Abstract:
A motor includes a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted onto the frame, and at least one disc mounted onto the shaft. At least one permanent magnet is mounted on the disc, and at least one electromagnet and at least one coil are mounted to the frame in rotational magnetic proximity to the permanent magnet. A battery is connectable to the electromagnet and the coil for energizing the electromagnet and for receiving electrical current from the coil for charging the battery. A relay switch controls the transmission of electrical power from the battery to the electromagnet. A sensor generates a signal to the relay switch to activate electrical power to the electromagnet upon sensing that the permanent magnet is positioned with respect to the electromagnet such that a magnetic force generated by the electromagnet would be effective for inducing movement of the permanent magnet and consequent rotation of the disc.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part application of prior application Ser. No. 12/500,455, filed Jul. 9, 2009. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to motors and, more particularly, to direct current brushless electromagnetic motors. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Conventional internal combustion engines for automobiles and other purposes require an oil-based fuel source that, once consumed, does not renew. Globally, easily obtainable sources of oil are dwindling. The sources that remain viable are located in areas of the world that are unstable and often subject to extreme violence. In addition, industrialization of developing economies places additional demand on this dwindling resource. The combined effects of decreased supply, instability in producible regions, and increased global demand threatens to price the individual consumer of oil-based products out of the market over the long term. 
         [0004]    Attempts to address this issue generally lead to the development of engines that do not consume oil-based fuel, such as those that use ethanol or bio-diesel. In addition, inventors have attempted to develop electromagnetic motors as replacements for modern internal combustion engines. An electromagnetic motor uses the attractive and repulsive forces of magnets to generate mechanical motion and electrical power. However, many electromagnetic motors are inefficient, requiring significantly more energy to generate power levels comparable to that of a modern internal combustion engine, making such electromagnetic motors poor substitutes for the internal combustion engine. 
         [0005]    Therefore, it would be desirable to have an electromagnetic motor that is more efficient than convention motors and which would provide an effective substitute to the conventional internal combustion engine, thereby reducing the individual consumer&#39;s dependence on oil-based products. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention, accordingly, provides a motor having a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted onto the frame, and at least one disc mounted onto the shaft. At least one permanent magnet is mounted on the at least one disc off-center from the at least one disc, and at least one electromagnet is mounted to the frame in rotational magnetic proximity to the at least one permanent magnet, wherein the at least one electromagnet and the at least one permanent magnet are substantially radially equidistant from the shaft. At least one coil is mounted to the frame in rotational magnetic proximity to the at least one permanent magnet, wherein the at least one coil and the at least one permanent magnet are substantially radially equidistant from the shaft. A battery is connectable to the at least one electromagnet and the at least one coil for energizing the at least one electromagnet and for receiving current from the at least one coil for charging the battery. At least one relay switch is coupled between the battery and the at least one electromagnet for controlling the transmission of electrical power from the battery to the at least one electromagnet. At least one sensor is coupled to the at least one relay switch for generating a signal to the at least one relay switch to activate electrical power to the at least one electromagnet upon sensing that the at least one permanent magnet is positioned with respect to the at least one electromagnet such that a magnetic force generated by the electromagnet with respect to the at least one permanent magnet would be effective for inducing movement of the permanent magnet and consequent rotation of the at least one disc. 
         [0007]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view exemplifying a motor embodying the mechanical features of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the motor of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a tower of the motor of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the upper disc of the motor of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the lower disc (generator portion) of the motor of  FIG. 1   
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are, for the sake of clarity, not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by the same reference numeral through the several views. In the interest of conciseness, well-known elements may be illustrated in schematic or block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail, and details concerning various other components known to the art, such as solid state relay switches, rectifiers, switches, electromagnets, and the like necessary for the operation of many electrical devices, have not been shown or discussed in detail inasmuch as such details are not considered necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention, and are considered to be within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Additionally, as used herein, the term “substantially” is to be construed as a term of approximation. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, the reference numeral  100  generally designates a motor embodying features of the present invention. The system  100  includes a base platform  101  on which four towers  106 ,  108 ,  110 , and  112  are mounted. A shaft  103  is rotationally mounted to the platform  101 , and a motor disc  102  and a generator disc  104  are mounted on the shaft  103  such that the two discs preferably rotate together synchronously. The towers  106 ,  108 ,  110 , and  112  are preferably positioned to be equally angularly spaced around the discs  102  and  104 . While the motor  100  is exemplified with four towers and two discs, any number of towers and discs may be utilized. One or more of the discs  102  and  104  may constitute or comprise one or more flywheels. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  exemplifies one tower, namely, tower  110 , which is representative of the towers  106 ,  108 , and  112 . The tower  110  preferably includes two cantilevers  111 , one above and one below the motor disc  102 , and two cantilevers  113 , one above and one below the generator disc  104 . If there were additional discs, there would preferably also be an additional two cantilevers for each disc. Alternatively, if there were, for example, multiple motor discs, adjacent motor discs could share a common cantilever  111 . Similarly, if there were multiple generator discs, adjacent generator discs could share a common cantilever  113 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a coil (i.e., electromagnet)  150  is positioned within each cantilever  111  such that the coil defines a vertical axis. Similarly, a coil  151  is positioned within each cantilever  113  such that the coil defines a vertical axis. The coils  150  and  151  are substantially identical in configuration, and each preferably comprises wire wrapped around a non-conductive, or insulative, cylinder  154  having an air core  156 . The wires constituting the coils  150  and  151  extend to wires  152  and  153 , respectively, as discussed in further detail below with respect to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the coils  150  are coupled together via the wires  152 , and as shown in  FIG. 5 , the coils  151  are coupled together via the wires  153 . The wires  152  and  153  are preferably coupled to a switch  162  ( FIG. 4 ), such as a single pole, double throw switch. The single pole of the switch  162  is connected to one of the wires  152  and  153 . One throw of the switch  162  is connected to one terminal of a battery  134 , and the other throw of the switch  162  is connected to one terminal of a load  138 . The other terminal of the battery  134  and the other terminal of the load  138  are connected to the other wire  152  not connected to the switch  162 . The switch  162  may optionally include a third throw which would disconnect the wires  152  from both the battery  134  and the load  138 . A rectifier  132  is preferably positioned on the wires  153  and optionally positioned on the wires  152  for converting alternating current (AC) (e.g., from the generator) to direct current (DC) (e.g., for the battery or load). The rectifiers  132  are preferably of solid state design, and are preferably full wave, or bridge, rectifiers. The battery  134  is preferably any unit effective for storing electrical energy, and the load  138  is any device or apparatus that requires electrical power to operate. 
         [0019]    As further depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each disc  102  and  104  include four magnets  114  embedded in each disc proximate to an outer edge of the respective disc, and positioned therein so that, upon proper rotation of the discs, each magnet  114  on the disc  102  is preferably directly aligned under a corresponding coil  150 , and each magnet  114  on the disc  104  is preferably directly aligned under a corresponding coil  151 . The number of magnets may vary, but preferably corresponds to the number of towers. The magnets  114  are preferably fabricated from a rare earth material (i.e., the fifteen lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium). 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the disc  104  also includes four timing lugs  116  preferably mounted on, and equally spaced about, the circumference of the disc  104 . Four proximity switches or sensors  118  are mounted on the frame  101  and are positioned with respect to the timing lugs  116  so that the proximity sensors can sense when the timing lugs are aligned with the proximity sensors. More specifically, the timing lugs  116  are positioned on the disc  104  so that when the proximity sensors  118  sense the timing lugs, the magnets  114  are positioned and aligned directly under a corresponding coil  151 . The proximity sensors are preferably inductive proximity sensors and the timing lugs are preferably magnets detectable by the proximity sensors, but the proximity sensors and timing lugs may be of any type (e.g., infrared, acoustic, capacitive) so long as they work together and the proximity sensors can detect the timing lugs. It is understood that the proximity sensors and timing lugs may alternatively be positioned with respect to the motor disc  102 . Alternatively, a firing ring may be used in place of the timing lugs, wherein the firing ring is preferably mounted on a surface of the disc  104 , and defines a surface having at least one discontinuity corresponding positionally to at least one permanent magnet. 
         [0021]    With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the proximity sensors  118  are configured so that, upon sensing a timing lug  116 , they generate a signal to a respective relay switch  140  ( FIG. 4 ). The relay switches  140  are preferably of solid state design, and are configured so that, upon receipt of a signal from a proximity sensor  118 , they permit electrical current to flow through the wires  152  to the coils  150  for a predetermined amount of time. The predetermined amount of time may correspond to the amount of time it takes for a magnet  114  to travel half the distance from one coil to a next coil. It is also understood that a single proximity sensor  118 , a single timing lug  116 , and/or a single relay switch  140  may be used to achieve the same end as described herein. 
         [0022]    In operation, electrical power is applied by either the generator disk  104  and/or the battery  134  via the wires  152  to the relay switches  140 . When the relay switches  140  receive a signal from a respective proximity sensor  118  (discussed below), the relay switches close the circuit and permit electrical current received from the battery  134  to flow to the coils  150 . That current causes the coils  150 , as electromagnets, to generate an electromagnetic field which “pushes” the magnets  114 , and thereby induces rotation of the disc  102 . The current in the coils  150  and the electromagnetic field generated thereby is preferably discontinued as the magnets  114  approach the next coil  150 , about half way between the last coil  150  and the next coil  150 . A brake mechanism (not shown) is optionally provided to bias the discs  102  and  104 , when stopped, to a preselected position to enhance subsequent starting of the motor, such as where the magnets  114  are in position to be “pushed” by the coils  150 , and/or where the timing lugs  116  are aligned with the proximity sensors  118 . 
         [0023]    As discussed above, the discs  102  and  104  preferably rotate together and synchronously, and so the disc  104  rotates with the disc  102 . Accordingly, as the disc  102  and, hence, the disc  104  rotate, the magnets  114  on the disc  104  pass by the coils  151  and induce AC in the coils  151 . The AC generated in the coils  151  flows along the wires  153  to a rectifier  132  which converts the AC to DC. The DC on the wires  153  flows to the switch  162  which then directs the DC to either the battery  134  or the load  138 . If the switch  162  includes an optional third throw, then both the battery  134  or the load  138  could be disconnected from receiving electrical current from the wires  153 . 
         [0024]    As the disc  104  rotates, the timing lugs  116  move along a circular path and pass by the proximity sensors  118 . When the timing lugs  116  are proximate to the proximity sensors  118  (which is when the magnets  114  of the disc  102  are vertically aligned with the coils  150 ), the proximity sensors  118  generate a signal to a respective relay switch  140 . Upon receipt of the signal, each relay switch  140  closes a circuit which permits electrical current to flow via the wires  152  to respective magnet coils  150 , preferably until the respective magnets  114  become closer to the next coil  150  than the last coil  150 , thereby pushing the magnets  114  of the disc  102  and inducing the rotation of the discs as discussed above. 
         [0025]    By the use of the present invention, a more efficient DC brushless motor can be utilized for any purpose for which a motor would be needed, with significant conservation of energy. 
         [0026]    It is understood that the present invention may take many forms and embodiments. Accordingly, several variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. For example, the coils  150  can be configured to not only push the magnets  114  when the magnets are rotating away from the coils, but to also pull the magnets  114  when the magnets are approaching the coils. An inverter may be serially positioned on the lines  152  between the battery  134  and the coils  150 . A photovoltaic cell may be electrically coupled to the battery for providing a supplemental source of electrical power. 
         [0027]    Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.