Electromagnetic motor

An electromagnetic motor, comprising:

• an outer housing having a central axis and opposite end walls;
• a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing to extend along the central axis and projecting out through one end wall of the housing;
• a plurality of electromagnets extending parallel to the shaft and mounted at spaced intervals around the entire circumference of an annular ring centered on the central axis and spaced radially outwardly from the shaft, each electromagnet being located diametrically opposite to another electromagnet in the ring, whereby the electro-magnets are arranged in diametrically opposed pairs;
• a single, elongate, linear rotor member of ferromagnetic material secured to the shaft and projecting radially outwardly from the shaft in two opposite directions to extend up to the annular ring of electromagnets, the rotor having only two opposite ends located adjacent the ring of electromagnets, whereby the rotor ends are located adjacent only two diametrically opposed electromagnets at any time as the rotor rotates;
• a power supply;
• a switching assembly for connecting the power supply to successive pairs of diametrically opposed electromagnets in order to activate each pair of diametrically opposed electromagnets in sequence around the ring, the switching assembly connecting power to only one pair of diametrically opposed electromagnets at any one time, such that the opposite ends of the rotor are attracted to successive activated opposed pairs of electromagnets in turn around the ring, whereby the rotor and shaft are rotated in a predetermined direction;
• and
• the switch assembly comprising a plurality of electrical contacts equal in number to the number of electromagnets, the contacts being arranged in the housing in an annular ring centered on the central axis, the contacts being positioned in diametrically opposed pairs, and a linear, elongate contact wiper secured to the shaft and extending radially in opposite directions from the shaft so as to successively contact each pair of diametrically opposed contracts around the ring in sequence as the shaft rotates, each opposing pair of contacts being electrically connected to a respective opposing pair of electromagnets in a respective circuit separate form all other circuits in the switch assembly, and the wiper being connected to the power supply, whereby diametrically opposed pairs of electromagnets are activated in sequence around the ring in order to attract the rotor member to the next successive adjacent opposed pair of electromagnets in turn around the ring.