Electrical power generation by coupled magnets

• US 6,798,090 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2002
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Scientific Licensing LLC (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Xin, Hao, Cheung, Jeffrey T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lam, Thanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, JUDSON
• Application Number:
  US10/125,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20030197433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 310/12, 310/13, 310/14, 310/15, 310/17, 310/30, 290/1.R, 290/42, 290/53, 290/1.A, 322/1, 322/3
• US Class Current: 310/17
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems

Abstract

An electrical generator has a plurality of spaced magnets that move together relative to at least one coil to generate an electrical signal in the coils. Equal numbers of magnets and coils, with equal lengths and spacings between them, are preferably employed. Significant enhancements in power output are achieved by orienting successive magnets in magnetic opposition to each other, so that the magnetic fields from successive magnets along the axis of movement substantially cancel each other at locations between the magnets.

Claims

1. An electrical generator, comprising:

a plurality of spaced coils distributed along a common axis, and

a plurality of spaced magnets coupled to each other to move together relative to said coils along a linear reciprocating path with at least some of said magnets moveable in magnetic proximity to a plurality of said coils, movement of said magnets relative to said coils along said linear reciprocating path generating electrical signals in said coils,

wherein successive magnets along said axis are oriented in magnetic opposition to each other,

said magnets being arranged to move relative to said coils inside said coils.

2. The electrical generator of claim 1, comprising equal numbers of said magnets and coils.

3. The electrical generator of claim 2, said magnets and coils having substantially equal lengths along said axis.

4. The electrical generator of claim 2, the spacings between said magnets being substantially equal to the spacings between said coils.

5. The electrical generator of claim 4, wherein the lengths of said coils are substantially equal to the lengths of said magnets.

6. The electrical generator of claim 1, said magnets generating similar magnetic fields so that the magnetic fields from successive magnets parallel to said axis substantially cancel each other at locations between said magnets.

7. The electrical generator of claim 1, said magnets comprising permanent magnets.

8. The electrical generator of claim 1, further comprising a support structure for said magnets, and a ferrofluid providing a low friction lubricant between said magnets and said support structure.

9. The electrical generator of claim 1, further comprising a support structure for said magnets, and a lubricant between said magnets and said support structure having a static coefficient of friction less than 0.01 and a viscosity less than 10 centipoise.

10. The electrical generator of claim 1, wherein said coils are connected so that their electrical signals are combined.

11. The electrical generator of claim 1, further comprising an operating system connected to be powered by said electrical signals.

12. The electrical generator of claim 11, said operating system comprising a battery charger, a cellular telephone, an environmental sensor, a signal transmitter or a flashlight.

13. The electrical generator of claim 11, wherein said operating system is battery operated, and said battery is connected to be recharged by said electrical signals.

14. The electrical generator of claim 11, wherein said coils are connected so that said electrical signals power said operating system in real time.

15. An electrical generator, comprising:

a plurality of spaced conductors distributed along a common axis, and

a plurality of spaced magnets coupled to each other to move together relative to said conductors along a linear reciprocating path with at least some of said magnets moveable in magnetic proximity to a plurality of said conductors, movement of said magnets relative to said conductors along said linear reciprocating path generating electrical signals in said conductors,

wherein successive magnets along said axis are oriented in magnetic opposition to each other,

said magnets being arranged to move relative to said coils outside said coils.

16. An electrical generator, comprising:

a plurality of spaced conductors distributed along a common axis,

a plurality of spaced magnets arranged for movement together relative to said conductors along said axis, with at least some of said magnets moveable in magnetic proximity to a plurality of said conductors, movement of said magnets relative to said conductors generating electrical signals in said conductors, and

a pair of end magnets aligned with said spaced magnets and in magnetic opposition to their respective nearest spaced magnets to limit the movement of said spaced mangets.

17. The electrical generator of claim 16, said conductors comprising coils.

18. The electrical generator of claim 17, comprising equal numbers of said magnets and coils.

19. The electrical generator of claim 18, said magnets and coils having substantially equal lengths along said axis.

20. The electrical generator of claim 18, the spacings between said magnets being substantially equal to the spacings between said coils.

21. The electrical generator of claim 16, said magnets generating similar magnetic fields so that the magnetic fields from successive magnets parallel to said axis substantially cancel each other at locations between said magnets.

22. The electrical generator of claim 16, wherein said axis is substantially linear.

23. The electrical generator of claim 22, wherein said magnets are arranged for a reciprocating linear motion relative to said conductors along said axis.

24. The electrical generator of claim 16, further comprising a support structure for said magnets, and a ferrofluid providing a low friction lubricant between said magnets and said support structure.

25. The electrical generator of claim 16, wherein said conductors are connected so that their electrical signals are combined.

26. The electrical generator of claim 16, further comprising an operating system connected to be powered by said electrical signals.

27. The electrical generator of claim 16, wherein successive ones of said spaced magnets along said axis are oriented in magnetic opposition to each other.

28. An electrical generator comprising:

at least one conductive coil,

a plurality of spaced magnets constrained to move together relative to said at least one coil so that alternating increasing and decreasing magnetic fields are established in said at least one coil to generate electric currents in said at least one coil as said magnets move relative to said at least one coil, and

a pair of end magnets aligned with said spaced magnets and in magnetic opposition to their respective nearest spaced magnet to limit the movement of said spaced magnets.

29. The electrical generator of claim 28, said at least one coil comprising a plurality of spaced coils.

30. The electrical generator of claim 29, wherein said coils and magnets are arranged along a common axis.

31. The electrical generator of claim 30, where the lengths of and spacings between said coils are substantially equal to the lengths of and spacings between said magnets.

32. The electrical generator of claim 29, wherein said coils are connected so that their electrical signals are combined.

33. The electrical generator of claim 28, said magnets generating similar magnetic fields so that the magnetic fields from successive magnets parallel to the direction of magnet movement substantially cancel each other at locations between said magnets.

34. The electrical generator of claim 28, further comprising a support structure for said magnets, and a ferrofluid providing a low friction lubricant between said magnets and said support structure.

35. The electrical generator of claim 28, further comprising an operating system connected to be powered by said electrical current.

36. The electrical generator of claim 28, wherein successive ones of said spaced magnets are oriented in magnetic opposition to each other.

37. An electrical generator, comprising:

a plurality of spaced conductors distributed along a common axis,

a magnet array comprising at least three spaced magnets arranged for movement together relative to said conductors along said axis, with at least some of said magnets moveable in magnetic proximity to a plurality of said conductors, movement of said magnets relative to said conductors generating electrical signals in said conductors, and

mechanical couplings between successive magnets of said array maintaining fixed spacings between them, with no direct mechanical couplings between the magnets that are part of the array and at the opposite ends of said array,

said magnets having respective magnetic polarizations parallel to said common axis.

38. The electrical generator of claim 37, wherein successive magnets of said array are oriented in mangetic opposition to each other.

39. The electrical generator of claim 37, said conductors comprising coils.

40. The electrical generator of claim 39, comprising equal numbers of said magnets and coils.

41. The electrical generator of claim 40, said magnets and coils having substantially equal lengths along said axis.

42. The electrical generator of claim 41, the spacings between said magnets being substantially equal to the spacings between said coils.

43. The electrical generator of claim 37, said magnets generating similar magnetic fields so that the magnetic fields from successive magnets parallel to said axis substantially cancel each other at locations between said magnets.

44. The electrical generator of claim 37, wherein said magnets are arranged for a reciprocating linear motion relative to said conductors along said axis.

45. The electrical generator of claim 37, further comprising a support structure for said magnets, and a ferrofluid providing a low friction lubricant btween said magnets and said support structure.

46. The electrical generator of claim 37, wherein said conductors are connected so that their electrical signals are combined.

47. The electrical generator of claim 37, further comprising an operating system connected to be powered by said electrical signals.

48. An electrical generator, comprising:

at least one conductive coil,

a magnet array comprising at least three spaced magnets distributed along a common axis and constrained to move together relative to said at least one coil so that alternating increasing and decreasing magnetic fields are established in said at least one coil to generate electric currents in said at least one coil as said magnets move relative to said at least one coil, and

mechanical couplings between successive magnets of said array maintaining fixed spacings between them, with no direct mechanical couplings between the magnets that are part of the array and at the opposite ends of said array,

said magnets having respective magnetic polarizations parallel to said common axis.

49. The electrical generator of claim 48, wherein successive magnets of said array are oriented in magnetic opposition to each other.

50. The electrical generator of claim 48, said at least one coil comprising a plurality of spaced coils, wherein the lengths of and spacings between said coils are substantially equal to the lengths of and spacings between said magnets.

51. The electrical generator of claim 48, said magnets generating similar magnetic fields so that the magnetic fields from successive magnets parallel to the direction of magnet movement substantially cancel each other at locations between said magnets.

52. The electrical generator of claim 48, further comprising a support structure for said magnets, and a ferrofluid providing a low friction lubricant between said magnets and said support structure.

53. The electrical generator of claim 48, further comprising an operating system connected to be powered by said electrical current.