Spring Math Help

[tropes]

 Does anyone have the math skills to show me if I add a compression spring to the Sotropa Motor (attach.) so as to create a "bounce" at the point where the two magnetic pistons come together at the coil, will I gain some free energy from the spring?
Consider that the only source of power used to bring the pistons together is the attraction of the two magnets. My hope is to minimize the power required to pull the pistons apart.

A working model without the springs is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvtBloO4mqA&mode=related&search=

I do not require any information regarding the advantage of rotary over reciprocating motion.
Peter

[Mr.Entropy]

Hi Tropes,

That's an easy one -- the energy you put in when you compress the spring is pretty much exactly what you get out when the spring expands, so it's not going to help directly.

I notice that your machine makes a loud rattle, however, and that indicates a significant energy loss that you can fix.  You might add springs to make parts of the motion more gentle.  Also, you say:

Consider that the only source of power used to bring the pistons together is the attraction of the two magnets. My hope is to minimize the power required to pull the pistons apart.

That should not be so.  Your rotor pushes the pistions together.  If your connecting rods aren't stiff enough to do this, you can use stronger ones.  If your rotor doesn't have enough inertia to do this, you can add a flywheel to it.  That might help some of the rattle, too.

Cheers,

Mr. Entropy

[tropes]

Thanks for the response Mr Entrophy.
The clattering sound comes from the pistons hitting against the plastic covering the coil and can be corrected.
When you say "Your rotor pushes the pistions together." do you mean the flywheel? If so, this only happens at speed but initially the only force pulling the pistons to the coil is the magnetic attraction.
Peter