Magnetic coupler having magnets with different magnetic strengths

• US 9,391,489 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricardo UK Limited (Ricardo PLC)
• Original Assignee: Ricardo UK Limited (Ricardo PLC)
• Inventors: To, Hing Wung, Dalby, Joshua Jonathan, Shepherd, Simon, Child, Matthew George, Atkins, Andrew Farquhar, Davis, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Andrews, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/988,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20140060241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 310/103, 310104-110, 310/74, 310/156.36, 310/114, 310/153
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 27/01 with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/18 using electric, magnetic or electromagnetic means suppression of vibrations of rotating systems by use of non-rotating magnetic or electromagnetic means F16F15/03; dynamo-electric devices H02K; control effected upon generator excitation circuit to reduce harmful effects of overloads or transients H02P9/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 49/102 Magnetic gearings, i.e. assembly of gears, linear or rotary, by which motion is magnetically transferred without physical contact magnetized gearings with physical contact F16H13/12, F16H49/005
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/025 for power storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2119 Structural detail, e.g., material, configuration, superconductor, discs, laminated, etc.

Abstract

A coupling apparatus (20) is provided for transferring energy to or from a flywheel. The coupling apparatus comprises first (22) and second (24) movable members, each having one or magnets (30, 34) arranged thereon, wherein the first movable member (22) is arranged to be coupled to a flywheel. The magnetic strength of a first magnet (30) arranged on the first movable member (22) exceeds the magnetic strength of a second magnet (34) arranged on the second movable member (24).

Claims

1. A coupling apparatus for transferring energy to or from a flywheel, said coupling apparatus comprising first and second movable members, each having one or more magnets arranged thereon, wherein the first movable member is arranged to be coupled to a flywheel and wherein the magnetic strength of a first magnet arranged on the first movable member exceeds the magnetic strength of a second magnet arranged on the second movable member.

2. The coupling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a magnetic flux coupler arranged between the first and second movable members.

3. The coupling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a membrane arranged to enclose the first movable member.

4. The coupling apparatus of claim 3 wherein the membrane is arranged to enclose the first movable member in a vacuum or low pressure chamber.

5. The coupling apparatus of claim 3 further comprising one or more pole pieces that at least one of:

are arranged on a surface of the membrane;

are located by one or more grooves or recesses of the surface of the membrane;

interlock with a surface of the membrane;

are restrained in place by a restrainer.

6. The coupling apparatus of claim 3 wherein the membrane is formed from Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or glass fibre.

7. The coupling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first magnet arranged on the first movable member is at least one of sintered or bonded.

8. The coupling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the combined magnetic strength of the one or more magnets arranged on the first movable member exceeds the combined magnetic strength of the one or more magnets arranged on the second movable member.

9. The coupling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a retainer for retaining the one or more magnets arranged on the first movable member.

10. The coupling apparatus of claim 9 wherein the retainer comprises:

a winding around an outer surface of the one or magnets arranged on the first movable member;

or

a sleeve arranged to fit over an outer surface of the one or more magnets arranged on the first movable member;

or

a push-fit sleeve or an interference-fit sleeve arranged to fit over an outer surface of the one or more magnets arranged on the first movable member.

11. The coupling apparatus of claim 9 wherein the retainer is formed from a retaining material and an adhesive material.

12. The coupling apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least one of:

the retaining material comprises any of Zylon, Kevlar, carbon or glass;

the adhesive material comprises a thermoset plastic; and

the adhesive material further comprises fragments of one or more embedded materials.

13. The coupling apparatus of claim 11 wherein the adhesive material further comprises fragments of one or more embedded materials and the one or more embedded materials include metal oxides.

14. The coupling apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of:

the first magnet arranged on the first movable member interlocks with a surface of the first movable member and/or with a surface of a retainer arranged to fit over an outer surface of said first magnet; and

at least one of the first magnet arranged on the first movable member and the second magnet arranged on the second moveable member is substantially trapezoidal in cross section.

15. The coupling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second movable members are relatively rotatable about a common rotation axis, with the second movable member being provided radially outward of the first movable member, wherein the second movable member comprises Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or glass fibre.

16. The coupling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing surrounding said first and second movable members, wherein a formation is provided on an inner surface of a housing, said formation being arranged to provide magnetic flux shielding during operation of the coupling apparatus and wherein said formation may comprise any of:

a plurality of laminated electrical steels;

a plurality of segmented electrical steels;

an insulated electrical steel wire;

a soft magnetic composite;

or Somaloy material.

17. The coupling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second movable members are rotatable about a common rotation axis, with the second movable member being provided radially outward of the first movable member and connected to a shaft at a first end.

18. The coupling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a stator, between the first and second movable members wherein an air flow enhancer is provided on the stator, and/or on at least one of the movable members, to enhance air flow around the apparatus.

19. The coupling apparatus of claim 18 wherein the air flow enhancer comprises at least one of:

a scrolling or groove;

at least one projection, fin or blade;

an opening or channel through the stator and/or through the second movable member;

a fluid for application to an outer part of the coupling apparatus;

at least the second movable member;

or

a stationary part of the coupling apparatus.

20. An apparatus comprising:

first movable means for coupling to flywheel means;

first magnet means arranged on the first movable means;

second movable means; and

second magnet means arranged on the second movable means;

wherein the magnetic strength of the first magnet means exceeds the magnetic strength of the second magnet means.