Axle-Less Pat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an electric or electromagnetic rotating assembly or machine which, in the various embodiments, may be in the form of an alternating current motor, a direct current motor, an alternating current generator (alternator) a direct current generator or, as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, a combination motor/generator. An important feature of each of the embodiments of the present invention, as also to be pointed out in greater detail hereinafter, is the cooperative structuring of a stator assembly in operative, spaced relation to one or more rotor assemblies and specifically wherein the electric rotating assembly of present invention, defined thereby, is absent a central rotary axle or shaft typically found in known electric motors or generators and used to support or have mounted thereon the centrally disposed stator or armature. Therefore, the various embodiments of the present invention are extremely versatile and overcome significant problems associated with known electric motors and/or generators incorporating a central axle or shaft, in terms of versatility in adapting to a variety of practical applications. More specifically, the electric or electromagnetic rotating assembly of the present invention, in at least one preferred embodiment, comprises a stator assembly including spaced apart stator portions each of which comprise one or more conductive segments. The conductive segments of each stator portion are, in at least somewhat typical fashion, formed of a permanent magnet or alternately an electromagnet, the latter being preferred in high output motors used either domestically or for industrial purposes. In addition, the aforementioned preferred embodiment includes at least one but in some instances a plurality of rotor assemblies. The use of one rotor assembly comprises a plurality of conductive segments through which an electric current may be directed when the preferred embodiment referred to, serves as a motor. An important feature of the various preferred embodiments of the present invention comprises the one or more rotor assemblies defined by the plurality of conductive segments disposed in adjacent, continuous relation to one another and further disposed in an annular configuration. In addition the aforementioned stator assembly also preferably comprises an annular configuration which is mounted in concentrically surrounded relation by the rotor assembly. The separation or predetermined spacing between the stator assembly and the at least one rotor assembly defines the operative air gap. The annular configuration of the stator assembly which may or may not include a central opening which in this specific embodiment said central opening is absent the connection, mounting or disposition of any centrally disposed connected axle or supporting shaft. The annular configuration of the one or more rotor assemblies is further defined by the open central portion in which the stator assembly is mounted, as set forth above.

An important feature of the present invention is the structuring and disposition of the stator or field portion of the invention such that the generated magnetic field is directed “outwardly” and is, therefore, not enclosed. As set forth above, conventional motor/generator structures each have the existing field directed inwardly towards the center of the motor device thereby defining an enclosed magnetic field. To the contrary, the stator or field generator is directed outwardly towards the outer periphery of the motor device defining the electric rotating assembly of the present invention and towards the one or more rotor assemblies deposed in surrounding relation to the field or stator.

A support structure is provided in a structural configuration which preferably assumes a somewhat cooperative annular configuration, which of course may vary depending upon the specific practical application to which the motor or generator defined by the various embodiments of the subject invention, may be adapted. The support structure may comprise a supporting core or other structural embodiment and may or may not further include a surrounding housing. Further, the stator assembly is generally fixedly secured to or mounted on the support structure and/or within the aforementioned housing and the one or more rotor assemblies are movably mounted on the support structure and/or within the enclosing housing defining a part of the support structure. Also attached to the support structure or enclosing housing is an appropriately structured commutation system including a commutator structure attached to the rotor as well as a plurality of brushes to establish electrical contact with the commutator segments. Naturally, the provision and overall structure of the commutation system, including the aforementioned brushes, would depend on whether the particular embodiment of the electric rotating assembly of the present invention is in the form of an alternating current or direct current motor or generator.

Another important feature of the present invention, particularly associated with the support structure and/or the included housing for the combined stator assembly and one or more rotor assemblies, includes the provision of “axial” bearings. Axial bearings, of the type to be described in greater detail hereinafter, are designed and disposed to moveably and more specifically rotationally mount the one or more rotor assemblies on the support structure or housing so as to allow rotation thereof relative to one another and to the stator assembly which, as set forth above, is fixedly secured to the support structure or housing. Preferred examples of the type of axial bearings which may be utilized and/or structurally adapted for use with the various preferred embodiments of the present invention include axial roller bearings, axial nylon bushings, axial bushings formed of a composite material, axial sleeve bearings, etc. The various embodiments of the present invention are also adapted for use with more exotic bearing systems or assemblies which may include magnetic levitation which produces repelling magnetic forces between collectively movable components of the various embodiments of the present invention.

When a plurality of rotor assemblies are used in operative disposition relative to a common stator assembly, such rotor assemblies are disposed in a stacked array. The various embodiments to be described hereinafter more specifically disclose each of the plurality of rotor assemblies being rotationally mounted on the support structure or housing relative to one another, such that a “multi-rotor” motor assembly is defined. Each of the rotationally mounted rotors may rotate at a different speed and/or may be structured to deliver a different torque. Alternately, utilization of a plurality of rotor assemblies may incorporate at least two adjacently positioned ones of such plurality of rotor assemblies fixedly secured to one another so as to rotate together about the interior, concentrically disposed, common stator assembly. Another feature of such an embodiment would be one of the rotor assemblies operatively structured to define a motor wherein another rotor assembly, connected thereto, would define the armature of a generator or alternator. The concurrent rotation of both of these rotor assemblies about a common stator assembly would allow for the rotor assembly defining the motor component to provide the mechanical force used to drive or more specifically rotate the rotor assembly defining the generator and through which an induced voltage may be developed. As set forth above, an applicable commutator assembly or structure is utilized for directing current through the various conductive segments defining the motor rotor assembly as well as removing the induced voltage from the generator rotor assembly.

Yet other features of the present invention, specifically relating to the stator assembly, includes the various stator portions being arranged in spaced apart, opposite relation to one another (180 degrees) for multiples of dual stator systems or the utilization of three stator portions or multiples thereof arranged at 120 degree spacings from one another. Other similar and generally equivalently structured stator assemblies may differ in terms of spacings between the stator portions. As emphasized in greater detail hereinafter, an important structural feature common to each of the various embodiments of the present invention is the provision of the stator portions arranged such that the magnetic field is generated to extend outwardly towards the outer periphery of the embodiment from the stator to the one or more rotors mounted. This, as set forth above and hereinafter, eliminates what has been referred to as an “enclosed magnetic field” which, as set forth above, has a severe limiting affect on the versatility of conventional or known generator/motor designs in terms of increasing the overall size and configuration particularly due to the fact that such conventional generator/motor designs incorporate a central axle or support shaft not found in the various embodiments of the present invention.

When the various embodiments of the present invention are used to define a generator assembly, there are three basic types involved. TYPE I would comprise an annularly shaped rotor including generating coils and defining a generating armature rotating about an inner, concentrically disposed and surrounded stator assembly. In this TYPE I, electric energy or voltage is induced into the outer rotor assembly. In TYPE II an annularly configured rotor assembly comprising a plurality of permanent magnets or electromagnets, which define the field structure, is disposed in concentrically surrounding relation to an inner stator assembly. The inner stator assembly comprises a plurality of generating coils defining the static armature. In this TYPE II embodiment electrical energy or voltage is induced in the electrical conductors which are part of the stator assembly mounted within the interior of the rotor assembly, as set forth above. TYPE III is directed to an assisting structure comprising the insertion of conductive segments of a motor’s rotary assembly, generally of the type set forth above, within the associated, fixedly attached rotor assembly associated with the generator structure. The conductive segments inserted within the generator’s rotor assembly are effective duplicates of the plurality of conductive segments defining the rotary assembly of the attached motor’s rotor.

It should be apparent from the above summarized discussion that in each of the preferred embodiments of the present invention the non-existence of a central axle or supporting shaft differs from a known motor/generator structures and further wherein a plurality of rotor assemblies may be fixed or moveable relative to one another and each of such plurality of rotary assemblies may be operable in cooperation with the magnetic flux generated by a common stator assembly disposed in concentrically surrounded relation by the plurality of rotor assemblies. In addition, when a plurality of rotor assemblies are utilized and wherein such plurality of rotor assemblies are moveable relative to one another in surrounding relation to a common, surrounded stator assembly, the plurality of rotor assemblies may rotate at different speeds relative to one another and to the common stator assembly and may rotate in opposite directions relative to one another and to a common stator assembly. In addition, different power takeoffs may be located exteriorly of the housing or support device and/or on the exterior of the individual ones of the plurality of rotor assemblies such that each rotor assembly may be drivingly connected to a different power takeoff.

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