Patent Publication Number: US-2017366069-A1

Title: Laser-spun electric generator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/351,136, filed 16 Jun. 2016, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to electric generators and, more particularly, a laser powered electric generator apparatus. 
     More than ever, people are looking for solutions to their electricity needs, preferably “green” solutions with no or minimal carbon pollutants affording energy autonomy that liberates them from the “grid”. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a laser powered electric generator apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a laser-spun electric generator including a housing enclosing a core unit; two opposing magnetic hubs mounted to the housing; and the core unit comprising: a donut-shaped coil mounted to the housing; a rotor frame disposed within a lumen of the coil, wherein the rotor frame is made of ferromagnetic material and centrically oriented between and relative to the two opposing magnetic hubs so as to levitate therebetween; a plurality of light sails radially extending from the rotor frame; a plurality of magnetic elements disposed along the rotor frame; and at least one laser emitter mounted to the coil so that each laser emitter emits a laser beam transversely relative to at least one respective light sail of the plurality of light sails. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the laser-spun electric generator includes a housing enclosing a core unit, wherein the housing provides a vacuum for the core unit enclosed therein, and wherein the housing prevents outside light from entering the core unit; two opposing magnetic hubs mounted to the housing; the core unit comprising: a donut-shaped coil mounted to the housing; a rotor frame disposed within a lumen of the coil, wherein the rotor frame is made of ferromagnetic material and centrically oriented between and relative to the two opposing magnetic hubs so as to levitate therebetween; a plurality of light sails radially extending from the rotor frame; a plurality of magnetic elements disposed along the rotor frame; and at least one laser emitter mounted to the coil so that each laser emitter emits a laser beam transversely relative to at least one respective light sail of the plurality of light sails; a battery electrically connected to the at least one laser and the coil; and a cooling element configured to selectively keep an enclosed space of the housing at a sufficient temperature, wherein the cooling element is electrically coupled to the battery. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a core unit of the present invention, with parts broken away for clarity; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a rotor frame of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a laser-spun electric generator having a plurality of light sails mounted along an annular rotor frame also providing magnetic elements there along. The annular rotor frame may be magnetically and thus rotatably mounted between two opposing magnetic hubs within a solar cell housing. The annular rotor frame may be disposed within the lumen of a donut-shaped tubular coil. Each laser emitter may be mounted to the tubular coil so as to emit a laser beam directed transverse relative to a respective light sail of the plurality of light sails that rotate through the path of the laser beam, converting the linear energy of the laser to rotational motion energy, generating electricity as the plurality of magnetic elements pass through the tubular coil. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the present invention may provide an electric generator apparatus  10 . The electric generator apparatus  10  may include at least one laser emitter  24  oriented to engage a series of spaced apart light sails  30  mounted on a rotor frame  22 . The light sails  38  are mounted along the rotor frame  22  so as to be generally transverse to the direction of the laser emitted from the laser emitter(s)  24 . The rotor frame  22  provides a plurality magnetic elements  32  disposed there along. The rotor frame  22  may be an annular frame made of ferromagnetic material rotatably mounted between two opposing magnetic hubs  18 . 
     The magnetic hubs  18  may be mounted on respective vertical members  16  within a housing  12  encasing the electric generator apparatus  10 , or at least the core unit  19  thereof (rotor frame  22  and coil tubular donut  20 ). The vertical members  16  may extend from a base  14  of the housing  12 . Also mounted within the housing  12  is a coil tubular donut  20 . The rotor frame  22  and thus its plurality of magnetic elements  32  are adapted to rotate within the lumen of the tubular donut  20 , as illustrated in the FIGS, about a rotational axis defined by the two opposing magnetic hubs  18 . 
     The electric generator apparatus  10  may include a battery  26  that is electrically connected to the at least one laser emitter  24  and to the coil tubular donut  20 , via leads  21 , connection wires or the like. The storage battery  26  provides electricity for the laser emitters  24  as well as storing energy. The electric generator apparatus  10  may include a cooling element  28  connected to the battery  26 , so that the cooling element may keep the core unit at a predetermined suitable temperature. Both the cooling element  28  and the battery  26  may or may not be encased in the housing  12 . The housing  12  may be a solar celled dome or shell, maintaining a vacuum about the core unit  19 , while keeping out outside light as well. 
     The light sails (photon sails)  30  are adapted to provide propulsion using the electromagnetic radiation pressure exerted by laser emitted from the transversely mounted at least one laser emitter  24 , capturing linear energy of the laser and transferring it in the form of rotational motion energy. With the rotor frame  22  rotatably levitated between the two opposing magnetic hubs  18 , the rotational motion energy captured by the light sails  30  rotates the rotor frame  22  magnetic elements  32  within the coil tubular donut  20 , generating electricity. The coil tubular donut  20  may be made from coiled copper or the like. 
     A method of using the present invention may include the following. The electric generator apparatus  10  disclosed above may be provided. The user may initiate the rotation of the rotor frame  22  (or the housing  12  may be adapted to initiate the rotation of the rotor frame  22 ) or the at least one laser emitter  24  may start to spin the rotor frame  22  via the light sails  30 . The rotor frame  22  levitated inside the coil donut  20  inside the vacuum, gains rotational velocity speed. Around or over  10  miles an hour the present invention may sustains itself and start to generate extra electricity as its rotational velocity increases. Around 90,000 miles per second, the present invention may generate 11 million 400 thousand volts of electricity. 
     In other embodiments, the present invention may produce freed plasma, or basically anything that requires electricity or electrical energy, such as new composite materials from a centrifuge, robots, computers, mechanized equipment and weapons, and the like. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.