GB2248525A

GB2248525A - Magnetic interaction motor

Info

Publication number: GB2248525A
Application number: GB9115344A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Baird
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-10-05
Filing date: 1991-07-16
Publication date: 1992-04-08
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-16
Also published as: GB9115344D0; GB2248525B; GB9021746D0

Abstract

A prime mover in which a wheel (14) eccentrically couples through articulated arms (18, 20) to a pair of linearly guided magnets (28, 30) which are able alternately to interact a pair of fixed magnets or electromagnets (36, 38), thereby to drive the wheel in rotation. Shutters may be used to selectively interrupt the magnetic flux or magnets (36, 38) may be replaced by switched electro magnets. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in Prime Movers This invention relates generally to prime movers, and in particular to a prime mover producing a continuous driving motion. The continuous driving motion produced may be linear, rotational, reciprocating or any combination thereof.

Many kinds of engine and motor are known for producing various types of continuous motion. It is an object of this invention to provide a prime mover which produces a continuous driving motion in a different manner to the known devices.

According to the invention, there is provided a prime mover which produces a continuous driving motion derived from a non-continuous interaction between at least two bodies which interact with attractive and/or repulsive forces.

Typically the two bodies may be bodies of magnetic material, at least one of which is a magnet. The or eac-b magnet may be a permanent magnet or an electro-magnet.

In the case of one or more permanent magnets, an interrupting means may act alternately to allow and disallow the attractive or repulsive forces acting between the two bodies, thereby to produce an alternating motion of one such body which may be converted by a coupling means into a linear, rotational or reciprocating drive.

In the case of one or more electro-magnets, an interrupting means may again be employed, but alternatively at least one such electro-magnet may be switched on and off alternately, or reversed in polarity alternately.

The term "interrupting means" should be understood to include any means, physical or non-physical (e.g. an interrupting electric or magnetic field) which allows or disallows interaction between the bodies as aforesaid.

In the alternate periods when the attractive or repulsive force between the bodies is not operative, a flywheel means may be employed to maintain the continuous motion drive.

Preferably, however, two sets of inter-acting bodies are alternately operative to maintain the drive.

Two embodiments of prime mover in accordance with the invention are now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows one embodiment in side elevation; Figure 2 shows a second embodiment in side elevation; and Figure 3 shows the second embodiment in plan.

Referring first to Figure 1, the illustrated embodiment comprises a framework or housing having end walls or supports 10, 12. A wheel 14 is mounted for free rotation on an axle 16 extending between the side walls of the housing or between internal framework supports. Two similar articulated arms 18, 20 with intermediate joints 22, 24 are pivotally connected to an eccentric point 26 on the wheel 14. At the ends remote from the connecting point 26, the respective arms carry magnets 28, 30, which are guided for linear back and forth movement (towards and away from the respective end supports 10, 12), by respective guides 32, 34, which are fixedly mounted in the housing or framework by not shown supports.

Mounted on the end supports 10, 12 to confront the magnets 28, 30 are respective fixed magnets 36, 38. Interrupting means, in the form of shutters 40, 42 of a material capable of interrupting or at least substantially disrupting a magnetic field, are movably mounted on the end walls 10, 12 so as to be interposable, by an independent drive or a drive derived from the output motion of the mechanism, between the respective pairs of magnets 28, 36 and 30, 38.

The prime mover may operate utilising the attractive or the repulsive forces between the respective pairs of magnets 28, 36 and 30, 38.

Assuming repulsive forces are used, starting from the position illustrated, shutter 42 is interposed between magnets 30, 38, which are in remote relationship, so that magnet 28 is, by repulsive interaction with magnet 36, driven away from said magnet 36, thus causing the wheel 14 to rotate and thereby driving the magnet 30 towards the magnet 38.

Substantially at the end of the stroke, the shutter 40 is interposed between the magnets 28, 36 and the shutter 42 is withdrawn, whereby the magnets 30, 38 are able to interact, causing the magnet 30 to be driven back towards the wheel 14, thus maintaining rotation of said wheel. The magnet 28 is thus driven back towards the magnet 36 and, substantially at the end of this reverse stroke, the shutter 40 is withdrawn and the shutter 42 again interposed between the magnets 30, 38, thus enabling the cyclic motion to continue.

A rotary drive is thus provided by the wheel 14.

In the above-described embodiment, magnets 36, 38 are preferably electro-magnets, in which case the members 28, 30 may be constituted by bodies of magnetically susceptible material. If then the electro-magnets 36, 38 are switched on and off alternately and in anti-phase, the shutters 40 and 42 can be dispensed with. In such a situation, the drive will be produced utilising the attractive forces between the bodies 36, 28 and the bodies 38, 30 rather than repulsive forces.

The second embodiment, shown in Figures 2 and 3, is substantially the same as that shown in Figure 1, and similar reference numerals are employed for similar parts.

However, a different form of shutter means 50, 52, possibly driven by the moving magnets 28, 30 into the field interrupting condition, are employed. The shutter means 50, 52 may be returned to the non-field interrupting condition by restoring springs. For reasons of clarity, shutter means 50, 52 are omitted in Figure 2 and guides 32, 34 are omitted in Figure 3. Reference 54 denotes a flywheel.

A wide range of modifications of the above-described and illustrated arrangements are possible within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

For example, by use of different forms of coupling a linear or reciprocating output drive can be produced instead of a rotary drive, or indeed a more complex output motion may be produced. Also, as has already been mentioned, a wide variety of interrupting means may be employed, or alternatively a switching means which in any one of a variety of ways alternates the configurations or states of the magnets. It would also be possible, as by modification of the described embodiments, for a wheel or like member to be driven by a large plurality of pairs of magnets which are interactive in sequence.

Claims

1. A prime mover which produces a continuous driving motion derived from the non-continuous interaction between at least two bodies which interact with attractive and/or repulsive forces.

2. A prime mover according to claim 1, wherein the said bodies are bodies of magnetic material, at least one of which is a magnet.

3. A prime mover according to claim 2, wherein at least one magnet is a permanent-magnet.

4. A prime mover according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which at least one magnet is an electro-magnet.

5. A prime mover as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, including an interrupting means for alternately allowing and disallowing the attractive or repulsive forces acting between the bodies, thereby to produce an alternating motion.

6. A prime mover as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, including a means of switching the states or configurations of the bodies between interacting and non-interacting states.

7. A prime mover according to any of claims 1 to 6, including a coupling means for converting a back and forth motion of one said body relative to another into a'linear, rotary or reciprocating drive motion.

8. A prime mover according to any of claims 1 to 7, having two pairs of bodies which alternately interact to produce substantially continuous driving power.

9. A prime mover according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which a continuous smooth output drive is produced by a flywheel means.

10. A prime mover according to claim 2 or any claim appendant thereto, in which a member mounted for rotation is eccentrically coupled to a pair of articulated arms which each carry a linearly movable body of magnetic material which bodies respectively interact alternately and in antiphase with a second pair of bodies of magnetic material which are fixed in position.

11. A prime mover according to claim 10, in which at least one pair of said magnetic bodies are constituted by electromagnets.

12. A prime mover according to claim 11, in which the electro-magnets are the fixed bodies.

13. A prime mover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.