Magnetically-assisted mechanical gear system and method

A magnetically-assisted mechanical gear system, the system comprising:

• a driving gear having driving gear teeth;
• a driven gear having driven gear teeth;
• a first magnetomotive force (MMF) source that generates a first magnetic flux, wherein the first MMF source is at least indirectly supported in relation to, or is formed as part of, one or both of the driving and driven gears;
• and
• a magnetic circuit in which the first magnetic flux generated by the first MMF source is communicated via the driving gear and the driven gear, which provide first and second reluctances, respectively, and at least one of an additional structure or air gap that provides an additional reluctance,
• wherein the driving gear and driven gear are arranged so that the driving gear teeth mesh with the driven gear teeth such that, in response to a first rotational movement of the driving gear in a first direction, the driven gear is driven to experience a second rotational movement in a second rotational direction,
• wherein at least a first portion of the first magnetic flux is communicated between at least one of the driving gear teeth and at least one of the driven gear teeth so that one or more magnetic forces are exerted between the driving and driven gears, and
• wherein, when the first rotational movement of the driving gear alternates from being in the first rotational direction to being in a third rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, then the driven gear is driven by the one or more magnetic forces so that the second rotational movement also alternates from being in the second rotational direction to being in a fourth rotational direction opposite the second rotational direction,
• wherein a first amount of backlash movement between the driving and driven gears is avoided or reduced due to the one or more magnetic forces.

A method of transmitting mechanical power in a magnetically-assisted manner, the method comprising:

• providing a transmission system including
• a first component having first formations,
• a second component having second formations;
• and
• a magnetomotive force (MMF) source that either is supported at least
• indirectly in relation to, or is formed as part of, the first and second components;
• generating a first magnetic flux by way of the first MMF source, wherein the first magnetic flux generated by the first MMF source is communicated in a magnetic circuit via the first and second components, which provide first and second reluctances, respectively, and at least one of an additional structure or air gap that provides an additional reluctance, and wherein the magnetic flux is communicated between at least one of the first formations of the first component and at least one of the second formations of the second component so that one or more magnetic forces are exerted between the first component and the second component;
• moving the first component in a first direction so as to mechanically force the second component to move in a second direction due to mechanical contacts between first surfaces of the first formations, respectively, and first surfaces of the second formations, respectively;
• and
• moving the first component in a third direction opposite to the first direction wherein, when the first component is moved in the third direction, then the second component is driven by the one or more magnetic forces so that further movement of the second component is in a fourth direction opposite the second direction,
• wherein a first amount of backlash movement between the first component and the second component is avoided or reduced due to the one or more magnetic forces.