WO2008108575A1

WO2008108575A1 - A driving device for a flywheel

Info

Publication number: WO2008108575A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/001230
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chang-Sook Kim
Original assignee: Chang-Sook Kim
Priority date: 2007-03-08
Filing date: 2008-03-04
Publication date: 2008-09-12
Also published as: KR100882853B1; KR20080082209A

Abstract

The present invention provides a flywheel driving device comprising: a plurality of permanent magnets, a plurality of electromagnets and a commutator. The present invention has an advantageous effect in that the number of use coils generating an induced electromotive force can be kept as small as possible, an acceleration force can be obtained by the magnetic force of the permanent magnets that generates the attractive force and the repulsive force, and a high-speed rotational force can be obtained with a smaller force as the flywheel driving device becomes larger.

Description

[DESCRIPTION] [Invention Title]

A DRIVING DEVICE FOR A FLYWHEEL [Technical Field]

<ι> The present invention relates to a flywheel-driving device, and more particularly, to a driving device for rotating a flywheel having a high moment of inertia. Particularly, the present invention relates to a flywheel driving device in which the energy obtained by rotating a flywheel having a certain radius (R) and mass at high speed using the attractive and repulsive forces of various small elements such as a plurality of permanent magnets and electromagnets can be utilized in production of electricity, the driving of a motor, a vehicle, a motor, an electric train, a vessel and an aircraft, etc. [Background Art]

<2> A general flywheel is an internal component of a small-sized motor, an induction motor, a electrical generator and the like. A large-sized flywheel is widely used as a driving device of a power plant and the like. However, as the flywheel is large-scaled, its inefficiency is increased.

<3> It is preferable to rotate the flywheel with a small force. The larger the flywheel becomes, the more the moment of inertia thereof is increased. Thus, a frictional force of the flywheel and the number of induction coils required are also increased. Besides, the number of permanent magnets is increased to result in an increase of the manufacture cost. Resultant Iy, the large-scaled flywheel entails a problem of being not applied to an actual use.

<4> Therefore, it is required that the number of use coils generating an induced electromotive force should be kept as small as possible and the flywheel should be accelerated with an acceleration force by the magnetic force of the permanent magnets that generates the attractive force and the repulsive force with the aid of the induced electromotive force.

<5> In addition, in order to maximize the magnetic force and the acceleration force through means for adjusting the induced electromotive force of the coil as well as the attractive force and the repulsive force of the permanent magnets, it is also required that the electromagnets and the permanent magnets should be arranged in such a fashion that the induced electromotive force of the electromagnets and the permanent magnetic force of the permanent magnets are as orthogonal to each other as possible so as to maximize the power to be applied to the flywheel.

<6> Further, it is required that when the flywheel is rotated by the induced electromotive force as well as the attractive and repulsive forces produced by the permanent magnetic force, the flywheel should minimally receive interference due to the magnetic force so as to maximize its efficiency. [Disclosure] [Technical Problem]

<7> Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed to address and solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art and satisfy the above-mentioned requirements, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a flywheel driving device in which an acceleration force is applied to a flywheel rotating by an induced electromotive force and a permanent magnetic force, i.e., a change in a magnetic flux so as to generate a high power with a small force. [Technical Solution]

<8> Another object of the present invention is to provide a flywheel driving device in which the electromagnets and the permanent magnets are arranged in such a fashion that the induced electromotive force of the electromagnets and the permanent magnetic force of permanent magnets are as orthogonal to each other as possible so as to adjust the induced electromotive force as well as the attractive and repulsive forces generated by the permanent magnetic force and maximize the magnetic force and acceleration force.

<9> Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a flywheel driving device in which interference by the magnetic poles of permanent magnets and the magnetic poles of electromagnets can be minimized upon the rotation of a flywheel to thereby increase a rotational acceleration force. [Advantageous Effects]

<io> Accordingly, the flywheel driving device of the present invention has an advantageous effect in that an acceleration force can be obtained by means of the magnetic forces of a plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of electromagnets generating an induced electromotive force, and a high-speed rotational force can be obtained with a smaller force as the flywheel driving device becomes larger.

<π> In addition, the flywheel driving device of the present invention has an advantageous effect in that it is provided with means for adjusting the attractive and repulsive forces of the electromagnets and the permanent magnets so as to maximize the strength of the magnetic force through only the use of an acceleration force, and can be widely utilized in various machinery such as production of electricity, the driving of a vehicle, heavy equipment, a train, a vessel, a motor and an aircraft, etc.

<i2> Furthermore, the flywheel driving device of the present invention has an advantageous effect in that it can widely used in conveying machinery, etc., because of being capable of utilizing electricity as clean energy owing to its high efficiency, [Description of Drawings]

<I3> FIG. 1 is a top plan view schematically illustrating the inner construction of a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

<i4> FIGs. 2a to 2d are schematic views illustrating the arrangement states of permanent magnets installed inside a rotor according to one embodiment of the present invention;

<i5> FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the inner construction of a commutator that supplies power to a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

<i6> FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of an electromagnet according to one embodiment of the present invention; <I7> FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state where two commutators and one flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention are axial Iy connected to each other; <i8> FIG. 6 is an operational view illustrating the interaction of forces between electromagnets and permanent magnets in a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention; <i^l>> FIG. 7 is a top plan view illustrating a state where two commutators and one flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention are connected to each other; <20> FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating a state where a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention is in use; <2i> FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a state where transportation means is driven using a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention; <22> FIGs. 10a and 10b are views illustrating a state where a train or the like is driven using a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention; <23> FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a state where industrial machinery, heavy equipment and the like employ a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention; <24> FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a state where a vessel is driven using a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention; and <25> FIGs. 13a and 13b are views illustrating a state where an airplane is driven using a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Best Mode] <26> To accomplish the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a flywheel driving device comprising: a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in a circular shape along the circumference of a flywheel relative to the rotational direction of the flywheel inside a rotor; a plurality of electromagnets arranged in the circumferential direction to confront the plurality of permanent magnets so as to have their polarities to be changed by electricity so as to allow the attractive force and the repulsive force to be generated from the permanent magnets, the number of the electromagnets being configured to be twice as many as that of the permanent magnets; and a commutator electrically connected to the plurality of electromagnets whose polarities are changed at the same cycle as that of the permanent magnets so that the electromagnets are applied with a magnetic force of an opposite polarity to that of the permanent magnets confronting the electromagnets, and so that when the permanent magnets and the electromagnets are positioned to correctly face each other, the polarities of the electromagnets are converted into the same polarities as those of the permanent magnets and electromagnets neighboring to the electromagnets whose polarities are converted are applied with a magnetic force of the same polarities as those of the electromagnets whose polarities are converted.

<27> Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

<28> FIG. 1 is a top plan view schematically illustrating the inner construction of a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

<29> Referring to FIG. 1, a flywheel having a certain radius (R) and mass is rotated at high speed using the attractive and repulsive forces of various small elements such as a plurality of permanent magnets and electromagnets. The center of a flywheel driving device 10 is fixed by a rotary shaft, and a plurality of permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ... and 12-n is mounted along a circumference P of the flywheel. The permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ... and 12-n are constructed to be rotated in such a fashion that N-poles and S-poles thereof are alternately arranged with one another along the circumference P. Also, a plurality of induction magnets, i.e., a plurality of electromagnets Al, A2, ... and A2n is arranged in the circumferential direction to confront the permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ... and 12-n. At this time, the number of electromagnets Al, A2, ... and A2n is twice as many as that of permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ... and 12-n. The electromagnets Al, A2, ... and A2n are constructed of iron cores which are wound with induction coils in a dual- winding scheme, and are connected to two commutators 50a and 50b in such a fashion that polarities of the two commutators are opposite to each other to cause the electromagnets to have N-poles and S-poles to be alternately arranged thereon. The two commutators 50a and 50b are mounted to control the N-poles and S-poles of the electromagnet Al, A2, ... and A2n. Also, in this case, the flywheel driving device 10 and the two commutators 50a and 50b must be identical to each other in the number of revolutions. To this end, the diameter of a shaft of the flywheel driving device 10 is constructed to be identical to that of each of the commutators 50a and 50b. The commutators 50a and 50b and the flywheel driving device 10 are rotatably connected to each other by means of chains or timing belts 51a and 51b so that they can be controlled to be rotated without any error.

<30> The commutators 50a and 50b connected to a pulley 4 mounted around the rotary shaft 2 is supplied with electric power from a donut-like power supply means 11 (see FIG. 5) for supplying electric power through carbon brushes 13. The carbon brushes 13 are arranged at regular intervals on the commutators 50a and 50b in such a fashion that the number of the carbon brushes corresponds to one fourths of the number of commutator segments. For example, in case where the number of the commutator segments is 16, four carbon brushes 13 are arranged at an angle of 90° with respect to one another, and in case where the number of the commutator segments is 32, eight carbon brushes 13 are arranged at an angle of 45^° with respect to one another. And, in case where the number of the commutator segments is 8, two carbon brushes 13 are arranged at an angle of 180° with respect to each other. Each of the carbon brush 13 is disposed on the top surface of a corresponding one of the commutator segments in the same shape as that the commutator segment, i.e., in an arc shape, and is connected to the power supply means 11. The carbon brushes 13 are constructed such that they are in close contact with the commutator segments so that when the carbon brushes 13 are rotated, current outputted through the power supply means and the carbon brushes 13 is supplied to the commutator segments. In the meantime, the carbon brushes 13 are rotated, but the commutators 50a and 50b which are in electrical contact with the carbon brushes are maintained in a state of being fixed.

<3i> The power supply means 11 is mounted in a donut shape at the inside of each of the commutators 50a and 50b, respectively. The pulley 4 is fixed to the rotary shaft 2 so that an electrical generator 6 as a power-generating unit is driven through the belt 5. The flywheel driving device may be connected to a transportation means such as a vehicle using a device other than the electrical generator.

<32> Also, the plurality of electromagnets Al, A2, ... and A2n is arranged in the circumferential direction to confront the permanent magnets 12-1, 12- 2, ... and 12-n of the flywheel driving device 10. The permanent magnets 12- 1, 12-2, ... and 12-n are rotated by means of the attractive and repulsive forces of the electromagnets Al, A2, ... and A2n and the permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ... and 12-n so as to cause the flywheel driving device 10 to generate power. At this time, the electromagnets Al, A2, ... and A2n are maintained in a state of being fixed at an outer side.

<33> FIGs. 2a to 2d are schematic views illustrating the arrangement states of permanent magnets installed inside a rotor according to one embodiment of the present invention.

<34> Referring to FIGs. 2a to 2d, there is shown the arrangement state of any one of the permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ..., 12-n. Particularly, FIGs. 2a and 2b show a front view and a side view of the permanent magnets. In the embodiments of FIGs. 2a and 2b, the permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ... and 12- n each having a certain size are arranged, and any one of the permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ... and 12-n, i.e., a permanent magnet 12-1 will be described hereinafter.

<35> The permanent magnet 12-1 includes a central magnet segment J4 positioned at the center thereof and a plurality of auxiliary magnet segments Jl, J2, J3, J5, J6 and J7 positioned at the periphery of the central magnet segment J4. In this case, Gaussian values representing the magnetic forces of the respective magnet segments Jl, J2, ... and J7 are different from one another, and the magnetic forces of the auxiliary magnet segments are symmetrical to each other relative to the central magnet segment J4. This is aimed at maintaining an equilibrium state between the magnetic forces of the auxiliary magnet segments so as to rotate the flywheel driving device 10 at high speed to thereby maximize its rotational force. In this case, the magnetic force of the central magnet segment J4 is set to have the greatest Gaussian value.

<36> Meanwhile, for example, the permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ... and 12-n may be configured such that any one of the permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ... and 12-n is attached with two to thirty magnet segments which are different from one another in their magnetic forces, and then the magnet segments are arranged in an order where the magnetic forces of the magnet segments are increased relative to the center of the magnet segments, i.e., the Gaussian values of the leftmost magnet segment Jl, a magnet segment J2 positioned just at the right of the leftmost magnet segment Jl, a magnet segment J3 positioned just the right of the magnet segment J2 and the central magnet segment J4 are sequentially increased in a left-to-right direction to have 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000, respectively, whereas the Gaussian values of the rightmost magnet segment J7, a magnet segment J6 positioned just at the left of the rightmost magnet segment J7, a magnet segment J5 positioned just the left of the magnet segment J6 and the central magnet segment J4 are sequentially increased in a right-to-left direction to have 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000, respectively, so that the magnet segments Jl, J2 and J3 are symmetrical to the magnet segments J5, J6 and J7 relative to the central magnet segment J4. <37> In the embodiments of FIGs. 2c and 2d, the permanent magnet is configured such that a plurality of magnet segments identical to or different from one another in their magnetic forces is formed in a stepped manner so that the magnetic forces of the magnet segments are gradually decreased as it goes from the center of the permanent magnet to the periphery thereof depending on the rotational direction of the flywheel driving device 10. Likewise, since the permanent magnet is configured in the stepped manner, the auxiliary magnet segments Bl, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B7 thereof except the central magnet segment B4 thereof have the same Gaussian value so that the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet acting on the electromagnets Al, A2, ... and A2n is decreased as it goes toward end portions of the permanent magnet. In this case, a plurality of magnet segments is symmetrically arranged to have the same polarity as that of the central magnet segment installed in the permanent magnet in such a fashion that as it goes from the central magnet segment J4 to the auxiliary magnet segments Jl, J2, J3, J5, J6 and J7 having a relatively weak magnetic force, the auxiliary magnet segments are inclined at an angle of preferably 2° to 45^° so as to prevent a collision between the magnetic forces.

<38> In the meantime, the embodiments shown in FIGs. 2c and 2d, i.e., the respective auxiliary magnet segments Bl, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B7 are configured in the stepped manner such that the Gaussian values thereof are different from one another similarly to the embodiments shown in FIGs 2a and 2b, so that the magnetic flux acting on the electromagnets Al, A2, ... and A2n is gradually decreased as it goes from the central of the permanent magnet to the periphery thereof. That is, the embodiments shown in FIGs. 2a and 2b and the embodiments shown in FIGs. 2c and 2d can be carried out through a combination of their characteristics depending on the convenience of the manufacturing process. For example, the respective magnet segments having different magnetic forces are required to be obtained and joined to each other. But, the embodiments shown in FIGs. 2c and 2d can be manufactured by processing the same material. Also, the magnet segments made of a material having the same or different magnetic forces may be constructed through the joining of the stepped manner

<39> In this case, preferably, the central magnet segments J4 and B4 and the auxiliary magnet segments Jl, J2, J3, J5, J6, J7, Bl, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B7 are configured to have the same width.

<40> FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the inner construction of a commutator that supplies power to a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of an electromagnet according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state where two commutators and one flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention are axial Iy connected to each other, and FIG. 6 is an operational view illustrating the interaction of forces between electromagnets and permanent magnets in a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

<4i> Referring to FIGs. 3 to 6, first, in FIG. 3, the number of the permanent magnets installed is four .since the number of electromagnets is eight. In the meantime, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 and 12-4 are referred to as first to fourth permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 and 12-4 in a clockwise direction, respectively, and the electromagnets Al to A8 are also referred to as first to eighth electromagnets Al to A8 in a clockwise direction. Likewise, the commutators 50a and 50b each constructed of eight electromagnets Al to A8 employ the commutators 50a and 50b each constructed of eight commutator segments 50-1 to 50-8. Also, two carbon brushes 13-1 and 13-2 are arranged on the eight commutator segments as constructed above in such a fashion that there is a phase difference of 180° therebetween.

<42> In FIG. 4, there is shown a first electromagnet Al of the electromagnets Al and A8. The first electromagnet Al is composed of an iron core 14 wound with induction coils. In this case, two induction coils are wound together around iron core in a dual-winding scheme to thereby form four terminals so that the first electromagnet Al has N-poles and S-poles alternately arranged thereon when being supplied with power. The terminals are referred to as first to four terminals Tl, T2, T3 and T4 in correspondence with the numeral references thereof. In this case, the first terminal Tl and the second terminal T2 are the same wires of the induction coils, and the third terminal T3 and the fourth terminal T4 are the same wires of the induction coils.

<43> In FIG. 5, 16 electromagnets are mounted on the flywheel driving device 10. As shown in FIG. 5, two commutators 50a and 50b are used, and 16 commutator segments 50-1 to 50-16 are also mounted correspondingly to the 16 electromagnets. A plurality of commutator segments 50-1 to 50-16 of each of the commutators 50a and 50b is referred to as first to sixteenth commutator segments 50-1 to 50-16.

<44> First, the first terminal Tl and the second terminal T2 of the first electromagnet Al are connected to the first commutator segment 50-1 of one (hereinafter, referred to as "first commutator 50a") of the two commutators 50a and 50b. Also, the third terminal T3 and the fourth terminal T4 of the first electromagnet Al are connected to the first commutator segment 50-1 of the other commutator 50b (hereinafter, referred to as "second commutator"). Carbon brushes 13-1, 13-2, 13-3, 13-4 are arranged on one of the two commutators 50a and 50b in such a fashion that there is a phase difference of 90^° therebetween. Also, there is a phase difference of 45° , 135^° , 225° or 315^° between the respective carbon brushes 13-1 and 13-2 of two commutators 50a and 50b. The carbon brushes 13-1, 13-2, 13-3 and 13-4 are referred to as first to fourth carbon brushes 13-1, 13-2, 13-3 and 13-4 in correspondence with the numeral references thereof.

<45> Also, if the commutators 50a and 50b have polarities opposite to each other upon the wiring of the power supply means 11 provided at the commutator segments 50-1 to 50-16 so that the electromagnets Al to A16 connected by means of the first commutator 50a have the characteristics of N-poles, the electromagnets Al to A16 connected by means of the second commutator 50b are wired inversely to have the characteristics of S-poles. On the contrary, if the electromagnets Al to A16 connected by means of the first commutator 50a have the characteristics of S-poles, the electromagnets Al to A16 connected by means of the second commutator 50b are wired inversely to have the characteristics of N-poles. At this time, the polarity arrangement of the permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ... and 12-n as rotors are changed in order inversely. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the first terminal Tl of the first electromagnet Al is connected to the first commutator segment 50-1 of the first commutator 50a, and the second terminal T2 of the first electromagnet Al is connected to a snap ring 11-1 electrically connected to the power supply means 11 of the first commutator 50a. Similarly, the second to sixteenth electromagnets A2 to A16 for the first commutator 50a are also constructed such that they are connected to the commutator segments 50-2 to 50-16 and the snap ring 11-1 of the first commutator 50a so that the electromagnets Al to A16 electrically connected to the first commutator 50a can be provided with N-poles. Also, the third terminal T3 of the first electromagnet Al is connected to a snap ring 11-1 electrically connected to the power supply means 11 of the second commutator 50b, and the fourth terminal T4 of the first electromagnet Al is connected to the first commutator segment 50-1 of the second commutator 50b. Similarly, the second to sixteenth electromagnets A2 to A16 for the second commutator 50b are also constructed such that they are connected to the snap ring 11-1 and the commutator segments 50-2 to 50-16 of the second commutator 50b so that the electromagnets Al to A16 electrically connected to the second commutator 50b can be provided with S-poles.

<46> Here, as described above, for the sake of convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the electromagnets Al to A16 to which the first commutator 50a is connected is caused to be magnetized to the N-pole, and the electromagnets Al to A16 to which the second commutator 50b is connected is caused to be magnetized to the S-pole.

<47> Like this, when the first carbon brush 13-1 of the carbon brushes 13- 1, 13-2, 13-3 and 13-4 rotating on the first commutator 50a is positioned on the first commutator segment 50-1, the first electromagnet Al becomes an electromagnet having the N-polarity. Further, the second carbon brush 13-2 of the first commutator 50a allows the fifth electromagnet A4 connected with the fifth commutator segment 50-5 to have the N-polarity. Also, the ninth electromagnet A9 and the thirteenth electromagnet A13 have N-polarity, respectively.

<48> And, at the same point of time, the third, seventh, eleventh and fifteenth carbon brushes 13-1, 13-2, 13-3 and 13-4 of the second commutator 50b allows the third electromagnet A3, the seventh electromagnet A7, the eleventh electromagnet All and the fifteenth electromagnet A15 to have the S- polarity, respectively. But, what has been described above is merely what has described the case where the carbon brushes 13-1 and 13-2 are correctly matched with the commutator segments 50-1 to 50-8. The case where the carbon brushes 13-1 and 13-2 rotating at high speed are correctly matched with the commutator segments 50-1 to 50-8 occurs during an extremely short time period, and in almost all cases the carbon brushes 13-1 and 13-2 are positioned at a boundary between two certain neighboring ones of the commutator segments 50-1 and 50-8. In the drawings, for the sake of convenience of explanation, although the carbon brushes 13-1, 13-2, 13-3 and 13-4 are shown to be smaller than the commutator segments 50-1 to 50-16, they may be actually constructed such that their sizes are equal to those of the commutator segments 50-1 to 50-16 or their widths are made to be less than twice as large as the thicknesses of insulators for dividing the commutator segments 50-1 to 50-16.

<4')> In order to describe the case where the carbon brushes 13-1 and 13-2 are positioned at the boundary between two certain neighboring commutator segments, it is assumed that the carbon brushes 13-1 and 13-2 are rotated by 1^° to 44^° Here, the angular range has been limited to a range of from l^c to 44° but this limitation is to take into consideration the thickness of the isolator for dividing and isolating the commutator segments 50-1 to 50-8. Theoretically, the rotation of the carbon brushes 13-1 and 13-2 is effective within an angular range between a certain angle above 1^° and a certain angle below 45°

<50> In the meantime, when the commutator segments are rotated by 1^° to 44 the first carbon brush 13-1 of the first commutator 50a is positioned on the first commutator segment 50-1 and the second commutator segment 50-2 to cause the first electromagnet Al and the second electromagnet A2 connected to the first commutator segment 50-1 and the second commutator segment 50-2, respectively, to be magnetized to the N-pole. Similarly, the second carbon brush 13-2 of the first commutator 50a is positioned on the fifth commutator segment 50-5 and the sixth commutator segment 50-6 to cause the fifth electromagnet A5 and the sixth electromagnet A6 connected to the fifth commutator segment 50-5 and the sixth commutator segment 50-6, respectively, to be magnetized to the N-pole.

<5i> Meanwhile, at the same point of time, in the second commutator 50b, the first carbon brush 13-1, the second carbon brush 13-2, the third carbon brush 13-3 and the fourth carbon brush 13-4 cause the third electromagnet A3 and the fourth electromagnet A4, the seventh electromagnet A7 and the eighth electromagnet A8, the eleventh electromagnet All and the twelfth electromagnet A12, the fifteenth electromagnet A15 and the sixteenth electromagnet A16 to be magnetized to the S-pole. In this case, since the respective electromagnets Al to A16 are arranged circumferentially in a circular shape, their polarities are arranged in the form of NNSSNNSSNNSSNNSS in the order of from the first electromagnets Al to the sixteenth A16. At this time, the first and second commutators 50a and the 50b and the flywheel driving device 10 are rotated by approximately 22.5^° , the polarity arrangement of the electromagnets Al to A16 is changed into SNNSSNNSSNNSSNNS. Thus, the permanent magnets 12-1 to 12-4 disposed at the inside of the electromagnets are rotated by means of the repulsive force and the attractive force against the corresponding electromagnets. Also, since the commutators 50a and 50b are rotated in response to the rotation of the flywheel driving device 10, the rotational speed of the commutators 50a and 50b can be adjusted.

<52> And, the rotary shafts 2-2 and 2-3 for connecting the two commutators 50a and the 50b, and the rotary shaft 2-1 for connecting the flywheel driving device 10 are constructed such that the lengths of the circumferences of the rotary shafts 2-2 and 2-3 and the rotary shaft 2-1 are identical to each other to cause the commutators 50a and 50b and the flywheel driving device 10 to coincide with each other in the number of rotations.

<53> Referring to FIG. 6, as described above, the commutators 50a and 50b serve to change the polarities of the electromagnets Al, A2, ... and A2n. The commutators 50a and the 50b are rotated at the same cycle together with the rotary shaft 2-1 of the flywheel driving device 10 including the electromagnets Al, A2, ... and A2n and the permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ... and 12-n and the rotary shafts 2-2 and 2-3 of the commutators 50a and 50b. Thus, the first electromagnet Al positioned circumferential Iy to confront the first permanent magnet 12-1 having the S-polarity has the S-polarity. When the N-polarity is applied to the second electromagnet A2 positioned adjacent to the first electromagnet Al in a clockwise direction, the third electromagnet A3 also has the N-polarity and the fourth electromagnet A4 and the fifth electromagnet A5 have the S-polarity. In this case, a repulsive force acts on the first permanent magnet 12-1 by the first electromagnet Al positioned circumferential Iy to confront the first permanent magnet 12-1 and

-th the 2n electromagnet A2n positioned in a counterclockwise direction adjacent to the first electromagnet Al, and an attractive force acts on acts on the first permanent magnet 12-1 by the second electromagnet A2 and the third electromagnet A3 positioned adjacent to the first electromagnet Al in the clockwise direction to cause the flywheel driving device to be rotated. Similarly, the repulsive force and the attractive force also act on the second permanent magnet 12-2, the third permanent magnet 12-3 and the fourth permanent magnet 12-4 based on the same principle to cause the flywheel driving device to be rotated. <54> Particularly, since power is supplied to only the electromagnets Al, A2, ... and A2n fixed to a circumferential surface confronting the circumference of the flywheel to cause the permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ... and 12-n to be rotated, the flywheel driving device 10 can be rotated at less power consumption. In addition, since the flywheel driving device 10 is rotated by the magnetic force (acting perpendicularly in the circumference) generated at the circumference of the flywheel, but not the power generated at the central rotary shaft 2, a large-scaled flywheel driving device 10 can be rotated even with a smaller force.

<55> Since the force by the magnetic force is the largest in an orthogonal direction and is inversely proportional to the square of a distance, it is required that the distance (interval) between the electromagnets Al, A2, ... and A2n and the permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ... and 12-n should be decreased. In the present invention, in order for the permanent magnets 12- 1, 12-2, ... and 12-n to be applied with the magnetic force in the orthogonal direction, they are constructed of the first permanent magnet 12-1 and the second permanent magnet 12-2 each composed of different magnetic poles. The first permanent magnet 12-1 is constructed such that a plurality of permanent magnet segments Jl, 12, ..., J7 and Bl, B2, ..., B7 supply a larger magnetic force to the circumference of the flywheel toward the rotational direction of the flywheel driving device 10 relative to the center of the first permanent magnet, and then supply a gradually decreased magnetic force to the circumference of the flywheel (see FIGs. 2a and 2d).

<56> In the meantime, the aforementioned commutators can switch current supplied to each electromagnet using an IC switching element so as to supply the switched current.

<57> FIG. 7 is a top plan view illustrating a state where two commutators and one flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention are connected to each other.

<58> Referring to FIG. 7, the rotary shafts 2-2 and 2-3 connecting the respective commutators 50a and the 50b and the rotary shaft 2-1 connected integrally with the flywheel driving device 10 are constructed such that the diameters and the lengths of the circumferences of the rotary shafts 2-2 and 2-3 and the rotary shaft 2-1 are identical to each other, and are connected to each other by means of the chain or timing belt 51. The rotary shafts 2-2 and 2-3 and the rotary shaft 2-1 may be constructed such that similarly to the chains 51a and 51b of FIG. 1, the chains 51a and 51b are connected to the flywheel driving device 10 so as to cause the rotary shafts 2-2 and 2-3 and the rotary shaft 2-1 to be rotated at the same cycle. As shown in FIGs. 5 and 7, the chain 51 is formed in a triangular shape, and the rotary shafts 2- 2 and 2-3 concentrically connected with the carbon brushes 13-1, 13-2, 13-3 and 13-4 of the commutators 50a and 50b and the rotary shaft 2-1 integrally connected with the flywheel driving device 10 are constructed such that the diameters and the lengths of the circumferences of the rotary shafts 2-2 and 2-3 and the rotary shaft 2-1 are identical to each other and are connected to each other by means of the chain 51.

<59> Therefore, the commutators 50a and 50b can change the polarity of the flywheel driving device 10 in correspondence with the rotation of the flywheel driving device 10.

<60> FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating a state where a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention is in use!

<6i> Referring to FIG. 8, two pairs of flywheel driving devices 10 are mounted around the rotary shaft 2-1 in such a fashion that two flywheel driving devices 10 of each pair as to be connected to each other by joining. In this case, the inner permanent magnets 12-1, 12-2, ... and 12-n have N- poles and S-poles arranged alternately with one another along the circumferential direction. In addition, since the polarities of the electromagnets Al, A2, ... and A2n are changed correspondingly, two flywheel driving devices 10 can be sued in a state of being joined to each other even without other separate devices. At this time, if the commutators 50a and 50b are wired to have different polarities, the two flywheel driving devices 10 can be controlled by the two commutators.

<62> Next, multiple pairs of flywheel driving devices 10 each composed of the two flywheel driving devices 10 joined to each other are mounted around a single rotary shaft. In the drawing, although only two pairs of flywheel driving devices 10 are shown, a plurality of pairs of flywheel driving devices 10 can be connected to each other to thereby enhance the driving force thereof. The energy produced by the rotation of the flywheel driving devices 10 operated as described above is transferred to a load as a rotational force of the rotary shaft 2-1.

<63> FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a state where transportation means is driven using a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

<64> Referring to FIG. 9, two flywheel driving devices 10 are constructed in such a fashion as to be joined to be each other. As described above, since the permanent magnet portions of the flywheel driving devices can be overlapped with each other, they can be joined easily. Thus, likewise, two flywheel driving devices are constructed in such a fashion as to be joined to each other. The space which the flywheel driving devices occupy is reduced, and the power generated from the two flywheel driving devices 10 having an increased driving force is transferred to wheels 78 through an axle, i.e., the rotary shaft 2-1, a transmission 72, an axle gear 74 and a drive shaft 76. A vehicle 70 is driven by using the power transferred to the wheels 78.

<65> FIGs. 10a and 10b are views illustrating a state where a train or the like is driven using a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

<66> Referring to FIGs. 10a and 10b, there are shown two embodiments in which the train is driven. First, in FIG. 10a, similarly to what has been described above, a plurality of flywheel driving devices 10 is driven to drive a train 80a using the power generated from an electrical generator 6. In the meantime, surplus power is stored in a battery 30, and when an emergency situation occurs in which the flywheel driving device 10 cannot be used, a motor 32 may be started up at an early stage using the battery 30 so as to drive the train 80a.

<67> In FIG. 10b, the power is stored in the high-performance battery 30 using the motor, and the plurality of flywheel driving devices 10 is driven using the battery 30. The train 80b is driven by the flywheel driving devices 10 as driven above.

<68> FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a state where industrial machinery, heavy equipment and the like employ a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

<69> Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown an embodiment in which the flywheel driving devices 10 are employed in heavy equipment and the like, but not general transportation means. That is, electricity produced by the electrical generator 6 is stored in a battery 30. A plurality of flywheel driving devices 10 is driven by using the power stored in the battery 30. The power generated from the flywheel driving devices 10 is transferred to wheels of the heavy equipment 90 through a transmission to drive the heavy equipment 90. The flywheel driving device 10 can be applied to all the heavy equipment including excavators, bulldozers, payloaders, cranes, tank lorrys, trailers, a tractor, loaders, forklifts, etc.

<70> FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a state where a vessel is driven using a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

<7i> Referring to FIG. 12, there is shown an example in which the flywheel driving device 10 is applied to a vessel 100. The vessel 100 is constructed such that the power produced by the flywheel driving devices 10-1 and 10-2 is transferred to gears 102 through a central rotary shaft 2 and the power transferred to the gears 102 is then transferred up to a screw 106 through a drive shaft 104 so as to rotate the screw 106. At this time, the flywheel driving devices 10-1 and 10-2 are arranged in parallel with each other in two rows in such a fashion as to be perpendicular to the drive shaft. This is aimed at obtaining sufficient power. Thus, the flywheel driving devices may be additionally mounted in two to ten rows, if necessary. In the drawing, although two flywheel driving devices 10-1 and the 10-2 are arranged in parallel with each other to be perpendicular to the drive shaft, those skilled in the art will easily appreciate that more flywheel driving devices can be arranged in parallel with each other so as to generate a larger power.

<72> Further, when the flywheel driving devices 10-1 and 10-2 are applied to the vessel, they are preferably mounted perpendicular to the plane. The reason of perpendicularly mounting the flywheel driving devices 10-1 and 10-2 is that they are very resistant against wind waves owing to their intrinsic ability to erect vertically.

<73> FIGs. 13a and 13b are views illustrating a state where an airplane is driven using a flywheel driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

<74> Referring to FIGs. 13a and 13b, there is shown an example in which the flywheel driving devices 10 are applied to the airplane. The airplane 110 is constructed such that the power generated from the flywheel driving devices 10 is transferred to a propeller 112 through a rotary shaft 2 and the flywheel driving devices 10 serve as engines provided at the wings of the airplane. Thus, a lift force is generated by the propeller 112 and the wings to cause the airplane to fly in the air. In the meantime, although the flywheel driving device 10 are installed in stead of the engines at the wings of the airplane, those skilled in the art will easily appreciate that they may replace the central engine of the tail of the airplane.

<75> While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

[CLAIMS] [Claim 1]

<77> A flywheel driving device comprising:

<78> a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in a circular shape along the circumference of a flywheel relative to the rotational direction of the flywheel inside a rotor;

<79> a plurality of electromagnets arranged in the circumferential direction to confront the plurality of permanent magnets so as to have their polarities to be changed by electricity so as to allow the attractive force and the repulsive force to be generated from the permanent magnets, the number of the electromagnets being configured to be twice as many as that of the permanent magnets; and

<80> a commutator electrically connected to the plurality of electromagnets whose polarities are changed at the same cycle as that of the permanent magnets so that the electromagnets are applied with a magnetic force of an opposite polarity to that of the permanent magnets confronting the electromagnets, and so that when the permanent magnets and the electromagnets are positioned to correctly face each other, the polarities of the electromagnets are converted into the same polarities as those of the permanent magnets and electromagnets neighboring to the electromagnets whose polarities are converted are applied with a magnetic force of the same polarities as those of the electromagnets whose polarities are converted.

[Claim 2]

<8i> The flywheel driving device according to claim 1, wherein the commutator comprises a commutator for magnetizing the electromagnets to the N-pole and a commutator for magnetizing the electromagnets to the S-pole, and wherein the diameter of a rotary shaft of the flywheel driving device is identical to that of a rotary shaft of the commutator.

[Claim 3]

<82> The flywheel driving device according to claim 2, wherein the rotary shaft of the flywheel driving device and the rotary shaft of the commutator are connected to each other by means of a chain or a timing belt so as to be rotated at the same cycle.

[Claim 4]

<83> The flywheel driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the commutator comprises:

<84> power supply means disposed at the periphery of the rotary shaft of the commutator in a donut shape for being supplied with power so as to supply the supplied power to the commutator;

<85> a plurality of commutator segments mounted at the periphery of the power supply means in an arc shape in such a fashion as to be divided and isolated from one another so as to be identical in number to the electromagnets, the commutator segments being configured to be isolated from the power supply means so that they are prevented from being rotated; and

<86> carbon brushes electrically connected to the top surface of the power supply means and in close contact with the commutator segments while being rotated on the commutator segments, wherein the carbon brushes are arranged on the commutator segments at regular intervals so as to be rotated at the same cycle as that of the flywheel driving device, and have the same shape and one fourths of the total number of the commutator segments.

[Claim 5]

<87> The flywheel driving device according to claim 4, wherein two wires are wound around the iron core of the electromagnets together upon the winding of induction coils so as to have the N-poles and the S-poles alternately arranged with each other on the electromagnets, two terminals interconnected are connected to any one of the commutator segments and the other two terminals interconnected are inversely connected to another commutator segment so as to change the polarities of the electromagnets to allow the electromagnets to have the N-poles and the S-poles alternately arranged each other in response to the commutator segments.

[Claim 6]

<88> The flywheel driving device according to claim 4, wherein the carbon brushes are formed in an arc shape, and are constructed such that their sizes are equal to those of the commutator segments or their widths are made to be less than twice as large as the thicknesses of insulators for dividing the commutator segments.

[Claim 7]

<89> The flywheel driving device according to claim 4, wherein the flywheel driving device controls any one of the strength of the electromagnets, the strength of the magnetic forces the permanent magnets, the number of the permanent magnets and the number of the electromagnets so as to control its rotational speed.

[Claim 8]

<90> The flywheel driving device according to claim 4, wherein the carbon brushes supplying power to the electromagnets comes into contact with the two neighboring electromagnets to cause the two neighboring electromagnets abutting against the carbon brushes to be magnetized to the same polarity and two neighboring electromagnets positioned at both sides of the two neighboring electromagnets abutting against the carbon brushes to be magnetized to the same polarity.

[Claim 9]

<9i> The flywheel driving device according to claim 1, wherein each of the permanent magnets comprises a central magnet segment positioned at the center thereof and a plurality of auxiliary magnet segments positioned at the periphery of the central magnet segment, the central magnet segment being higher in magnetic force than the auxiliary magnet segments and having the same polarity as that of the auxiliary magnet segments, and the auxiliary magnet segments being symmetrical to each other relative to the central magnet segment .

[Claim 10]

<92> The flywheel driving device according to claim 9, wherein the auxiliary magnet segments are inclined at an angle of 2° to 45° in a direction in which they goes away from the central magnet segment and the electromagnets so as to prevent a collision between the magnetic forces.

[Claim 11]

<93> The flywheel driving device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the width of the central magnet segment is configured to be identical to that of the auxiliary magnet segments.

[Claim 12]

<^l>4> The flywheel driving device according to claim 11, wherein the width of the auxiliary magnet segments is configured to be larger than that of the central magnet segment.

[Claim 13]

<95> The flywheel driving device according to claim 1, wherein two flywheel driving devices are joined to each other while abutting against each other so as to allow the permanent magnet portions of the flywheel driving devices to be automatically attached to each other to thereby increase the power.

[Claim 14]

<%> The flywheel driving device according to claim 1 or 9, wherein a plurality of central magnet segments and a plurality of auxiliary magnet segments fixed to the permanent magnets are configured such that the magnitude of a magnetic force of each permanent magnet is the greatest at the center thereof and is gradually reduced as it goes toward the periphery thereof.

[Claim 15]

<97> The flywheel driving device according to claim 2, wherein each of the electromagnets comprises a winding coil connected to the commutator for magnetizing the electromagnets to the N-pole, a winding coil connected to the commutator for magnetizing the electromagnets to the S-pole, the winding coils being dividedly wound in an opposite direction to each other in a dual- winding scheme, and an iron core fixedly inserted into the center thereof.

[Claim 16]

<9<s> The flywheel driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 5 to 10 or 12 to 15, wherein the power generated from a plurality of flywheel driving devices is transferred to an apparatus employing the power through a coaxial rotary shaft.

[Claim 17]

<99> The flywheel driving device according to claim 16, wherein the apparatus employing the power is any one of a motor, a vehicle, heavy equipment, a train, an airplane and a vessel.

[Claim 18]

<ioo> The flywheel driving device according to claim 1, wherein the commutator switches current supplied to each electromagnet using an IC switching element .

[Claim 19]

<ioi> The flywheel driving device according to claim 17, wherein the flywheel driving device is perpendicularly mounted to the vessel.