External field interaction motor
First Claim
1. A electromagnetic device, comprising:
- a plurality of stationary field generator modules arranged along a path of motion, each one of the stationary field generator modules comprising;
a central axis extending between first and second opposite ends and lying substantially along the path of motion; and
an electric coil arranged to produce a stator magnetic field oriented radially with respect to the path of motion and lying substantially within a field interaction plane that is orthogonal to the path of motion;
at least one armature, each of the at least one armature comprising;
a base member extending between opposite first and second faces and arranged to partially surround one or more of the plurality of stationary field generator modules as the armature travels along the path of motion; and
,an armature field generator module arranged to produce an armature magnetic field comprising magnetic flux oriented radially with respect to the path of motion and lying substantially within the field interaction plane; and
,at least one linking member to support and guide a corresponding one of each of the at least one armature along the path of motion in response to thrust on the armature generated in response to interaction of the stator magnetic field and the armature magnetic field in the field interaction plane,wherein when any one of the at least one armature overlaps a stationary field generator module, the overlapped field generator module is maintained in a substantially zero-current state.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and associated methods involve thrust generation by interaction of an armature field with a stator field in an arrangement with substantially reduced flux coupling from the armature to the stator coil. In an illustrative example, solenoid coil segments may be arranged as the stator along a path of motion for the armature. In some examples, each armature may surround and overlap with at least one of the toroidal coil segments. Counter-electromotive force may be substantially reduced, for example, by stopping current flow in a stator coil while overlapped by the armature or while substantial armature flux couples to the stator coil. Thrust may be generated, in some examples, by interaction of armature and stator coil flux in arc-shaped regions external to and between each of the leading and trailing edges of the armature and their respective nearby stator coils.
67 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A electromagnetic device, comprising:
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a plurality of stationary field generator modules arranged along a path of motion, each one of the stationary field generator modules comprising; a central axis extending between first and second opposite ends and lying substantially along the path of motion; and an electric coil arranged to produce a stator magnetic field oriented radially with respect to the path of motion and lying substantially within a field interaction plane that is orthogonal to the path of motion; at least one armature, each of the at least one armature comprising; a base member extending between opposite first and second faces and arranged to partially surround one or more of the plurality of stationary field generator modules as the armature travels along the path of motion; and
,an armature field generator module arranged to produce an armature magnetic field comprising magnetic flux oriented radially with respect to the path of motion and lying substantially within the field interaction plane; and
,at least one linking member to support and guide a corresponding one of each of the at least one armature along the path of motion in response to thrust on the armature generated in response to interaction of the stator magnetic field and the armature magnetic field in the field interaction plane, wherein when any one of the at least one armature overlaps a stationary field generator module, the overlapped field generator module is maintained in a substantially zero-current state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method to accelerate a load, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of toroidal coil segments, each of the coil segments arranged with a central axis aligned substantially tangential to a path of motion; providing an armature base movable along the path of motion; generating from the armature base a first radially-directed magnetic flux in a first substantially arc-shaped region in a first plane exterior to the armature base, wherein the first plane intersects and is substantially orthogonal to the path of motion; and
,generating from at least one of the plurality of toroidal coil segments a second radially-directed magnetic flux in at least a portion of the first substantially arc-shaped region, wherein when the armature base overlaps a toroidal coil segment, the overlapped toroidal coil segment is maintained in a substantially zero-current state. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A electromagnetic device, comprising:
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a plurality of stationary field generator modules arranged along a path of motion, each one of the stationary field generator modules comprising; a central axis extending between opposite first and second ends and lying substantially along the path of motion; and an electric coil responsive to a current signal in a first polarity to produce a north pole having a magnetic field oriented radially and directed outward substantially within a first plane that is orthogonal to a line extending from the central axis to a point exterior to the first end, and responsive to the current signal in the first polarity to produce a south pole having a magnetic field oriented radially and directed inward substantially within a second plane that is orthogonal to a line extending from the central axis to a point exterior to the second end; at least one armature, each of the at least one armature comprising; a base member extending between opposite first and second faces and arranged to partially surround one or more of the plurality of stationary field generator modules as the armature travels along the path of motion; an armature field generator module arranged to generate a north pole magnetic field comprising magnetic flux oriented radially outward substantially within a third plane that is orthogonal to the path at a point exterior to the first face, and an armature field generator module arranged to generate a south pole magnetic field comprising magnetic flux oriented radially inward substantially within a fourth plane that is orthogonal to the path at a point exterior to the second face, a linking member to guide the armature along the path of motion in response to thrust of the armature generated upon intersection of either of the first or second planes with either of the third or fourth planes, wherein when any one of the at least one armature overlaps a stationary field generator module, the overlapped field generator module is maintained in a substantially zero-current state. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification