Air motor having integral generator

• US 4,678,922 A
• Filed: 12/05/1985
• Issued: 07/07/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Voltaire Limited (NVIDIA Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jon J. Leininger
• Inventors: Leininger, Jon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US06/792,821
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 290/54, 290/43, 290/52
• US Class Current: 290/54
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/021 with guiding devices guiding devices for hand tools on stands or supports B25H1/0078
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/04 having stationary wind-guiding means, e.g. with shrouds or channels F03D9/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A tool driven by air or some other non-conductive pressurized fluid, which tool incorporates a generator for powering a lamp and providing a good source of light in the work area. Batteries and a charging circuit may also be supplied for storing excess electricity from the generator so that the lamp can be used even when the tool is not running. In all embodiments disclosed herein, the air cylinder of the motor of the air tool is redone to accept a coil which is electrically connected to the lamp, while permanent magnets turn with the rotor of the air motor. In one embodiment the permanent magnets are embedded in the rotor itself. In another embodiment the vanes of the rotor are manufactured from a permanently magnetic material, and constitute the magnets. In a third embodiment highly magnetic bits, such as rare earth cobalt, are embedded in concentrated areas in the vanes, and these bits create a sufficient magnetic field to cause current to flow in the coil when the rotor is turning. In a fourth embodiment a polarized ceramic rotor magnet is attached to the rotor to cause a current in the coil while the rotor turns. In a fifth embodiment a single pole arrangement is employed. That is, several small coils are embedded in one of the bearing end plates, while a magnet rotor, attached to the rotor of the air motor, carries magnets in facing relationship to the coils. In all embodiments, as the magnets move with respect to the coils, current is generated in the coils, which current is used as described above.

Claims

1. An improved air tool, comprising:

A. a tool housing having a closed outer wall;

B. a motor for powering the tool positioned within said housing, including;

1. a rotor assembly comprising;

a. a shaft mounted for rotation within said housing; and

b. a rotor body affixed to said shaft; and

c. a plurality of vanes connected to said rotor body;

2. means integrally formed in said housing for allowing compressed air to enter and for directing said compressed air against said vanes thereby causing said rotor assembly to rotate by the force of compressed air against said vanes;

C. generator means comprising a stator positioned within said housing coaxially with said rotor assembly, said rotor assembly having magnetic means for cooperating with said stator and thereby generating electrical energy for powering an electrical appliance connected to the tool while said rotor assembly is rotated by said compressed air.

2. An improved tool as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrical appliance comprises a lamp, electrically connected to said generator means.

3. An improved tool as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

storage means for storing any excess electrical energy generated by said generating means over that used by said lamp, such that said lamp may provide light even when said rotor assembly is not rotated.

4. An improved tool as recited in claim 1

wherein said cooperating magnetic means of said rotor assembly includes a plurality of permanent magnets embedded in said rotor body.

5. An improved tool as recited in claim 1

wherein said cooperating magnetic means of said rotor assembly includes said vanes being made of a permanently magnetic material.

6. An improved tool as recited in claim 1

wherein said cooperating magnetic means of said rotor assembly includes permanently magnetic bits manufactured into certain concentrated areas of said vanes.

7. An improved tool as recited in claim 1

wherein said cooperating magnetic means of said rotor assembly includes a polarized ceramic rotor magnet affixed to said shaft adjacent said rotor body and aligned with said coil.

8. An improved tool as recited in claim 1 wherein said

shaft is mounted for rotation within said housing by means of bearings and positioned by bearing end plates;

and

wherein said stator includes a plurality of coils located in said bearing end plates and said cooperating magnetic means of said rotor assembly includes magnets held in a magnet rotor affixed to said shaft such that the magnets are held in facing relationship to said coils.