Magnetic transducer with ferrofluid end bearings
First Claim
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1. An electrical generator, comprising:
- a support structure,a conductor supported relative to said support structure,a plurality of magnets constrained by said support structure and oriented in polar opposition for movement relative to said conductor over a range, with at least a portion of each magnet'"'"'s magnetic field intersecting the conductor over at least a portion of said range, said support structure providing an unobstructed magnet movement path between said magnets, said magnets aligned along a common axis in successive polar opposition to each other, at least some of said magnets having different magnetic strengths, andferrofluid bearings in the vicinity of the opposite ends of each of said magnets to provide a low friction interface between said magnets and said support structure,said magnets having multiple oscillation modes relative to said support structure resulting from mutual interaction between said magnets,said conductor arranged with said magnets so that movement of said magnets over said range generates an electrical signal in said conductor.
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Abstract
An electrical generator includes one or more magnets that move relative to one or more conductors to generate an electrical signal in each conductor. Each magnet has ferrofluid bearings in the vicinity of its opposite ends to provide a low friction interface between the magnet and a support structure. The ferrofluid bearings establish a field expansion medium that directs at least a portion of the magnetic field so that a greater portion of the field intersects the conductors than in the absence of the medium. The magnet aspect ratio is preferably on the order of unity.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An electrical generator, comprising:
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a support structure, a conductor supported relative to said support structure, a plurality of magnets constrained by said support structure and oriented in polar opposition for movement relative to said conductor over a range, with at least a portion of each magnet'"'"'s magnetic field intersecting the conductor over at least a portion of said range, said support structure providing an unobstructed magnet movement path between said magnets, said magnets aligned along a common axis in successive polar opposition to each other, at least some of said magnets having different magnetic strengths, and ferrofluid bearings in the vicinity of the opposite ends of each of said magnets to provide a low friction interface between said magnets and said support structure, said magnets having multiple oscillation modes relative to said support structure resulting from mutual interaction between said magnets, said conductor arranged with said magnets so that movement of said magnets over said range generates an electrical signal in said conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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11. The electrical generator of claim l, wherein at least some of said magnets have different sizes.
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21. An electrical generator, comprising:
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a support structure, a conductor supported relative to said support structure, a plurality of magnets constrained by said support structure and oriented along a common axis in successive polar opposition for movement relative to said conductor over a range, with at least a portion of each magnet'"'"'s magnetic field intersecting the conductor over at least a portion of said range, said support structure providing an unobstructed magnet movement path between said magnets, at least some of said magnets having different magnetic strengths, and ferrofluid bearings in the vicinity of the opposite ends of each of said magnets to provide a low friction interface between said magnets and said support structure, said conductor arranged with said magnets so that movement of said magnets over said range generates an electrical signal in said conductor, said magnets having multiple oscillation modes relative to said support structure resulting from mutual interaction between said magnets.
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Specification