Homopolar motor with dual rotors
AssigneeLockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation
InventorJohn S. Hsu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A homopolar motor (10) has a field rotor (15) mounted on a frame (11) for rotation in a first rotational direction and for producing an electromagnetic field, and an armature rotor (17) mounted for rotation on said frame (11) within said electromagnetic field and in a second rotational direction counter to said first rotational direction of said field rotor (15). The two rotors (15, 17) are coupled through a 1:1 gearing mechanism (19), so as to travel at the same speed but in opposite directions. This doubles the output voltage and output power, as compared to a motor in which only the armature is rotated. Several embodiments are disclosed.
Claims20
A homopolar DC machine, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first rotor mounted for rotation in said frame in a first rotational direction, said first rotor carrying means for producing an electromagnetic field;
- a second rotor mounted for rotation in said frame within said electromagnetic field and in a second rotational direction counter to said first rotational direction of said first rotor, said second rotor having a current slip ring and at least one current brush for receiving current produced by the machine;
- a shaft disposed along an axis around which the first rotor and second rotor each rotate;
- wherein one of the first rotor and the second rotor is a field rotor, and wherein another one of the first rotor and second rotor carries an armature;
- wherein the field rotor is arranged to produce flux traveling both radially in relation to said shaft and axially through said shaft;
- and wherein said armature is electrically insulated from said shaft.
A power system for an electric vehicle, wherein an improvement comprises a homopolar DC machine, further comprising:
- a frame;
- a first rotor mounted for rotation in said frame in a first rotational direction, said first rotor carrying means for producing an electromagnetic field;
- a second rotor mounted for rotation in said frame within said electromagnetic field and in a second rotational direction counter to said first rotational direction of said first rotor, said second rotor having a current slip ring and at least one current brush for receiving current produced by the machine;
- a shaft disposed along an axis around which the first rotor and second rotor each rotate;
- wherein one of the first rotor and the second rotor is a field rotor, and wherein another one of the first rotor and second rotor carries an armature;
- wherein the field rotor is arranged to produce flux traveling both radially in relation to said shaft and axially through said shaft;
- and wherein said armature is electrically insulated from said shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.