HALBACH MOTOR AND GENERATOR
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a plurality of electric coils arranged in the shape of a toroid and configured so that, upon the application of electric current through the plurality of coils, adjacent coils generate magnetic fields of opposing polarities;
a primary rotor mounted within the plurality of electric coils for rotation relative to the plurality of electric coils, the primary rotor including a plurality of permanent primary magnets configured as a Halbach cylinder having a magnetic field substantially confined within the cylinder;
a secondary rotor mounted coaxially with the primary rotor externally of the plurality of coils and for rotation relative to the plurality of electric coils, the secondary rotor including a plurality of permanent secondary magnets configured as a Halbach cylinder having a magnetic field substantially outside the cylinder and configured to magnetically couple with the Halbach cylinder of the primary rotor; and
means for conducting electric current between the plurality of electric coils and an electric apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A motor includes two magnetically coupled, coaxially-nested Halbach cylinder rotors, one of which passes through a toroidal series of at least two stator coils while the other is attached to an axle or other means of transferring mechanical power. An embodiment is described comprising an additional third Halbach cylinder rotor in which a circumferential arrangement of permanent magnets is mounted rotatably and proximally outside the stator coils, coaxial with the stator coils. Adjacent stator coils are configured so as to produce opposing magnetic fields upon energizing of the motor. Alternating the current to the stator coils induces movement in the rotor. Commutation can occur brushlessly, or the motor can be configured to function without commutation by varying the frequency of the alternating current, and can be configured to operate by either DC or AC current. Alternatively, the rotor may be driven to generate an electric current in the stator.
54 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a plurality of electric coils arranged in the shape of a toroid and configured so that, upon the application of electric current through the plurality of coils, adjacent coils generate magnetic fields of opposing polarities; a primary rotor mounted within the plurality of electric coils for rotation relative to the plurality of electric coils, the primary rotor including a plurality of permanent primary magnets configured as a Halbach cylinder having a magnetic field substantially confined within the cylinder; a secondary rotor mounted coaxially with the primary rotor externally of the plurality of coils and for rotation relative to the plurality of electric coils, the secondary rotor including a plurality of permanent secondary magnets configured as a Halbach cylinder having a magnetic field substantially outside the cylinder and configured to magnetically couple with the Halbach cylinder of the primary rotor; and means for conducting electric current between the plurality of electric coils and an electric apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A motor comprising:
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a plurality of electric coils arranged in the shape of a toroid and configured so that, upon the application of electric current through the plurality of coils, adjacent coils generate magnetic fields of opposing polarities; a secondary rotor rotatably mounted coaxially with the plurality of the coils externally of the plurality of coils, the secondary rotor including a plurality of permanent secondary magnets configured as a Halbach cylinder having a magnetic field substantially outside the cylinder; a sensor for determining the angular position of the secondary rotor; and a controller configured for receiving electric power and for receiving positional information from the sensor and, based on the positional information, feeding a controlled quantity of alternating current to the plurality of coils for generating electromagnetic fields for driving the secondary rotor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A generator comprising:
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a plurality of electric coils arranged in the shape of a toroid, the coils including lead wires connectable to an electric load; a primary rotor rotatably mounted within the plurality of electric coils, the primary rotor including a plurality of permanent primary magnets configured as a Halbach cylinder having a magnetic field substantially confined within the cylinder; and a secondary rotor rotatably mounted coaxially with the primary rotor externally of the plurality of coils, the secondary rotor including a plurality of permanent secondary magnets configured as a Halbach cylinder having a magnetic field substantially outside the cylinder and configured to magnetically couple with the Halbach cylinder of the primary rotor, the second rotor being capable of being coupled to a mechanical rotating drive. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A device comprising:
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an external cylinder having a plurality of permanent primary magnets configured as a Halbach cylinder having a magnetic field substantially confined within the cylinder; an internal cylinder having a plurality of permanent primary magnets configured as a Halbach cylinder having a magnetic field substantially outside the cylinder; a coil assembly having a plurality of electric coils arranged in the shape of a toroid and configured so that, upon the application of electric current through the plurality of coils, the coils generate magnetic fields of opposing polarities causing rotation of the plurality of coils; and means for conducting electric current between the plurality of electric coils and an electric apparatus.
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Specification