Patent ID: 7151332
Filing Date: 2006-12-19
Classification: H02K

Abstract:
1. A motor comprising: a rotor supported for rotation about an axis; a first pair of rotor magnets supported on the rotor, including a first rotor magnet and a second rotor magnet spaced angularly about the axis in an opposite radial direction from the first rotor magnet such that the first pair of rotor magnets rotate about the axis along a path having an outermost circumferential perimeter; a first reciprocating magnet supported for movement toward and away from the first and second rotor magnets, the first reciprocating magnet being axially disposed in a first space within a boundary defined by longitudinally extending the outermost circumferential perimeter of the first pair of rotor magnets, and the first reciprocating magnet is a permanent dipole magnet having a reference pole facing laterally from the axis and an opposite pole facing in an opposite lateral direction from the reference pole; and an actuator for moving the first reciprocating magnet cyclically toward and away from the first pair of rotor magnets without passing through a center of rotation of the first pair of rotor magnets so as to simultaneously create repulsion and attraction forces with the first pair of rotor magnets to cyclically rotate the first pair of rotor magnets relative to the first reciprocating magnet in one rotational direction.