Abstract:
This disclosure describes an arrangement of axially-aligned motors and tubular or solid drive shafts enabling multiple motors and drive shafts to operate within a compact volume. The motors are axially-aligned to each other and each motor comprises a drive shaft that is axially-aligned to the motor and to the other drive shafts. At least one drive shaft is tubular thus allowing one or more drive shafts to fit within each other just as a telescoping apparatus operates. Drive shafts can thus encompass virtually the same space while rotating at the same or different speeds and directions and can have the same or different torques imparted upon them.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/980,125, filed Oct. 15, 2007, entitled MULTI FUNCTION ENGINES, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to motors of various types. Generally motors comprise mechanical systems that convert chemical, kinetic, or electrical energy into linear or rotary motion. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    This disclosure describes an arrangement of axially-aligned motors and tubular or solid drive shafts enabling multiple motors and drive shafts to operate within a compact volume. The motors are axially-aligned to each other and each motor comprises a drive shaft that is axially-aligned to the motor and to the other drive shafts. At least one drive shaft is tubular thus allowing one or more drive shafts to fit within each other concentrically just as a telescoping apparatus operates. Drive shafts can thus encompass virtually the same space while rotating at the same or different speeds and directions and can have the same or different torques imparted upon them. 
         [0004]    One aspect of the disclosure is an apparatus that includes a plurality of axially-aligned motors, and a plurality of drive shafts. The drive shafts are concentric and axially-aligned to each other and axially-aligned to the motors. Each drive shaft has a different radius than all other drive shafts. Each drive shaft is spaced so as to provide a gap between adjacent drive shafts. Each drive shaft is rotatably driven by one of the motors and each drive shaft may simply constitute an extension of its motor rotor. Finally, at least one drive shaft is tubular. 
         [0005]    Another aspect of this disclosure describes an apparatus including a first motor having a first axially-aligned tubular drive shaft. The first drive shaft has a first inner and outer radii. A second motor has a second axially-aligned tubular drive shaft. The second drive shaft has a second inner and outer radii. The second inner and outer radii are smaller than the first inner and outer radii. The second motor is axially-aligned with the first motor, and the second drive shaft is concentrically axially-aligned with the first drive shaft. At least a portion of the second drive shaft is arranged within the first drive shaft and provides an annular gap between the first and second drive shafts. A third motor has a third concentric, axially-aligned drive shaft. The third drive shaft has a third inner and outer radii. The third inner and outer radii are smaller than the second inner and outer radii. The third motor is axially-aligned with the second motor, and the third drive shaft is axially-aligned with the second drive shaft. At least a portion of the third drive shaft is arranged within the first and second drive shafts and provides an annular gap between the second and third drive shafts. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a first embodiment of an electric motor in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an end perspective view of the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a system of electric motors in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a partial end perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of a second embodiment of a system of electric motors in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a partial end perspective view of the system of motors shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of a third system of motors in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a partial end perspective view of the third system of motors in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is an end perspective view of the third system of motors shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]    The apparatus of the present disclosure includes one or more motors preferably axially aligned to each other, and each having tubular or solid drive shafts further axially aligned to each other and to the one or more motors. Each drive shaft can have a different radius than the other drive shafts. As a result, multiple drive shafts can be concentrically aligned and partially overlapping—similar to the way that the tubes in a telescoping mechanism are arranged. On advantage of this arrangement is that multiple drive shafts can be located in close proximity (taking up little space) and have various rotational directions and velocities, as well as have different torques applied to each drive shaft. Another aspect of the present disclosure is that the multiple drive shafts provide a small annular gap between any two drive shafts having different radii. As such, fluids can pass through these gaps. For instance, cooling fluids could be provided within these gaps, and by causing the fluids to travel through an annular gap in either direction, the fluid can absorb heat from the motors when in proximity to the motors, and transfer the heat away from the motors. Such a cooling system simplifies traditional systems and avoid extraneous piping and other means of transporting cooling fluids. Such a system could also be utilized to preheat fluids before their use in another system. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a first embodiment of an electric motor  102  in accordance with the present disclosure. The illustrated embodiment includes a single motor  102  and a single tubular drive shaft  104  axially aligned to the motor  102 . The drive shaft  104  can be rotatably driven by the motor  102 . Various types of motors are envisioned, for instance: internal combustion engines; alternating current electric motors; direct current electric motors; gas-, air- or water-driven turbine engines; reciprocating engines; steam engines; and piezoelectrically-driven engines, to name a few. Although not visible in the perspective view of  FIG. 1 , the drive shaft  104  preferably passes completely through the motor  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, the drive shaft  104  is tubular and can have any variety of inner and outer diameters. The drive shaft  104  can be made of any rigid or semi-rigid material, such as a metal, ceramic, or even polymers (e.g., acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), vulcanized rubber), amorphous materials (e.g., glass), and organic compounds (e.g., wood), to name a few. The motor  102  is capable of exerting rotational force on the drive shaft  104  in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, although in an embodiment a motor  102  can only exert rotational forces in a single direction. The motor  102  is also capable of driving the drive shaft  104  at various rotational velocities. The motor  102  is also capable of exerting various torques on the drive shaft  104 . 
         [0017]    One embodiment of the motor  102  is a rotary electric motor or alternator. In such an embodiment, the drive shaft  104  can be fixed to a rotor. A stator can be fixed to the inside of the motor  102  and encircle, but not touch, the rotor. The rotor is thus free to spin relative to the stator. Both the rotor and stator can comprise windings of conductive wire or other material. A current passing through the stator windings creates an electric field which induces torque on the rotor and causes the rotor and drive shaft  104  to rotate. In an embodiment, to ensure continuous rotation, the current can be alternated. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is an end perspective view of the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . In the illustrated embodiment, it can be seen that the drive shaft  104  passes through the interior of the motor  102 . The drive shaft  104  can be tubular and thus include a hollow or inner region  106 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a system  300  of electric motors  302 ,  312  in accordance with the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, two motors  302 ,  312  are axially aligned with each other. The motor  302  on the left has a tubular drive shaft  304  axially aligned with the left motor  302  and axially aligned with the right motor  312 . The drive shaft  304  on the left also has a first radius. The motor  312  on the right also has a drive shaft  314  axially aligned with both motors  302 ,  312 . This drive shaft  314  has a second radius smaller than the radius of the first drive shaft  304 . As the two drive shafts  304 ,  314  are axially/concentrically aligned and have different radii, the first drive shaft  304  fits around the thinner second drive shaft  314  without contacting the second drive shaft  314 . As such, the two drive shafts  304 ,  314  can rotate in different directions, at different speeds, and can have different torques imparted upon them. 
         [0020]    Although the illustrated embodiment shows that the second drive shaft  314  is tubular, in an embodiment, this inner or second drive shaft  314  can be solid. A solid drive shaft may be easier and cheaper to manufacture, may be more resilient and thus able to operate at higher loads, and may have a longer life than a tubular drive shaft. Furthermore, for cooling purposes, the drive shaft  314  itself may transfer heat away from the motor  312 . As such, a solid drive shaft may be better able to transfer heat than a tubular drive shaft. In an embodiment, fluid can transport heat away from the motors  302 ,  312  via an annular gap (see  FIG. 4 ) between the two drive shafts  304 ,  314 . At the same time, if the inner or second drive shaft  314  is tubular, fluid may occupy this hollow region and transport heat away from the motors  302 ,  312 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a partial end perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 4 , an annular gap  308  between the inner and outer drive shafts  304 ,  314  can be seen, as well as the hollow region  316  within the inner drive shaft  314 . Although not illustrated, it should be understood that both drive shafts  304 ,  314  pass through the first most motor  302  while only the second drive shaft  314  passes through the second motor  312 . However, in an alternative embodiment, both drive shafts  304 ,  314  may be arranged within, and pass through, both motors  302 ,  312 . In such an embodiment, each motor  302 ,  312  can drive a single drive shaft. For instance, in the illustrated embodiment, the first motor  302  drives only the first or outer drive shaft  304  while the second motor  312  drives only the inner or second drive shaft  314 . 
         [0022]    In an embodiment, the motors  302 ,  312  are electric and each comprise a stator and a rotor. The rotor of the first motor  302  can be fixed to the outer drive shaft  304  while the inner drive shaft  314  passes freely through the first motor  302  and through the outer drive shaft  304  without contacting the outer drive shaft  304 . In the illustrated embodiment, the outer drive shaft  304  does not pass through the second motor  312  and as such, the rotor of the second motor  312  can be fixed directly to, or integral with, the inner drive shaft  314 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of a second embodiment of a system  500  of electric motors  502 ,  512 ,  522  in accordance with the present disclosure. The illustrated embodiment includes a first motor  502  having a first axially aligned tubular drive shaft  504 , the first drive shaft  504  having a first radius. 
         [0024]    The illustrated embodiment also includes a second motor  512  having a second axially aligned tubular drive shaft  514 . The second drive shaft  514  has a second radius being smaller than the first radius. The second motor  512  is axially aligned with the first motor  504 , and the second drive shaft  514  is axially aligned with the first drive shaft  504 . As seen, at least a portion of the second drive shaft  514  is arranged within the first drive shaft  504 . An annular gap can be provided between the first and second drive shafts  502 ,  512 . 
         [0025]    The system  500  also includes a third motor  522  having a third axially aligned drive shaft  524 . The third drive shaft  524  has a third radius, wherein the third radius is smaller than the second radius and the first radius. The third motor  522  is axially aligned with the second motor  512  and the third drive shaft  524  is axially aligned with the second drive shaft  514 . At least a portion of the third drive shaft  524  is arranged within the first and second drive shafts  514 ,  504 . An annular gap is provided between the second and third drive shafts  514 ,  524  in regions where the second and third drive shafts  514 ,  524  overlap. In the illustrated embodiment, the three different drive shafts  504 ,  514 ,  524  can be driven in different directions, at different speeds, and can have different torques applied to each drive shaft  504 ,  514 ,  524 . 
         [0026]    Although the motors  502 ,  512 ,  522  are illustrated as being spaced from each other laterally, other embodiments could include less/greater spacing between motors  502 ,  512 ,  522 , or no spacing. An embodiment in which the motors  502 ,  512 ,  524  are not spaced from each other can be seen in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0027]    In an embodiment, the motors  502 ,  512 ,  522  drive the drive shafts  504 ,  514 ,  524  in the same direction, at the same speed, and/or apply equivalent torque to all three drive shafts  504 ,  514 ,  524 . In other embodiments, any combination of speed, direction, and/or torque can be applied to any combination of one or more of the drive shafts  504 ,  514 ,  524 . In an embodiment, the inner drive shaft  524  can be tubular or solid. Although in the illustrated embodiment a portion of each drive shaft  504 ,  514 ,  524  is provided to the right of each motor  502 ,  512 ,  522 , in another embodiment the three drive shafts  504 ,  514 ,  524  may only be provided within each motor  502 ,  512 ,  522 , and to the left of each motor  502 ,  512 ,  522 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a partial end perspective view of the system of motors  500  shown in  FIG. 5 . In the illustrated embodiment, the inner drive shaft  524  is tubular. However, in an embodiment, the inner drive shaft  524  can be solid. An annular gap  508  can be seen between the inner and middle drive shafts  524 ,  514  as well as the gap  508  between the middle and outer drive shafts  514 ,  504 . As noted in earlier FIGS., these gaps  508 ,  518  can be filled with fluid. In an embodiment, this fluid can transport heat or thermal energy to or from the motors  502 ,  512 ,  522 . In an embodiment having a plurality of gaps  508 ,  518 , such as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , fluid may flow in different directions. In an embodiment, fluid may flow in one of, but not all of the gaps  508 ,  518 . In an embodiment, different fluids can flow in different gaps  508 ,  518 . In an embodiment, a hollow region  526  within the inner driveshaft  524  can also be a conduit for fluid. Other combinations are also envisioned. 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of a third system  700  of motors  702 ,  712 ,  722 ,  732  in accordance with the present disclosure. The system  700  includes a first motor  702  having a first axially aligned tubular drive shaft  704 . The first drive shaft  704  has a first radius. The system  700  also includes a second motor  712  having a second axially aligned tubular drive shaft  74 . The second drive shaft  714  has a second a radius, wherein the second radius is smaller than the first radius. The second motor  712  is axially aligned with the first motor  702  and the second drive shaft  714  is axially aligned with the first drive shaft  704 . At least a portion of the second drive shaft  714  is arranged within the first drive shaft  704  and provides an annular gap between the first and second drive shafts  704 ,  714 . The system  700  also includes a third motor  722  having a third axially aligned drive shaft  724 . The third drive shaft  724  has a third radius, wherein the third radius is smaller than the second radius. The third motor  722  is axially aligned with the second motor  712  and the third drive shaft  724  is axially aligned with the second drive shaft  714 . At least a portion of the third drive shaft  724  is arranged within the first and second drive shafts  704 ,  714  and provides an annular gap between the second and third drive shafts  714 ,  724 . The system  700  also includes a fourth motor  732  having a fourth axially aligned drive shaft  734 . The fourth drive shaft  734  has a fourth radius, wherein the fourth radius is smaller than the third radius. The fourth motor  732  is axially aligned with the third motor  722  and the fourth drive shaft  734  is axially aligned with the third drive shaft  724 . At least a portion of the fourth drive shaft  734  is arranged within the first, second, and third drive shafts  704 ,  714 ,  724  and provides an annular gap between the third and fourth drive shafts  724 ,  734 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a partial end perspective view of the third system  700  of motors  702 ,  712 ,  722 ,  724  in accordance with the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the inner or fourth drive shaft  734  is solid. However, in alternative embodiments, the inner or fourth drive shaft  734  can be tubular and have a hollow region. As can be seen, an annular gap  708 ,  718 ,  728  is provided between each pair of drive shafts  704 ,  714 ,  724 ,  734 . In such an embodiment, each drive shaft  704 ,  714 ,  724 ,  734  may be driven at a different speed, in a different direction, and have a different torque applied to each drive shaft  704 ,  714 ,  724 ,  734 . In an alternative embodiment, each drive shaft  704 ,  714 ,  724 ,  734  may be driven in the same direction, at the same speed, and/or have the same torque applied to it. In alternative embodiments, any combination of different or similar speeds, directions, and/or torques may be applied to the drive shafts  704 ,  714 ,  724 ,  734 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is an end perspective view of the third system  900  of motors  902 ,  912 ,  922 ,  924  shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 .  FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment in which there is no gap between each motor  902 ,  912 ,  922 ,  924 . In other words, the motors  902 ,  912 ,  922 ,  924  are in contact with each other or are provided with only a minimal gap between each motor  902 ,  912 ,  922 ,  924 . An advantage of such an arrangement is that the system  900  of motors  902 ,  912 ,  922 ,  932  is compact. As such, the illustrated system  900  can provide four different speeds, directions of rotation, and/or torques to the drive shafts  904 ,  914 ,  924 ,  934  which can be used to rotate or drive other systems, and such a system  900  of variable forces can be implemented in a very small and compact space/volume. 
         [0032]    While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and adaptations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.