GB2132420A - Electric motor or generator - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention is for improvements in electric motors and generators. In a typical electric motor embodiment, the rotation of armature 1 is effected by an electromagnet 2 which also induces an electric current flow in the windings of said armature. This current is utilized to energise the magnet 2 by passage through coil 5, means being provided to raise the efficiency of said magnet to a degree rendering this working cycle practical. Optionally, the current supply to the coil 5 is passed through an electronic amplifier. The machine may be cooled by water, liquid nitrogen, hydrogen or helium or by air or oil. The level of cooling may be low enough to produce superconductivity. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to, electric motors and dynamos This invention concerns improvements in electric motors and generators and their mode of operation.

Hitherto, such units have, except for some plants of my own design been arranged to function only as machines for converting one form of energy into energy of a different kind, i.e. not as original sources of energy, and the common assumption is, that it is impractical to design electric motors and generators to act otherwise. I contend that this prior assumption is fallacious and that there is clear evidence to prove theoretically, that such machines, if properly designed, can function as original energy sources.

For example, the magnetism capable of being imparted to an electromagnet by an electric current of a given value and the electric current induced in a conductor by such a magnet depends partly on the permeability of said magnet, the number of turns of wire or other conductive agent forming its winding or windings and its working temperature and bears no simple relationship to the magnitude of its exciting current. This being so, the electric current flow induced in a conductor by said magnet could exceed that necessary to energise the said magnet, providing the efficiency of this latter assembly is suitably increased. The relevance of this possibility will be readily appreciated by anyone conversant with the art.

With the invention, at least a portion of the induced current is utilized to energise the electromagnet or magnets, the efficiency of which is increased by, for example, the use of highly permeable material in their construction, ordinary low temperature or superconductive operating methods permitting the use of electromagnet winding(s) having a large number of turns and a high inductance, and similar means, of the apparatus. Once its working cycle starts, the apparatus continues to function without any energy supply from an external source, until its electrical circuit(s) are broken.

The electromagnet energising current supply, in another method, is amplified electronically.

Alternatively, its voltage is increased.

Electric motors and generators according to the invention take the configuration, broadly speaking, of conventional such devices or are a modification of said design, embodiments acting to produce both mechanical energy and useful electric power also being featured. The power output of the apparatus is regulated manually or automatically by a governor, a provision to start its working cycle being included.

Even supposing the generated electric current supply to the electromagnet(s) inducing said current flow in the conductor, only equals that required, in continuous operating conditions, to energise said electromagnet(s), the invention renders practicable electric motors working according to the cycle.

The low temperature and superconductive methods of operation reduce the resistance of the electromagnet winding circuit or circuits to the energising current flow from the conductor, in the latter instance, to zero.

An aspect of the invention comprises a method of mechanical or/and electric power generation consisting of the inducement by electromagnetic induction of an electric current flow in a conductor, the utilization of at least a portion of said electric current to energise the source of said electromagnetic induction, relative motion between said electromagnetic induction source, induced by this source, and said conductor, and a provision for the conveyance of said power to store or immediate utilization.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are composite diagrammatic general arrangements of electric motors and generators according to the invention.

Referring to the single figure illustration, highly permeable electromagnets e.g. magnet 2, require less electric current to energise them and cooling the windings, e.g. coil 5, of electromagnets, reduces the electrical resistance of said windings, thus enhancing their efficiency. Increasing the voltage of the electric current supply to e.g. coil 5, theoretically, may similarly improve the efficiency of the electromagnet windings. In a like manner, the employment of combined such methods further enhances the overall efficiency of the electromagnet systems.

The electric motor or generator shown comprises an ordinary bipole armature 1, an electromagnet indicated generally by the reference numeral 2, a commutator 3 and its brushes 4. A coil 5 connected by leads electrically to brushes 4, energises or fully energises the magnet 2 at intervals or continuously during the rotation of the armature 1, and a permanent magnet 6 imparts a comparatively weak continuous magnetism to said electromagnet 2, to which it is clamped. If desired, the magnet 6 may form one or more of the laminae for example, of magnet 2 or said weak magnetism may be induced by an auxiliary coil replacing said magnet 6.

The electromagnet 2 uses a highly permeable material, such as nickel iron alloy, for its actual magnet, thus the current requirement to fully energise said magnet is low. Optionally, to reduce its electrical resistance, the coil 5 of magnet 2 is cooled or also cooled by water or liquid nitrogen, hydrogen or helium or by air or oil, perhaps to superconductivity, passed through said coil, which could employ a tubular wire construction to allow this cooling, or through an incorporated heat exchanger or cooling jacket. Since this cooling, in effect, increases the voltage of the current supply to coil 5, it may be advantageous to use a transformer 7 for this purpose or to increase the number of turns comprising said coil, preferably using finer gauge wire. Alternatively, coil 5 or the armature 1 is provided with a secondary winding to effect this voltage increase.

A clockwise rotation of armature 1 is induced by magnet 2 causing, by magnetic induction, an electric current flow in the magnet coils (the conductor) of said moving armature. This current is passed by commutator 3 and brushes 4 to coil 5, fully energising magnet 2 until the poles of said magnet align with those of armature 1, whereupon said commutator breaks the circuit and stops the current flow to said coil, so reducing the power of magnet 2 to its continuous level and allowing said armature, due to the weakness of the magnetism induced by magnet 6, to revolve under its own momentum through a further ninety degrees, when said commutator closes the circuit, again permitting current to pass from armature 1 to coil 5 and the cycle is repeated.The power output is regulated by a rheostat 8 provided in the circuit connection to coil 5 and operated by hand and by a governor not shown, driven by armature 1. If desired, the armature 1 may act as the electromagnet and coil 5 as the "conductor', said armature incorporating e.g. the permanent magnet 6. The rheostat 8 is operated automatically by a solenoid positioned in the circuit, in another power control system.

Means, such as a current supply to the brushes 4 from a battery, an auxiliary electric motor driven by current obtained from a battery and connected to or with its rotor mounted on the shaft of the armature 1 or manual operation by similar methods to those used to start small petrol engines, may be employed to initially rotate said armature 1 and start the motor's working cycle.

An auxiliary coil replacing magnet 6 could be activated continuously or only during the full energising periods of magnet 2, e.g. by commutator 3 and a suitable brush arrangement, such as two adjacent brushes placed at the same side of commutator 3 and bearing on said side of this device, conducting current to it during said periods from for example, a battery or an auxiliary embodied dynamo driven by armature 1.

The current supply to the electromagnet, in a second example, is through condensers or capacitors 9 and, since these condensers would become charged during the excitation of magnet 2, the contacts of commutator 3 could be extended, as shown by the broken lines, to allow said condensers to discharge back through the circuit after said period and thus induce the further rotation of armature 1.

A third example employs an electronic power amplifier to increase the current supply to the electromagnet or coil 5. Such an amplifier could also increase the voltage of the current supply to coil 5 and replaces the transformer 7, in the circuit.

To reduce any fluctuations in the torque exerted by the motor, a flywheel may be provided on the shaft of armature 1 or said armature might be modified to accommodate a rotor allowing it, said motor, to function partly as an induction unit giving constant torque. Several motors, in a third arrangement, are coupled to act as a single unit with their armatures set at different angles of rotation, for said purpose.

Extensions 10 of the legs of magnet 2, permit the motor to perform as a linear or/and a levitation unit.

When running under light or no load conditions, current could be led from the brushes 4 and the unit function partially or exclusively as a D.C. or an A.C. generator.

In another generator example, the armature 1 is fixed in position with its poles aligned with those of magnet 2 and its winding coils connected directly to coil 5, where appropriate, through the condensers 9, transformer 7 or the power amplifier referred to.

The use of the transformer 7 or the equivalent secondary windings described, is a preferred method of raising the voltage of the current supply to the electromagnet, although the winding(s) of the conductor can be provided with a larger number of turns, for this purpose.

When the current supply to the electromagnet 2 is through condensers 9, the use of permanent magnet 6 or an auxiliary coil to give said electromagnet its weak magnetism, is optional, since the residual magnetism left in magnet 2, during the rotation of armature 1, would probably ensure continuity of the unit's working cycle.

Incidentally, also in this instance, the current alternations in the circuit may be in unison with the rotation of armature 1 or at a different e.g. a much higher frequency. Further, these units can be arranged as multipole motors or generators, their working cycle possibly being started by supplying them with alternating current obtained for example, from an induction coil or a mains supply or an electronic alternator, and it being practical to reverse motor units by reversing the direction of the current supply to their electromagnets by an ordinary reversing switch.

Generator units of this kind with stationary armatures, alternatively function as so called linear or magnetic levitation motors. All these embodiments are in accord with my G.B.

specifications Serial No. 2100071 A.

Finally, the electric current induction in the conductor is increased by means similar to those used to increase the efficiency of the electromagnet, either exclusively or in combination with the use of a high efficiency electromagnet.

Because the electric current induction equals or exceeds the internal current utilization, the apparatus can function effectively.

An induction motor in accord with the invention comprises a rotor and a bipole ring magnet having two windings, one of which acts as the conductor and the other as the electromagnet coil. The conductor is connected through two condensers to the electromagnet coil and passes its induced current flow to said coil.

This current flow alternates in the circuit, thus inducing the rotation of the rotor.

I provide cooling means of all kinds, including electronic heat exchange systems according to my U.K. pending patent application No. 8218220, mechanical power transmission directly or through variable speed gearboxes, hydraulic devices or the like, ring and horse-shoe electromagnets, centrifugal or magnetically operated power governors and highly permeable magnet and armature construction materials of any kind advantageous to the performance of the apparatus, oscillating armatures and commutators, rotary or contrarotating such armatures and electromagnets and the like, bipole and multi-pole electromagnets and armatures, power drives through speed reduction gearboxes, the cooling of all secondary winding and ancillary apparatus, cooling by a vaporizing liquid or by liquid air, a fan or the relative wind, cryostat and refrigerative cooling means.

I also provide the current supply, to coil 5 for example, from a storage battery or an auxiliary generator, such as a dynamo driven by armature 1, which has no windings in these instances, through commutator 3 or directly, said storage battery being recharged continuously by an auxiliary dynamo driven by said armature, said electricity supply, as appropriate, being D.C. or A.C.

In the first example, the coil 5 gives magnet 2 the same polarity as that applied by permanent magnet 6 or the auxiliary coil replacing said permanent magnet.

An auxiliary electric motor provided to start the rotation of armature 1 could also act, during continuous operation of the plant, as an auxiliary generator and vice-versa.

The invention therefore, in a modified working cycle, further consists in the utilization of electric current led, possibly through a storage battery, from an auxiliary generator, such as a D.C.

dynamo or an alternator, provided specifically or partly for this purpose, to energise or fully energise the electromagnet, the windings of for example armature 1, generating current for external use only or being omitted, said armature conversely being replaced by an induction unit rotor, said auxiliary generator preferably being in accordance with this invention, e.g. giving a required intermittent or A.C. supply, optionally through an amplifier.

With superconductive working, either hard or soft superconductors comprise the winding coils.

Electric motor embodiments incorporating a gearbox giving an increased speed drive, additionally comprise the invention.

Possibly the residual magnetism left in magnet 2 during continuous working of the first example described, may be sufficient to provide effective working of this unit, in which case, the current supply to an auxiliary coil giving a weak magnetic bias to said magnet, might be stopped after starting said unit's power generation cycle.

Probably the best arrangement for propelling e.g.

a road vehicle, would be a D.C. motor/generator embodiment coupled to a storage battery which would be recharged under light load conditions and help to energise the electromagnet during heavy torque working, thus preventing the motor stalling, the residual magnetism also being maintained at a high level. A variable speed gearbox with clutch for example, could also be incorporated.

The electromagnet is energised by electricity derived from any one or more of the various sources described, in the full application of the invention.

The transformer 7 functions, when fed with intermittent D.C. electricity, much like an induction coil and may embody a condenser in its primary circuit, specifically to damp out unwanted current oscillations induced therein. The related methods likewise.

Claims (Filed on 5/7/82) 1. A method of mechanical or/and electric power generation, including the induction of an intermittent or alternating magnetism, comprising for example, the intermittent or continuous inducement by electromagnetic induction, of an electric current flow in a conductor, the utilization by direct passage or through a device, such as a capacitor or condenser unit, thereto, of at least a portion of said electric current or/and electric current obtained from another origin, such as an auxiliary electric generator in accord with this invention or a dynamo driven by the main plant hereinbefore described, to energise the source of said electromagnetic induction, and relative motion or no such motion between said electromagnetic induction source and said conductor induced, as appropriate, by said source, characterised in that there is included a provision, such as the superconductive working of said electromagnetic induction source, to obtain, in effect, an electric current generation capability in said conductor or by said alternative origin equal to or exceeding the requirement or normal requirement to energise said source, which is an electromagnet.

2, The method defined in Claim 1, comprising electromagnet winding or/and conductor operation at a temperature level reduced by directly or indirectly acting cooling means, such as the passage of a coolant fluid through tubular said winding(s) and conductor or through heat exchangers incorporated in them, said cooling means, in another instance, being an electronic heat exchanger or, alternatively, a fan or the relative wind or even combined such means, said reduced temperature operation optionally extending, in the relevant instances, to include secondary windings and ancillary apparatus, such as embodied condensers, coils, transformers and power amplifiers, and e.g. acting to lower the electrical resistance of said winding and conductor assemblies, for example to superconductivity, rendering practical the use of electrical circuits of high inductance.

3. The method defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising the provision of highly permeable electromagnet or/and armature assemblies, giving

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. I provide cooling means of all kinds, including electronic heat exchange systems according to my U.K. pending patent application No. 8218220, mechanical power transmission directly or through variable speed gearboxes, hydraulic devices or the like, ring and horse-shoe electromagnets, centrifugal or magnetically operated power governors and highly permeable magnet and armature construction materials of any kind advantageous to the performance of the apparatus, oscillating armatures and commutators, rotary or contrarotating such armatures and electromagnets and the like, bipole and multi-pole electromagnets and armatures, power drives through speed reduction gearboxes, the cooling of all secondary winding and ancillary apparatus, cooling by a vaporizing liquid or by liquid air, a fan or the relative wind, cryostat and refrigerative cooling means. I also provide the current supply, to coil 5 for example, from a storage battery or an auxiliary generator, such as a dynamo driven by armature 1, which has no windings in these instances, through commutator 3 or directly, said storage battery being recharged continuously by an auxiliary dynamo driven by said armature, said electricity supply, as appropriate, being D.C. or A.C. In the first example, the coil 5 gives magnet 2 the same polarity as that applied by permanent magnet 6 or the auxiliary coil replacing said permanent magnet. An auxiliary electric motor provided to start the rotation of armature 1 could also act, during continuous operation of the plant, as an auxiliary generator and vice-versa. The invention therefore, in a modified working cycle, further consists in the utilization of electric current led, possibly through a storage battery, from an auxiliary generator, such as a D.C. dynamo or an alternator, provided specifically or partly for this purpose, to energise or fully energise the electromagnet, the windings of for example armature 1, generating current for external use only or being omitted, said armature conversely being replaced by an induction unit rotor, said auxiliary generator preferably being in accordance with this invention, e.g. giving a required intermittent or A.C. supply, optionally through an amplifier. With superconductive working, either hard or soft superconductors comprise the winding coils. Electric motor embodiments incorporating a gearbox giving an increased speed drive, additionally comprise the invention. Possibly the residual magnetism left in magnet 2 during continuous working of the first example described, may be sufficient to provide effective working of this unit, in which case, the current supply to an auxiliary coil giving a weak magnetic bias to said magnet, might be stopped after starting said unit's power generation cycle. Probably the best arrangement for propelling e.g. a road vehicle, would be a D.C. motor/generator embodiment coupled to a storage battery which would be recharged under light load conditions and help to energise the electromagnet during heavy torque working, thus preventing the motor stalling, the residual magnetism also being maintained at a high level. A variable speed gearbox with clutch for example, could also be incorporated. The electromagnet is energised by electricity derived from any one or more of the various sources described, in the full application of the invention. The transformer 7 functions, when fed with intermittent D.C. electricity, much like an induction coil and may embody a condenser in its primary circuit, specifically to damp out unwanted current oscillations induced therein. The related methods likewise. Claims (Filed on 5/7/82)

1. A method of mechanical or/and electric power generation, including the induction of an intermittent or alternating magnetism, comprising for example, the intermittent or continuous inducement by electromagnetic induction, of an electric current flow in a conductor, the utilization by direct passage or through a device, such as a capacitor or condenser unit, thereto, of at least a portion of said electric current or/and electric current obtained from another origin, such as an auxiliary electric generator in accord with this invention or a dynamo driven by the main plant hereinbefore described, to energise the source of said electromagnetic induction, and relative motion or no such motion between said electromagnetic induction source and said conductor induced, as appropriate, by said source, characterised in that there is included a provision, such as the superconductive working of said electromagnetic induction source, to obtain, in effect, an electric current generation capability in said conductor or by said alternative origin equal to or exceeding the requirement or normal requirement to energise said source, which is an electromagnet.

2, The method defined in Claim 1, comprising electromagnet winding or/and conductor operation at a temperature level reduced by directly or indirectly acting cooling means, such as the passage of a coolant fluid through tubular said winding(s) and conductor or through heat exchangers incorporated in them, said cooling means, in another instance, being an electronic heat exchanger or, alternatively, a fan or the relative wind or even combined such means, said reduced temperature operation optionally extending, in the relevant instances, to include secondary windings and ancillary apparatus, such as embodied condensers, coils, transformers and power amplifiers, and e.g. acting to lower the electrical resistance of said winding and conductor assemblies, for example to superconductivity, rendering practical the use of electrical circuits of high inductance.

3. The method defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising the provision of highly permeable electromagnet or/and armature assemblies, giving

a reduced energising current requirement by said electromagnet or/and an increased current induction in the conductor.

4. The method defined in any previous Claim, comprising a provision to increase the voltage of the energising current supply to the winding(s) of the electromagnet, thereby rendering possible the employment of such winding(s) having a higher magnetic inductance, said provision consisting of a transformer interposed in the circuit, a secondary winding or windings incorporated in the conductor or/and in said electromagnet winding(s) or merely electromagnet winding(s) having a larger number of turns, optionally of a finer gauge material, said provision, where appropriate, preferably also including a means to reduce unwanted current oscillations occurring in its primary winding system.

5. The method defined in any previous Claim, comprising an electronic provision to amplify the electromagnet current supply, said provision optionally also acting to increase the voltage of said current supply.

6. The method defined in any previous Claim, comprising power output control means consisting of a manually or/and automatically operable rheostat placed in the circuit connection to the electromagnet, said automatic actuation being effected by a mechanical or a magnetically operated governor.

7. The method defined in any previous Claim, comprising a provision to apply a comparatively weak magnetic bias to the electromagnet, either continuously or only during its full excitation periods, to ensure continuity of the working cycle, said weak magnetic being imparted to said electromagnet by a permanent magnet or an auxiliary coil, incorporated in it, said permanent magnet optionally forming one or more of the laminae of said electromagnet.

8. A means for mechanical or/and electric power generation, including the induction of an intermittent or alternating electromagnetism, employing the method defined in any previous Claim, designed, constructed or operating subtantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in said means a provision to start its working cycle manually or electrically, said means producing rotary or/and linear motion, D.C. or A.C. electricity or levitation, said rotary motion being simple or contra-rotative and transmitted directly or through a device, such as a gearbox or a hydraulic coupling, giving a reduced or variable speed drive, alternatively an increased speed, said linear motion including oscillatory movement and is induced by the electromagnet, possibly e.g.

through extensions of its legs, conversely said rotary motion is oscillatory.

9. A method of mechanical or/and electric power generation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.