Shaft mounted eddy current drive

A variable speed shaft mounted eddy current drive, comprising:

• a first rotatable member that comprises pole pieces and a drive coil;
• a second rotatable member that comprises an armature;
• one of said first rotatable member or said second rotatable member comprising a hub that is structured and arranged to be rotated by a motor, the other of said first rotatable member or said second rotatable member being structured and arranged to be coupled to a load;
• said pole pieces having plural interdigitated poles, said poles being separated from said armature by a gap;
• said drive coil located adjacent to said pole pieces, said pole pieces providing a path for a magnetic field produced by said drive coil, wherein when electrical current is provided to said drive coil the other of said first rotatable member or said second rotatable member rotates due to coupling between said pole pieces and said armature;
• a first stationary electrical conductor;
• a first bearing having first and second raceways and rollers in contact with said first and second raceways, said first bearing first raceway being coupled with said drive coil so as to rotate in unison with said drive coil, said first bearing first raceway being electrically connected to said drive coil, said first bearing second raceways being coupled to said stationary conductor and being electrically connected to said stationary conductor, said first bearing first raceway rotating with respect to said first bearing second raceway, said first bearing first and second raceways being electrically coupled together by way of said rollers;
• a second bearing having first and second raceways and rollers in contact with said first and second raceways, said second bearing first raceway being electrically connected to said drive coil so as to form a circuit through said drive coil with said first bearing first raceway, said second bearing second raceway being electrically coupled to a second stationary conductor, said second bearing first and second raceways being electrically coupled together by way of said second bearing rollers.

A variable speed drive, comprising:

• a first rotatable member that comprises pole pieces and a drive coil;
• a second rotatable member that comprises an armature;
• one of said first rotatable member or said second rotatable member comprising a hub, the other of said first rotatable member or said second rotatable member being structured and arranged to be coupled to a load;
• said pole pieces having plural interdigitated poles, said poles being separated from said armature by a gap;
• said drive coil located adjacent to said pole pieces, said pole pieces providing a path for a magnetic field produced by said drive coil;
• said hub having first and second ends, said hub first end having an opening for receiving a motor shaft said hub being structured to rotate about an axis of rotation;
• an electrical stationary conductor;
• a first conductor that is coupled to said first rotatable member so as to rotate in unison with said drive coil, said first conductor being annular and being electrically connected to said drive coil;
• a second conductor that is coupled to said stationary conductor so as to be stationary, said second conductor being electrically connected to said stationary conductor;
• a liquid conductor located between said first conductor and said second conductor so as to be in electrical contact with said first and second conductors;
• said first conductor, said second conductor and said liquid conductor being located adjacent to said hub second end.

A variable speed drive, comprising:

• a rotatable member comprising a hub having first and second ends, said hub first end having an opening for receiving a motor shaft, said hub having a size that is large enough for said hub first end to receive said motor shaft;
• an output member that is rotatably mounted to said rotatable member, said output member being structured and arranged to be coupled to a load;
• an electromagnet located adjacent to an armature, said electromagnet being coupled to a one of said rotatable member or said output member, said armature being coupled to an other of said rotatable member or said output member;
• an electrical coupling comprising a first stationary conductor, a first rotatable conductor, a second stationary conductor, and a second rotatable conductor, said first stationary conductor comprising a ring, said first rotatable conductor comprising a ring, said first stationary conductor and said first rotatable conductor being electrically coupled together by a first liquid conductor, said second stationary conductor being electrically coupled to said second rotatable conductor by a second liquid conductor, one of said second stationary conductor or said second rotatable conductor extending through at least one of said rings;
• said electrical coupling being sized independently of said hub size;
• said electrical coupling being contained within a housing, said housing being received by a bore in said one of said rotatable member or said output member, said electrical coupling being located adjacent to said hub second end.

A variable speed drive, comprising:

• a rotatable member that is structured and arranged to be rotated by a motor;
• an output member that is rotatably mounted to said rotatable member, said output member being structured and arranged to be coupled to a load;
• an electromagnet located adjacent to an armature, said electromagnet being coupled to a one of said rotatable member or said output member, said armature being coupled to an other of said rotatable member or said output member;
• a speed sensor directly coupled to one of said electromagnet or said armature so as to rotate with said one of said electromagnet or said armature;
• a periodically changing pattern located on an other of said electromagnet or said armature, said pattern being sensible by said speed sensor;
• a signal transmitter coupled to said speed sensor so as to rotate with said speed sensor, said signal transmitter being connected to said speed sensor;
• a signal receiver located on a third member so as to receive a signal produced by said signal transmitter, said third member being stationary relative to rotation of said electromagnet and said armature.

A variable speed drive, comprising:

• a first rotatable member that comprises pole pieces and a drive coil;
• a second rotatable member that comprises an armature;
• one of said first rotatable member or said second rotatable member comprising a hub, the other of said first rotatable member or said second rotatable member being structured and arranged to be coupled to a load;
• said pole pieces having plural interdigitated poles, said poles being separated from said armature by a gap;
• said drive coil located adjacent to said pole pieces, said pole pieces providing a path for a magnetic field produced by said drive coil;
• said hub having first and second ends, said hub first end having an opening for receiving a motor shaft, said hub being structured to rotate about an axis of rotation;
• a solid shaft that is coupled to said first rotatable member, said shaft located adjacent to said hub second end, said shaft being structured and arranged to rotate about said axis of rotation;
• a rotating conductor coupled to said shaft, said rotating conductor being electrically coupled to said drive coil;
• a stationary conductor rotatably coupled to said shaft, said stationary conductor being electrically coupled to said rotating conductor and being stationary relative to said rotating conductor.

A variable speed drive, comprising:

• a first rotatable member that comprises alternating north and south poles and a drive coil;
• a second rotatable member that comprises an armature;
• one of said first rotatable member or said second rotatable member comprising a hub, the other of said first rotatable member or said second rotatable member comprising a sheave for coupling to a load;
• said poles being separated from said armature by a gap;
• said drive coil located adjacent to said poles, said poles providing a path for a magnetic field produced by said drive coil;
• said hub having first and second ends, said hub first end having an opening for receiving a motor shaft, said hub being structured to rotate about an axis of rotation;
• a rotating support coupled to said first rotatable member and located adjacent said hub second end, said rotating support being structured and arranged to rotate about said axis of rotation;
• plural rotating conductors coupled to said rotating support so as to rotate therewith, said rotating conductors being electrically coupled to said drive coil;
• said hub has an outside diameter and said rotating conductors each have an outside diameter, with said hub outside diameter being greater than each of the outside diameters said rotating conductors;
• plural stationary conductors, each of which is electrically coupled to a respective one of said rotating conductors;
• a stationary support coupled to said plural stationary conductors, said stationary support being coupled to said rotating support by way of a bearing, said bearing being electrically isolated from said rotating conductors and said stationary conductors.

A variable speed drive, comprising:

• a first rotatable member that comprises alternating north and south poles and a drive coil;
• a second rotatable member that comprises an armature;
• one of said first rotatable member or said second rotatable member comprising a hub, the other of said first rotatable member or said second rotatable member being structured and arranged to be coupled to a load;
• said poles being separated from said armature by a gap;
• said drive coil located adjacent to said poles, said poles providing a path for a magnetic field produced by said drive coil;
• said hub having first and second ends, said hub first end having an opening for receiving a motor shall, said hub being structured to rotate about an axis of rotation, said hub having a size that is large enough for said hub first end to receive said motor shaft;
• an air circulation member coupled to said first rotatable member so as to be adjacent to said hub second end, said air circulation member having openings therein for allowing air flow therethrough;
• a rotary electrical coupling located adjacent to said hub second end, said rotary electrical coupling being structured and arranged to rotate about said axis of rotation, said rotary electrical coupling being electrically connected to said drive coil and being structured and arranged to be electrically connected to an electrical source so as to provide an electrical connection between said drive coil and said electrical source, said rotary electrical coupling having a rotational portion that is coupled to said air circulation member so as to rotate with said drive coil, said rotary electrical coupling also having a stationary portion that is stationary relative to said drive coil, said rotary electrical coupling being sized independently of said hub size.

A variable speed drive, comprising:

• a first rotatable member that comprises alternating north and south poles and a drive coil;
• a second rotatable member that comprises an armature;
• one of said first rotatable member or said second rotatable member comprising a hub, the other of said first rotatable member or said second rotatable member being structured and arranged to be coupled to a load;
• said poles being separated from said armature by a gap;
• said drive coil located adjacent to said poles, said poles providing a path for a magnetic field produced by said drive coil;
• said hub having first and second ends, said hub first end having an opening for receiving a motor shaft, said hub being structured to rotate about an axis of rotation, said hub having a size that is large enough for said hub first end to receive said motor shaft;
• a rotating support coupled to said first rotatable member and located adjacent said hub second end, said rotating support being structured and arranged to rotate about said axis of rotation;
• plural rotating conductors coupled to said rotating support so as to rotate therewith, said rotating conductors being electrically coupled to said drive coil;
• said rotating support and said rotating conductors being sized independently of said hub size;
• plural stationary conductors, each of which is electrically coupled to a respective one of said rotating conductors;
• a stationary support coupled to said plural stationary conductors, said stationary support being coupled to said rotating support by way of a bearing, said bearing being electrically isolated from said rotating conductors and said stationary conductors;
• said electrical couplings of said rotating conductors to said stationary conductors being located inside of an enclosed housing, said housing being fully supported by said hub.