Eddy current drive

A variable speed drive for use with a motor, said motor having a motor shaft, comprising:

• a) an electromagnet having a coil;
• b) an armature located close to the electromagnet, with one of the electromagnet or the armature being structured and arranged so as to be coupled with the motor shaft so as to rotate in unison with the motor shaft and the other of the electromagnet or the armature being structured and arranged so as to rotate independently of the motor shaft and being directly coupled to a load portion;
• c) a generator having a rotor and a stator, with the rotor being structured and arranged so as to be coupled with the motor shaft and stator being structured and arranged so as to be coupled to a nonrotating point relative to the motor shaft, with one of the rotor or the stator producing a magnetic field and the other of the rotor or the stator having a winding that is located within the magnetic field, the other of the rotor or the stator that has the winding having an electrical output that is electrically coupled to the electromagnet;
• d) an energy regulator for regulating the mount of current that is applied to the coil, the energy regulator being electrically connected to the coil and to the winding.

A variable speed drive for use with a motor, said motor having a motor shaft, comprising:

• a) an electromagnet having a coil;
• b) an armature located close to the electromagnet, with one of the electromagnet or the armature being structured and arranged so as to be coupled with the motor shaft so as to rotate in unison with the motor shaft and the other of the electromagnet or the armature being structured and arranged so as to rotate independently of the motor shaft and being directly coupled to a load portion;
• c) a generator having a rotor and a stator, with the rotor being structured and arranged so as to be coupled with the motor shaft and the stator being structured and arranged so as to be coupled to a nonrotating point relative to the motor shaft, with one of the rotor or the stator producing a magnetic field and the other of the rotor or the stator having a winding that is located within the magnetic field, the other of the rotor or the stator that has the winding having an electrical output;
• d) an energy regulator that comprises means for moving either one of the stator or the rotor with respect to the other of the stator or the rotor so as to vary the amount of the magnetic field that is provided to the winding.

A variable speed drive, comprising:

• a) a first rotatable member that comprises a hub that is structured and arranged to be mounted on a motor shaft;
• b) a second rotatable member that comprises a load portion, the second rotatable member being rotatably coupled to the first rotatable member;
• c) an electromagnet and an armature, with one of the electromagnet or the armature being coupled to the first rotatable member so as to rotate with the hub and the other of the electromagnet or the armature being coupled to the second rotatable member so as to rotate with the load portion, the electromagnet being separated from the armature by a gap;
• d) a permanent magnet located adjacent to a winding, the winding being electrically coupled to the electromagnet, with one of the magnet or the winding being coupled to the first rotatable member so as to rotate with the hub;
• e) a support member rotatably coupled to one of the first rotatable member or the second rotatable member, the support member being held stationary by an anchor;
• f) the other of the magnet or the winding being coupled to the support member.