Magnetic transmission

A magnetic transmission, comprising:

• a plurality of magnetic gears arranged to form at least two non-simultaneously coupled gear trains of different gear ratios;
• at least two of the plurality of magnetic gears being non-coaxial;
• at least one of the non-coaxial magnetic gears being moveable relative to the other magnetic gears;
• and
• a mechanism coupled to the plurality of magnetic gears, the mechanism structured to move the at least one moveable non-coaxial magnetic gear to thereby motionally change coupling between the at least two non-simultaneously coupled gear trains of different gear ratios;
• wherein first and second non-coaxial gears of the at least two of the plurality of magnetic gears are operatively supported on substantially parallel axes, wherein the first non-coaxial gear or the second non-coaxial gear comprises the at least one moveable non-coaxial magnetic gear;
• wherein the first non-coaxial gear comprises at least a first permanent magnetic dipole;
• wherein the second non-coaxial gear comprises at least a second permanent magnetic dipole;
• wherein the at least the first permanent magnetic dipole and the at least the second permanent magnetic dipole are arranged so that a polar attraction between the at least the first permanent magnetic dipole and the at least the second permanent magnetic dipole is employable to transmit rotational motion between the first and second non-coaxial gears.

A magnetic transmission, comprising:

• a plurality of magnetic gears;
• at least first and second drive gears operatively coupled to a propulsive source along a first axle;
• at least first and second driven gears operatively coupled to a second axle;
• and
• at least one moveable gear that motionally changes between a first location where the moveable gear couples the first drive gear to the first driven gear to form a first gear train, and a second location where the at least one moveable gear couples the second drive gear to the second driven gear to form a second gear train, wherein at the second location the at least one moveable gear is decoupled from the first drive gear and the first driven gear;
• wherein the first and second axles are substantially parallel, wherein the first axle operatively supports the at least first and second drive gears, wherein the second axle operatively supports the at least first and second driven gears;
• wherein the first drive gear comprises at least a permanent magnetic dipole;
• wherein the at least one moveable gear comprises at least a second permanent magnetic dipole;
• wherein the at least the first permanent magnetic dipole and the at least the second permanent magnetic dipole are arranged so that a polar attraction between the at least the first permanent magnetic dipole and the at least the second permanent magnetic dipole is employable to transmit rotational motion between the first drive gear and the at least one moveable gear.