Ring generator

• US 20060138777A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Propulsion Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Propulsion Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Hofbauer, Peter, McCleer, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,728,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/26 Ducted or shrouded rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/11 using internal combustion piston engines
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/14 ducted or shrouded
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/04 for driving propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/24 with cylinders arranged oppositely relative to main shaft and of "flat" type
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/183 wherein the turbine is a wind turbine adaptation of a wind turbine to an electric generator F03D9/25
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1884 structurally associated with free piston engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

The present invention is a rotary device that may be adapted for use as a propeller assembly and electrical generator for aerial vehicles or other vehicles intended for fluid media. In one example, the device includes a ring assembly having a plurality of centrally linked blades coupled to a rotatable common hub. Rotary motion of the ring assembly is facilitated by coupling it to an opposed cylinder, opposed piston, internal combustion. The ring assembly includes components of an electrical power generating system so that electrical power is produced from the rotation of the ring assembly.

Claims

1. A power generating system, comprising:

a ring assembly including a plurality of blades connected to a hub;

a magnetic flux generating element coupled to the ring assembly along a circumference of rotation of the ring assembly;

a current conducting element disposed on the system, which cooperates with the flux generating element so that relative movement induces electric current therein.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a rotary motivating mechanism rotatingly coupled to the hub.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the rotary motivating mechanism is an opposed piston, opposed cylinder internal combustion engine.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the engine is an opposed piston, opposed cylinder engine having a crankshaft.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the blades comprise a propeller adapted to produce thrust propulsion for an aerial vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic flux generating element is disposed on a circumferential element linking end portions of the blades.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the circumferential element is a continuous hoop disposed on the ends of the blades and adapted to support a plurality of magnetic flux generating elements circumferentially disposed on the hoop.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein a plurality of current conducting elements are disposed on a stationary support included in the system.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the magnetic flux generating elements and the current conducting elements are configured to provide a three-phase electrical power generation.

10. A ring generator comprising:

an opposed piston, opposed cylinder engine having a crankshaft;

a ring assembly having a shaft coupled to the crankshaft, and a magnetic flux generating element; and

a current conducting element disposed in fixed relation to the ring assembly.

11. The ring generator of claim 10 wherein the ring assembly includes a speed differential apparatus disposed on the shaft and coupled to the crankshaft.

12. The ring generator of claim 10 wherein the magnetic flux generating element is a plurality of alternating polarity magnets.

13. The ring generator of claim 10 wherein the magnetic flux generating element comprises a circumferential element comprising a ferrous material.

14. The ring generator of claim 10 wherein the current conducting element is a stator assembly.

15. The ring generator of claim 14 wherein the stator assembly comprises a three-phase winding.

16. The ring generator of claim 14 wherein the stator assembly comprises two winding sets, each winding set being a three-phase winding.

17. A power generating system comprising:

a ring assembly comprising a plurality of blades connected to a hub, and at an end opposite the hub the ring assembly comprises a circumferential element;

a magnetic flux generating element coupled to the ring assembly along a circumference of rotation of the ring assembly, the magnetic flux generating element comprising a plurality of magnets disposed on an inside diameter of the circumferential element; and

a current conducting element disposed on the system, which cooperates with the flux generating element so that during relative rotating movement of the elements electric current flow is induced.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the circumferential element comprises a continuous loop of ferrous material.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the circumferential element comprises three arc segments, each segment being non contiguous.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the current conducting element comprises a pair of stator assemblies.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein each stator assembly comprises a three-phase coil winding.