Multiple magnet transducer with differential magnetic strengths

• US 6,812,598 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Expired

• 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): Mullins, Burton S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Judson H.
• Application Number:
  US10/078,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20030155828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 310/12-15, 310/17, 310/19, 310/28, 310/30, 290/1.R, 290/42, 290/43, 290/53, 290/54, 322/1, 322/3
• US Class Current: 310/30
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems

Abstract

A dynamic magnet system, particularly useful for electrical generation, employs multiple magnets in polar opposition to each other for individual movement relative to a support structure. The magnets have a critical angle of displacement from a horizontal static position of less than 1 degree, with at least some of the magnets having mutually different properties. With different magnetic strengths, a greater movement is produced for both magnets in response to movements of the support structure, for particular ranges of magnetic strength ratios, than would be the case with equal magnets. The magnet movement can be translated into an electrical signal to power an operating system. Ultra low friction ferrofluid bearings can be used to establish static coefficients of friction between the magnets and support structure less than 0.02, enabling useful power generation from only slight movements of the support structure.

Claims

1. A dynamic magnet system, comprising:

a support structure, and

a plurality of magnets oriented in polar opposition for individual movement relative to said support structure, at least some of said magnets having mutually different properties, said at least some magnets having different magnetic strengths.

2. The dynamic magnet system of claim 1, said at least some magnets having different magnetic strengths.

3. The dynamic magnet system of claim 2, said at least some magnets having substantially equal sizes.

4. The dynamic magnet system of claim 1, said at least some magnets having different sizes.

5. The dynamic magnet system of claim 4, said at least some magnets having substantially equal unit magnetic strengths.

6. The dynamic magnet system of claim 1, further comprising respective bearings establishing static coefficients of friction between said magnets and said support structure less than 0.02.

7. The dynamic magnet system of claim 1, further comprising ferrofluid bearings between said magnets and said support structure.

8. The dynamic magnet system of claim 7, said ferrofluid having a viscosity less than 10 centipoise.

9. The dynamic magnet system of claim 8, said ferrofluid comprising a light mineral oil medium mixed with isoparaffinic acid.

10. The dynamic magnet system of claim 1, further comprising a conductor oriented with respect to said support structure and magnets so that movement of said magnets induces an electrical signal in said conductor.

11. The dynamic magnet system of claim 10, said conductor comprising at least one coil wound on said support structure, said support structure being nonconductive.

12. The dynamic magnet system of claim 10, further comprising an operating system powered by said signal.

13. The dynamic magnet system of claim 1, further comprises a pair of end magnets limiting the travel of said moving magnets, said end magnets oriented in polar opposition to the nearest respective moving magnet.

14. The dynamic magnet system of claim 1, said support structure orienting said magnets for movement in a primarily horizontal direction.

15. The dynamic magnet system of claim 1, said magnets oriented for movement along a common axis.

16. The dynamic magnet system of claim 1, said system having a critical angle of displacement for said magnets from a horizontal static position of less than 1 degree.

17. The dynamic magnet system of claim 16, wherein said critical angle is less than 10 minutes.

18. The dynamic magnet system of claim 1, further comprising:

respective bearings establishing static coefficients of friction between said magnets and said support structure less than 0.02, and

a conductor oriented with respect to said support structure and magnets so that oscillation of said magnets in response to a movement of said support structure induces an electrical signal in said conductor, said system thereby comprising an energy harvester.

19. The energy harvester of claim 18, said at least some magnets having different magnetic strengths.

20. The energy harvester of claim 19, said at least some magnets having substantially equal sizes.

21. The energy harvester of claim 18, said at least some magnets having different sizes.

22. The energy harvester of claim 21, said at least some magnets having substantially equal unit magnetic strengths.

23. The energy harvester of claim 18, said bearings comprising a ferrofluid.

24. The energy harvester of claim 23, said ferrofluid having a viscosity less than 10 centipoise.

25. The energy harvester of claim 23, said ferrofluid comprising a light mineral oil medium mixed with isoparaffinic acid.

26. The energy harvester of claim 18, further comprising an operating system powered by said signal.

27. The energy harvester of claim 18, said support structure orienting said magnets for movement in a primarily horizontal direction.

28. The dynamic magnet system of claim 1, further comprising:

a conductor oriented with respect to said support structure and magnets so that oscillation of said magnets in response to a movement of said support structure induces an electrical signal in said conductor, said system thereby comprising an energy harvester,

wherein said harvester has a critical angle of displacement for said magnets from a horizontal static position of less than 1 degree.

29. The energy harvester of claim 28, wherein said magnets have different magnetic strengths.

30. The energy harvester of claim 28, wherein said critical angle is less than 10 minutes.

31. The energy harvester of claim 28, further comprising an operating system powered by said signal.

32. The dynamic magnet system of claim 1, wherein said magnets comprise:

an even number of magnets oriented in polar opposition to individually move relative to said support structure along a common axis.

33. The dynamic magnet system of claim 32, said at least some magnets having different magnetic strengths.

34. The dynamic magnet system of claim 33, said at least some magnets having substantially equal sizes.

35. The dynamic magnet system of claim 33, said at least some magnets having different sizes.

36. The dynamic magnet system of claim 35, said at least some magnets having substantially equal unit magnetic strengths.

37. The dynamic magnet system of claim 33, further comprising respective bearings establishing static coefficients of friction between said magnets and said support structure less than 0.02.

38. The dynamic magnet system of claim 32, further comprising ferrofluid bearings between said magnets and said support structure.

39. The dynamic magnet system of claim 38, said ferrofluid having a viscosity less than 10 centipoise.

40. The dynamic magnet system of claim 38, said ferrofluid comprising a light mineral oil medium mixed with isoparaffinic acid.

41. The dynamic magnet system of claim 32, further comprising a conductor oriented with respect to said support structure and magnets so that movement of said magnets induces an electrical signal in said conductor.

42. The dynamic magnet system of claim 41, further comprising an operating system powered by said signal.

43. The dynamic magnet system of claim 32, said support structure orienting said magnets for movement in a primarily horizontal direction.

44. The dynamic magnet system of claim 32, said system having a critical angle of displacement for said magnets from a horizontal static position of less than 1 degree.

45. The dynamic magnet system of claim 44, wherein said critical angle is less than 10 minutes.

46. The dynamic magnet system of claim 1, further comprising:

respective bearings establishing ultra low static coefficients of friction less than 0.02 between said magnets and said support structure,

said support structure orienting said magnets for primarily horizontal movement.

47. The dynamic magnet system of claim 46, said at least some magnets having different magnetic strengths.

48. The dynamic magnet system of claim 47, said at least some magnets having substantially equal sizes.

49. The dynamic magnet system of claim 46, said at least some magnets having different sizes.

50. The dynamic magnet system of claim 49, said at least some magnets having substantially equal unit magnetic strengths.

51. The dynamic magnet system of claim 46, said bearings comprising a ferrofluid.

52. The dynamic magnet system of claim 51, said ferrofluid having a viscosity less than 10 centipoise.

53. The dynamic magnet system of claim 51, said ferrofluid comprising a light mineral oil medium mixed with isoparaffinic acid.

54. The dynamic magnet system of claim 46, further comprising a conductor oriented with respect to said support structure and magnets so that movement of said magnets induces an electrical signal in said conductor.

55. The dynamic magnet system of claim 54, further comprising an operating system powered by said signal.

56. The dynamic magnet system of claim 1,

said support structure orienting said magnets for primarily horizontal movement,

wherein said system has a critical angle of displacement for said magnets from a horizontal static position of less than 1 degree.

57. The dynamic magnet system of claim 56, wherein said magnets have different magnetic strengths.

58. The dynamic magnet system of claim 56, wherein said critical angle is less than 10 minutes.

59. The dynamic magnet system of claim 56, further comprising a conductor oriented with respect to said support structure and magnets so that movement of said magnets induces an electrical signal in said conductor.

60. The dynamic magnet system of claim 59, further comprising an operating system powered by said signal.