Electric motor with Halbach arrays

• US 7,598,646 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Cleveland, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tran N
• Application Number:
  US11/678,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20080224557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 310/67.A, 310/75.C, 310/156.43, 310179-180, 310/184, 310/185, 310/186, 310206-208, 335/229, 335/234, 335/306
• US Class Current: 310/156.43
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/06 Arrangement of lighting dynamos or drives therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/20 Arrangement of reflectors , e.g. on the wheel spokes pedals incorporating reflectors B62M3/12 ; Lighting devices mounted on wheel spokes
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 21/24 with magnets axially facing the armatures, e.g. hub-type cycle dynamos
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/14 Electronic commutators

Abstract

Electric motor configurations are provided with Halbach arrays. In one example, an electric motor includes a first plurality of magnets arranged in a first Halbach array. The first plurality of magnets is configured to provide a first magnetic field that substantially exhibits a first Halbach flux distribution. A first plurality of electromagnets comprising a first plurality of coils are arranged in a second Halbach array. A controller is adapted to selectively direct current through the first plurality of coils to induce a second magnetic field to interact with the first magnetic field. The second magnetic field substantially exhibits a second Halbach flux distribution.

Claims

1. An electric motor comprising:

a first plurality of magnets arranged in a first Halbach array, wherein the first plurality of magnets is configured to provide a first magnetic field that substantially exhibits a first Halbach flux distribution;

a first plurality of electromagnets comprising a first plurality of coils arranged in a second Halbach array; and

a controller adapted to selectively direct current through the first plurality of coils to induce a second magnetic field to interact with the first magnetic field, wherein the second magnetic field substantially exhibits a second Halbach flux distribution.

2. The electric motor of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of electromagnets and the first plurality of magnets exhibit a ratio of approximately 1:

1 to each other.

3. The electric motor of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of electromagnets and the first plurality of magnets exhibit a ratio of approximately 5:

4 to each other.

4. The electric motor of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of electromagnets are coreless electromagnets and wherein the first plurality of magnets are permanent magnets.

5. The electric motor of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of magnets are electromagnets.

6. The electric motor of claim 1, further comprising a rotor, wherein the first plurality of magnets are disposed substantially along a periphery of a first side of the rotor, wherein the rotor is adapted to rotate in response to interaction between the first and second magnetic fields.

7. The electric motor of claim 6, wherein the rotor is a wheel configured to provide translational motion during rotation.

8. The electric motor of claim 6, wherein the rotor is adapted to provide substantially vertical lift during rotation.

9. The electric motor of claim 6, further comprising:

a second plurality of magnets arranged in a third Halbach array disposed substantially along a periphery of a second side of the rotor, wherein the third plurality of magnets is configured to provide a third magnetic field that substantially exhibits a third Halbach flux distribution;

a second plurality of electromagnets comprising a second plurality of coils arranged in a fourth Halbach array, wherein the controller is further adapted to selectively direct current through the second plurality of coils to induce a fourth magnetic field to interact with the third magnetic field, wherein the fourth magnetic field substantially exhibits a fourth Halbach flux distribution; and

wherein the rotor is further adapted to rotate in response to interaction between the third and fourth magnetic fields.

10. An electric motor comprising:

a rotor;

means for providing a first magnetic field directed from a first side of the rotor, wherein the first magnetic field substantially exhibits a first Halbach flux distribution; and

means for selectively inducing a second magnetic field directed toward the first side of the rotor to interact with the first magnetic field, wherein the second magnetic field substantially exhibits a second Halbach flux distribution, wherein the rotor is adapted to rotate in response to interaction between the first and second magnetic fields.

11. The electric motor of claim 10, further comprising:

means for providing a third magnetic field directed from a second side of the rotor, wherein the third magnetic field substantially exhibits a third Halbach flux distribution;

means for selectively inducing a fourth magnetic field directed toward the second side of the rotor to interact with the third magnetic field, wherein the fourth magnetic field substantially exhibits a fourth Halbach flux distribution; and

wherein the rotor is further adapted to rotate in response to interaction between the third and fourth magnetic fields.