Abstract: A homopolar dynamoelectric machine is provided in which the magnetic fields are segmented circumferentially of the machine. Longitudinal field windings are placed in recesses in a cylindrical stator and energized so as to provide radial magnetic fields in polar regions between the field windings. Stator conductors are placed in slots in the polar regions. The rotor carries longitudinal conductors on its surface positioned to cut the radial magnetic fluxes, and current-collecting means are provided at both ends of the machine to make electrical contact with both ends of the rotor conductors. The current-collecting means are connected to the stator conductors to complete the electrical circuit of the machine.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrical liquid contact for an electrical machine such as an electric unipolar machine with a horizontal shaft. The liquid contact includes a ring gap which is sealed laterally by ring gaps which extend at an angle or radially and in which the metallic liquid present therein is set in rotation. This is accomplished by a circulating pump located outside the ring gap. In addition, the speed of rotation in the ring gap is matched to the pressure of the liquid by changing the cross-sectional area of the passage through which the liquid flows.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring electrical current between two electrical conductors which can be rotated relatively to each other via an auxiliary coaxial rotor arranged radially outside both conductors and provided with two grooves containing liquid metal the conductors having annular contact flanges being submerged into the two rings of liquid metal, respectively.

Abstract: An offset or asymmetrical self-contained liquid metal current collector for cyclic or homopolar electrical generators or motors is provided which includes a narrow annular volume on one side and a wide annular volume on the other side of the collector disc. Selectively positioned circular troughs effectively communicate with each other so that the liquid metal is trapped and retained when the rotating speed of the disc is too low to centrifugally maintain the liquid metal at the outer periphery of the disc.

Abstract: An electrical current collector for an acyclic machine employs a rotor collector ring encircled by a stator collector ring to which a compliant brush of electrically conductive filaments is attached. The gap between rotor collector ring and stator collector ring, including brush interstices, is flooded with liquid metal which is drawn around the rotor collector ring periphery when rotation begins. A thin film of liquid metal on the brush makes sliding contact with the rotor collector ring, enhancing conductivity between the rotor and stator collector rings through the brush filaments.

Abstract: A combined rotary electrical contact and seal system for rotating machines, sing a liquid metal for electrical continuity and convertible labyrinth and rotating rubbing face seals to effect a nearly perfect seal system for the liquid metal, both while the machine is at rest and during rotation at normal operating speed. To avoid leakage of the liquid metal while the rotor is stopped or at low speeds, a face seal is effected by a slight axial movement of the rotor. As the rotational speed increases, the rubbing face seal becomes a labyrinth seal to avoid wear while maintaining an adequate seal. The liquid metal level is monitored and drains are provided to recover any leakage losses, and a replenishment system is provided to maintain the liquid metal at a proper level.

Abstract: A unipolar dynamoelectric machine with variable resistance control of machine current. The machine includes a stator, a rotor rotating within an opening in the stator, and a control member. The rotor also rotates about a portion of the control member. A first annular space exists between the control member and the rotor, and a second annular space exists between the rotor and stator. A field coil within the stator provides a magnetic field that may be used in machine control. A liquid metal is used to control the current level in the machine. A forcing device is used to control the amount of liquid metal contained within the first and second annular spaces. This controls machine resistance and current flow. Preferably, the amount of liquid metal in the first annular space is inversely proportional to rotor speed and that in the second annular space is directly proportional thereto.

Abstract: A unipolar dynamoelectric machine has a divided housing and uses a liquid metal to effect variable resistance control of the machine current. The machine includes a stator comprising a housing having first and second portions and a field coil. The housing portions are electrically insulated from one another and together define a chamber having an axis that is coincident with the axis of the annular field coil. A rotor is journalled in the housing and a control member extends into a recess in the rotor. The rotor rotates about the control member and is spaced from the stator and from the control member. The spacing produces annular spaces into which a liquid metal may be forced by an expandable bellows arrangement. Current flow in the machine is through the control member, the space between the control member and the rotor, the rotor, the space between the rotor and the stator, and the stator.

Abstract: An electrical current collector for an acyclic machine employs a stator collector ring which encircles a rotor collector ring and includes a plurality of fins protruding radially-inward into a plurality of cage sectors, respectively, each cage sector axially defining a raceway through which liquid metal flows in continuous contact with both collector rings. The cage sectors are spring-biased toward the rotor collector ring but maintained out of contact therewith by circumferentially abutted spacing means and by liquid metal which fills the entire region between the rotor collector ring and each cage sector. The liquid metal in the raceway conducts current between the rotor collector ring and each cage sector.

Abstract: An electric vehicle drive train having a unipolar motor connected between a DC source of electrical energy and a differential or other mechanism for turning the wheels of an electric vehicle. The DC source consists of a low-voltage battery or thermoelectric generator which has first and second electrodes. One of the electrodes is the container of the DC source and the other source electrode is connected to a control member forming a part of the unipolar motor.The unipolar motor is positioned within a recess of the DC source container and is in electrical contact therewith so that current flows from the control member of the motor, through the motor's internal structure, and into the motor housing portion attached to the container. This provides a very compact electric vehicle drive train with the DC source located as close as possible to the unipolar motor. Preferably the motor is vertically positioned between the DC source located above it and the vehicle differential located beneath it.

Abstract: Disclosed is a DC motor comprising a rotor consisting of a rotary shaft, a disk carried by the rotary shaft coaxially thereof and a plurality of prefabricated coils mounted on the disk and equiangularly spaced apart from each other; brushes attached on the rotor and electrically connected to the coils and each consisting of carbon fibers; and a casing wherein commutator segments are mounted on the inner surface of the side wall of the casing and circumferentially equiangularly spaced apart from each other for sliding contact with the brushes and permanent magnets are mounted on the casing so as to surround or be surrounded by the coils in radially opposed relation therewith or to be in axially opposed relation therewith.

Abstract: A homopolar machine designed to operate as a generator and motor in reversibly storing and transferring energy between the machine and a magnetic load coil for a thermo-nuclear reactor. The machine rotor comprises hollow thin-walled cylinders or sleeves which form the basis of the system by utilizing substantially all of the rotor mass as a conductor thus making it possible to transfer substantially all the rotor kinetic energy electrically to the load coil in a highly economical and efficient manner. The rotor is divided into multiple separate cylinders or sleeves of modular design, connected in series and arranged to rotate in opposite directions but maintain the supply of current in a single direction to the machine terminals. A stator concentrically disposed around the sleeves consists of a hollow cylinder having a number of excitation coils each located radially outward from the ends of adjacent sleeves.

Abstract: Separation of gas from an emulsion of gas and liquid metal in an acyclic machine is achieved during high speed machine operation, without removing the emulsion from the current collector vicinity, by allowing the emulsion to flow into a central fluid chamber situated radially inward of the current collector gap. Rotation of the central fluid chamber centrifugally separates the entrained gas from the liquid metal. The liquid metal thus freed of gas is returned to the collector gap.

Abstract: A plural disk acyclic machine employs an outer axial stack of low reluctance, electrically conductive disks about an inner axial stack of such disks, both stacks being rotatable about a central shaft. Conductive means interconnect each disk in each stack, and an axially-directed magnetic field is established through each stack such that magnetic flux cuts rotatable disks along its path in the machine, except at the end caps of the machine.

Abstract: An electric unipolar machine is disclosed which comprises two rotating cylinders disposed one behind the other in an axial direction. The aforesaid rotating cylinders are surrounded by respective stationary cylinders and are connected thereto by sliding contacts.In accord with the invention, a rotor hub which has a central recess and which is divided at a point along the axial direction is provided for supporting the rotating cylinders. The stationary cylinders, in turn, are supported by a housing which is also divided, but along a point in the circumferential direction. In further accord with the invention, the winding of the machine is arranged in the central recess of the rotor hub and is formed as a one-piece ring. Additionally, the winding is supported by means extending through the parting gap of the divided housing and is aligned and fastened by bolts distributed around the circumference of the housing.

Abstract: A low-powered stepping motor is rotated and controlled by a driving circuit generating a pulsating current has a fixed field system formed by a permanent magnet, a soft magnetic material, etc. and a rotor disposed within the fixed field system, and forming armature windings in which the windings perform stepping motion in response to a pulsating current from the driving circuit to cause stepping rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: Brush gear for electrical machinery comprises a brush movably mounted on a support and a flexible housing which connects the brush with the support and contains a quantity of liquid metal to form a current flow path between the brush and the support. The brush, which is preferably composed of resilient fibres, may be adjustable by a positive drive mechanism, the necessary movement being permitted by bellows walls or diaphragms forming the housing.

Abstract: An alternating current generator of the kind having a superconductive direct current field winding wherein: the field winding is carried on the stator; the armature winding is carried on the rotor; shaft and current collection from the armature winding is effected via a liquid metal slip-ring arrangement. The invention also provides a liquid metal slip-ring arrangement, for use with dynamo electric machines, comprising a first annular member which rotates with the machine rotor, and a non-rotating second annular member which is electrically connected to the first annular member via the liquid metal of the slip-ring arrangement, and arranged to move axially with the first annular member during axial movement of the rotor.

Abstract: A homopolar motor and a homopolar generator are concentric and radially displaced from one another to provide a torque conversion arrangement. The motor and generator circuits are internally connected by stationary conductors to provide a closed loop current path.

Abstract: To assure availability of liquid metal for operation of liquid metal electrical current collectors in an acyclic machine at all operating speeds of the machine, liquid metal expelled electromagnetically from the region between an individual rotor collector ring and an individual stator collector ring is returned to the region from which it was expelled by causing the expulsion-producing armature current to flow in reverse through the expelled liquid metal, thereby pumping the liquid metal electromagnetically back into the region from which it was expelled.

Abstract: Separation of gas from an emulsion of gas and liquid metal in an acyclic machine is achieved during high speed machine operation, without removing the emulsion from the current collector vicinity, by allowing the emulsion to flow into a central fluid chamber situated radially inward of the current collector gap. Rotation of the central fluid chamber centrifugally separates the entrained gas from the liquid metal. The liquid metal thus freed of gas is returned to the collector gap.

Abstract: A homopolar motor-battery combination having axially magnetized elements alternating with conductive disks attached to a motor shaft. The conductive disks and an electrochemically active shroud member around the disk rims act as battery electrodes to send current through the disks. The current reacts with the axial magnetic field to produce rotation of the disks and shaft when immersed in an electrolyte.

Abstract: A DC permanent magnet machine having stator and rotor assemblies of the "inside out" design. The stator is provided with a plurality of electrically energizable poles having windings which are electrically coupled to associated commutator bars forming an annular array. The rotor is provided with a plurality of permanent magnet poles equal in number to the poles provided in the stator. A plurality of roller contact assemblies mounted upon the rotor serve to progressively and sequentially couple the commutator bars to brush rings and through brushes to opposite polarities of a DC energizing source, thereby sequentially providing electrical power to associated coils of the stator winding. The interaction of the magnetic field created by the energized stator coils and the magnetic field of the permanent magnets in the rotor assembly causes rotation of the rotor which, in turn, rotates the roller contacts to continuously and progressively switch the DC source to succeeding stator coils.

Abstract: To assure availability of liquid metal for operation of liquid metal electrical current collectors in an acyclic machine at all operating speeds of the machine, liquid metal expelled electromagnetically from the region between an individual rotor collector ring and an individual stator collector ring is made to flow a second time in the same direction across a path followed by the armature current so that the liquid metal is pumped electromagnetically back into the region from which it is expelled.

Abstract: This invention concerns an improvement in a fluid contact arrangement employed in a DC machine. The invention provides a contact fluid which is interposed between the rotor and the stator of the machine. The fluid is ferromagnetic. Further, the invention provides a magnetic field which is directed perpendicular to the air gap. The effect of the magnetic field on the ferromagnetic contact fluid is such that the fluid is retained within the gap both when the rotor is at a standstill and when it operates at its normal speed.

Abstract: An electrical conductor arrangement is provided for the conducting of electrical currents from a rotating shaft to a non-rotating conductor. The arrangement provides for an electrically conductive worm with helical grooves affixed to the shaft so as to rotate therewith and a flexuous electrical contactor disc, formed by a plurality of flexible electrically conductive fibers projecting radially from a central annular hub, which is rotatably mounted such that the fiber surfaces adjacent to the ends of the conductive fibers engage the walls of the helical grooves of the worm. As the shaft and worm rotate, successive ones of the electrically conductive fibers contact and move with the worm helix causing the flexuous electrical contactor disc to rotate at a reduced speed determined by the radius of the disc and the number of grooves of the worm helix.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved direct current motor schemes where mechanical commutators are used in conjunction with diodes and controlled rectifiers to overcome commutation or to provide a smoothly controllable motor torque. The schemes are applicable to series, separately excited and permanent magnet types dc motors.