Halbach motor and generator

• US 9,876,407 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2014
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raymond James Walsh
• Original Assignee: Raymond James Walsh
• Inventors: Walsh, Raymond James
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/185,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20150171694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 310114, 310266, 310103, 310104, 31015601
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 16/00 Machines with more than one rotor or stator machines for transmitting mechanical power from a driving shaft to a driven shaft and comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; permanent magnet machines with multiple rotors or stators relatively rotated for vectorially combining the excitation fields or the armature voltages H02K21/029
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 16/02 Machines with one stator and two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 21/12 with stationary armatures and rotating magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 21/26 with rotating armatures and stationary magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 29/03 with a magnetic circuit specially adapted for avoiding torque ripples or self-starting problems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 29/12 using detecting coils using the machine windings as detecting coil
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/46 Fastening of windings on the stator or rotor structure
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/47 Air-gap windings, i.e. iron-free windings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 49/106 with a radial air gap
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/08 Structural association with bearings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/11 with dynamo-electric clutches

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.

Claims

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.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electric coils are substantially stationary, and the primary rotor and the secondary rotor rotate relative to the plurality of electric coils.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the primary rotor and the secondary rotor are substantially stationary, and the plurality of electric coils rotate relative to the primary rotor and the secondary rotor.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the primary rotor includes paired magnets having radial magnetic orientation of opposing polarities, and the motor further comprises a tertiary rotor rotatably mounted coaxially with the motor, the tertiary rotor including a plurality of permanent tertiary magnets configured as a Halbach cylinder having a magnetic field substantially confined within the cylinder and configured to magnetically couple with the Halbach cylinder of the primary rotor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the means comprises:

a sensor for determining the angular position of at least one of the primary rotor and the secondary rotor; and

a controller configured for receiving electric power and for receiving positional information from the sensor and, based on the positional information, for feeding a controlled quantity of alternating current to the plurality of coils for generating electromagnetic fields for driving the primary rotor for driving the secondary rotor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the means comprises:

a sensor for determining the angular position of at least one of the primary rotor and the secondary rotor, the sensor being one of a magnetic sensor, a laser sensor, or a Hall effect sensor; and

a controller configured for receiving electric power and for receiving positional information from the sensor and, based on the positional information, for feeding a controlled quantity of alternating current to the plurality of coils for generating electromagnetic fields for driving the primary rotor for driving the secondary rotor.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the means comprises:

a sensor for determining the angular position of at least one of the primary rotor and the secondary rotor; and

a controller configured for receiving electric power and for receiving positional information from the sensor and, based on the positional information, for feeding a controlled quantity of alternating current to the plurality of coils for generating electromagnetic fields for driving the primary rotor for driving the secondary rotor, wherein the controller comprises a variable frequency drive (VFD) for controlling the frequency of alternating current fed to the plurality of coils.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising positioning startup magnets positioned for positioning the secondary rotor, when stationary, in a desired position for influencing the direction of rotation of the secondary rotor at subsequent start-up.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of coils are connected in parallel.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of coils are serially connected.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein adjacent coils are wound in opposite directions.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the secondary rotor has a smaller radius than the primary rotor.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the secondary rotor has a larger radius than the primary rotor.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of permanent primary magnets are configured as a primary Halbach cylinder having a primary magnetic field directed substantially toward the secondary magnets, and wherein the plurality of permanent secondary magnets are configured as a secondary Halbach cylinder having a secondary magnetic field directed substantially toward the primary magnets.

15. A generator comprising:

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.

16. The generator of claim 15 wherein the plurality of coils are connected in parallel.

17. The generator of claim 15 wherein the plurality of coils are serially connected.

18. The generator of claim 15 wherein adjacent coils are wound in opposite directions.

19. The generator of claim 15 wherein the secondary rotor has a smaller radius than the primary rotor.

20. The generator of claim 15 wherein the secondary rotor has a larger radius than the primary rotor.

21. The generator of claim 15 wherein the plurality of permanent primary magnets are configured as a primary Halbach cylinder having a primary magnetic field directed substantially toward the secondary rotor, and wherein the plurality of permanent secondary magnets are configured as a secondary Halbach cylinder having a secondary magnetic field directed substantially toward the primary rotor.

22. A method for transferring torque, the method comprising steps of:

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.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the primary rotor includes paired magnets having radial magnetic orientation of opposing polarities, and the motor further comprises a tertiary rotor rotatably mounted coaxially with the motor, the tertiary rotor including a plurality of permanent tertiary magnets configured as a Halbach cylinder having a magnetic field substantially confined within the cylinder and configured to magnetically couple with the Halbach cylinder of the primary rotor.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining from a sensor the angular position of at least one of the primary rotor and the secondary rotor; and

receiving electric power and receiving positional information from the sensor and, based on the positional information, feeding a controlled quantity of alternating current to the plurality of coils for generating electromagnetic fields for driving the primary rotor for driving the secondary rotor.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining from a sensor the angular position of at least one of the primary rotor and the secondary rotor, the sensor being one of a magnetic sensor, a laser sensor, or a Hall effect sensor; and

receiving electric power and receiving positional information from the sensor and, based on the positional information, feeding a controlled quantity of alternating current to the plurality of coils for generating electromagnetic fields for driving the primary rotor for driving the secondary rotor.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining from a sensor the angular position of at least one of the primary rotor and the secondary rotor; and

receiving electric power and receiving positional information from the sensor and, based on the positional information, for feeding a controlled quantity of alternating current to the plurality of coils for generating electromagnetic fields for driving the primary rotor for driving the secondary rotor, wherein the controller comprises a variable frequency drive (VFD) for controlling the frequency of alternating current fed to the plurality of coils.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising positioning startup magnets positioned for positioning the secondary rotor, when stationary, in a desired position for influencing the direction of rotation of the secondary rotor at subsequent start-up.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the secondary rotor has a smaller radius than the primary rotor.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the secondary rotor has a larger radius than the primary rotor.