OA17414A - Horizontally rotating driving device - Google Patents

Abstract

A driving device (1) for driving a rotating shaft (21) includes a frame member (11), a magnetic pendulum unit (12), an electromagnetic unit (13) and a control unit (14). The magnetic pendulum unit (12) is rotatable about a center (112) of the frame member (11) through which a rotating shaft (21) extends and is connected corotatably to the rotating shaft (21). The electromagnetic unit (13) and the control unit (14) are spaced apart and are mounted on the frame member (11). The control unit (14) is configured to turn on and off the electromagnetic unit (13) to generate a magnetic force between the magnetic pendulum unit (12) and the electromagnetic unit (13) for facilitating rotation of the magnetic pendulum unit (12) and allow the magnetic pendulum unit (12) to pass by the electromagnetic unit (13), respectively.

Description

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Applications No. 103118269, filed on May 26, 2014 and No. 103141443 filed on November 28, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This disclosure relates to a driving device, more particularly to a driving device for driving a rotating shaft.

2. Description of Related Art

A generator is usually driven by a conventional driving device, such as a windmill, a waterwheel, a steam turbine driven by fossil fuels (e.g., coal), for converting mechanical energy to electric power. However, since natural energy sources, such as wind power and water power, are unstable, the conventional driving device using such energy sources (e.g., the windmill and the waterwheel) cannot generate electric power stably. Further, due to the recent rise in environmental awareness, the conventional driving device driven by fossil fuels is unable to support environmental protection.

To overcome the shortcomings of the conventional driving apparatus, the présent invention provides a horizontally rotating driving apparatus to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the présent disclosure is to provide a driving device for driving a rotating shaft. The driving device includes an annular frame, a magnetic pendulum unit, at least one electromagnetic unit and at least one control unit. The annular frame defînes a center that allows the rotating shaft to extend therethrough. The magnetic pendulum unit is rotatable about the center of the annular frame and is configured to be connected co-rotatably to the rotating shaft. The at least one electromagnetic unit is mounted on the annular frame, and is diametrically opposite to an imaginary point located at a circumference of the annular frame with respect to the center. The at least one control unit is mounted at a segment of the annular frame toward which the magnetic pendulum unit approaches after passing by the imaginary point during rotation, and is spaced apart from the at least one electromagnetic unit. The at least one control unit is configured to turn on the at least one electromagnetic unit to generate a magnetic force for attracting the magnetic pendulum unit so as to facilitate rotation of the magnetic pendulum unit, and to turn off the at least one electromagnetic unit to stop generating the magnetic force so as to allow the magnetic pendulum unit to pass by the at least one electromagnetic unit.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a driving device in accordance with the présent invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of the driving device, illustrating a magnetic pendulum unit connected to a rotating shaft;

Fig. 3 is an operational front view of the driving device, illustrating the rotation of the magnetic pendulum unit;

Fig. 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of a driving device in accordance with the présent invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a driving device in accordance with the présent invention;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the third embodiment of the driving device;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the third embodiment of the driving device;

Fig. 8 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of a driving device in accordance with the présent invention, illustrating an electric generating system that includes an interconnecting unit connected to and driven by the rotating shaft, a main gear and a plurality of driven gears;

Fig. 9 is a front view of the fourth embodiment of a driving device in accordance with the présent invention, illustrating the main gear connected to the interconnecting unit and meshing with the driven gears;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the driving device, in which the main gear is an internai gear and the driven gears are extemal gears; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a modification of a driving device in accordance with the présent invention, in which the main gear is an extemal gear and the driven gears are internai gears.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the first embodiment of a driving device 1 in accordance with the présent invention can be applied on a wind-power electrical generator or a rotation machine. The driving device 1 can be connected to a rotating shaft 21 of a power generator 2 by an actuating device 22. The actuating device 22 may be combination of hand power tools or electrical mechanism. When the driving device 1 is applied to a power generator 2, the diving device is connected to the rotating shaft of the power generator that is connected to a gear box or a fly wheel assembly. When the driving device 1 is applied to a rotation machine, the driving device 1 is connected to the rotation machine by a rotating shaft 21 in corporation with a gear box or a fly wheel assembly. When the >

driving device 1 is applied to a wind-power electrical generator, the blades of the wind-power electrical generated can be replaced with the driving device 1 in accordance with the présent invention.

The driving device 1 includes an annular frame 11, a magnetic pendulum unit 12, an electromagnetic unit 13 and a control unit 14. The annular frame 11 includes a center that allows the rotating shaft 21 to extend therethrough. The annular frame further has an annular inner space 111 extending along a circumferential direction of the annular frame

11.

The magnetic pendulum unit 12 is rotatable about the center 112 of the annular frame 11, and includes a lever 121 and a magnetic element 122. The magnetic element 122 is made of a material that can be attractable by a magnetic force. The lever 121 has two opposite ends, one of the opposite ends is connected co-rotatably to the rotating shaft 21, and the other one of the opposite ends is mounted with the magnetic element 122. The magnetic element extends toward the inner space 111 in the annular famé and is rotatable along the circumferential direction of the annular frame 11 in a rotating direction (clockwise or counterclockwise). In the first embodiment, the magnetic element has a disk shape that having a thick central segment and a thin outer edge, such that the drag applied to the magnetic element 122 can be reduced while the magnetic element 122 is rotating.

The electromagnetic unit 13 includes a core 131 and a winding coil 132 wound around the core 131. The winding coil 132 is electrically connected to a power source for providing electricity thereto. The power source may be a solar cell or other power supplies. A magnetic force is generated by the electromagnetic unit 13 when the electromagnetic unit 13 is tumed on. When the electromagnetic unit 13 is tumed off, the magnetic force is stopped. The electromagnetic unit 13 is mounted on the annular frame 11, and is diametrically opposite to an imaginary point located at a circumference of the annular frame 11 with respect to the center 112. The magnetic element 122 of the magnetic pendulum unit 12 is attractable by a magnetic force generated by the electromagnetic unit 13, and the electromagnetic unit 13 is kept from being in contact with the rotating pendulum unit 12.

The control unit 14 includes a first sensor 141 and a second sensor 142. The first and second sensors 141, 142 may be infrared sensors and are electrically connected with the electromagnetic unit 13.

The second sensor 142 is spaced apart from the first sensor 141 in the inner space 111 of the annular frame 11 along a rotation direction of the magnetic pendulum unit 12 (indicated by an arrow in Fig.3, i.e., a counterclockwise direction in this embodiment), is disposed between the first sensor 141 and the electromagnetic unit 13, and is electrically connected to the electromagnetic unit 13. The first sensor 141 is configured for enabling the power source to provide electricity to the coil 132 so as to turn on the electromagnetic unit 13 upon detecting the magnetic element 122 of the magnetic pendulum unit 12.

With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, in the operational process of the driving device 1, the activating device 22 first drives the rotating shaft 21 and the magnetic pendulum unit 12 to rotate and moves the magnetic pendulum unit 12 to position A. The magnetic pendulum unit 12 is then released and rotâtes freely in the counterclockwise direction (indicated by an arrow in Fig. 3) as a resuit of gravity’s pull. Due to inertia, the magnetic pendulum unit 12 continues on to rotate to position B, where the first sensor 141 is located, and the first sensor 141 detects the magnetic element 122 and turns on the electromagnetic unit 13 to generate magnetic force. Thus, rotation of the magnetic pendulum unit 12 toward the electromagnetic unit 13 is facilitated as a resuit of gravity being countered by the magnetic force generated by the electromagnetic unit 13 for attracting the magnetic element 122. The magnetic pendulum unit 12 then rotâtes to position C, where the second sensor 142 is located, and the second sensor 142 detects the magnetic element 122 and tums off the electromagnetic unit 13. Thus, the electromagnetic unit 13 stops generating the magnetic force so as to allow the magnetic pendulum unit 12 to pass by the electromagnetic unit 13 to position E, i.e., the highest point of the annular frame 11. Hereafiter, the magnetic pendulum unit 12 continues to rotate in the counterclockwise direction toward position A due to the gravity and inertia, and the control unit 14 repeats détection of the magnetic element 122 to turn on and off the electromagnetic unit 13 as described above.

By virtue of the control unit 14 that is arranged on the annular frame 111 and that timely tums on and off the electromagnetic unit 13, the electromagnetic unit 13 interacts with the magnetic element 122 to facilitate continuous rotation of the magnetic pendulum unit 12 and the rotation shaft 21 to thereby generate kinetic energy to be converted to electric power by the generator unit 2. By this way, the driving device 1 of this disclosure can generate kinetic energy from the little electricity provided to the electromagnetic unit 13 in this embodiment.

With reference to Fig. 4, in the second embodiment in accordance with the présent invention, the différence between the first embodiment and this embodiment résides in the following. The driving device 1 includes three electromagnetic units 13A, 13B, 13C, and three control units 14A, 14B, 14C corresponding to the electromagnetic units 13A, 13B, 13C, respectively. The numbers of the electromagnetic units 13A, 13B, 13C and the control units 14A, 14B, 14C are variable based on the actuate design needs. The number of the electromagnetic units 13A, 13B, 13C and the control units 14A, 14B, 14C areincreased, the time of magnetic attraction applied to the magnetic pendulum unit 12 is correspondingly increased and the rotation speed of the magnetic pendulum unit 12 is also increased.

The electromagnetic units 13 A, 13B, 13C are mounted in the inner space 111 of the annular frame 11 in a sequence along the rotation direction of the magnetic pendulum unit

12. The control units 14A, 14B, 14C are mounted at a segment of the annular frame 111 toward which the magnetic pendulum unit 12 approaches. Each of the control units 14A, 14B, 14C includes a first sensor 141 A, 141 B, 141C and a second sensor 142A, 142B, 142C.

Each of the first sensor 141A, 141B, 141C of the control units 14A, 14B, 14C is electrically connected to the corresponding one of the electromagnetic units 13A, 13B, 13C, and is configured for tuming on the corresponding one of the electromagnetic units 13A, 13B, 13C upon detecting the magnetic element 122 of the magnetic pendulum unit 12. The second sensor 142A, 142B, 142C is spaced apart fforn the first sensor 141 A, 141B, 141C in the rotation direction of the magnetic pendulum unit 12, and is disposed between the first sensor 141A, 141B, 141C and the corresponding one of the electromagnetic units 13A, 13B, 13C. The second sensor 142A, 142B, 142C is electrically connected to the corresponding one of the electromagnetic units 13A, 13B, 13C, and is configured for tuming off the corresponding one of the electromagnetic unit 13A, 13B, 13C upon detecting the magnetic element 122.

The operational process of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment. After the magnetic pendulum unit 12 is driven and rotated by the activating device 22 to position A as shown in Fig. 3, the magnetic pendulum unit 12 is released and rotâtes in the counterclockwise, where the first sensor 141A is located, and the first sensor

141A detects the magnetic element 122 and turns on the electromagnetic unit 13A to generate the magnetic force for attracting the magnetic element 122 so as to facilitate rotation of the magnetic pendulum unit 12 toward the electromagnetic unit 13 A. The magnetic element 122 further rotâtes to a position where the first sensor 14IB is located, and the electromagnetic unit 13B is tumed on to generate the magnetic force for attracting the magnetic element 122 upon détection of the magnetic element 122 by the first sensor 141B. Hereafter, the magnetic pendulum unit 12 rotâtes to a position where the second sensor 142A is located, and the second sensor 142A detects the magnetic element 122 and turns off the electromagnetic unit 13 A to allow the magnetic pendulum unit 12 to pass by the electromagnetic unit 13 A. Then, the pendulum unit 12 rotâtes to a position where the first sensor 14IC is located. The electromagnetic unit 13C is then tumed on by the first sensor 14IC to generate the magnetic force for attracting the magnetic element 122, and the magnetic pendulum unit 12 further rotâtes toward the electromagnetic unit 13C in the counterclockwise direction. When the magnetic pendulum unit 12 reaches a position where the second sensor 142B is located, the electromagnetic unit 13B is tumed off by the second sensor 142B to allow the magnetic pendulum unit 12 to pass thereby. Finally, the magnetic pendulum unit 12 rotâtes to a position where the second sensor 142C is located, and the second sensor 142C detects the magnetic element 122 and turns off the electromagnetic unit 13C to allow the magnetic pendulum unit 12 to pass by position which is the highest point of the annular frame 111 and the electromagnetic unit 13C. The abovementioned operational process is repeated to continuously generate kinetic power.

With reference to Figs. 5 to 7, in the third embodiment in accordance with the présent invention, the magnetic pendulum unit 12 includes a lever 121 and two magnetic éléments 122A, 122B. The magnetic éléments 122A, 122B are fixedly mounted on the lever 121 at an end opposite to the rotating shaft 21, are spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the rotating shaft 21, and are attractable by the magnetic force generated by each of the electromagnetic units 13 A, 13B, 13C. Note that the orientations of the electromagnetic units 13A, 13B, 13C are modified in accordance with magnetic pôles of the magnetic éléments 122A, 122B.

The operational process of the third embodiment of the driving device 1 is similar to that of the first or second embodiment beside that the magnetic éléments 122 A, 122B of the magnetic pendulum unit 12 are located respectively at an inner side and an outer side of the annular inner space 111 in which the electromagnetic units 13A, 13B, 13C are mounted. The cores of the electromagnetic units 13 A, 13B, 13C are parallel with the axis of the annular frame 11. Two ends of each core 131 correspond respectively to the rotation paths of the magnetic éléments 122A, 122B. With such an arrangement, when the electromagnetic units 13A, 13B are turned on, magnetic force is generated to attract the magnetic éléments 122A, 122B of the magnetic pendulum unit 12A simultaneously. When the electromagnetic units 13A,13B are turned off, magnetic force applied to the magnetic éléments 122A, 122B are stopped.

With reference to Figs. 8 to 10, in the fourth embodiment in accordance with the présent invention, the rotating shaft 21 is not connected to the power generator 2 directly and is connected to a main gear via an interconnecting component 31, such that the main gear 32 can rotate with the rotating shaft 21. The main gear engages with driven gears 331 of three power generator 33 those are arranged symmetrically. When the rotating shaft 21 is rotating, the main gear 32 is rotated with the rotating shaft 21 and the driven gears 331 are also rotated to make the power generator to generate electric power. In this embodiment, the main gear 32 may be an internai gear as shown in Fig. 10 or an extemal gear as shown in Fig. 11 and are not limited in this invention.

Accordingly, the magnetic pendulum unit 12 can be keep rotating by the gravity, the inertia and the attraction provided by the electromagnetic unit 13 in corporation with the control unit 14. The power for driving the operation of a power generator 2 or a rotation 5 machine can be effectively reduced. In addition, with the arrangement of the electromagnetic unit 13 and the magnetic element 122 of the magnetic pendulum unit 12, the magnetic pôles of the electromagnetic unit 13 do not hâve to be held at spécifie positions so to assemble the driving device 1 in accordance with the présent invention is easy.

Claims (8)

1. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

   1. A driving device (1) for driving a rotating shaft (21), said driving device (1) being characterized by:

   an annular frame (11) defining a center (112) that allows the rotating shaft (21) to extend therethrough;

   a magnetic pendulum unit (12) being rotatable about said center (112) of said annular frame (11) and configured to be connected co-rotatably to the rotating shaft (21);

   at least one electromagnetic unit (13) mounted on said annular frame (11), and diametrically opposite to an imaginary point located at a circumference of said annular frame (11) with respect to the center (112); and at least one control unit (14) mounted at a segment of said annular frame (11) toward which said magnetic pendulum unit (12) approaches after passing by the imaginary point during rotation, and spaced apart from said at least one electromagnetic unit (13), said at least one control unit (14) being configured to turn on said at least one electromagnetic unit (13) to generate a magnetic force for attracting the magnetic pendulum unit (12) so as to facilitate rotation of said magnetic pendulum unit (12), and turn off said at least one electromagnetic unit (13) to stop generating the magnetic force so as to allow said magnetic pendulum unit (12) to pass by said at least one electromagnetic unit (13).
2. 2. The driving device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said magnetic pendulum unit (12) includes:

   a lever (121) that has two opposite ends, one of said opposite ends being configured to be connected co-rotatably to the rotating shaft (21); and il a magnetic element (122) mounted on the other one of said opposite ends of said lever (121) and being attractable by the attraction force.
3. 3. The driving device (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

   said at least one electromagnetic unit (13) includes a plurality of electromagnetic units (13) arranged on the circumference of said annular frame (11) and spaced apart from each other along the circumference, each of said electromagnetic units (13) being diametrically opposite to an imaginary point located at the circumference of said annular frame (11) with respect to said center (112); and said at least one control unit (14) includes a plurality of control units (14) corresponding to said electromagnetic units (13), respectively, each of said control units (14) being mounted at a segment of said annular frame (11) toward which said magnetic pendulum unit (12) approaches after passing by the imaginary point diametrically opposite to a corresponding one of said electromagnetic units (13) during rotation, each of said control units (14) being configured to turn on and off the corresponding one of said electromagnetic units (13).
4. 4. The driving device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said at least one control unit (14) includes:

   a first sensor (141) electrically connected to said at least one electromagnetic unit (13) for turning on said at least one electromagnetic unit (13) upon detecting said magnetic pendulum unit (12); and a second sensor (142) spaced apart from said first sensor (141) in a rotation direction of said magnetic pendulum unit (12), disposed between said first sensor (141) and said at least one electromagnetic unit (13), and electrically connected to said at least one electromagnetic unit (13) for turning off said at least one electromagnetic unit (13) upon detecting said magnetic pendulum unit (12).
5. 5. The driving device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said at least one electromagnetic unit (13) includes a core (131) and a winding coil (132) wound on said core (131).
6. 6. The driving device (1) as claimed in claim 4 or 5, further characterized in that said pendulum unit (12) includes:

   a lever (121) that has two opposite ends, one of said opposite ends being configured to be connected co-rotatably to the rotating shaft (21); and two magnetic éléments (122A, 122B) mounted on the other one of said opposite ends of said lever (121), being attractable by the attraction force, spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the rotating shaft (21).
7. 7. An electric generating system (10), characterized by the driving device (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, and at least one generator unit (2, 2’) configured to be connected to the driving shaft (21) for converting kinetic energy generated by said magnetic pendulum unit (12) into electric power.
8. 8. The electric generating system (10) as claimed in claim 7, further characterized by:

   an interconnecting component (31) configured to be connected to and driven by the rotating shaft (21) to rotate;

   a main gear (32) connected to and driven by said interconnecting component (31);

   a plurality of driven gears (331) meshing with and driven by said main gear (32); and a plurality of said generator units (2’) respectively connected to and driven by said driven gears (331) for converting kinetic energy into electric power.