EP0550709A1

EP0550709A1 - Magnetically driven motor

Info

Publication number: EP0550709A1
Application number: EP92911352A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Shigeta 26-6 Tokumaru 3-Chome Hasebe; Masayuki 16-10 Sangenjaya 2-Chome Aoki
Original assignee: MAGMA Corp
Current assignee: MAGMA Corp
Priority date: 1991-06-03
Filing date: 1992-01-28
Publication date: 1993-07-14
Also published as: BR9205280A; JPH05508070A; AU1927692A; EP0550709A4; CA2087426A1; KR930701856A; NO930361D0; WO1992022123A1; NO930361L

Abstract

Un moteur (104) Fig. 5, (110) Fig. 6, (160) Fig. 7 et (208) Fig. 9 qui peut être soit linéaire (Figs. 5, 6) soit rotatif (Figs. 7, 8) comporte deux rangées d'aimants permanents de forme pentagonale, (10) et (180) Fig. 5, (114-134) et (138-156) Fig. 6, (166-184) et (186-202) Fig. 7, (210) et (240) Fig. 8. Chaque aimant dans chacune des deux rangées se termine en un point (22) ou (90) Fig. 5, (14A-134A) ou (138A-156A) Fig. 6, (166A-184A) ou (186A-202A) Fig. 7, (222) ou (252) Fig. 8 qui est disposé de façon à faire face à l'autre rangée. Chaque rangée comprend une pluralité d'aimants espacés de façon équidistante alignés les uns par rapport aux autres de façon que, dans une rangée, les aimants adjacents aient leurs polarités présélectionnées afin que les pôles adjacents des aimants adjacents soient de polarité opposée et dans l'autre rangée, que les pôles adjacents des aimants adjacents soient de polarité analogue. En conséquence, les champs de force des aimants d'une rangée sont perpendiculaires aux champs de force des aimants de l'autre rangée. Chaque rangée d'aimants est montée sur une base perméable magnétiquement.A motor (104) Fig. 5, (110) Fig. 6, (160) Fig. 7 and (208) Fig. 9 which can be either linear (Figs. 5, 6) or rotary (Figs. 7, 8) has two rows of permanent magnets of pentagonal shape, (10) and (180) Fig. 5, (114-134) and (138-156) Fig. 6, (166-184) and (186-202) Fig. 7, (210) and (240) Fig. 8. Each magnet in each of the two rows ends at a point (22) or (90) Fig. 5, (14A-134A) or (138A-156A) Fig. 6, (166A-184A) or (186A-202A) Fig. 7, (222) or (252) Fig. 8 which is arranged so as to face the other row. Each row comprises a plurality of equidistantly spaced magnets aligned with each other so that, in a row, the adjacent magnets have their preselected polarities so that the adjacent poles of the adjacent magnets are of opposite polarity and in the another row, that the adjacent poles of the adjacent magnets are of similar polarity. Consequently, the force fields of the magnets in one row are perpendicular to the force fields of the magnets in the other row. Each row of magnets is mounted on a magnetically permeable base.

Description

MAGNETICALLY DRIVEN MOTOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field:

This invention relates to magnetically driven motors using permanent magnets.

Disclosure of the Invention:

The motor of the present invention, which may be either linear or rotary, has two opposed arrays of permanent magnets, each array comprised by a plurality of equidistantly- spaced magnets aligned with respect to one another so that, in one array, the magnets have their polarities preselected so that adjacent poles of adjacent magnets are of opposite polarity and in the second array, the adjacent magnets have their polarities preselected so that adjacent poles of adjacen magnets are of like polarity. The fields of force of the magnets in one array are disposed normal to the fields of forc of the magnets in the other array. Preferably, the portion of each magnet in each array closest to the opposite array terminates along a line in a point which points to the opposit array.

Brief Description of Drawing;

The details of the present invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing, in whic

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of a pentagonally shaped magnet for use in the present invention illustrating the magnet field surrounding the magnet;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of a magnet for use in the present invention illustrating the magnet field surrounding the magnet; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the magnets shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and illustrating their alignment in the practice in the present invention; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the magnet of Fig. and alternative embodiment of the magnet of Fig. 2 illustrating their alignment with respect to one another in t practice of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary diagrammatic elevational view, in section, of one embodiment of a linear magnetically driven motor according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view, in section, of another embodiment of a linear magnetically drive motor according to the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic elevational view, in cross- section, of a rotary magnetically driven motor according tot h present invention;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic elevational view, in cross- section, of an alternative embodiment of a rotary magnetically driven motor according to the present invention; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view, taken along lines 9 - 9 of Fig. 8.

The Best Modes for Carrying Out The Invention;

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown, in cross- section, a pentagonally-shaped magnet 10 having a pair of parallel sides 12, 14, a base 16 and a pair of converging side 18, 20 opposite the base 16 which meet along a line at a point 22. The magnet 10 has a North or "N" pole 24 and a South or "S" pole 26. A line 28 intermediate the parallel sides 12, 14 indicates the line of the longitudinal axis of the pentagonal shape of the magnet 10, along which the North and South magnetic fields cancel one another out. As shown in Fig. 1, the magnet 10 provides a first magnetic field between the N pole 24 and the S pole 26 in the plane of the cross-section generally indicated by a double-headed arrow 30 about the poin 22 and a second magnetic field between the N pole 24 and the S pole 26 generally indicated by a second double-headed arrow 32 about the base 16. Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown, in cross-section, a second embodiment of a pentagonally-shaped magnet 40 for use in the present invention. The magnet 40 ha first and second parallel sides 42, 44 which are connected together by a base 46. Opposite the base 46 are first and second converging sides 48, 50, which connect together the first and second parallel sides 42, 44 and meet along a line a point 52. The magnet 40 has an N pole 54 and an S pole 56. A line 58, perpendicular to the first and second parallel sid 42, 44, indicates the line along which the N pole and S pole magnetic fields cancel out one another. A first double-ended arrow 60 and a second double-ended arrow 62 indicate the general disposition of the magnetic fields in the plane of th magnet 40 shown in Fig. 2 between the N pole 54 and the S pol 56.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the magnets 10, 40 are shown aligned in an opposing disposition, that is, the magnet

10 has its point 22 facing the point 52 of the magnet 40. Th disposition, the double-ended arrows 60, 62, 32 indicating th general magnetic fields remain as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. However, the double-ended arrow 30 for the magnet 10 no longe exists, having been replaced by a double-ended arrow 70 extending between the S pole on the parallel side 12 of the magnet 10 and the N pole on the converging side 50 of the magnet 40. As will be seen in Fig. 3, the converging side 20 of the magnet 10, which has an N polarity, is disposed opposi the converging side 48 of the magnet 40, which also has an N polarity. Consequently, there is no magnetic field of attraction between the two converging faces 20, 48, but rathe a pocket, to the left of the point 22, 52 as shown in Fig. 2, in which the opposing North magnetic field tend to cancel one another out, so as to result in a cross-sectional area, or, i three-dimensional terms, a pocket, indicated generally by the reference number 72, in which there is no magnetic attraction field. Assuming that the magnet 10 is movable laterally relative to the magnet 40 in the cross-sectional plane of the magnet shown in Fig. 3, the double-ended arrow 70 will urge the magnet 10 to move to the left, in the direction shown by directional arrow 74. If, however, the magnet 10 is fixed an the magnet 40 is movable laterally in the plane of the cross- sectional view shown in Fig. 3, the magnet 40 will move in th direction opposite that indicated by the directional arrow 72.

Referring now to Fig. 4, there is shown a cross- sectional view of an alignment of the magnet 10 with a pentagonally-shaped magnet 80 which is similar to the magnet 4 except that the polarity of the magnet is reversed. Thus, the magnet 80 has first and second parallel sides 82, 84, a base 86, and converging sides 88, 90, opposite the base 86, which meet along a line at a point 92. The magnet 80 has an S pole 94 located adjacent the point 92, and an N pole 96 located adjacent the base 86. A line 98 perpendicular to the parallel sides 82, 84 indicates the cross-sectional line at which the magnetic fields of the two poles cancel out one another. A first double-ended arrow 100 connected between the parallel side 84 and the converging side 90 indicates one of the latera magnetic fields. A second double-ended arrow 102 connected between the parallel side 82 and the converging side 88 indicates the other lateral magnetic field. Since the magnet 80 is similar to the magnet 40 except that the polarities are reversed, rather than having the doubled-ended arrow 70 of

Fig. 3 extending between the N pole of the magnet 40 and the S pole of the magnet 12, the disposition of Fig. 4 has a double- ended arrow 70A extending between the converging side 88 adjacent the S pole 94 and the parallel side 14 adjacent the N pole 24. A pocket will exist in the embodiment of Fig. 4 between the converging sides 18 and 90 as indicated by the reference number 72A, by reason of the opposing S polarities o the magnetic fields emanating therefrom. Consequently, assuming that the magnet 10 is movable laterally in the plane of the cross-sections shown in Fig. 4 with respect to the magnet 80, the magnet 10 be urged to the right by the resultan magnetic fields. Conversely, if the magnet 10 were fixed and the magnet 80 laterally movable with respect thereto, the magnet 80 would move to the left with the respect to the magne 10 in the disposition shown in Fig. 4. If a magnet like the magnet 10 has the N pole and the S pole reversed from the positions shown for the magnet 10, the direction of motion will be opposite to that described for the use of the magnet 10. Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown a fragmentary diagrammatic elevational view, in section, of a linear magnetically driven motor 104 according to the present invention. The motor 104 has a first base 106 to which a plurality of magnets 80 are fixed so as to extend outwardly therefrom. The motor 104 has a second base 108 disposed opposite the first base 106 and from which a plurality of magnets 12 extend so that their points 22 point toward the points 90 of the magnets 80. Thus, as will be seen by comparison of Figs. 4 and 5, Fig. 5 is linear array of magnet pairs 12, 80, aligned in the plane of the cross-sections of t magnets so as to provide a pair of opposing linear arrays of magnets. Assuming, for purposes of description, that the base 106 is fixed and the base 108 is laterally movable, the base 108 will move to the right as shown in Fig. 5 with respect to the base 106. Alternatively, if the base 106 is laterally movable with respect to the base 108, the base 106 will move t the left. As shown in Fig. 5, the opposing arrays of magnets are equal in number. Consequently, although in the dispositio shown in Fig. 5, there will be relative movement between the bases 106 and 108, theoretically at some displacement of the magnets attached to the movable base may be disposed with respect to the magnets attached to the fixed base so that the magnet forces causing lateral movement cancel one another out, with the result that there would be no force urging continuin lateral movement of the movable base beyond such point except for inertia.

While inertia would normally be sufficient to pass this point of neutrality so as to continue the relative movement by reason of the change in magnetic forces acting between the two arrays of magnets, it is preferable to provide that the relative spacing between adjacent magnets in the two arrays be such that the points of the magnets in one array are not simultaneously aligned with the points of the magnets in the other array, rather than as is shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 6, there is shown a diagrammatic elevational view, in section, of a linear magnetic motor 110 according to the present invention. The linear magnetic moto 110 has a fixed base 112 to which a series of equidistantly- spaced pentagonally shaped permanent magnets 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134 are fixed in a linear array so that the North-South (N-S) polarity of the magnets 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134 is parallel to the fixed base 112 and in alternating sequence, as is indicated by the letters "N" and "S" shown in Fig. 6. Thus, adjacent poles of adjacent magnets are of opposite polarity. Preferably, the pentagonal shape for the magnets is provided by magnets each having a pair of generally parallel sides normal to a third side, which functions as the pentagon' base, the remaining two sides meeting in a line along a point opposite the base, thereby forming an irregular pentagon. As shown in Fig. 6, the magnets 114-134 each has a respective point 114A-134A which constitutes the part of the pentagon mos remote from the fixed base 112.

The motor 110 has a movable magnet base 136 to which a series of equidistantly-spaced pentagonally-shaped permanent magnets 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156 are fixed so as to each extend outwardly therefrom in a direction normal to the linear array on the fixed magnet base. The magnets 138-156 have points 138A-156A which point to the fixed base magnets 114-134. However, the magnets 138-156 are disposed such that the polarity of adjacent poles of adjacent magnets is the same, so that the magnetic field of each of the movable base magnets 138-156 is normal to the magnetic field o each of the fixed base magnets 114-134. The polarity of the movable based magnets 138-156 is shown by the letters "S"' and "N"' in Fig. 4. For purposes of illustration of the present invention, in Fig. 6 the fixed base magnet 114 and movable base magnet 138 are shown as longitudinally aligned with one another, as are the fixed base magnet 34 and movable base magnet 156. Thus, the magnet points 114A and 138A are directl opposite one another, as are the magnet points 134A and 156A. All other magnet points 116A - 132A on the fixed base 112 are longitudinally offset from the closest one of the movable base magnet points 140A - 154A. The magnitude of the magnetic attractive or repulsive force between two magnetic poles is an inverse function of the square of the distance between the two poles. Consequently, the magnetic force attraction or repulsion is significantly affected by incremental changes in the distance between the magnetic poles. For the magnets 114, 138, an attractive force is generated between the N pole of magnet 11 and the S pole of magnet 138. A repulsive force is generated between the S pole of the magnet 114 and the S pole of the magnet 138. The relative magnitudes of the attractive force and the repulsive force, vis a. vis one another, is normally only a function of the inverse squares of the distances betwe the respective poles. Since, in disposition of the magnets 114, 138 shown in Fig. 4, the attractive and repulsive forces should be equal, the fixed magnet 114 would not be expected t urge the movable magnet 38 to move laterally. However, by reason of the use of the points 114A, 138A on the pentagonall shaped magnets 114, 138, the lines of magnetic force are distorted as shown in Fig. 4. Consequently, when the magnets 114, 138 are in the disposition shown in Fig. 4, the fixed base magnet 114 will urge the movable base magnet 138 to move laterally to the right.

Referring back to Fig. 6 and to the fixed base magnet 116 and the movable base magnet 140, the movable base magnet 140 is displaced laterally from the fixed base magnet 116. The distance from the S pole of the movable base magnet 140 to the S pole of the fixed base magnet 116 is less than t distance from the movable base magnet 140 S pole to the N pole of the fixed base magnet 116. Therefore, the attractive force and the repulsive force generated between these two magnets a not equal, but rather the repulsive force, because of the smaller distance between the S pole, will exceed the attractive force between the fixed base magnet 116 N pole and the movable base magnet 140 S pole resulting from the offset distance. Furthermore, the movable base magnet 140 will also be influenced by the fixed base magnet 18. The distance of t N pole of fixed base magnet 118 from the S pole of movable base magnet 140 in Fig. 6 is less than the distance of the S pole of the magnet 118 from the magnet 140 S pole. Therefore, the attractive force between the fixed magnet 118 and the movable magnet 140 will exceed the repulsive force between these same two magnets when in the disposition shown in Fig. 6.

Making the same analysis with respect to the fixed magnet 118 and the movable magnet 142, it will be seen that t repulsive force between these two magnets exceeds the attractive force. However, with respect to the movable base magnet 142 and fixed based magnet 120, the attractive force exceeds the repulsive force when in the positions shown in Fig. 6 because the distance between the fixed base magnet 120 N pole and the movable base magnet 142 S pole is less than the distance between the fixed base magnet 120 S pole and the movable base magnet 142 S pole. The overall repulsive force between the magnets 118, 142 is greater than the overall attractive force between the magnets 142, 120, as a result of the greater lateral offset of the fixed base magnet 120 from the movable base magnet 142 with respect to the fixed base magnet 118. Thus, with respect to each of the magnets 116, 140, 118, 142, 120, 144, 122 and 146, the overall magnetic effect urges the movable magnet base 136 to the right as shown in Fig. 6.

Analyzing the attractive and repulsive forces betwee the fixed base magnet 124, and magnets 146, 148 on the movable base, which are disposed in equidistant lateral offset from the fixed base magnet 124, shows that the overall net attractive force between magnets 124 and 146 should equal the overall net repulsive force between the magnets 124, 148. However, with respect to the magnets 126, 148, 150, the net attractive force between the magnets 126, 148 will exceed the net repulsive force between the magnets 126, 150. The attractive forces continue to increase in magnitude relative t the repulsive forces through the magnets groupings 128, 150, 152 and 130, 152, 154. The magnets 134, 156 are disposed in the same position relative to one another as the magnets 114, 138, that is, no lateral offset. Thus, the attractive and repulsive forces result, overall, in movement of the movable base 136 to the right.

As stated above, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary portion of the linear magnetic motor. In the portion shown in Fig. 6, there are eleven fixed base magnets 114 - 134, and ten movable base magnets 138 - 156. However, as will be apparent from the analysis, the movable magnet base could have eleven magnets, rather than ten, with movement to the right continuing. However, if the movable base had twelve magnets, rather than ten, the same analysis shows urging to the left, rather than the right.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6, the movement of the movable magnet base 136 is to the right. In one embodiment of the present invention of the linear motor, the movable magnets are electromagnets actuated by a direct current. In its broadest aspects, the concept of the invention includes the use of electromagnets having magnetically permeable cores which terminate in a point facing the opposite array. By reversing the current flow from the current flow required to give the polarity shown in Fig. 6, the movable base 136 is made to move to the left. Obviously, various well known systems of electrical control of the electrical current flow can be utilized in such an embodiment to reverse the current flow direction to provide the required change in polarity for the movable magnets 138 - 156 to cause reciprocating motion of the movable magnet base. Alternatively, the fixed base magnets can be electromagnets having pentagonally shaped magnetically permeable cores, the direction of current flow through which can be controlled to selectively receive polarity to control the direction of movement of the movable base 136. If desired, both magnet arrays may be electromagnets.

Referring now to Fig. 7, there is shown a diagrammatic elevational view, in cross section, of the magnet disposition for a rotary magnetic motor 160 having a stator portion 162 and a rotor portion 164. The stator portion 162 has a circular array of equidistantly-spaced pentagonally shaped stator magnets 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184 with magnet points 166A - 184A. The rotor portion 6 has a circular array of equidistantly-spaced pentagonally shaped rotor magnets 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202 disposed as the stator portion 62 and with magnet points 186A - 202A, so that the stator array magnet points 166A - 18 and rotor array magnet points 186A - 202A are disposed on concentric circles with the magnet points 166A-184A and 186A- 202A facing one another. As will be seen in Fig. 7, there is one less rotor magnet than stator magnet, thereby providing lateral offset between all of the opposed rotor magnets and stator magnets except for the rotor magnet 186 and stator magnet 166, which are radially aligned. As noted with respec to Fig. 7, there could, alternatively, be an equal or greater number of rotor magnets. As will be apparent, .the rotor magnet and stator magnet alignment shown in Fig. 7 is simply a circular variation of the fixed and movable magnet alignment shown in Fig. 6. Thus, in Fig. 7, an analysis similar to that above with respect to Fig. 6 will show that the rotor portion 164 will move in a clockwise direction. However, upon a reversal of the polarity of the rotor magnets, as by a reversal in direct current flow through electromagnets used as the rotor magnets, the direction of rotation of the rotor will be reversed to a counter-clockwise rotational direction. Similarly, a reversal of the polarity of the stator magnets will reverse the direction of the rotation of the rotor. However, a reversal of both polarities simultaneously will not reverse the direction of rotation of the rotor, or, in Fig. 6, of the direction of movement of the movable base. Referring now to Fig. 8, there is shown, in Section, a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of a magnetically driven rotary motor 208. The motor 208 has an array of first magnets 210 which are generally similar to the magnets 10 of Fig. 1 and an opposing array of second magnets 240 which are generally similar to the magnet 40 of Fig. 2. As will be apparent, individual ones of opposing magnets 210, 240 are disposed with respect to one another in the same general configuration as is shown in Fig. 3. The magnets 210 have converging sides or faces 218, 220 which converge along a line to form a point 222. Similarly, the magnets 240 have converging faces 248, 250 which converge along a line to form point 252. The magnets 210 are arranged in a circle around t periphery of a planar rotor base 260. The rotor base 260 is mounted on a drive shaft 262 so as to freely rotate about an axle 264. The magnets 240 are similarly disposed in a circle at the periphery of a planar stator base 266 which is fixed to the axle 264 by a flange 268. The planar rotor base 60 and planar stator base 266 thus are located in parallel planes to which the axle 264 is perpendicular, the axle 264 passing through the centers of the circles, around the peripheries of which the rotor magnets 210 and stator magnets 240 are arranged. In Fig. 8, for purposes of illustration, the number of rotor base magnets 210 and stator base magnets 240 are shown to be equal. However, as was described with respect to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, it presently is preferred to have a differential in the number of magnets between the two bases so as to provide for the offset type configuration as is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, rather than the aligned configuration illustrated in Figs. 5 and 8. The motor 208 of Fig. 8 will cause the rotor base 260 to rotate in a counter¬ clockwise direction about the axle 264. However, as has been described with respect to the previous embodiments, the direction of rotation can be changed by changing the relative polarity of the magnets.

Referring now to Fig. 9, there is shown a plan view of the rotor base 260 taken along lines 9 - 9 of Fig. 8, but showing the rotor base 260 in its entirety, rather than in the section shown in Fig. 8, so as to more clearly illustrate the circular disposition of the rotor base magnets 260 about the axle 264. As is seen in Fig. 9, the rotor base magnets 210 each have an inner face 270 and an outer face 272, which are joined together by a first side 274 and a second side 276, in addition to the converging faces 218, 220.

In each of the embodiments, it is preferred to have the magnet array base, such as the bases 106, 108, 112, 136, 162, 164, 264, 266 made of a magnetically permeable material order to minimize magnetic field interference which would otherwise result from the magnetic fields which exist about the bases of the pentagonally shaped magnets, such as the bas 16, 46, 86 of the magnets 10, 40, 80, respectively.

For purposes of explanation, the devices illustrate in Figs. 5 through 9 have been described as having a fixed magnet base or stator and a movable magnet base or rotor, in which the fixed magnet base or stator has equidistantly- spaced magnets laterally or circularly aligned with alternati polarity and the movable base or rotor has equidistantly- spaced magnets laterally or circularly aligned with identical polarity. The polarity directions, and thus the magnetic fields of the individual fixed base or stator magnets, are normal to the magnetic fields of the corresponding movable bas or rotor magnets when aligned with one another. However, as will be apparent from the above analysis of the magnetic forces, the movable magnet base or rotor could be fixed and t fixed magnet base or stator could be movable, with the resultant movement of the fixed magnet base or stator in the opposite direction to that described as to Figs. 5 through 9. As a corollary, the magnets for a given embodiment could be changed so that the magnets of the general characteristics illustrated by the magnet 10 and magnets of the type illustrated as magnets 40 or 80, are interchanged with one another, thus keeping the opposing magnet magnetic fields perpendicular to one another. Therefore, the terms fixed and movable as used herein, are used for purposes of description, and not limitation, it being understood that the inventive concept relies upon the disposition, in one array, of equidistantly-spaced permanent magnets of alternating polarity with respect to adjacent poles of adjacent magnets in the same array, and, in the other array, of equidistantly-spaced magnet disposed so as to have like polarity between adjacent poles of the adjacent magnets, so that the magnetic fields of the two arrays are penpendicular to one another.

It is further to be understood that the use of the term permanent magnet, as used herein, includes the use of a magnet whose polarity may be controlled by an electrical current flowing through a winding with a pointed magnetically permeable core, so as to provide for the desired magnet polarity at any given time interval required to produce the necessary polarity relationship with respect to the magnets in the opposing array for movement in the desired direction.

The use of magnets having points such as the points 22, 52, 92 on the magnets 10, 40, 80 is presently preferred for all embodiments and is necessary for embodiments such as are shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 8, when the opposing magnets are all aligned with one another when any one pair of opposing magnets is so aligned, in order to avoid the possibility of th motor stalling when the magnets are so aligned. Pointed magnets are not necessary to avoid such stalling when the magnets in one array do not simultaneously align with the magnets in the other array, such as is illustrated in the embodiments shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 and is des'cribed as an alternate embodiment to the illustration of Fig. 8. In that embodiment, the number of magnets in the rotor 260 differs from the number of magnets in the stator 266 so that when one pair of opposing magnets is aligned with one another, a plurality of other pairs of magnets are not so aligned. For such embodiments, the magnets can be rectangular, rather than pentagonal, or some other pointed configuration, for practice of the invention in its broadest aspects.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. In a magnetically driven motor, the combinatio of: a first array of permanent magnets equidistantly-spaced in a first spacing, said first array permanent magnets each terminating in a point which is locate intermediate the poles of the magnet, said first array magnet having their polarities preselected so that adjacent poles of adjacent magnets in said first array are of opposite polarity and

a second array of permanent magnets equidistantly-spaced in a second spacing, said second array permanent magnets each having terminating in a point which constitutes the same magnetic pole for each of the second arr magnets so that adjacent poles of adjacent magnets in said second array are of like polarity; said second array being disposed opposite said first array in predetermined alignment with said first array so that the pol orientation of the second array magnets is normal to the polar orientation of the first array magnets and the first array magnet points and the second array magnet points face one another.

2. A motor according to Claim 1, and in which said first array permanent magnets have generally pentagonal shapes with a first side and second side which are disposed opposite one another, a third side joining together said first and second sides, and a fourth side and a fifth side which meet to form said point and connect said first and second sides opposite said third side.

3. A motor according to Claim 1 or 2, and in which said second array permanent magnets have generally pentagonal shapes with a first side and second side which are disposed opposite one another, a third side joining together said first and second side, and a fourth side and a fifth side which meet to form said point and connect said first and second sides opposite said third side.

4. A motor according to claim 3, and in which the first array of magnets is disposed on a magnetically permeable base in a linear disposition and the second array of magnets i disposed on a magnetically permeable base in a linear disposition, whereby relative movement between the first array and the second array is limited to linear reciprocal movement.

5. A motor according to claim 3, and in which the first array of magnets is mounted in a first circular disposition on a first magnetically permeable base and the second array of magnets is mounted in a second circular disposition on a second magnetically permeable base, whereby the relative movement between the first array and the second array is limited to rotary relative movement.

6. A motor according to claim 5, and in which one of the circular array dispositions is smaller in diameter than the other circular array disposition, and the arrays are located in concentric circles with respect to one another.

7. A motor according to claim 5, and in which the two circular array dispositions are located in parallel planes and are of generally equal diameters with their centers locate on an axis which is perpendicular to the parallel planes.

8. A motor according to any of the preceding claims, and including means for selectively controlling the polarities of the magnets in at least one of the arrays.

9. A motor according to claim 8, and in which said polarity controlling means is operable to selectively reverse the polarity of the magnets in at least one of said arrays.

10. In a magnetically driven motor, the combination of: a first array of permanent magnets equidistantly-spaced in a first spacing, and having their polarities preselected so that adjacent poles of adjacent magnets in said first array are of opposite polarity; a second array of permanent magnets equidistantly-spaced in a second spacing, and having their polarities preselected so that adjacent poles of adjacent magnets in said second array are of like polarity, said second array being disposed immediately adjacent said first array in predetermined alignment with said first array so that the pola orientation of the second array magnets is perpendicular to th polar orientation of the first array magnets; said first and second spacings being preselecte to provide that, when one magnet in the second array is aligne with one magnet in the first array such that the second array magnet pole immediately adjacent the first array magnet is equidistantly displaced laterally from the poles of the first array magnet, a plurality of the remaining second array magnet are not so disposed with respect to the remaining first array magnets as to which they are most closely adjacent.

11. A motor according to claim 10, and in which the first array of magnets is disposed on a magnetically permeable base in a linear disposition and the second array of magnets i disposed on a magnetically permeable base in a linear disposition, whereby relative movement between the first array and the second array is limited to linear reciprocal movement.

12. A motor according to claim 10, and in which the first array of magnets is mounted in a first circular disposition on a first magnetically permeable base and the second array of magnets is mounted in a second circular disposition on a second magnetically permeable base, whereby the relative movement between the first array and the second array is limited to rotary relative movement.

13. A motor according to claim 12, and in which on of the circular array dispositions is smaller in diameter tha the other circular array disposition, and the arrays are located in concentric circles with respect to one another.

14. A motor according to claim 12, and in which th two circular array dispositions are located in parallel planes and are of generally equal diameters with their centers locat on an axis which is perpendicular to the parallel planes.

15. A motor according to any of the preceding clai and including means for selectively controlling the polarities of the magnets in at least one of the arrays.

16. A motor according to claim 15, and in which sai polarity controlling means is operable to selectively reverse the polarity of the magnets in at least one of said arrays.

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 24 September 1992 (24.09.92); original claims 10-16 cancelled; original claims 1-9 replaced by amended claims 1-8 (2 pages)]

1. In a magnetically driven motor, the combination of: a first array of permanent magnets equidistantly spaced in a first spacing, said first array permanent magnets each terminating in a point which is located intermediate the poles of the magnet, said first array magnets having their polarities preselected so that adjacent poles of adjacent magnets in said first array are of opposite polarity; and a second array of permanent magnets equidistantly spaced in a second spacing, said second array permanent magnets each having terminating in a point which constitutes the same magnetic pole for each of the second array magnets so that adjacent poles of adjacent magnets in said second array are of like polarity; said second array being disposed opposite said first array in a predetermined alignment with said first array so that the polar orientation of the second array magnets is normal to the polar orientation of the first array magnets and the first array magnet points and the second array magnet points face one another, and in which said permanent magnets in one of said arrays have generally pentagonal shapes with a first side and second side which are disposed opposite one another, a third side joining together said first and second sides, and a fourth side and a fifth side which meet to form said point and connect said first and second sides opposite said third side.

2. A motor according to Claim 1 and in which said permanent magnets in the other of said arrays have generally pentagonal shapes with a first side and second side which are disposed opposite one another, a third side joining together said first and second side, and a fourth side and a fifth side which meet to form said point and connect said first and second sides opposite said third side. 3. A motor according to claim 2, and in which the first array of magnets is disposed on a magnetically permeable base in a linear disposition and the second array of magnets is disposed on a magnetically permeable base in a linear disposition, whereby relative movement between the ±irst array and the second array is limited to linear reciprocal movement.

4. A motor according to claim 3, and in which the first array of magnets is mounted in a first circular disposition on a first magnetically permeable base and the second array of magnets is mounted in a second circular disposition on a second magnetically permeable base, whereby the relative movement between the first array and the second array is limited to rotary relative movement.

5. A motor according to claim 4, and in which one of the circular array dispositions is smaller in diameter than the other circular array disposition, and the arrays are located in concentric circles with respect to one another.

6. A motor according to claim 5, and in which the two circular array dispositions are located in parallel planes and are of generally equal diameters with their centers located on an axis which is perpendicular to the parallel planes.

7. A motor according to any of the preceding claims, and including means for selectively controlling the polarities of the magnets in at least one of the arrays.

8. A motor according to claim 7, and in which said polarity controlling means is operable to selectively reverse the polarity of the magnets in at least one of said arrays.