GB2315318A - A pulsed motor - Google Patents

Abstract

A pulse motor has motion acheived by applying an electrical pulse to the motor which converts this energy into linear motion. The motor requires no gearboxes or drive trains to obtain motion. The motor does not emit any gaseous discharges. The motor may be manufactured in any size. A striker 20 of ferrous material is moved linearly when a pulsed current is applied to coil 10. The striker strikes plate 15 to cause movement. Return movement of the striker is by a spring 15 or another coil which is suitably pulsed.

Description

A PULSED HOTOR This invention relates to pulsed motor and is particularly, but not exclusively, related to a pulsed electrically driven motor for use in both small and large motor applications.

Conventionally, electrical motors normally provide their kinetic power output in a rotational direction, with gears and drive trains being required to transform the rotational motion of the motor to the required plane of motion of the object.

Accordingly, electrical motors and the associated gearboxes and drive trains are cumbersome, complex and materially expensive.

According to the present invention, there is provided a pulsed motor comprising a first member having a bore, a second member disposed substantially within the bore of the first member, one of said members being formed from a ferrous material, and the other of said members having at least a first current carrying conductor formed into a coil having at least one loop, the coil being situated radially around the longitudinal axis of the other of said members; and a third member coupled to one or other of said members, such that providing a rate of change of current to the coil propels the one or other of said members not coupled to the third member toward the third member, such that the propelled member collides with the third member, the collision providing movement to the pulsed motor.

Preferably, there is a return means to return the propelled member to its unpropelled position.

Preferably, the return means is a biassing device that biasses the propelled member to its unpropelled position. Typically, the biassing device is a spring, and preferably, the spring is interposed between the third member and the propelled member, the spring biassing the propelled member away from the third member.

Alternatively, the return means may be a second current carrying conductor formed into a coil having at least one loop, the coil being formed in the opposing direction, and having its effect upon the propelled member in the opposite direction to the first current carrying conductor.

Preferably, it is the second member that is formed from ferrous material and more preferably, it is the second member that is the propelled member, the first member being coupled to the third member.

Typically, the pulsed motor is mounted on a vehicle in order to provide movement to the vehicle. Preferably, a number of pulsed motors are provided for each vehicle, and more preferably, the coil of each pulsed motor is provided with a rate of change of current in a controlled sequence.

Typically, the power output from the pulsed motor is increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the rate of change of current respectively, or by increasing or decreasing the voltage applied to the pulsed motor respectively.

Preferably, a switching device is provided to control the provision of rate of change of current to the coil.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig.l is a schematic drawing of a pulsed motor.

Fig.l shows a pulsed motor 1, with a base plate 5, connected to a coil assembly 10 and a strike plate 15.

The coil assembly 10 consists of an annular tubular member, with a conductor coil (not shown) located within the annulus of the tubular member.

A striker 20 is disposed within the bore of the coil assembly 10 and is formed from a ferrous material.

The conductor coil is connected to an electrical power supply (not shown) via a switch (not shown) so that the conductor coil can be energised.

When the switch is activated, a pulse of current is provided to the coil, the pulse being a high rate of change of current. The conductor coil is energised and the striker 20 is propelled toward the strike plate 15.

A return spring 25 attempts to deter this propulsion of the striker 20, but the strength of the return spring 25 is chosen such that the striker 20 overcomes the return spring 25 resisting action.

The momentum of the striker 20 continues the travel of the striker 20 toward the strike plate 15 until the striker 20 collides with the strike plate 15. As the strike plate 15 is connected to the plate 5, the pulsed motor 1 moves in the direction of travel of the striker 20 toward the strike plate 15.

After the collision between the striker 20 and the strike plate 15 has occurred, the striker 20 is returned to its initial position by the return spring 25. The pulsed motor 1 is now ready for another cycle of the coil being energised.

Alternatively, the return spring 25 may be omitted. The striker 20 could be returned to its initial position by a second conductor coil (not shown) being opposingly wound into the coil assembly 10 with respect to the first conductor coil, and when energised having its effect on the striker 20 in the opposite direction to the first conductor coil. For instance, the first conductor coil may be wound into the coil assembly 10 in a clockwise direction and the second conductor coil in an anti-clockwise direction, or vice versa. Hence, after the striker 20 has collided with the strike plate 15, the second conductor coil is energised by a controlled pulse of current and the striker 20 returns to its initial position.

In order to provide a smoother transmission of movement for a vehicle having a pulsed motor 1, a number of pulsed motors 1 may be provided for each vehicle. The pulsed motors 1 would then be operated in sequence to provide a smoother transmission of energy.

The output power of the pulsed motor 1 can be increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the rate of change of current provided to the conductor coil respectively, or by increasing or decreasing the voltage applied to the pulsed motor 1 respectively.

Examples of possible applications for the pulsed motor 1 include model cars, lorries, boats and railways. On a larger scale, the pulsed motor 1 may be applicable for use on boats, submarines and land vehicles.

In water based craft, such as boats and submarines, vessels fitted with a pulsed motor 1 arrangement would not require propellers. As propellers are the major cause of noise in water based craft, these vessels could be made to be near silent and difficult to detect. The direction of the vessels would be controlled by the conventional rudder and vanes.

Another application for the pulsed motor 1 would be as a propulsion unit for space craft. The space craft would be provided with an adequate number of pulsed motors 1, with pulsed motors 1 located on the three orthogonal axes, with a motor provided for both directions on each axis, thus allowing movement of the space craft in every direction.

The invention has the advantage that by using only electrical power, propulsion can be provided to a vehicle without emitting any gaseous discharge.

The invention also has the advantage that further mechanical devices such as gearboxes are not required of convert electrical energy into kinetic energy.

Modifications and improvements can be made without departing form the scope of the invention.

Claims (1)

1. A form of propulsion requiring no further additional mechanical devices to

   achieve motion.

   A form of propulsion as claimed in Claim 1 which does not emit any gaseous discharge.