Halbach motor and generator
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a plurality of electric coils arranged in the shape of a toroid and configured so that, upon the application of electric current through the plurality of coils, adjacent coils generate magnetic fields of opposing polarities;
a primary rotor having a plurality of permanent primary magnets positioned within the plurality of electric coils for passing through the plurality of electric coils and configured as a primary Halbach cylinder having a primary magnetic field;
a secondary rotor mounted coaxially with the primary rotor externally of the plurality of coils and for rotation relative to the plurality of electric coils, the secondary rotor including a plurality of permanent secondary magnets configured as a secondary Halbach cylinder having a secondary magnetic field directed toward the primary rotor and configured to magnetically couple with the primary Halbach cylinder, and wherein the plurality of permanent primary magnets are configured as a primary Halbach cylinder having a primary magnetic field directed toward the secondary rotor and are configured to magnetically couple with the secondary Halbach cylinder, to thereby effectuate the transfer of torque from the primary rotor to the secondary rotor; and
means for conducting electric current between the plurality of electric coils and an electric apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A motor includes two magnetically coupled, coaxially-nested Halbach cylinder rotors, one of which passes through a toroidal series of at least two stator coils while the other is attached to an axle or other means of transferring mechanical power. An embodiment is described comprising an additional third Halbach cylinder rotor in which a circumferential arrangement of permanent magnets is mounted rotatably and proximally outside the stator coils, coaxial with the stator coils. Adjacent stator coils are configured so as to produce opposing magnetic fields upon energizing of the motor. Alternating the current to the stator coils induces movement in the rotor. Commutation can occur brushlessly, or the motor can be configured to function without commutation by varying the frequency of the alternating current, and can be configured to operate by either DC or AC current. Alternatively, the rotor may be driven to generate an electric current in the stator.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a plurality of electric coils arranged in the shape of a toroid and configured so that, upon the application of electric current through the plurality of coils, adjacent coils generate magnetic fields of opposing polarities; a primary rotor having a plurality of permanent primary magnets positioned within the plurality of electric coils for passing through the plurality of electric coils and configured as a primary Halbach cylinder having a primary magnetic field; a secondary rotor mounted coaxially with the primary rotor externally of the plurality of coils and for rotation relative to the plurality of electric coils, the secondary rotor including a plurality of permanent secondary magnets configured as a secondary Halbach cylinder having a secondary magnetic field directed toward the primary rotor and configured to magnetically couple with the primary Halbach cylinder, and wherein the plurality of permanent primary magnets are configured as a primary Halbach cylinder having a primary magnetic field directed toward the secondary rotor and are configured to magnetically couple with the secondary Halbach cylinder, to thereby effectuate the transfer of torque from the primary rotor to the secondary rotor; and means for conducting electric current between the plurality of electric coils and an electric apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A generator comprising:
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a plurality of electric coils arranged in the shape of a toroid, the coils including lead wires connectable to an electric load; a primary rotor having a plurality of permanent primary magnets positioned within the plurality of electric coils for passing through the plurality of electric coils and configured as a primary Halbach cylinder having a primary magnetic field; and a secondary rotor rotatably mounted coaxially with the primary rotor externally of the plurality of coils, the secondary rotor including a plurality of permanent secondary magnets configured as a secondary Halbach cylinder having a secondary magnetic field directed toward the primary rotor and configured to magnetically couple with the primary Halbach cylinder, and wherein the plurality of permanent primary magnets are configured as a primary Halbach cylinder having a primary magnetic field directed toward the secondary rotor and are configured to magnetically couple with the secondary Halbach cylinder, to thereby effectuate the transfer of torque from the primary rotor to the secondary rotor, the second rotor being capable of being coupled to a mechanical rotating drive. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for transferring torque, the method comprising steps of:
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passing alternating current (“
AC”
) through a plurality of electric coils arranged end-to-end in the shape of a toroid and configured so that, upon the application of the AC through the plurality of coils, adjacent coils generate electromagnetic fields of opposing polarities;inducing from the electromagnetic fields movement of a plurality of permanent primary magnets through the plurality of electric coils for rotation relative to the plurality of electric coils, the plurality of permanent primary magnets constituting a primary rotor and configured as a primary Halbach cylinder having a primary magnetic field; transferring torque from the primary rotor to a secondary rotor magnetically coupled to the primary rotor, wherein the secondary rotor is mounted coaxially with the primary rotor externally of the plurality of coils and for rotation relative to the plurality of electric coils, the secondary rotor including a plurality of permanent secondary magnets configured as a secondary Halbach cylinder having a secondary magnetic field directed toward the primary rotor and configured to magnetically couple with the primary Halbach cylinder, and wherein the plurality of permanent primary magnets are configured as a primary Halbach cylinder having a primary magnetic field directed toward the secondary rotor and are configured to magnetically couple with the secondary Halbach cylinder to thereby effectuate the transfer of torque from the primary rotor to the secondary rotor. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification