Electric motor having a spherical rotor and its application apparatus

• US 5,413,010 A
• Filed: 07/31/1992
• Issued: 05/09/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ando, Yohei, Nakanishi, Teruo, Sakakibara, Kiyokatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck, Rodney H.
• Application Number:
  US07/922,836
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 74/5.22, 74/5.7, 74/5.46, 310/266, 310/156, 310/90.5, 318/648, 318/649, 318/689
• US Class Current: 74/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/32 Driving arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/04 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/18 providing movement of rotor with respect to its rotational axes G01C19/20, G01C19/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/24 using magnetic or electrostatic fields
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/72 with counter-rotating light beams in a passive ring, e.g. fibre laser gyrometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/16 by integrating acceleration or speed, i.e. inertial navigation
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2201/18 Machines moving with multiple degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/031 of the permanent magnet type
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/085 radially supporting the rotary shaft at only one end of the rotor H02K7/086, H02K7/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/14 Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1218 Combined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/125 by magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1282 with rotor drive

Abstract

A multi-freedom electric motor has a broad operational range and a wide space for accommodating an article. The electric motor includes a spherical rotor, a plurality of magnets disposed on an outer surface of the rotor with polarities of the respective adjacent magnetic poles being different from one another, a stator provided along the outer surface of the rotor, and a plurality of magnets opposed to the magnets disposed on an inner surface of the stator. The rotor is supported by a spherical bearing provided on the stator. Either the magnets on the rotor or the magnets on the stator are electromagnets. Electric current are supplied to the electromagnets as controlled by a controller. The multi-freedom electric motor can be employed in a space stabilizer for maintaining the spherical attitude of an article, a control moment gyro for performing an attitude control in space, and an agitating apparatus.

Claims

1. A multi-freedom electric motor comprising:

a rotor consisting of a shell, said shell having a spherical outer surface and a hollow interior;

a plurality of permanent magnets arrayed along a series of intersecting lines and embedded in the shell at the outer surface thereof, and all adjacent magnetic poles of all of said permanent magnets having polarities opposite to one another;

a support having a spherical surface confronting the spherical surface of said rotor which allows the rotor to rotate freely in any direction of rotation relative to the support, said support including a stator extending along the outer surface of said rotor, said stator having an inner surface confronting said rotor;

a plurality of electromagnets disposed on said inner surface of said stator opposite said permanent magnets; and

a controller connected to said electromagnets.

2. A multi-freedom electric motor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support includes a spherical bearing coupled to said stator.

3. A multi-freedom electric motor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bearing is a hydrostatic bearing.

4. A multi-freedom electric motor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bearing is a roller bearing.

5. A space stabilizer for maintaining an attitude of an article regardless of a change in attitude of an apparatus to which the article is mounted, said stabilizer comprising:

a rotor consisting of a shell, said shell having a spherical outer surface and a hollow interior;

a plurality of permanent magnets arrayed along a series of intersecting lines and embedded in the shell at the outer surface thereof, and all adjacent magnetic poles of all of said permanent magnets having polarities opposite to one another;

a support having a spherical surface confronting the spherical surface of said rotor which allows the rotor to rotate freely in any direction of rotation relative to the support, said support including a stator extending along the outer surface of said rotor, said stator having an inner surface confronting said rotor;

a plurality of electromagnets disposed on said inner surface of said stator opposite said permanent magnets;

a gyro disposed in the hollow interior of said shell; and

control means responsive to a signal issued from said gyro for transmitting an operation signal to said electromagnet which will maintain said rotor at a predetermined orientation relative to said stator.

6. A space stabilizer as claimed in claim 5, wherein said support includes a spherical bearing coupled to said stator.

7. A space stabilizer as claimed in claim 6, wherein said bearing is a hydrostatic bearing.

8. A space stabilizer as claimed in claim 7, and further comprising a detector which detects one of electromagnetic waves, light, and soundwaves, said detector being disposed in the hollow interior of said rotor.

9. A space stabilizer as claimed in claim 7, and further comprising an emitter which emits one of electromagnetic waves, light and soundwaves, said emitter being disposed in the hollow interior of said rotor.

10. A space stabilizer as claimed in claim 5, and further comprising a detector which detects one of electromagnetic waves, light, and soundwaves, said detector being disposed in the hollow interior of said rotor.

11. A space stabilizer as claimed in claim 5, and further comprising an emitter which emits one of electromagnetic waves, light and soundwaves, said emitter being disposed in the hollow interior of said rotor.