Apparatus for use as a motor or generator
AssigneeDeregallera Holdings Ltd
InventorMartin Boughtwood
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus (10) for use as a motor or generator, comprising: a first part (20) defining a first region (22);a second part (40) moveable relative to the first part (20) and spaced therefrom to form a fluid-filled gap (50), the second part (40) defining a second region(42) separated from the first region (22) by the fluid-filled gap (50) and configured to be electrically connected to the first region (22) during at least one mode of operation; wherein the apparatus (10) is configured to form an electrically conductive path between the first and second regions (22, 42) by generating a region of electrically conductive fluid in the fluid-filled gap (50) between the first and second regions (22, 42).
Claims35
Apparatus for use as a motor or generator, comprising:
- a first part defining a first region;
- a second part moveable relative to the first part and spaced therefrom to form a fluid-filled gap, the second part defining a second region separated from the first region by the fluid-filled gap and configured to be electrically connected to the first region during at least one mode of operation;
- wherein the apparatus is configured to form an electrically conductive path between the first and second regions by generating a region of electrically conductive fluid in the fluid-filled gap between the first and second regions.
Apparatus comprising:
- a first conductor part defining a first conductor region and a second conductor part defining a second conductor region, the first and second conductor parts being spaced apart to define opposed sides of a passageway extending between the first and second conductor regions;
- and
- an inner part moveable relative to at least the first conductor part along the passageway extending between the first and second conductor regions, the inner part being spaced from the first conductor part to form a fluid-filled gap;
- wherein the apparatus is configured to generate a region of electrically conductive fluid in the fluid-filled gap between the first and second conductor regions;
- and
- at least one of the first conductor part and the inner part comprises an electrically insulating surface exposed to the fluid-filled gap and onto which charge is deposited when the region of electrically conductive fluid is generated between the first and second conductor regions.
A method of maintaining separation between a first part and a second part movable relative to the first part and spaced therefrom by a gap, at least one of the first and second parts comprising an electrically insulating surface exposed to the gap, the method comprising:
- providing a region of electrically conductive fluid in a gap between the first and second parts;
- and
- applying an electric field between the first and second parts to cause charge to be deposited on the electrically insulating surface, whereby the deposited charge generates a repulsive force between the first and second parts for maintaining the gap therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.