FLUX GUIDING STRUCTURE

• US 20120306588A1
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Isis Innovation Limited
• Original Assignee: Isis Innovation Limited
• Inventors: Stevens, Christopher John, Mcculloch, Malcolm Duncan
• Application Number:
  US13/514,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20120306588A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 29/00 Variable transformers or inductances not covered by group H01F21/00 tap change devices H01H9/0005
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/00 Adaptations of transformers or inductances for specific applications or functions
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/02 characterised by the magnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 99/20 Motors

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a structure comprising: a flux guide comprising a plurality of resonant circuit elements (110, 120, 310F) each element comprising an electrically conductive loop portion (112, 122), opposed ends of the loop portion (112, 122) being coupled to one another through a capacitive element (114, 124), adjacent resonant elements of the flux guide (115, 315) being arranged to be magneto-inductively coupled to one another thereby to allow a magneto-inductive (MI) wave to be supported by the guide (115, 315), wherein at least one of the resonant elements (1205) is switchable between a first condition in which the element is arranged to support propagation of an MI wave along the waveguide and a second condition in which the element is arranged to prevent propagation of an MI wave along the waveguide.

Claims

1. A structure comprising:

a flux guide comprising a plurality of resonant circuit elements (110, 120, 310F) each element comprising an electrically conductive loop portion (112, 122), opposed ends of the loop portion (112, 122) being coupled to one another through a capacitive element (114, 124), adjacent resonant elements of the flux guide (115, 315) being arranged to be magneto-inductively coupled to one another thereby to allow a magneto-inductive (MI) wave to be supported by the guide (115, 315),

wherein at least one of the resonant elements (1205) is switchable between a first condition in which the element is arranged to support propagation of an MI wave along the waveguide and a second condition in which the element is arranged to prevent propagation of an MI wave along the waveguide.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flux guide (115, 315) comprises a substantially closed flux path, the structure being provided with input means (131, 331) for inducing an MI wave in the guide.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the input means comprises a winding (131, 331) having at least one turn.

4. A structure as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the structure further comprises output means (132, 133) for inducing a flow of current in a conductor by means of an MI wave supported by the guide (115).

5. A structure as claimed in claim 4 wherein the output means comprises a winding (132, 133) having at least one turn.

6. A structure as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the structure comprises first (132) and second (133) output means for inducing a flow of current in first and second conductors, respectively, by means of an MI wave supported by the guide.

7. A structure as claimed in claim 6 wherein the flux guide is operable to prevent a current from being induced in the first conductor (132) by means of a first switchable resonant element (1205).

8. A structure as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the flux guide (115) is operable to prevent a current from being induced in the second conductor (133) by means of a second switchable resonant element (1205′

).

9. A structure as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the flux guide (115) comprises first and second substantially closed flux paths, the first output means (132) being provided in the first path and not the second path, the second output means (132) being provided in the second path and not the first path.

10. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the at least one of the resonant elements (1205) is switchable by means of a switch (126) provided in series with the loop portion (122) of the resonant circuit element.

11. A structure as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a rotor member (351), the rotor member (351) having at least one resonant circuit element 310R provided thereon, the rotor member (351) being rotatable about a transverse axis whereby the at least one resonant circuit element 310R may be caused to pass between a pair of adjacent resonant circuit elements of the flux guide (315), the structure being operable to induce a MI wave in the flux guide (315) thereby to cause rotation of the rotor member (351).

12. A structure as claimed in claim 11 operable whereby the resonant circuit element (310R) of the rotor may be magneto-inductively coupled to at least one of the resonant circuit elements of said flux guide (310F), said coupling being arranged to create a force between the resonant circuit element (310F) of the rotor (351) and said at least resonant circuit elements of the flux guide (315) in a direction to cause rotation of the rotor (351) about the transverse axis.

13. A structure as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the rotor (351) is provided with a ring of resonant circuit elements (310R) disposed about the transverse axis, respective resonant circuit elements of the ring being disposed substantially equal distances from said transverse axis.

14. A structure comprising:

a flux guide (115, 315) comprising a plurality of resonant circuit elements (110, 120) each element comprising an electrically conductive loop portion (112, 122), opposed ends of the loop portion (112, 122) being coupled to one another through a capacitive element (114, 124), adjacent resonant elements (110, 120) of the flux guide (115, 315) being magneto-inductively coupled to one another; and

at least a first winding member (131, 331),

the first winding member (131, 331) being magneto-inductively coupled to a first resonant circuit element of the flux guide,

the first winding member (131, 331) being arranged to allow a magneto-inductive wave to be established in the flux guide (115, 315) when an alternating current flows in the first winding (131, 331), the alternating current being caused to flow at a frequency sufficiently close to and below a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit elements of the flux guide (115, 315).

15. A structure as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a second winding member (132, 133), the second winding (132, 133) being magneto-inductively coupled to a second resonant circuit element of the flux guide (115, 315).

16. A structure as claimed in claim 15 wherein the first winding (131) is arranged to allow an alternating current flowing therein to induce a corresponding alternating current in the second winding (132, 133) by means of the magnetoinductive coupling between adjacent resonant circuit elements of the flux guide (115).

17. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein the flux guide (115) comprises a plurality of flux guide portions connected in parallel with one another, each portion having a winding provided therearound.

18. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17 wherein a resonant circuit element (120S) of the flux guide comprises a switch member (126), the switch member (126) being arranged to prevent an alternating current flowing in the first winding (131) from inducing a corresponding alternating current in the second winding (132, 133).

19. A structure as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the switch member (126) is provided at a location of the flux guide whereby a flow of flux along a flux guide portion may be substantially prevented.

20. A structure as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19 depending through claim 17 wherein the switch member (126) is provided in series with the loop portion (122) of the resonant circuit element and in parallel with a capacitive element of the resonant circuit.

21. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 20 comprising a rotor member (351), the rotor member having at least one resonant circuit element (310R) provided thereon, the rotor member (351) rotatable about a transverse axis whereby the at least one resonant circuit element (310R) may be caused to pass between a pair of adjacent resonant circuit elements (310F) of the flux guide (310).

22. A structure as claimed in claim 21 wherein the resonant circuit element (310R) of the rotor may be magneto-inductively coupled to at least one of the resonant circuit elements of said pair of adjacent resonant elements, said coupling being arranged to create a force between the resonant circuit element of the rotor (351) and at least one of the resonant circuit elements of said pair in a direction to cause rotation of the rotor (351) about the transverse axis.

23. A structure as claimed in claim 21 or claim 22 wherein the rotor (351) is provided with a ring of resonant circuit elements (310R) disposed about the transverse axis, respective resonant circuit elements of the ring being disposed substantially equal distances from said transverse axis.

24. A transformer structure comprising:

a flux guide (115) comprising a plurality of resonant circuit elements (110, 120) each element comprising an electrically conductive loop portion (112, 122), opposed ends of the loop portion (112, 122) of each resonant circuit element (110, 120) being coupled to one another through a capacitive element, adjacent resonant elements of the flux (115) guide being magneto-inductively coupled to one another; and

first and second windings (131, 132, 133),

the first winding (131) being magnetoinductively coupled to a first resonant circuit element of the flux guide (115),

the second winding (132, 132) being magnetoinductively coupled to a second resonant circuit element of the flux guide (115),

the first winding (131) being arranged to allow an alternating current flowing therein to induce a corresponding alternating current in the second winding (132, 133) by means of the magneto-inductive coupling between adjacent resonant circuit elements of the flux guide (115).