High torque density electric motor/generator with rolling element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019068024-A1
Application number	US-201716077312-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 15, 2017
Priority date	Feb 15, 2016
Publication date	Feb 28, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electric motor is provided, comprising: a first magnetic component, a second magnetic component, and a circuit configured to electromagnetically activate at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component. The electromagnetic activation causes a change in a gap between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component, the change in the gap resulting in rotation of at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.

First claim

1 . An electric motor, comprising:
a first magnetic component; a second magnetic component; and a circuit configured to electromagnetically activate at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component; wherein the electromagnetic activation causes a varying gap between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component, the varying gap having a first width at a first radial location and a second width, different from the first width, at a second radial location, and resulting in rotation of at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.

2 . The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein a surface velocity of the first magnetic component is substantially the same as a surface velocity of the second magnetic component during the rotation of at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.

3 . The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the varying gap results in rotation of the second magnetic component about an axis of the second magnetic component and movement of the axis relative to the first magnetic component.

4 - 5 . (canceled)

6 . The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic component comprises a plurality of poles, each pole having a contact surface that is contacted by a contact surface of the second magnetic component during the rotation of at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic component comprises a plurality of rollers connected by a support structure and spaced around at least one race formed by the first magnetic component.

9 . The electric motor of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of rollers comprises a cylindrical body.

10 . The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic component comprises a plurality of poles, each pole including a first curved plate and a second curved plate connected to the first curved plate by a pair of rods.

11 . The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic component is disposed at least partially within the second magnetic component.

12 . (canceled)

13 . The electric motor of claim 1 , further comprising a first engagement element coupled to the first magnetic component, the first engagement element being offset from the first magnetic component along a central axis of the first magnetic component, and a second engagement element coupled to the second magnetic component, the second engagement element being offset from the second magnetic component along a central axis of the second magnetic component and engaging the first engagement element during the rotation of at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.

14 . The electric motor of claim 1 , further comprising a drive assembly having a drive plate, a drive shaft extending perpendicularly from one surface of the drive plate, and a plurality of drive rods extending perpendicularly from another surface of the drive plate, the drive rods being spaced on the other surface to align with a plurality of drive openings formed in a drive wall of the second magnetic component.

15 - 16 . (canceled)

17 . The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the varying gap results in rotation of the second magnetic surface, the gap being between the first magnetic component and an inner surface of the second magnetic component, the second magnetic component further comprising an outer surface having a plurality of surface features that cooperate with corresponding features of a drive element to cause motion of the drive element.

18 . (canceled)

19 . The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic component is a stator having a plurality of skewed lamination poles.

20 - 33 . (canceled)

34 . A method for generating torque, comprising:
arranging a first magnetic component in proximity to a second magnetic component such that a gap exists between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component; and electromagnetically activating at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component, thereby causing a change in the gap which results in rotation of the second magnetic component relative to the first magnetic component, wherein the change in the gap results in rotation of the second magnetic component about an axis of the second magnetic component and movement of the axis relative to the first magnetic component.

35 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising converting the rotation of the second magnetic component into motion of a drive element for performing work.

36 . (canceled)

37 . The method of claim 34 , wherein a surface velocity of the first magnetic component is substantially the same as a surface velocity of the second magnetic component during rotation of the second magnetic component.

38 . (canceled)

39 . The method of claim 34 , wherein a surface of the first magnetic component remains in contact with a surface of the second magnetic component during rotation of the second magnetic component.

40 . The method of claim 34 , wherein arranging a first magnetic component in proximity to a second magnetic component comprises disposing the first magnetic component at least partially within the second magnetic component.

41 . An electric motor, comprising:
a first magnetic component having a first surface; a second magnetic component having a second surface that faces the first surface; and a circuit configured to electromagnetically activate at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component; wherein the electromagnetic activation causes a gap between the first surface and the second surface to have a variable width, thereby causing at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component to rotate about an axis.

42 . The electric motor of claim 41 , wherein a surface velocity of the first surface is substantially the same as a surface velocity of the second surface during the rotation of at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.

43 . The electric motor of claim 41 , wherein the gap results in rotation of the second magnetic component about an axis of the second magnetic component and movement of the axis relative to the first magnetic component.

44 . The electric motor of claim 41 , wherein the first magnetic component comprises a plurality of poles, each pole having a contact surface on the first surface that is contacted by a contact surface on the second surface of the second magnetic component during the rotation of at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.

Assignees

• Univ Indiana Res & Tech Corp

Inventors

• Rubin Matthew J

Classifications

• H02K7/12 Primary

  with auxiliary limited movement of stators, rotors or core parts, e.g. rotors axially movable for the purpose of clutching or braking · CPC title

• H02K1/17

  Stator cores with permanent magnets · CPC title

• H02K41/06 Primary

  Rolling motors, i.e. motors having the rotor axis parallel to the stator axis and following a circular path as the rotor rolls around the inside or outside of the stator {; Nutating motors, i.e. having the rotor axis parallel to the stator axis inclined with respect to the stator axis and performing a nutational movement as the rotor rolls on the stator} · CPC title

• H02K41/065

  Nutating motors · CPC title