Magnetic transmission

An electromagnetic transmission assembly comprising:

• a stator having a central axis and a plurality of selectively-energized electromagnetic poles;
• a first rotor assembly rotatably supported for rotation about the central axis, the first rotor assembly including a first rotor shaft and a castellated rotor including a plurality of radially arranged ferromagnetic pole portions disposed in a housing;
• a second rotor assembly rotatably supported for rotation about the central axis, the second rotor assembly including a second rotor shaft and a permanent-magnet rotor, wherein the first rotor assembly is at least partially magnetically coupled to the second rotor assembly when the plurality of electromagnetic poles are energized;
• a DC power supply for supplying the electrical current to the stator;
• further comprising a coupling assembly for coupling the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly for substantially synchronous rotation;
• wherein the coupling assembly mechanically couples the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly in only a first direction.

A method of selectively coupling a prime mover to a load the method comprising:

• providing an electromagnetic transmission including a stator having a central axis and a plurality of selectively-energized electromagnetic poles, a first rotor assembly rotatably supported for rotation about the central axis, the first rotor assembly including a first rotor shaft and a castellated rotor including a plurality of radially arranged ferromagnetic pole portions disposed in a housing, a second rotor assembly rotatably supported for rotation about the central axis, the second rotor assembly including a second rotor shaft and a rotor with permanent-magnets,
• coupling a prime mover to one of the inner rotor and the outer rotor;
• coupling a load to the other of the inner rotor and the outer rotor;
• selectively energizing the electromagnetic poles directly with a DC power source to create a magnetic field at least partially coupling the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly;
• operating the prime mover and load in asynchronous driving relation;
• and
• selectively de-energizing the electromagnetic poles, thereby substantially decoupling the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly such that prime mover operates substantially independent of the load.

A method of selectively coupling a prime mover to a load the method comprising:

• providing an electromagnetic transmission including a stator having a central axis and a plurality of selectively-energized electromagnetic poles, a first rotor assembly rotatably supported for rotation about the central axis, the first rotor assembly including a first rotor shaft and a castellated rotor including a plurality of radially arranged ferromagnetic pole portions disposed in a housing, a second rotor assembly rotatably supported for rotation about the central axis, the second rotor assembly including a second rotor shaft and a rotor with permanent-magnets,
• coupling a prime mover to one of the inner rotor and the outer rotor;
• coupling a load to the other of the inner rotor and the outer rotor;
• selectively energizing the electromagnetic poles directly with a DC power source to create a magnetic field at least partially coupling the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly;
• operating the prime mover and load in asynchronous driving relation;
• and
• selectively de-energizing the electromagnetic poles, thereby substantially decoupling the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly such that prime mover operates substantially independent of the load;
• wherein the electromagnetic transmission further includes a coupling assembly selectively coupling the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly for substantially synchronous rotation;
• wherein the method further comprises selectively engaging the coupling assembly and operating the prime mover and load in substantially synchronous driving relation;
• and
• wherein the coupling assembly mechanically couples the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly in only a first direction.