GB2322238A

GB2322238A - A magnetic motor

Info

Publication number: GB2322238A
Application number: GB9625328A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stanley Tattersley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-12-05
Filing date: 1996-12-05
Publication date: 1998-08-19
Also published as: GB9625328D0

Abstract

A motor 1 comprises a shaft 2, a plurality of first magnets 3 each of which comprises a blade 4 extending from the surface of a magnet. The motor further comprises second magnets 5 spaced apart from the first magnets 3 and positioned substantially concentrically with the first magnets 3, the first magnets being positioned between the second magnets 5 and the shaft 2. The motor further comprises magnetisers 6 which serve to magnetise the first magnets 3.

Description

A MOTOR This invention relates to a motor for a vehicle particularly, but not exclusively, to a motor for powering a car or other vehicle suitable for use in an urban environment. The invention further relates to a motor for powering a vehicle suitable for use in off-road conditions, for example, in land speed record attempts.

It is known to power such vehicles using engines driven by petrol. Use of petrol is expensive and causes dangerous levels of pollution, particularly when petrol containing lead is used to power the engine.

According to the present invention there is provided a motor comprising: a shaft; a plurality of first magnets attached to the shaft, and spaced apart from each other around the circumference of the shaft; a plurality of second magnets spaced apart from one another and from the first magnet and positioned substantially concentrically with the first magnet; the first magnets being positioned between the second magnets and the shaft, at least one magnetiser for magnetising the first magnets.

When the magnetiser magnetises the first magnets, each first magnet will have a magnetic field which will interact with the magnetic field of each second magnet.

Conveniently, a transformer is used to supply an electric current to the second magnet.

The first and second magnets are arranged such that when the first magnets are in an initial position, at least one first magnet falls just within the magnetic field of a second magnet and there is an attraction between at least one pair of first and second magnets. This attraction causes the at least one first magnet to move towards the at least one second magnet thus causing all first magnets to move in the same direction.

This movement of the at least one first magnet relative to the at least one second magnet causes a second pair of first and second magnets to be positioned relative to each other such that a second first magnet falls just within the magnetic field of a second second magnet. This ensures that magnetic attraction between at least one pair of first and second magnets will always ensure movement of the first magnets relative to the second magnets.

In other words, the first and second magnets are arranged such that once a particular pair of first and second magnets are in a position of magnetic neutrality, a second pair of first and second magnets will be positioned such that a first magnet in the second pair falls just within the magnetic field of the second magnet in the pair. This causes further rotational movement of the shaft. The first and second magnets are positioned relative to one another such that rotational movement of the shaft is continuous.

Advantageously, each magnetised first magnet has attached thereto a blade lying in a plane substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of the first magnets.

When the first magnets are caused to rotate, the blades on each of the first magnets cause movement of the atmosphere surrounding the motor.

Advantageously, the motor is positioned within a hollow tube which tube comprises channelling means for channelling air through the tube.

The channelling means is positioned within the tube such that the cross sectional area of the tube decreases along the length of the channelling means.

Air which is caused to move due to the rotational movement of the first magnets is channelled along the tube, and through the channelling means. The effect of the reducing cross sectional area of the tube results in the force associated with the circulating air increasing. When the air exits the tube, there is a strong force associated with it which force has the effect of moving the tube and any vehicle attached to it in an opposite direction to the direction of flow of the air. This propels the vehicle.

An embodiment of the invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross sectional representation of a motor according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the hollow tube within which the motor of Figure 1 is positioned; Figure 3a is a schematic representation of a road vehicle into which the motor is incorporated; and Figure 3b is a schematic representation of a motor according to a further embodiment of the present invention in which reverse movement occurs by means of an outlet pipe.

Referring to Figure 1, a motor according to the present invention is designated generally by reference numeral 1. The motor 1 comprises a shaft 2 on which are mounted a plurality of first magnets 3. The first magnets each comprise a blade 4 extending from the surface of the magnet. The motor further comprises second magnets 5 spaced apart from the first magnets 3 and lying substantially concentrically with the first magnets 3 and positioned such that the first magnets 3 fall between the second magnets 5 and shaft 2. The motor further comprises magnetisers 6 which serve to magnetise the first magnet 3.

Initially, the shaft is positioned such that when the second magnets 5 are magnetised, the magnetic fields of at least one first magnet 3 and one second magnet 5 interact to cause movement of the first magnet against the shaft such that the attraction between the first magnet 3 and the second magnet 5 is cancelled out. In the arrangement shown in Figure 1 first magnet 7 and second magnet 8 are positioned such that the respective magnetic fields of the magnet 7, 8 cause movement of the first magnet 7 in a direction indicated generally by the arrow 9.

Once the first magnet 7 is moved to a point where the attraction between first magnet 7 and second magnet 8 diminishes, first magnet 10 will have moved to a point where there is an attraction between that magnet and a second magnet 11. The relative positions of the magnets 10, 11 will cause further movement in the direction of arrow 9. After this movement has occurred first magnet 12 will be positioned relative to second magnet 13 and cause further movement in the direction of arrow 9. This movement is perpetuated thus causing continuous rotational movement of the shaft 2.

Each of the first magnets 3 has a blade 4 attached thereto which blade lies in a plane substantially at right angles to the direction of movement 9. The blades thus act on the ambient fluid surrounding the motor causing movement of the fluid.

The motor 1 is positioned within a hollow tube 20 shown in more detail in Figure 2. The tube 20 has a channelling means 22 in the form of a sheet of material, for example, metal. The presence of the channelling means 22 results in a concentration of the force built up through movement of the fluid. This causes expulsion of the fluid out of the tube through exit portion 24, causing movement of a vehicle to which the tube is attached in an opposite direction to the direction of exit of the fluid.

Jets of air produced by plate 26 produce jets of air which are channelled at neck 24. A plate 26 is formed with apertures through which the air passes before reaching a pressure plate 28 on to which the jets push. When the required pressure is reached, the pressure causes the plate 28 to be pushed open when the air is expelled. This propels the vehicle in the direction of arrow 200.

Disc brakes can be used to slow down or stop the motor as required.

The shaft 20 comprises fans at either end. Fans at front end 210 draw air into the tube 20. The fan positioned at end 220 directs the air to the plate 26 and through the apertures forming the plate 26.

Referring to Figure 3a a vehicle incorporating the motor of the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 30. The motor 1 is contained within tube 20 allowing movement of the vehicle in direction 32.

The vehicle 30 comprises a transformer 33 used to power the second magnets 5. The transformer is powered by batteries 34 which are re-chargeable and may be solar powered. The motor 30 thus further comprises solar plates 35. The vehicle 30 further comprises sliding covers 36 which have lights positioned below them and which may be used to augment solar energy when necessary. A further cover may be positioned over cover 36 which additional cover is transparent and serves to protect the cover 36.

Referring to Figure 3b, the motor 1 is shown orientated to allow reverse movement of the vehicle 420. The jets of air exiting from the tube 20 are directed onto a front axle 400 of the vehicle 420 resulting in reverse movement.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A motor comprising: a shaft; a plurality of first magnets attached to the shaft, and spaced apart from each other around the circumference of the shaft; a plurality of second magnets spaced apart from one another and from the first magnets and positioned substantially concentrically with the first magnets; the first magnets being positioned between the second magnets and the shaft, at least one magnetiser for magnetising the first magnets.

2. A motor according to claim 1, further comprising a transformer used to supply an electric current to the second magnets.

3. A motor according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each magnetised first magnet has attached thereto a blade lying in a plane substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of the first magnets.

4. A motor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor is positioned within a hollow tube which tube comprises channelling means for channelling air through the tube.

5. A motor according to claim 4, wherein the channelling means is positioned within the tube such that the cross-sectional area of the tube decreases along the length of the channelling means.

6. A motor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.