisting of a liquid circula¬ tion pump connected by a line to water jackets

7 OMPI constructed integrally around.the cylinder and pres¬ sure chamber, and provided with an outlet line to carry the cooling liquid to a cooling device and returning the same to the pump for recycling.

5 15. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a small electric generator, driven by a small prime mover deriving power from the apparatus itself, is in¬ stalled to generate the electricity needed to ener¬ gize the electromagnet and to supply the power

10 plant's in-house electrical energy needs, such small generator being separate from and independent of the main electric generator, if any, that is connected to the main prime mover and designed to generate elec¬ tricity for transmission to, and the use at, points

15. external to the power plant.

16. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least two sets of cylinders, electromagnets, piston-magnet assemblies, top and base cylinder plates, high- tensile retaining bars, electrical connections to 0 the electromagnets, retarder devices, and power transmission means are joined together in tandem and parallel fashion on an in-line or circular basis to form an integral, multi-cylinder power plant.

17. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a 5 mirror-imaged arrangement of the cylinder, piston- magnet assembly, hydraulic pressure chamber, top and base cylinder plates, high-tensile retaining bars,

0MP1 retarder device, and hydraulic- circulation and drive systems is installed at the opposite pole of the electromagnet to form an integral opposed-cylinder power plant.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least two sets of the mirror-imaged arrangement of cylinders, piston magnet assemblies, hydraulic pres¬ sure chambers, top and base cylinder plates, high- tensile retaining bars, electrical connections, retarder device, and hydraulic circulation and drive systems are joined together in tandem and parallel fashion on an in-line, or circular, to form an inte¬ gral, opposed, and multi-cylinder power plant.