Abstract:
An electromagnetic generator without moving parts includes a permanent magnet and a magnetic core including first and second magnetic paths. A first input coil and a first output coil extend around portions of the first magnetic path, while a second input coil and a second output coil extend around portions of the second magnetic path. The input coils are alternatively pulsed to provide induced current pulses in the output coils. Driving electrical current through each of the input coils reduces a level of flux from the permanent magnet within the magnet path around which the input coil extends. In an alternative embodiment of an electromagnetic generator, the magnetic core includes annular spaced-apart plates, with posts and permanent magnets extending in an alternating fashion between the plates. An output coil extends around each of these posts. Input coils extending around portions of the plates are pulsed to cause the induction of current within the output coils.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of a copending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/656,313, filed 09/06/00, titled “Motionless Electromagnetic Generator,” for which the issue fee has been paid. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
         [0002]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to a magnetic generator used to produce electrical power without moving parts, and, more particularly, to such a device having a capability, when operating, of producing electrical power without an external application of input power through input coils.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    The patent literature describes a number of magnetic generators, each of which includes a permanent magnet, two magnetic paths external to the permanent magnet, each of which extends between the opposite poles of the permanent magnet, switching means for causing magnetic flux to flow alternately along each of the two magnetic paths, and one or more output coils in which current is induced to flow by means of changes in the magnetic field within the device. These devices operate in accordance with an extension of Faraday&#39;s Law, indicating that an electrical current is induced within a conductor within a changing magnetic field, even if the source of the magnetic field is stationary.  
           [0006]    A method for switching magnetic flux to flow predominantly along either of two magnetic paths between opposite poles of a permanent magnet is described as a “flux transfer” principle by R. J. Radus in  Engineer&#39;s Digest,  Jul. 23, 1963. This principle is used to exert a powerful magnetic force at one end of both the north and south poles and a very low force at the other end, without being used in the construction of a magnetic generator. This effect can be caused mechanically, by keeper movement, or electrically, by driving electrical current through one or more control windings extending around elongated versions of the pole pieces  14 . Several devices using this effect are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,165,723, 3,228,013, and 3,316,514, which are incorporated herein by reference.  
           [0007]    Another step toward the development of a magnetic generator is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,368,141, which is incorporated herein by reference, as a device including a permanent magnet in combination with a transformer having first and second windings about a core, with two paths for magnetic flux leading from each pole of the permanent magnet to either end of the core, so that, when an alternating current induces magnetic flux direction changes in the core, the magnetic flux from the permanent magnet is automatically directed through the path which corresponds with the direction taken by the magnetic flux through the core due to the current. In this way, the magnetic flux is intensified. This device can be used to improve the power factor of a typically inductively loaded alternating current circuit.  
           [0008]    Other patents describe magnetic generators in which electrical current from one or more output coils is described as being made available to drive a load, in the more conventional manner of a generator. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,401, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an electromagnetic generator including permanent magnet and a core member, in which the magnetic flux flowing from the magnet in the core member is rapidly alternated by switching to generate an alternating current in a winding on the core member. The device includes a permanent magnet and two separate magnetic flux circuit paths between the north and south poles of the magnet. Each of the circuit paths includes two switching means for alternately opening and closing the circuit paths, generating an alternating current in a winding on the core member. Each of the switching means includes a switching magnetic circuit intersecting the circuit path, with the switching magnetic circuit having a coil through which current is driven to induce magnetic flux to saturate the circuit path extending to the permanent magnet. Power to drive these coils is derived directly from the output of a continuously applied alternating current source. What is needed is an electromagnetic generator not requiring the application of such a current source.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,001, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a magnetic generator, or dc/dc converter, comprising a permanent magnet having spaced-apart poles and a permanent magnetic field extending between the poles of the magnet. A variable-reluctance core is disposed in the field in fixed relation to the magnet and the reluctance of the core is varied to cause the pattern of lines of force of the magnetic field to shift. An output conductor is disposed in the field in fixed relation to the magnet and is positioned to be cut by the shifting lines of permanent magnetic force so that a voltage is induced in the conductor. The magnetic flux is switched between alternate paths by means of switching coils extending around portions of the core, with the flow of current being alternated between these switching coils by means of a pair of transistors driven by the outputs of a flip-flop. The input to the flip flop is driven by an adjustable frequency oscillator. Power for this drive circuit is supplied through an additional, separate power source. What is needed is a magnetic generator not requiring the application of such a power source.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,926, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes another magnetic generator using the motion of a magnetic field. The device includes an electrical winding defining a magnetically conductive zone having bases at each end, the winding including elements for the removing of an induced current therefrom. The generator further includes two pole magnets, each having a first and a second pole, each first pole in magnetic communication with one base of the magnetically conductive zone. The generator further includes a third pole magnet, the third pole magnet oriented intermediately of the first poles of the two pole electromagnets, the third pole magnet having a magnetic axis substantially transverse to an axis of the magnetically conductive zone, the third magnet having a pole nearest to the conductive zone and in magnetic attractive relationship to the first poles of the two pole electromagnets, in which the first poles thereof are like poles. Also included in the generator are elements, in the form of windings, for cyclically reversing the magnetic polarities of the electromagnets. These reversing means, through a cyclical change in the magnetic polarities of the electromagnets, cause the magnetic flux lines associated with the magnetic attractive relationship between the first poles of the electromagnets and the nearest pole of the third magnet to correspondingly reverse, causing a wiping effect across the magnetically conductive zone, as lines of magnetic flux swing between respective first poles of the two electromagnets, thereby inducing electron movement within the output windings and thus generating a flow of current within the output windings.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,892, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a magnetic generator in the form of a direct current flux compression transformer including a magnetic envelope having poles defining a magnetic axis and characterized by a pattern of magnetic flux lines in polar symmetry about the axis. The magnetic flux lines are spatially displaced relative to the magnetic envelope using control elements which are mechanically stationary relative to the core. Further provided are inductive elements which are also mechanically stationary relative to the magnetic envelope. Spatial displacement of the flux relative to the inductive elements causes a flow of electrical current. Further provided are magnetic flux valves which provide for the varying of the magnetic reluctance to create a time domain pattern of respectively enhanced and decreased magnetic reluctance across the magnetic valves, and, thereby, across the inductive elements.  
           [0012]    Other patents describe devices using superconductive elements to cause movement of the magnetic flux. These devices operate in accordance with the Meissner effect, which describes the expulsion of magnetic flux from the interior of a superconducting structure as the structure undergoes the transition to a superconducting phase. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,821, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an electric power generating device including a bundle of conductors which are placed in a magnetic field generated by north and south pole pieces of a permanent magnet. The magnetic field is shifted back and forth through the bundle of conductors by a pair of thin films of superconductive material. One of the thin films is placed in the superconducting state while the other thin film is in a non-superconducting state. As the states are cyclically reversed between the two films, the magnetic field is deflected back and forth through the bundle of conductors.  
           [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,015, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an apparatus for producing an electrical impulse comprising a tube made of superconducting material, a source of magnetic flux mounted about one end of the tube, a means, such as a coil, for intercepting the flux mounted along the tube, and a means for changing the temperature of the superconductor mounted about the tube. As the tube is progressively made superconducting, the magnetic field is trapped within the tube, creating an electrical impulse in the means for intercepting. A reversal of the superconducting state produces a second pulse.  
           [0014]    None of the patented devices described above use a portion of the electrical power generated within the device to power the reversing means used to change the path of magnetic flux. Thus, like conventional rotary generators, these devices require a steady input of power, which may be in the form of electrical power driving the reversing means of one of these magnetic generators or the torque driving the rotor of a conventional rotary generator. Yet, the essential function of the magnetic portion of an electrical generator is simply to switch magnetic fields in accordance with precise timing. In most conventional applications of magnetic generators, the voltage is switched across coils, creating magnetic fields in the coils which are used to override the fields of permanent magnets, so that a substantial amount of power must be furnished to the generator to power the switching means, reducing the efficiency of the generator.  
           [0015]    Recent advances in magnetic material, which have particularly been described by Robert C. O&#39;Handley in  Modern Magnetic Materials, Principles and Applications,  John Wiley &amp; Sons, New York, pp. 456-468, provide nanocrystalline magnetic alloys, which are particularly well suited for the rapid switching of magnetic flux. These alloys are primarily composed of crystalline grains, or crystallites, each of which has at least one dimension of a few nanometers. Nanocrystalline materials may be made by heat-treating amorphous alloys which form precursors for the nanocrystalline materials, to which insoluble elements, such as copper, are added to promote massive nucleation, and to which stable, refractory alloying materials, such as niobium or tantalum carbide are added to inhibit grain growth. Most of the volume of nanocrystalline alloys is composed of randomly distributed crystallites having dimensions of about 2-40 nm. These crystallites are nucleated and grown from an amorphous phase, with insoluble elements being rejected during the process of crystallite growth. In magnetic terms, each crystallite is a single-domain particle. The remaining volume of nanocrystalline alloys is made up of an amorphous phase in the form of grain boundaries having a thickness of about 1 nm.  
           [0016]    Magnetic materials having particularly useful properties are formed from an amorphous Co—Nb—B (cobalt-niobium-boron) alloy having near-zero magnetostriction and relatively strong magnetization, as well as good mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. A process of annealing this material can be varied to change the size of crystallites formed in the material, with a resulting strong effect on DC coercivity. The precipitation of nanocrystallites also enhances AC performance of the otherwise amorphous alloys.  
           [0017]    Other magnetic materials are formed using iron-rich amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys, which generally show larger magnetization that the alloys based on cobalt. Such materials are, for example, Fe—B—Si—Nb—Cu (iron-boron-silicon-niobium-copper) alloys. While the permeability of iron-rich amorphous alloys is limited by their relatively large levels of magnetostriction, the formation of a nanocrystalline material from such an amorphous alloy dramatically reduces this level of magnetostriction, favoring easy magnetization.  
           [0018]    Advances have also been made in the development of materials for permanent magnets, particularly in the development of materials including rare earth elements. Such materials include samarium cobalt, SmCo 5 , which is used to form a permanent magnet material having the highest resistance to demagnetization of any known material. Other magnetic materials are made, for example, using combinations of iron, neodymium, and boron.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0019]    It is a first objective of the present invention to provide a magnetic generator which a need for an external power source during operation of the generator is eliminated.  
           [0020]    It is a second objective of the present invention to provide a magnetic generator in which a magnetic flux path is changed without a need to overpower a magnetic field to change its direction.  
           [0021]    It is a third objective of the present invention to provide a magnetic generator in which the generation of electricity is accomplished without moving parts.  
           [0022]    In the apparatus of the present invention, the path of the magnetic flux from a permanent magnet is switched in a manner not requiring the overpowering of the magnetic fields. Furthermore, a process of self-initiated iterative switching is used to switch the magnetic flux from the permanent magnet between alternate magnetic paths within the apparatus, with the power to operate the iterative switching being provided through a control circuit consisting of components known to use low levels of power. With self-switching, a need for an external power source during operation of the generator is eliminated, with a separate power source, such as a battery, being used only for a very short time during start-up of the generator.  
           [0023]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, an electromagnetic generator is provided, including a permanent magnet, a magnetic core, first and second input coils, first and second output coils, and a switching circuit. The permanent magnet has magnetic poles at opposite ends. The magnetic core includes a first magnetic path, around which the first input and output coils extend, and a second magnetic path, around which the second input and output coils extend, between opposite ends of the permanent magnet. The switching circuit drives electrical current alternately through the first and second input coils. The electrical current driven through the first input oil causes the first input coil to produce a magnetic field opposing a concentration of magnetic flux from the permanent magnet within the first magnetic path. The electrical current driven through the second input coil causes the second input coil to produce a magnetic field opposing a concentration of magnetic flux from the permanent magnet within the second magnetic path.  
           [0024]    According to another aspect of the present invention, an electromagnetic generator is provided, including a magnetic core, a plurality of permanent magnets, first and second pluralities of input coils, a plurality of output coils, and a switching circuit. The magnetic core includes a pair of spaced-apart plates, each of which has a central aperture, and first and second pluralities of posts extending between the spaced-apart plates. The permanent magnets each extend between the pair of spaced apart plates. Each permanent magnet has magnetic poles at opposite ends, with the magnetic fields of all the permanent magnets being aligned to extend in a common direction. Each input coil extends around a portion of a plate within the spaced-apart plates, between a post and a permanent magnet. An output coil extends around each post. The switching circuit drives electrical current alternately through the first and second pluralities of input coils. Electrical current driven through each input coil in the first plurality of input coils causes an increase in magnetic flux within each post within the first plurality of posts from permanent magnets on each side of the post and a decrease in magnetic flux within each post within the second plurality of posts from permanent magnets on each side of the post. Electrical current driven through each input coil in the second plurality of input coils causes a decrease in magnetic flux within each post within the first plurality of posts from permanent magnets on each side of the post and an increase in magnetic flux within each post within the second plurality of posts from permanent magnets on each side of the post. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is a partly schematic front elevation of a magnetic generator and associated electrical circuits built in accordance with a first version of the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a first version of a switching and control circuit within the associated electrical circuits of FIG. 1;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a graphical view of drive signals produced within the circuit of FIG. 2;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second version of a switching and control circuit within the associated electrical circuits of FIG. 1;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 is a graphical view of drive signals produced within the circuit of FIG. 3;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6A is a graphical view of a first drive signal within the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6B is a graphical view of a second drive signal within the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 6C is a graphical view of an input voltage signal within the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 6D is a graphical view of an input current signal within the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6E is a graphical view of a first output voltage signal within the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 6F is a graphical view of a second output voltage signal within the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 6G is a graphical view of a first output current signal within the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 6H is a graphical view of a second output current signal within the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 7 is a graphical view of output power measured within the apparatus of FIG. 1, as a function of input voltage;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 8 is a graphical view of a coefficient of performance, calculated from measurements within the apparatus of FIG. 1, as a function of input voltage;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevation of a second version of the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 10 is a top view of a magnetic generator built in accordance with a first version of a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 11 is a front elevation of the magnetic generator of FIG. 10; and  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 12 is a top view of a magnetic generator built in accordance with a second version of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0044]    [0044]FIG. 1 is a partly schematic front elevation of an electromagnetic generator  10 , built in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention to include a permanent magnet  12  to supply input lines of magnetic flux moving from the north pole  14  of the magnet  12  outward into magnetic flux path core material  16 . The flux path core material  16  is configured to form a right magnetic path  18  and a left magnetic path  20 , both of which extend externally between the north pole  14  and the south pole  22  of the magnet  12 . The electromagnetic generator  10  is driven by means of a switching and control circuit  24 , which alternately drives electrical current through a right input coil  26  and a left input coil  28 . These input coils  26 ,  28  each extend around a portion of the core material  16 , with the right input coil  26  surrounding a portion of the right magnetic path  18  and with the left input coil  28  surrounding a portion of the left magnetic path  20 . A right output coil  29  also surrounds a portion of the right magnetic path  18 , while a left output coil  30  surrounds a portion of the left magnetic path  20 .  
         [0045]    In accordance with a preferred version of the present invention, the switching and control circuit  24  and the input coils  26 ,  28  are arranged so that, when the right input coil  26  is energized, a north magnetic pole is present at its left end  31 , the end closest to the north pole  14  of the permanent magnet  12 , and so that, when the left input coil  28  is energized, a north magnetic pole is present at its right end  32 , which is also the end closest to the north pole  14  of the permanent magnet  12 . Thus, when the right input coil  26  is magnetized, magnetic flux from the permanent magnet  12  is repelled from extending through the right input coil  26 . Similarly, when the left input coil  28  is magnetized, magnetic flux from the permanent magnet  12  is repelled from extending through the left input coil  28 .  
         [0046]    Thus, it is seen that driving electrical current through the right input coil  26  opposes a concentration of flux from the permanent magnet  12  within the right magnetic path  18 , causing at least some of this flux to be transferred to the left magnetic path  20 . On the other hand, driving electrical current through the left input coil  28  opposes a concentration of flux from the permanent magnet  12  within the left magnetic path  20 , causing at least some of this flux to be transferred to the right magnetic path  18 .  
         [0047]    While in the example of FIG. 1, the input coils  26 ,  28  are placed on either side of the north pole of the permanent magnet  12 , being arranged along a portion of the core  16  extending from the north pole of the permanent magnet  12 , it is understood that the input coils  26 ,  28  could as easily be alternately placed on either side of the south pole of the permanent magnet  12 , being arranged along a portion of the core  16  extending from the south pole of the permanent magnet  12 , with the input coils  26 ,  28  being wired to form, when energized, magnetic fields having south poles directed toward the south pole of the permanent magnet  12 . In general, the input coils  26 ,  28  are arranged along the magnetic core on either side of an end of the permanent magnet forming a first pole, such as a north pole, with the input coils being arranged to produce magnetic fields of the polarity of the first pole directed toward the first pole of the permanent magnet.  
         [0048]    Further in accordance with a preferred version of the present invention, the input coils  26 ,  28  are never driven with so much current that the core material  16  becomes saturated. Driving the core material  16  to saturation means that subsequent increases in input current can occur without effecting corresponding changes in magnetic flux, and therefore that input power can be wasted. In this way, the apparatus of the present invention is provided with an advantage in terms of the efficient use of input power over the apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,401, in which a portion both ends of each magnetic path is driven to saturation to block flux flow. In the electromagnetic generator  10 , the switching of current flow within the input coils  26 ,  28  does not need to be sufficient to stop the flow of flux in one of the magnetic paths  18 ,  20  while promoting the flow of magnetic flux in the other magnetic path. The electromagnetic generator  10  works by changing the flux pattern; it does not need to be completely switched from one side to another.  
         [0049]    Experiments have determined that this configuration is superior, in terms of the efficiency of using power within the input coils  26 ,  28  to generate electrical power within the output coils  29 ,  30 , to the alternative of arranging input coils and the circuits driving them so that flux from the permanent magnet is driven through the input coils as they are energized. This arrangement of the present invention provides a significant advantage over the prior-art methods shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,001, in which the magnetic flux is driven through the energized coils.  
         [0050]    The configuration of the present invention also has an advantage over the prior-art configurations of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,368,141 and 4,077,001 in that the magnetic flux is switched between two alternate magnetic paths  18 ,  20  with only a single input coil  26 ,  28  surrounding each of the alternate magnetic paths. The configurations of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,368,141 and 4,077,001 each require two input coils on each of the magnetic paths. This advantage of the present invention is significant both in the simplification of hardware and in increasing the efficiency of power conversion.  
         [0051]    The right output coil  29  is electrically connected to a rectifier and filter  33 , having an output driven through a regulator  34 , which provides an output voltage adjustable through the use of a potentiometer  35 . The output of the linear regulator  34  is in turn provided as an input to a sensing and switching circuit  36 . Under start up conditions, the sensing and switching circuit  36  connects the switching and control circuit  24  to an external power source  38 , which is, for example, a starting battery. After the electromagnetic generator  10  is properly started, the sensing and switching circuit  36  senses that the voltage available from regulator  34  has reached a predetermined level, so that the power input to the switching and control circuit  24  is switched from the external power source  38  to the output of regulator  34 . After this switching occurs, the electromagnetic generator  10  continues to operate without an application of external power.  
         [0052]    The left output coil  30  is electrically connected to a rectifier and filter  40 , the output of which is connected to a regulator  42 , the output voltage of which is adjusted by means of a potentiometer  43 . The output of the regulator  42  is in turn connected to an external load  44 .  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a first version of the switching and control circuit  24 . An oscillator  50  drives the clock input of a flip-flop  54 , with the Q and Q′ outputs of the flip-flop  54  being connected through driver circuits  56 ,  58  to power FETS  60 ,  62  so that the input coils  26 ,  28  are alternately driven. In accordance with a preferred version of the present invention, the voltage V applied to the coils  26 ,  28  through the FETS  60 ,  62  is derived from the output of the sensing and switching circuit  36 .  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 3 is a graphical view of the signals driving the gates of FETS  60 ,  62  of FIG. 2, with the voltage of the signal driving the gate of FET  60  being represented by line  64 , and with the voltage of the signal driving FET  62  being represented by line  66 . Both of the coils  26 ,  28  are driven with positive voltages.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second version of the switching and control circuit  24 . In this version, an oscillator  70  drives the clock input of a flip-flop  72 , with the Q and Q′ outputs of the flip-flop  72  being connected to serve as triggers for one-shots  74 ,  76 . The outputs of the one-shots  74 ,  76  are in turn connected through driver circuits  78 ,  80  to drive FETS  82 ,  84 , so that the input coils  26 ,  28  are alternately driven with pulses shorter in duration than the Q and Q′ outputs of the flip flop  72 .  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 5 is a graphical view of the signals driving the gates of FETS  82 ,  84  of FIG. 4, with the voltage of the signal driving the gate of FET  82  being represented by line  86 , and with the voltage of the signal driving the gate of FET  84  being represented by line  88 .  
         [0057]    Referring again to FIG. 1, power is generated in the right output coil  29  only when the level of magnetic flux is changing in the right magnetic path  18 , and in the left output coil  30  only when the level of magnetic flux is changing in the left magnetic path  20 . It is therefore desirable to determine, for a specific magnetic generator configuration, the width of a pulse providing the most rapid practical change in magnetic flux, and then to provide this pulse width either by varying the frequency of the oscillator  50  of the apparatus of FIG. 2, so that this pulse width is provided with the signals shown in FIG. 3, or by varying the time constant of the one-shots  74 ,  76  of FIG. 4, so that this pulse width is provided by the signals of FIG. 5 at a lower oscillator frequency. In this way, the input coils are not left on longer than necessary. When either of the input coils is left on for a period of time longer than that necessary to produce the change in flux direction, power is being wasted through heating within the input coil without additional generation of power in the corresponding output coil.  
         [0058]    A number of experiments have been conducted to determine the adequacy of an electromagnetic generator built as the generator  10  in FIG. 1 to produce power both to drive the switching and control logic, providing power to the input coils  26 ,  28 , and to drive an external load  44 . In the configuration used in this experiment, the input coils  26 ,  28  had 40 turns of 18-gauge copper wire, and the output coils  29 ,  30  had 450 turns of 18-gauge copper wire. The permanent magnet  12  had a height of 40 mm (1.575 in. between its north and south poles, in the direction of arrow  89 , a width of 25.4 mm (1.00 in.), in the direction of arrow  90 , and in the other direction, a depth of 38.1 mm (1.50 in.). The core  16  had a height, in the direction of arrow  89 , of 90 mm (3.542 in.), a width, in the direction of arrow  90 , of 135 mm (5.315 in.) and a depth of 70 mm (2.756 in.). The core  16  had a central hole with a height, in the direction of arrow  89 , of 40 mm (1.575 mm) to accommodate the magnet  12 , and a width, in the direction of arrow  90 , of 85 mm (3.346 in.). The core  16  was fabricated of two “C”-shaped halves, joined at lines  92 , to accommodate the winding of output coils  29 ,  30  and input coils  26 ,  28  over the core material.  
         [0059]    The core material was a laminated iron-based magnetic alloy sold by Honeywell as METGLAS Magnetic Alloy 2605SA1. The magnet material was a combination of iron, neodymium, and boron.  
         [0060]    The input coils  26 ,  28  were driven at an oscillator frequency of 87.5 KHz, which was determined to produce optimum efficiency using a switching control circuit configured as shown in FIG. 2. This frequency has a period of 11.45 microseconds. The flip flop  54  is arranged, for example, to be set and reset on rising edges of the clock signal input from the oscillator, so that each pulse driving one of the FETS  60 ,  62  has a duration of 11.45 microseconds, and so that sequential pulses are also separated to each FET are also separated by 11.45 microseconds.  
         [0061]    FIGS.  6 A- 6 H are graphical views of signals which simultaneously occurred within the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 during operation with an applied input voltage of 75 volts. FIG. 6A shows a first drive signal  100  driving FET  60 , which conducts to drive the right input coil  26 . FIG. 6B is shows a second drive signal  102  driving FET  62 , which conducts to drive the left input coil  28 .  
         [0062]    [0062]FIGS. 6C and 6D show voltage and current signals associated with current driving both the FETS  60 ,  62  from a battery source. FIG. 6C shows the level  104  of voltage V. While the nominal voltage of the battery was 75 volts, a decaying transient signal  106  is superimposed on this voltage each time one of the FETS  60 ,  62  is switched on to conduct. The specific pattern of this transient signal depends on the internal resistance of the battery, as well as on a number of characteristics of the magnetic generator  10 . Similarly, FIG. 6D shows the current  106  flowing into both FETS  60 ,  62  from the battery source. Since the signals  104 ,  106  show the effects of current flowing into both FETS  60 ,  62  the transient spikes are 11.45 microseconds apart.  
         [0063]    FIGS.  6 E- 6 H show voltage and current levels measured at the output coils  29 ,  30 . FIG. 6E shows a voltage output signal  108  of the right output coil  29 , while FIG. 6F shows a voltage output signal  110  of the left output coil  30 . For example, the output current signal  116  of the right output coil  29  includes a first transient spike  112  caused when the a current pulse in the left input coil  28  is turned on to direct magnetic flux through the right magnetic path  18 , and a second transient spike  114  caused when the left input coil  28  is turned off with the right input coil  26  being turned on. FIG. 6G shows a current output signal  116  of the right output coil  29 , while FIG. 6H shows a current output signal  118  of the left output coil  30 .  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 7 is a graphical view of output power measured using the electromagnetic generator  10  and eight levels of input voltage, varying from 10 v to 75 v. The oscillator frequency was retained at 87.5 KHz. The measurement points are represented by indicia  120 , while the curve  122  is generated by polynomial regression analysis using a least squares fit.  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 8 is a graphical view of a coefficient of performance, defined as the ratio of the output power to the input power, for each of the measurement points shown in FIG. 7. At each measurement point, the output power was substantially higher than the input power. Real power measurements were computed at each data point using measured voltage and current levels, with the results being averaged over the period of the signal. These measurements agree with RMS power measured using a Textronic THS730 digital oscilloscope.  
         [0066]    While the electromagnetic generator  10  was capable of operation at much higher voltages and currents without saturation, the input voltage was limited to 75 volts because of voltage limitations of the switching circuits being used. Those skilled in the relevant art will understand that components for switching circuits capable of handling higher voltages in this application are readily available. The experimentally-measured data was extrapolated to describe operation at an input voltage of 100 volts, with the input current being 140 ma, the input power being 14 watts, and with a resulting output power being 48 watts for each of the two output coils  29 ,  30 , at an average output current of 12 ma and an average output voltage of 4000 volts. This means that for each of the output coils  29 ,  30 , the coefficient of performance would be 3.44.  
         [0067]    While an output voltage of 4000 volts may be needed for some applications, the output voltage can also be varied through a simple change in the configuration of the electromagnetic generator  10 . The output voltage is readily reduced by reducing the number of turns in the output windings. If this number of turns is decreased from 450 to 12, the output voltage is dropped to 106.7, with a resulting increase in output current to 0.5 amps for each output coil  29 ,  30 . In this way, the output current and voltage of the electromagnetic generator can be varied by varying the number of turns of the output coils  29 ,  30 , without making a substantial change in the output power, which is instead determined by the input current, which determines the amount of magnetic flux shuttled during the switching process.  
         [0068]    The coefficients of performance, all of which were significantly greater than 1, plotted in FIG. 8 indicate that the output power levels measured in each of the output coils  29 ,  30  were substantially greater than the corresponding input power levels driving both of the input coils  26 ,  28 . Therefore, it is apparent that the electromagnetic generator  10  can be built in a self-actuating form, as discussed above in reference to FIG. 1. In the example of FIG. 1, except for a brief application of power from the external power source  38 , to start the process of power generation, the power required to drive the input coils  26 ,  28  is derived entirely from power developed within the right output coil  29 . If the power generated in a single output coil  29 ,  30  is more than sufficient to drive the input coils  26 ,  28 , an additional load  126  may be added to be driven with power generated in the output coil  29  used to generate power to drive the input coils  26 ,  28 . On the other hand, each of the output coils  29 ,  30  may be used to drive a portion of the input coil power requirements, for example with one of the output coils  26 ,  28  providing the voltage V for the FET  60  (shown in FIG. 2), while the other output coil provides this voltage for the FET  62 .  
         [0069]    Regarding thermodynamic considerations, it is noted that, when the electromagnetic generator  10  is operating, it is an open system not in thermodynamic equilibrium. The system receives static energy from the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet. Because the electromagnetic generator  10  is self-switched without an additional energy input, the thermodynamic operation of the system is an open dissipative system, receiving, collecting, and dissipating energy from its environment; in this case, from the magnetic flux stored within the permanent magnet. Continued operation of the electromagnetic generator  10  causes demagnetization of the permanent magnet. The use of a magnetic material including rare earth elements, such as a samarium cobalt material or a material including iron, neodymium, and boron is preferable within the present invention, since such a magnetic material has a relatively long life in this application.  
         [0070]    Thus, an electromagnetic generator operating in accordance with the present invention should be considered not as a perpetual motion machine, but rather as a system in which flux radiated from a permanent magnet is converted into electricity, which is used both to power the apparatus and to power an external load. This is analogous to a system including a nuclear reactor, in which a number of fuel rods radiate energy which is used to keep the chain reaction going and to heat water for the generation of electricity to drive external loads.  
         [0071]    [0071]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevation of an electromagnetic generator  130  built in accordance with a second version of the first embodiment of the present invention. This electromagnetic generator  130  is generally similar in construction and operation to the electromagnetic generator  10  built in accordance with the first version of this embodiment, except that the magnetic core  132  of the electromagnetic generator  10  is built in two halves joined along lines  134 , allowing each of the output coils  135  to be wound on a plastic bobbin  136  before the bobbin  136  is placed over the legs  137  of the core  132 . FIG. 9 also shows an alternate placement of an input coil  138 . In the example of FIG. 1, both input coils  26 ,  28  were placed on the upper portion of the magnetic core  16 , with these coils  26 ,  28  being configured to establish magnetic fields having north magnetic poles at the inner ends  31 ,  32  of the coils  26 ,  28 , with these north magnetic poles thus being closest to the end  14  of the permanent magnet  12  having its north magnetic pole. In the example of FIG. 9, a first input coil  26  is as described above in reference to FIG. 1, but the second input coil  138  is placed adjacent the south pole  140  of the permanent magnet  12 . This input coil  138  is configured to establish a south magnetic pole at its inner end  142 , so that, when input coil  138  is turned on, flux from the permanent magnet  12  is directed away from the left magnetic path  20  into the right magnetic path  18 .  
         [0072]    [0072]FIGS. 10 and 11 show an electromagnetic generator  150  built in accordance with a first version of a second embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 10 being a top view thereof, and with FIG. 11 being a front elevation thereof. This electromagnetic generator  150  includes an output coil  152 ,  153  at each corner, and a permanent magnet  154  extending along each side between output coils. The magnetic core  156  includes an upper plate  158 , a lower plate  160 , and a square post  162  extending within each output coil  152 ,  153 . Both the upper plate  158  and the lower plate  160  include central apertures  164 .  
         [0073]    Each of the permanent magnets  154  is oriented with a like pole, such as a north pole, against the upper plate  158 . Eight input coils  166 ,  168  are placed in positions around the upper plate  158  between an output coil  152 ,  153  and a permanent magnet  154 . Each input coil  166 ,  168  is arranged to form a magnetic pole at its end nearest to the adjacent permanent magnet  154  of a like polarity to the magnetic poles of the magnets  154  adjacent the upper plate  158 . Thus, the input coils  166  are switched on to divert magnetic flux of the permanent magnets  154  from the adjacent output coils  152 , with this flux being diverted into magnetic paths through the output coils  153 . Then, the input coils  168  are switched on to divert magnetic flux of the permanent magnets  154  from the adjacent output coils  153 , with this flux being diverted into magnetic paths through the output coils  152 . Thus, the input coils form a first group of input coils  166  and a second group of input coils  168 , with these first and second groups of input coils being alternately energized in the manner described above in reference to FIG. 1 for the single input coils  26 ,  28 . The output coils produce current in a first train of pulses occurring simultaneously within coils  152  and in a second train of pulses occurring simultaneously within coils  153 .  
         [0074]    Thus, driving current through input coils  166  causes an increase in flux from the permanent magnets  154  within the posts  162  extending through output coils  153  and a decrease in flux from the permanent magnets  154  within the posts  162  extending through output coils  152 . On the other hand, driving current through input coils  168  causes a decrease in flux from the permanent magnets  154  within the posts  162  extending through output coils  153  and an increase in flux from the permanent magnets  154  within the posts  162  extending through output coils  152 .  
         [0075]    While the example of FIGS. 10 and 11 shows all of the input coils  166 ,  168  deployed along the upper plate  158 , it is understood that certain of these input coils  166 ,  168  could alternately be deployed around the lower plate  160 , in the manner generally shown in FIG. 9, with one input coil  166 ,  168  being within each magnetic circuit between a permanent magnet  154  and an adjacent post  162  extending within an output coil  152 ,  153 , and with each input coil  166 ,  168  being arranged to produce a magnetic field having a magnetic pole like the closest pole of the adjacent permanent magnet  154 .  
         [0076]    [0076]FIG. 12 is a top view of a second version  170  of the second embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to the first version thereof, which has been discussed in reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, except that an upper plate  172  and a similar lower plate (not shown) are annular in shape, while the permanent magnets  174  and posts  176  extending through the output coils  178  are cylindrical. The input coils  180  are oriented and switched as described above in reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.  
         [0077]    While the example of FIG. 12 shows four permanent magnets, four output coils and eight input coils it is understood that the principles described above can be applied to electromagnetic generators having different numbers of elements. For example, such a device can be built to have two permanent magnets, two output coils, and four input coils, or to have six permanent magnets, six output coils, and twelve input coils.  
         [0078]    In accordance with the present invention, material used for magnetic cores is preferably a nanocrystalline alloy, and alternately an amorphous alloy. The material is preferably in a laminated form. For example, the core material is a cobalt-niobium-boron alloy or an iron based magnetic alloy.  
         [0079]    Also in accordance with the present invention, the permanent magnet material preferably includes a rare earth element. For example, the permanent magnet material is a samarium cobalt material or a combination of iron, neodymium, and boron.  
         [0080]    While the invention has been described in its preferred versions and embodiments with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.