Electrical machine
OwnerDavid Gregory Calleyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motor/alternator is formed by a single toroidal magnet, which may be a hybrid magnet, having flux conductors which, in combination with flux switches, create an alternating magnetic circuit around a power coil. The motor/alternator minimizes the amount of material experiencing hysteresis by making the flux switches small and reduces eddy currents in the flux conductors by using a material very resistant to eddy currents. The subsequent reduction in core losses allows for very high electronic frequency operation and thus a high power density. The form of the flux conductors allows for a high number of poles in the motor/alternator thus enabling a high electronic frequency at modest rotational speed.
Claims24
An electrical machine comprising:
- a magnet,
- an electrical conductor arranged to form a loop,
- a plurality of flux conductors which direct magnetic flux from said magnet through said loop of electrical conductor, wherein a first set of said flux conductors directs said magnetic flux through said loop in a first direction and a second set of said flux conductors directs said magnetic flux through said loop in a second direction, and
- a switch for alternately connecting and disconnecting said first and second sets of flux conductors.
A method of generating electricity comprising:
- providing a magnet,
- providing an electrical conductor arranged to form a loop,
- using a plurality of flux conductors to direct magnetic flux from said magnet through said loop of electrical conductor, wherein a first set of said flux conductors directs said magnetic flux through said loop in a first direction and a second set of said flux conductors directs said magnetic flux through said loop in a second direction, and
- switching said flux conductors alternately between an open and closed state to induce an alternating electrical current in said electrical conductor.
A method of providing motive force comprising:
- providing a magnet,
- providing an electrical conductor arranged to form a loop,
- using a plurality of flux conductors to direct magnetic flux from said magnet through said loop of electrical conductor, wherein a first set of said flux conductors directs said magnetic flux through said loop in a first direction and a second set of said flux conductors directs said magnetic flux through said loop in a second direction,
- switching said flux conductors between an open and closed state using a switch on a rotor, and
- providing an alternating electrical current in said electrical conductor such that said switch is moved between successive flux conductors as the polarity of said alternating electrical current changes signs.
An electrical machine comprising:
- a source of magnetic flux,
- an electrical conductor arranged to form a loop,
- a plurality of flux conductors which direct magnetic flux from said source of magnetic flux through said loop of electrical conductor, wherein a first set of said flux conductors directs said magnetic flux through said loop in a first direction and a second set of said flux conductors directs said magnetic flux through said loop in a second direction, and
- a switch for alternately connecting and disconnecting said first and second sets of flux conductors.
An electrical machine comprising:
- a magnet,
- an loop of electrically conductive material,
- a plurality of flux conductors which direct magnetic flux from said magnet through said loop of electrically conductive material, wherein a first set of said flux conductors directs said magnetic flux through said loop in a first direction and a second set of said flux conductors directs said magnetic flux through said loop in a second direction, and
- a switch for alternately connecting and disconnecting said first and second sets of flux conductors.
An electrical machine comprising:
- a magnet,
- an electrical conductor arranged to form a loop,
- means for directing magnetic flux from said magnet through said loop of electrical conductor, including a first means for directing said magnetic flux through said loop in a first direction and a second means for directing said magnetic flux through said loop in a second direction, and
- a switch for alternately connecting and disconnecting said first and second means for directing magnetic flux.
An electrical machine comprising:
- a magnet,
- an electrical conductor arranged to form a loop,
- a plurality of flux conductors which direct magnetic flux from said magnet through said loop of electrical conductor, wherein a first set of said flux conductors directs said magnetic flux through said loop in a first direction and a second set of said flux conductors directs said magnetic flux through said loop in a second direction, and
- a switch for alternately contacting said first and second sets of flux conductors to complete first and second magnetic circuits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.