Acyclic Or Homopolar-type Generator Patents (Class 322/48)
  • Patent number: 8680701
    Abstract: A circuit for regulating a DC voltage is provided. The circuit includes: a controllable switch system, a resistor, a first control circuit and a second control circuit. The controllable switch system includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a first control terminal, and a second control terminal. The controllable switch system is configured to establish an electrical connection between the first terminal and the second terminal, if a first control signal applied to the first control terminal satisfies a first criterion or if a second control signal applied to the second control terminal satisfies a second criterion; A method for regulating a DC voltage and an AC-to-AC-converter are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rodney Jones
  • Patent number: 8581559
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a homopolar generator charger with an integral rechargeable battery. A method is provided for converting rotational kinetic energy to electrical energy for charging one or more battery cells. The method can include rotating, by a shaft, a rotor in a magnetic flux field to generate current, wherein the rotor comprises an electrically conductive portion having an inner diameter conductive connection surface and an outer diameter conductive connection surface, and wherein a voltage potential is induced between the inner and outer diameter connection surfaces upon rotation in the magnetic flux field. The method can also include selectively coupling the generated current from the rotating rotor to terminals of the one or more battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Mechanical Energy Generating Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Richard Edward Botts
  • Publication number: 20130093401
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a homopolar generator charger with an integral rechargeable battery. A method is provided for converting rotational kinetic energy to electrical energy for charging one or more battery cells. The method can include rotating, by a shaft, a rotor in a magnetic flux field to generate current, wherein the rotor comprises an electrically conductive portion having an inner diameter conductive connection surface and an outer diameter conductive connection surface, and wherein a voltage potential is induced between the inner and outer diameter connection surfaces upon rotation in the magnetic flux field. The method can also include selectively coupling the generated current from the rotating rotor to terminals of the one or more battery cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: MECHANICAL ENERGY GENERATING SYSTEMS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Richard Edward Botts
  • Patent number: 8358036
    Abstract: A control system is provided for use with a plurality of generator sets. The control system may have a bus, an arbitration relay, a switching device, a control module, and first, second, and third discrete signal cables. The control module may be configured to receive a group start signal and initiate startup of a first of the plurality of generator sets, and to generate a signal on the first discrete signal cable based on an operational status of the first of the plurality of generator sets. The control module may also be configured to determine if the second discrete signal cable is active, to activate the second discrete signal cable and the arbitration relay based on the determination, and to activate the switching device to connect the first of the plurality of generator sets to the bus based on a status of the third discrete signal cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Eric Dozier, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Matthew Lee Wagner
  • Publication number: 20090230690
    Abstract: A system for generating power includes a homopolar electrical generator having, a superconducting field coil operative to create a magnetic field, and a homopolar rotor assembly operative to rotate in the magnetic field such that a rotating magnetic field couples with a stationary winding by an interaction of a rotating permeance wave produced by the homopolar rotor assembly and the magnetic field created by the superconducting field coil., and a wind turbine mechanically linked to the homopolar electrical generator operative to rotate the homopolar rotor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James William Bray, Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, Kiruba Haran Sivasubramaniam
  • Publication number: 20090167258
    Abstract: An inexpensive means of using homopolar technology to test some aspects of magnetic shear and reconnection on a variety of solid, liquid, gaseous, and plasma substances
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Peavey
  • Patent number: 7514807
    Abstract: A circuit for boosting the voltage output of an alternator utilizes the armature coils of the alternator as part of the boost circuit. The circuit and methods utilizing this circuit can enable refined control strategies for operating a plurality of engine systems during propulsion, idling and braking and is applicable to large systems such as trucks, ships, cranes and locomotives utilizing diesel engines, gas turbine engines, other types of internal combustion engines, fuel cells or combinations of these that require substantial power and low emissions utilizing multiple power plant combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Railpower Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Frank Donnelly, Andrew Tarnow
  • Patent number: 7463914
    Abstract: An acyclic homopolar electromechanical power converter that uses superconducting series connected rotor elements for series summation of magnetomotive and electromotive force. The novel rotor assembly comprises a plurality of conductor elements connected in series by superconducting series connections. The behavior of the superconducting series connections provides a form of flux isolation and series summation of forces that has heretofore been impossible in electromechanical power converters. The superconducting series connections further modify the rotor impedance of an acyclic homopolar electromechanical power converter to provide long needed improvements to acyclic homopolar electromechanical power converter designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Dynamo Capital, Inc.
    Inventor: Dieter Wolfgang Blum
  • Patent number: 5977684
    Abstract: A rotating machine configurable as a pure DC generator for use in various applications, including recharging batteries in battery operated portable devices. The generator consists of a pair of permanent magnets which are mounted on two rotating magnetic ferrous metal hubs. The magnets are aligned so that they have the same polarity facing each other. The hubs, including the magnets, rotate around a stationary toroidal coil, which creates a magnetic flux. The flux from the two magnets cuts the conductor to the toroidal coil in a same direction upon rotation of the hubs, creating an emf (current) which is always in the same direction. Thus, a direct current is created, without the need for commutation or rectification. The input and output functions of the generator may be reversed to enable the generator to function as a DC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Ted T. Lin
  • Patent number: 5731645
    Abstract: A flywheel energy conversion device provides highly efficient conversion between kinetic and electrical energy. The flywheel produces increased output by providing armature coils in an air gap formed about the flywheel (both radial and axial embodiments are described). In preferred embodiments, field coils of a magnetic circuit are energized with DC drive current that creates homopolar flux within a rotating solid rotor having teeth cut from a flat disk. The total reluctance of the magnetic circuit and total flux remain substantially constant as the rotor rotates. The flux may travel radially outward and exit the flat disk through the teeth passing across an armature air gap. Airgap armature coils are preferably utilized in which the changing flux density (due to the rotating teeth) induces an output voltage in the coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Magnetic Bearing Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Clifton, Joseph F. Pinkerton, James A. Andrews, Scott R. Little
  • Patent number: 4975609
    Abstract: A homopolar dynamoelectric machine is provided with plural independent output terminals for selectable external interconnection to yield a variable output. Each output terminal is associated with a respective pair of rotor conductor and stator conductor. Each rotor conductor and stator conductor is of a generally cylindrical shape. Each stator conductor is further comprised of two separated portions each of a generally cylindrically shape. The rotor conductors and stator conductors are arranged concentrically to each other, and all stator conductors are positioned external to all rotor conductors. The surface of each rotor and stator conductor can be skewed to provide a skewed current flow generating a magnetic field boosting that initially provided in the system. Each output terminal has two connections to each stator conductor, one on each separated portion of the corresponding stator conductor. Each such connection comprises plurals contact areas on a corresponding stator conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Bobby D. McKee
  • Patent number: 4550283
    Abstract: Minaturized unipolar low power rotational speed transducers or tachometer generators are disclosed, one of which is comprised of coaxial housing and pole members of magnetic material and a permanent magnet interposed therebetween and which housing and pole member provide an annular air gap receiving the annular side wall of a rotatable cup-shaped rotor of electrically conductive material. The rotor is supported by a drivable shaft at the end of the housing corresponding to the closed end of the rotor, and a pair of brushes radially engage the rotor side wall adjacent the closed and open ends of the rotor to provide an output signal in response to driving rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: Servo-Tek Products Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Leach, Richard L. Wickens
  • Patent number: 4544874
    Abstract: A high-energy, high-current homopolar generator pulsed power supply system that is compact and field portable. The power supply system includes a hompolar generator (HPG), an auxiliary supply and drive system, both mounted on a skid frame, and a control system coupled to the HPG and drive system. The homopolar generator has a split rotor with insulation between the halves and a recess in the periphery. A stator ring and field coil, for producing a magnetic field through which the rotor halves make two simultaneous voltage-generating passes, are disposed within the recess in the rotor. Air-actuated brush mechanisms inside and outside the recess contact surfaces of the rotor and collect discharge current. The auxiliary supply and drive system includes a motoring system comprising hydraulic motors for driving the HPG to speed, a bearing lubrication system, a generator for energizing the field coil, and a brush actuator air supply system, all of which are driven by a prime mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: The Board of Regents, The University of Texas
    Inventors: William F. Weldon, John H. Gully
  • Patent number: 4385251
    Abstract: A homopolar inductor-alternator machine is constructed to have lower transient rectances by the incorporation of a current conducting ring concentric with the axis of the rotor and positioned on the rotor and/or the stator. The conducting ring helps prevent time varying fluxes from inducing eddy current flow in the high permeability rotor steel and unlaminated stator flux return path (back iron). The conducting ring acts upon the transient fluxes which occur in the DC flux path of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John A. Mallick, Eike Richter, Thomas A. Nondahl
  • Patent number: 4276507
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1981
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventor: Roy E. Stillwagon
  • Patent number: 4260944
    Abstract: A pulsating signal generator for the production, in particular, of 3 systems of triphase voltages, in which the resulting pseudo-sinusoidal voltages of the 3 systems are modulated in amplitude at predetermined, fixed or variable pulsation .epsilon., and staggered in phase by 2.pi./3 radians among themselves. The generators of the double homopolar rotating machine type comprise a magnetic stator circuit of double homopolar alternator construction provided with two armatures, each including a system of triphase windings with 3 independent circuits per phase, each circuit of each phase of the first armature being connected in series with one of the circuits of a phase of the second armature. A rotor with a rotating magnet divided into two half-rotors by an airgap 23 is disposed on a shaft concentric with the armatures and an excitation induction coil, concentric to the axis of the rotor provides magnetic flux through the armatures. A driving means drives the half-rotors at speeds .mu..sub.1, and .mu..sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Inventor: Gerard O'Mahony
  • Patent number: 4153868
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Adam M. Janotik
  • Patent number: 4151455
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Adam M. Janotik
  • Patent number: 4105963
    Abstract: A brushless welding generator with a homopolar machine which supplies welding current, and has winding-free rotors with several pole rings. Each of these form an air gap of varying size around its periphery with the stator. The homopolar machine is divided into two electromagnetic parts, each having an exciting winding. The exciting field is controlled in one of the two electromagnetic parts in opposition to the welding current. One electromagnetic part, furthermore, has a further exciting winding fed by the welding current to control its exciting field. This further exciting winding produces an exciting field directed opposite to the exciting field of the first-mentioned exciting winding. A regulator controls the welding current of one exciting winding, and a signal derived from the welding current is applied to the regulator for representing an actual value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1978
    Assignee: J. U. W. Muller, Maschinen-und Armaturenfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Aurel Dobranis