# US 2014/0197707 A1 · Magnetic drive apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197707 A1 - Document ID: US20140197707A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/942,066 - Filed: 2013-07-15 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2005-04-08 - Inventors: Andrew Boyd FRENCH - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197707A1 ## CPC - H02K 49/102: {Magnetic gearings, i.e. assembly of gears, linear or rotary, by which motion is magnetically transferred without physical contact (magnetized gearings with physical contact F16H13/12, F16H49/005)} - H02K 51/00: Dynamo-electric gears, i.e. dynamo-electric means for transmitting mechanical power from a driving shaft to a driven shaft and comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) ## Abstract A primary disc and the secondary discs are each fitted with magnetic means, typically in the form of permanent magnets of the same polarity, located along a radial line from the centre point of the discs, and arranged generally transverse to the axis of rotation of the respective disc. These magnets are also located at or adjacent to the periphery of the disc(s). The magnets are embedded into each of the primary and secondary discs such that the faces of the magnets are flush with the exterior faces of the primary and secondary discs. In some embodiments, the magnets on the primary and secondary discs are arranged so as to be parallel, with their respective elongate, straight side edges aligned. Such an arrangement can result in less slippage between the discs which hold the magnets, and can assist in handling some misalignment which may occur between these discs during use, thus allowing smoother operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic drive apparatus comprising: a primary and two secondary supports, each support being rotatable around an axis of rotation; and a plurality of magnets arranged around and at or adjacent to a periphery of each support; wherein the secondary supports are spaced and generally parallel, and the primary support is arranged in use to move in the space between the secondary supports such that, at a given time, at least some of the primary magnets are located between at least some of the secondary magnets of each of the secondary supports. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the magnets of the primary and secondary supports are each oriented so that the poles of said at least some primary magnets provide a repulsive magnetic force to said at least some secondary magnets. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the primary support is a disc that is mounted to rotate on the end of a primary shaft and the secondary supports are each discs mounted to rotate on a common secondary shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the primary shaft is parallel in use to the secondary shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the secondary discs each have the same diameter that is a smaller diameter than the primary disc. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the magnets on at least one support can be energised by at least one electromagnet to induce rotation between the primary and secondary supports. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the magnets is shaped to improve torque generation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein each magnet has an ovaloid or an obround shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the magnets is elongate and has an elongate axis that is inclined to a radius extending from a centre of each support. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein the elongate axis subtends an acute or right angle to the radius, or the magnets on each support have varying combinations of these orientations. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of the magnets has a shape that is selected from one or more of square, triangular, ovaloid, obround, rhomboid, or truncated cylinder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the magnets in each support are mounted to project beyond the outer periphery thereof, or are mounted to recess into the outer periphery. ### Claim 13 A magnetic drive apparatus comprising: primary and secondary supports, each support being rotatable around an axis of rotation that is parallel or inclined with respect to the other axis; and a plurality of magnets arranged around each support; wherein each support has a generally conical shape, with a major cone face of one support facing a major cone face of the other support in use. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein each magnet is elongate and is arranged in major cone face to extend from an apex towards a base of the cone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein each magnet has the form of a frusto-conical segment. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein the magnets in one support are oriented to provide a repulsive magnetic force to the magnets in the other support. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein the supports are each mounted to rotate on the end a respective shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein the axis of one shaft is in use orthogonal to the axis of the other shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein each support is frusto-conically shaped. ### Claim 20 A magnetic drive apparatus comprising: a primary and a secondary support, each support being rotatable around an axis of rotation; and a plurality of magnets arranged around and at or adjacent to a periphery of each support; wherein the magnets are elongate and are generally arranged in alignment with the axis of rotation of the respective support. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein the primary and secondary supports are spaced apart. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein the primary support is a disc that is mounted to rotate on a primary shaft and the secondary support is also a disc mounted to rotate on a secondary shaft. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein the primary shaft is parallel in use to the secondary shaft. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein the magnets on the primary support are arranged parallel with the magnets on the secondary support in use. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein the secondary disc has a diameter that is a smaller than the diameter of the primary disc. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein each magnet has a rectangular shape when viewed in plan or in cross-section. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein the magnets in each support are mounted to project beyond the outer periphery thereof, or are mounted to recess into the outer periphery. ### Claim 28 A magnetic drive apparatus comprising: a primary and a secondary support, each support being rotatable around an axis of rotation; and a plurality of magnets arranged around and at or adjacent to a periphery of each support; wherein the magnets are elongate and are generally arranged transverse to the axis of rotation of the respective support. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 28 wherein each of the magnets has an axis that is inclined to a radius extending from a centre of each support. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 28 wherein the elongate axis subtends an acute or right angle to the radius, or the magnets on each support have varying combinations of these orientations. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) A magnetic drive apparatus in accordance with claim 28 wherein each of the magnets has an axis that is aligned with a radius extending from a centre of each support. ### Claim 32 A magnetic coupling apparatus comprising: primary and secondary elongate shafts, each shaft having an elongate axis that is aligned with the other in use, and each being rotatable around its elongate axis; one or more primary magnets arranged around a first end of the primary shaft; and one or more secondary magnets arranged at an end of the secondary shaft that is located adjacent to the primary shaft first end in use, the secondary magnets being arranged such that the primary magnets are located in use to rotate within the secondary magnets. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) A magnetic coupling apparatus in accordance with claim 32 wherein the primary and secondary magnets are each oriented so that the poles of the primary magnets provide a repulsive magnetic force to the secondary magnets. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) A magnetic coupling apparatus in accordance with claim 32 wherein a plurality of primary magnets surround the primary shaft first end. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) A magnetic coupling apparatus in accordance with claim 32 wherein the secondary magnets are arranged, within a housing that is mounted to the secondary shaft end to rotate therewith, with the primary shaft first end being located within the housing in use. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) A magnetic coupling apparatus in accordance with claim 35 wherein the housing is a casing assembled form two halves and then mounted to the secondary shaft end to define the housing. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) A magnetic coupling apparatus in accordance with claim 32 wherein the housing has a bearing located at an entrance thereto through which the primary shaft extends to be supported for rotation therein in use. ### Claim 38 (depends on 32) A magnetic coupling apparatus in accordance with claim 32 wherein the primary and/or secondary magnets are elongate.