Abstract
An induction generator having alternating layers of: (a) at least one rotating magnetic disk assembly with at least one magnet in each such disk; and (b) at least one stationary induction disk (a/k/a conductor disk assembly) with at least one conductive loop (i.e., at least one conductor) in each such conductor disk assembly. In one embodiment, the conductor has the shape of a compressed helicoid.
Claims
1. An induction generator comprising: (i) at least one rotatable magnet disk assembly having: (a) at least one magnet; and (b) a magnet shaft hole; (ii) at least one stationary conductor disk assembly having: (a) at least one conductor comprising a loop of conducting material; and (b) a conductor shaft hole dimensionally sized to be larger than the magnet shaft hole; (iii) a drive shaft dimensionally sized to mate with the magnet shaft hole; (iv) a positive conductor terminal and a negative conductor terminal electrically connected to the at least one conductor; and (v) an exterior housing which encloses the at least one magnet disk assembly and the at least one conductor disk assembly, said conductor disk assemblies mounted to the housing.
2. The induction generator of claim 1 wherein: the conductor is a helical conductor segment.
3. The induction generator of claim 1 wherein: the at least one magnet is an electromagnet; and the electromagnet is powered by a direct current generator which is connected to the drive shaft.
4. The induction generator of claim 2 wherein: the at least one magnet is an electromagnet; and the electromagnet is powered by a direct current generator which is connected to the drive shaft.
5. The induction generator of claim 4 wherein: there are a plurality of magnet disk assemblies and conductor disk assemblies; and the magnet disk assemblies and conductor disk assemblies are arranged in alternating layers, said layers beginning and ending with a magnet disk assembly;
6. The induction generator of claim 5 wherein: each positive conductor terminal is connected to a positive conductor bus; each negative conductor terminal is connected to a negative conductor bus; and alternating current power is drawn from the positive and negative conductor busses.
7. The induction generator of claim 5 wherein: there are an even number of conductors spaced equidistant from one another; the positive conductor terminal for each pair of conductors located 180 degrees apart is connected to a positive conductor bus; the negative conductor terminal for each pair of conductors located 180 degrees apart is connected to negative conductor bus; and alternating current power is drawn from the positive and negative conductor busses.
8. The induction generator of claim 7 wherein: the conductors and magnets are configured to produce three-phase AC power.
9. The induction generator of claim 1 wherein: the conductor is a circular sector-shaped conductor segment; and the magnet is a circular sector-shaped conductor segment.
10. The induction generator of claim 1 wherein: a rectifier is added to the positive conductor terminal and the negative conductor terminal to produce direct current power.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:
[0029] FIG. 1A is a top view of a magnet disk assembly.
[0030] FIG. 1B is a side perspective view of a magnet disk assembly.
[0031] FIG. 1C is a top view of a conductor disk assembly.
[0032] FIG. 1D is a side perspective view of a conductor disk assembly.
[0033] FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of a generator comprising a plurality of magnet disk assemblies and conductor disk assemblies.
[0034] FIG. 3A is a side perspective view of a drive shaft with several disk assemblies in a first position.
[0035] FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of a drive shaft with several disk assemblies in a second position.
[0036] FIG. 4A is side perspective view of a conductor disk assembly having a line AB.
[0037] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a conductor disk assembly along a plane defined parallel to the conductor disk assembly along line AB shown in FIG. 4A.
[0038] FIG. 4C is an exploded view of a helical conductor segment.
[0039] FIG. 5 is a cutaway view of a generator comprising a plurality of magnet disk assemblies and conductor disk assemblies.
[0040] FIG. 6A is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a magnet disk assembly.
[0041] FIG. 6B is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a magnet disk assembly.
[0042] FIG. 6C is an exploded view of a circular sector-shaped conductor segment.
[0043] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conductor disk assembly showing the wiring diagram for a two pole system.
REFERENCE NUMERAL CHART
[0044] For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the number components in the drawings is as follows:
TABLE-US-00001 101a Magnet Disk Assembly 101b Conductor Disk Assembly 103 Disk Body 105a Magnet 105b Conductor 107a Magnet Shaft Hole 107b Conductor Shaft Hole 109 Drive Shaft 111 Housing 113 Housing Mounts 115 Housing Overhang 117 Helical Conductor Segment 119 Positive Conductor Terminal 121 Negative Conductor Terminal 123 Insulating Coating 125 Positive Conductor Bus 127 Negative Conductor Bus 129 Positive Electromagnet Terminal 131 Negative Electromagnet Terminal 133 Positive Shaft Bus 135 Negative Shaft Bus 137 Output One 139 Output Two
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0045] FIG. 1A is a top view of a Magnet Disk Assembly 101a having a Disk Body 103 and at least one Magnet 105a. The at least one Magnet 105a can be either a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, each Magnet Disk Assembly 101a has four magnets. In another embodiment, the at least one Magnet 105a is formed by suspending magnetic or ferromagnetic particles in the Disk Body 103 itself. The Magnet Disk Assembly 101a further has a central Magnet Shaft Hole 107a. A side view of the Magnet Disk Assembly 101a is shown in FIG. 1B wherein can be seen the same Disk Body 103, at least one Magnet 105a and Magnet Shaft Hole 107a.
[0046] FIG. 1C is a top view of a Conductor Disk Assembly 101b having a Disk Body 103 and at least one Conductor 105b. Each Conductor 105b is independently connected to wires (not shown in FIG. 1C or FIG. 1D). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1C, each Conductor Disk Assembly 101b has four Conductors 105b. The Conductor Disk Assembly 101b further has a central Conductor Shaft Hole 107b. The Conductor Shaft Hole 107b is larger than the Magnet Shaft Hole 107a. A side view of the Conductor Disk Assembly 101b is shown in FIG. 1D wherein can be seen the same Disk Body 103, at least one Conductor 105b and Conductor Hole 107b. In one embodiment, the Disk Body 103 of a Conductor Disk Assembly 101b is made of electrically insulating material.
[0047] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of a generator embodying the instant invention having a plurality of Magnet Disk Assemblies 101a and Conductor Disk Assemblies 101b. As shown in FIG. 2, each Magnet Disk Assembly 101a rotates about a central axis while each Conductor Disk Assembly 101b remains fixed and mounted to a Housing 111 by Housing Mounts 113. In one embodiment, the Housing 111 fully encloses each Magnet Disk Assembly 101a and each Conductor Disk Assembly 101b. A Drive Shaft 109 is passed through each Magnet Disk Assembly 101a (through the Magnet Shaft Hole 107a) and Conductor Disk Assembly 101b (through the Conductor Shaft Hole 107b). The Drive Shaft 109 is dimensionally sized to mate with each Magnet Shaft Hole 107a but to freely rotate within the larger Conductor Shaft Hole 107b. Additional connection means may be used as-needed to ensure that each Magnet Disk Assembly 101a is firmly mounted on the Drive Shaft 109. Each Magnet Disk Assembly 101a has at least one Magnet 105a. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, each Magnet Disk Assembly 101a has four Magnets 105a (only two of which are shown in the cross-sectional view depicted in FIG. 2) each of which are permanent magnets. Each Conductor Disk Assembly 101b has at least one Conductor 105b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, each Conductor Disk Assembly 101b has four Conductors 105b (only two of which are shown in the cross-sectional view depicted in FIG. 2). A Positive Conductor Terminal 119 and a Negative Conductor Terminal 121 are electrically connected to each Conductor 105b. Each Positive Conductor Terminal 119 is then electrically connected to a Positive Conductor Bus 125 while each Negative Conductor Terminal 121 is electrically connected to a Negative Conductor Bus 127. Each Magnet Disk Assembly 101a and Conductor Disk Assembly 101b are spaced apart such that it is possible for each Magnet Disk Assembly 101a to spin without coming into contact with a neighboring Conductor Disk Assembly 101b.
[0048] As a torque is applied to the Drive Shaft 109 by a prime mover, the Drive Shaft 109 rotates; causing each Magnet Disk Assembly 101a to rotate about an axis defined by the Drive Shaft 109. As the Magnet Disk Assembly 101a rotates, the rotating Magnets 105a create a rotating magnetic field with respect to each stationary Conductor Disk Assembly 101b (and, thus, to each stationary Conductor 105b). This rotating magnetic field variously intersects the Conductors 105b. Thus, under Faraday's law, an electric current is induced in the Conductors 105b. This electric current is drawn from the Conductors 105b from the Positive Conductor Terminal 119 and the Negative Conductor Terminal 121 which, in turn, are connected to the Positive Conductor Bus 125 and the Negative Conductor Bus 127. This process is illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. More specifically, FIG. 3A depicts a first position wherein the Magnets 105a and the Conductors 105b are aligned. FIG. 3B depicts a second position wherein the Magnets 105a have rotated approximately 45 degrees with respect to the neighboring Conductors 105b.
[0049] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, there are a plurality of Magnet Disk Assemblies 101a and Conductor Disk Assemblies 101b. More specifically, the Magnet Disk Assemblies 101a and the Conductor Disk Assemblies 101b are arranged in alternating “layers,” i.e., the first layer is a Magnet Disk Assemblies 101a, the second layer is a Conductor Disk Assemblies 101b, the third layer is a Magnet Disk Assemblies 101a, and so on. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the collection of these “layers” begins and ends with a Magnet Disk Assemblies 101a. This is important since it allows the first and last Conductor Disk Assemblies 101b to have a more uniform rotating magnetic field passing through each corresponding Conductor 105b, i.e., the looped conductive coil.
[0050] FIG. 4A is side perspective view of the Conductor Disk Assembly 101b shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D. In FIG. 4A, a line AB is shown which bisects the Conductor Disk Assembly 101b and two of the Conductors 105b. A Positive Conductor Terminal 119 (not shown) and a Negative Conductor Terminal 121 (not shown) are connected to each Conductor 105b.
[0051] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a Conductor Disk Assembly 101b along a plane defined parallel to the conductor disk assembly along line AB shown in FIG. 4A. The Conductor Disk Assembly 101b has a Magnet Shaft Hole 107a. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B, each Conductor 105b is comprised of a Helical Conductor Segment 117. This Helical Conductor Segment 117 is a continuous strip of helically-shaped conductive material such as copper, aluminum or other metals. The Helical Conductor Segment 117 has a first end and a distal second end. The first end of the Helical Conductor Segment 117 is connected to a Positive Conductor Terminal 119 while the second end of the Helical Conductor Segment 117 is connected to a Negative Conductor Terminal 121.
[0052] FIG. 4C is a rotated, exploded view of a Helical Conductor Segment 117. As can be seen in FIG. 4C, the Helical Conductor Segment 117 has a shape known as a “helicoid.” The entire exterior surface of the Helical Conductor Segment 117 has an Insulating Coating 123 which prevents an electrical connection from being made between any of the adjacent rings of the Helical Conductor Segment 117. In other words, the Helical Conductor Segment 117 has an effective electrical resistance corresponding to its full “length”—even when the Helical Conductor Segment 117 is compressed into a cylindrical-like shape. The Helical Conductor Segment 117 has a first end and a distal second end. The first end of the Helical Conductor Segment 117 is connected to a Positive Conductor Terminal 119 while the second end of the Helical Conductor Segment 117 is connected to a Negative Conductor Terminal 121.
[0053] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of a generator embodying the instant invention having a plurality of Magnet Disk Assemblies 101a and Conductor Disk Assemblies 101b in the same general configuration as shown in FIG. 2. That being said, whereas the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 depicted the use of permanent magnets, FIG. 5 shows the use of electromagnets. More specifically, the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 depicts a Magnet Disk Assembly 101a having four Magnets 105a which are electromagnets. Each Magnet 105a has a Positive Electromagnet Terminal 129 and a Negative Electromagnet Terminal 131 which, in turn, are electrically connected to a Positive Shaft Bus 133 and a Negative Shaft Bus 135, respectively. The Positive Shaft Buss 133 and Negative Shaft Bus 135 can be connected to a DC power source by means of brushes and slip rings or some other commonly understood methodology.
[0054] FIG. 6A is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a Magnet Disk Assembly 101a having a Disk Body 103 and at least one Magnet 105a. The at least one Magnet 105a has the shape of a circular sector (i.e., the portion of a disk enclosed by two radii and an arc). In this manner, any number of Magnets 105a can be evenly distributed across the Magnet Disk Assembly 101a. A side view of this same Magnet Disk Assembly 101a is shown in FIG. 6B. Similarly, a Conductor Disk Assembly 101b (not shown) can be made in this same manner—with each Conductor 105b formed in the shape of a circular sector. An example sketch of such a circular sector-shaped conductor segment (labeled as a Conductor 105b) may be found in FIG. 6C.
[0055] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A through 2: (a) each Magnet Disk Assembly 101a has four Magnets 105a; and (b) each Conductor Disk Assembly 101b has four Conductors 105b. Thus, as two neighboring Magnet Disk Assemblies 101a rotate with respect to a Conductor Disk Assembly 101b in-between them, currents of identical phase, frequency and amplitude will be induced in each of the Conductors 105b. Thus, a unipolar alternating current will be generated. By varying the ratio of Magnets 105a to Conductors 105b, a generator with any desired number of poles can be created. For example, by having one Magnet 105a for every two Conductors 105b (e.g., two equally spaced Magnets 105a on each Magnet Disk Assembly 101a and four equally spaced Conductors 105b on each Conductor Disk Assembly 101b) a two-pole generator can be created (where each Conductor Terminal 119 and 121 from Conductors 105b located 180 degrees apart from one another are electrically connected). As another example, by having one Magnet 105a for every three Conductors 105b (e.g., two equally spaced Magnets 105a on each Magnet Disk Assembly 101a and six equally spaced Conductors 105b on each Conductor Disk Assembly 101b) a three-pole generator can be created.
[0056] The example of a two-pole system is shown in FIG. 7, which depicts a wiring diagram for same. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the Conductor Disk Assembly 101b has four Conductors 105b each of which are comprised of a Helical Conductor Segment 117. Each of the Helical Conductor Segments 117 are connected to a Positive Conductor Terminal 119 and a Negative Conductors Terminal 121. The Positive Conductor Terminals 119 corresponding to oppositely spaced Conductors 105b are connected to a common Positive Conductor Bus 125 while the Negative Conductor Terminals 121 corresponding to oppositely spaced Conductors 105b are connected to a common Negative Conductor Bus 127. In the two phase system shown in FIG. 7, a first Positive Conductor Bus 125 and Negative Conductor Bus 127 has an induced current of Output One 127 while a second Positive Conductor Bus 125 and Negative Conductor Bus 127 has an induced current of Output Two 139.
[0057] It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It was be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.
