Abstract:
A magnetic drive system and method are provided wherein magnets on a stator interact with a magnet on the rotor to create repulsion and attraction forces that produce axial shaft rotation. More particularly, a magnet is pivotally attached to a carriage that processes about an annular magnet. The resultant magnetic forces interact with a magnet on the rotor shaft and cause the rotor shaft to turn.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a magnetic drive system and method and, more particularly, to a tangent seeking magnetic drive system having an eccentrically set magnetic rotor and an annular, magnetic stator. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Magnetic drive systems are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,700,248 to Long discloses a non-linear magnetic motion converter for transferring nonlinear motion into rotational motion for producing work from an interaction of at least two magnetic fields. In one particular embodiment of Long, the motion converter includes a gimbal supported ring magnet disposed to reciprocate in a gimbal movement around an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to a rotational shaft. Disposed in spaced apart configuration along the rotational shaft of Long is at least one rotor magnet, and preferably a pair of rotor magnets. Movement of the gimbal supported magnet of Long creates repulsion and attraction of each respective rotor magnet with inducement of axial shaft rotation, thereby producing rotational movement that is harnessed to perform work. 
         [0005]    There is a need for a less complicated magnetic drive device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a magnetic drive system and method wherein magnets on the stator interact with a magnet on the rotor to create repulsion and attraction forces that produce axial shaft rotation. In one particular embodiment of the present invention, a magnet is pivotally attached to a carriage that processes about an annular magnet. The resultant magnetic forces interact with a magnet on the rotor shaft and cause the rotor shaft to turn. Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0007]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a Tangent Seeker Magnetic Drive System And Method, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
         [0008]    The construction of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0009]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side cross-sectional view of a drive system in accordance with one particular embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a drive system stator in accordance with one particular embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one particular embodiment of a drive system rotor for use with the drive system stator of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a simplified diagram showing certain interactions within the stator portion of one particular embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , there is shown a magnetic drive system including a frame or body  20  supporting a stator portion  30  and a rotor portion  40 . The body  20  can include a flange  20   b,  which permits the body to be fixedly attached to a surface, to prevent movement of the body and the annular magnet  50  affixed thereto. 
         [0015]    Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the stator portion  30  of the magnetic drive unit  10  includes an annular magnet  50  fixed to the uppermost portion of the body  20 . Annular magnet  50  can be of a known type of annular magnet, such as a ceramic ring magnet, or can be another type of ring magnet, including one formed from individual bar magnet portions. Stator portion  30  additionally includes a further stator magnet  60 , the magnetic field of which interacts with both the magnetic field of the annular magnet  50  and a magnet  70  of the rotor portion  40 . 
         [0016]    The annular magnet  50  includes an inner ring surface of a first polarity and an outer ring surface of an opposing polarity. For example, in one particular embodiment of the present invention, the inner ring surface of the magnet  50  is designated as being the north pole of the annular magnet  50 , while the outer ring surface is the south pole. Note that this is not meant to be limiting, as, in another embodiment, the inner ring surface of the annular magnet  50  could be the south pole, while the outer ring surface would be the north pole. 
         [0017]    The stator magnet  60  is located within the annular magnet  50 , and interacts with the magnetic field of the inner ring surface of the annular magnet  50 , so as to always be seeking a tangential orientation to the surface of the inner ring of the annular magnet  50  (see, for example,  FIG. 4 ). Stator magnet  60  can be a bar magnet, as known in the art, or can be made up of a plurality of magnetic portions (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) or other magnetic materials. The stator magnet  60  is rotatably mounted to a lever arm  80 , which is pivotally fixed to a carriage  90 . The carriage  90  rides along at least the upper surface of the annular magnet  50  on the wheels or bearings  95 . Note that the bearings  95  can be magnetic bearings, if desired. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the carriage  90  contacts three surfaces of the annular magnet  50 , in order to provide stability. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , there is shown a rotor portion  40 . The rotor portion includes a pivoting linkage or lever arm  100 , made up of the hinged components  100   a  and  100   b,  one end of which is rotatably fixed to the lower portion of the body  20 , whereas the other end of the lever arm (i.e., the “free” end) is rigidly fixed to a shaft  110 . The rotor magnet  70  is mounted to the shaft  110 . A magnetic interaction between the annular magnet  50 , the stator magnet  60  and the rotor magnet  70  will cause the shaft  110  to turn, thus creating a rotational energy which can be harnessed to perform work. 
         [0019]    More particularly, the poles of the stator magnet  60  will be alternately attracted to and repelled by the magnetic fields of the rotor magnet  70  and the annular magnet  50 , causing the stator magnet  60  to spin on its axle  65 . The magnetic field interactions between the magnets  50 .  60  and  70  additionally causes the carriage  90  to process around the periphery of the annular magnet  50 . Movement of the carriage  90  causes further movement of the stator magnet  60  relative to the annular magnet  50  and the rotor magnet  70 , thus changing the interaction of their relative magnetic fields. The interaction of the magnetic fields of the stator magnet  60  on the rotor magnet  70  contributes to the rotation of the shaft  110  as the carriage  90  processes about the annular magnet  50 . 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , in theory, if the annular magnet  150  and/or the stator magnet  160  are strong enough, placing the stator magnet  160  into the center of the annular magnet  150  will result in the stator magnet  160  moving out of center position, toward the inner ring surface of the annular magnet  150 . More particularly, the inner surface (i.e., in the present example, the “north pole”) of the annular magnet  150  will repel the north pole of the stator magnet  160 , while simultaneously attracting the south pole of the stator magnet  160 . As such, in the present example, the south pole of the stator magnet  160  will be drawn towards the inner ring surface of the annular magnet  150 . Note that, although the stator magnet  160  will change horizontal (i.e., x, y) position within the annular magnet  150 , the stator magnet will not change vertical (i.e., z) positions during this travel. Rather, the stator magnet  160  will remain in a plane defined through the middle or “equator” of the annular magnet  150  (i.e., the stator magnet  160  will not move vertically within the annular magnet  150 ). 
         [0021]    To add torque to the motion of the stator magnet  160 , the stator magnet  160  is moved off center in the annular magnet  150  by the lever arm  130 . In the present example, moving the stator magnet  160 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , (i.e., via the carriage  120 ) will add torque to the stator magnet  160  causing it to rotate in the direction of arrow “A”. Correspondingly, moving the stator magnet  160  in the opposite direction will cause the stator magnet  160  to rotate in the opposite direction to arrow “A”, as a result of the added torque caused by the movement. Additionally, the rotational speed of the rotor shaft ( 110  of  FIG. 1 ) can be adjusted by varying the distance of the stator magnet  160  from the center of the annular magnet  150 . 
         [0022]    In operation, as can be seen from  FIG. 4 , the stator magnet  160  is not located in the center of the annular magnet  150 , but rather, closer to the inner surface of the annular magnet  150 . This permits the stator magnet  160  to seek a tangent to the inner ring surface of the annular magnet  150 , propelling the carriage  120  and the stator magnet  160 , and correspondingly, turning an associated rotor shaft ( 110  of  FIGS. 1 and 3 ). In one preferred embodiment, the center point of the stator magnet is located by the lever arm at least half the distance from the center of the annular magnet  150  to the inner surface of the annular magnet  150 . In a more preferred embodiment, the stator magnet  160  is located at least two thirds of the distance from the center of the annular magnet  150  to the inner surface of the annular magnet  150 . In an even more preferred embodiment, the stator magnet  160  is located as close as possible to the inner surface of the annular magnet  150 , while still permitting free rotation of the stator magnet  160  about its axis (i.e., providing sufficient clearance for the longest dimension of the magnet  160 ). 
         [0023]    Note that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and that the above invention is not meant to be limited only to its preferred embodiments. It can be seen that other modifications can be made to the preferred embodiments and still be within the spirit of the present invention.