Patent ID: 6404089
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: B64C,H02N,H05H

Abstract:
An electrodynamic field generator comprising:(a) a disc-shaped hull having upper and lower surfaces separated by a distance at an axis of the disc and tapering to an edge at a perimeter of the disc, enclosing a volume therebetween, the upper and lower surfaces each being divided into a positive section surrounding the axis of the disc, a negative section around the periphery of the disc, and a neutral section therebetween; the positive and negative section surfaces being of conductive material and the neutral section surfaces being of insulative material; (b) a rotor having an outer circumference, an inner circumference surrounding an open central aperture, and an annular body therebetween, with the rotor body having flat upper and lower surfaces; the rotor being rotatably mounted within the volume of the hull and centered upon the axis thereof, an inner diameter and outer diameter of the rotor being chosen such that the rotor extends across at least all of the neutral portion of the hull volume and at least part of each positive hull section; (c) an evacuated induction compartment and peripheral space charge chamber comprising at least the portion of the hull volume within which the rotor is mounted; (d) a principal generating system and corresponding rotor electrical circuit comprising two assemblies, one associated with the upper surface of the rotor and one with the lower surface thereof, each assembly in turn comprising: (i) an outer induction electrode array comprising a flat cathode ring mounted upon and electrically coupled to the rotor, adjacent to an outer circumference thereof, and a flat anode ring mounted plane-parallel to, but insulated from, the cathode ring; (ii) an inner induction electrode array comprising a flat anode ring mounted upon and electrically coupled to the rotor, a flat cathode ring, and a grid ring element, the cathode and grid being mounted plane-parallel to, but insulated from, the anode and each other; the inner induction ring array being mounted to the rotor closer to the inner circumference thereof than the outer induction ring array; (iii) at least one generating coil mounted to the rotor and extending toroidally around the rotor concentric to either circumference thereof, located between the outer induction ring array and the inner induction ring array, and electrically coupled to the cathode of the inner induction array and to the anode of the outer induction array; and (iv) a plurality of stationary permanent magnets mounted to the hull, such that the magnetic field from each of the permanent magnets intercepts a generating coil; such that when the rotor is rotated, the magnetic fields from the stationary magnets induce an electrical voltage in each generating coil which results in a DC rotor circuit output current; (e) a field induction system comprising two assemblies, one associated with the upper surface of the rotor and one with the lower surface thereof, each assembly in turn comprising: (i) at least one plane-parallel electrode array comprising: 1) a primary anode ring mounted to the rotor adjacent to the inner circumference thereof, between the inner circumference and the inner induction ring array; 2) at least one primary cathode mounted to, but electrically separated from, each positive section of the hull; and 3) at least one stationary grid element located between each primary cathode and the corresponding primary anode ring; (ii) a primary cathode resistor electrically coupled between each primary cathode and the corresponding positive section of the hull, each cathode resistor being encapsulated by a dielectric buffer; and (iii) a principal hull coolant and heat transfer system, thermally coupled to each primary cathode resistor; (f) at least one housing charge ballast capacitor, electrically coupled to the principal electrical generating system circuit and to the rotor; (g) a plurality of field emitters which are mounted around the outer circumference of the rotor and electrically coupled thereto; and (h) a motor drive mounted to the hull, having a mechanical output coupled to the rotor for rotation thereof.