Magnetic Field Type Patents (Class 310/103)
  • Patent number: 6337527
    Abstract: A permanent magnet coupler has a conductor rotor assembly mounted on one shaft and a magnet rotor assembly mounted on a coaxial shaft. The magnet rotor assembly provides two magnet rotors spaced by the adjustable air gaps from two conductor elements provided by the conductor rotor assembly. The air gap adjustment includes adjustable stops, such, for example, as swing arms having an adjustable effective length. These stops operate in conjunction with swing arms causing the magnet rotors to move axially in unison in opposite directions. The air gaps are set so that the coupler will automatically release when subjected to an overloaded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Magna Force, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 6336603
    Abstract: A magnetic induction drive for a rotatable driven member in a sealed housing, in particular, a shaft-mounted blade in a blender cup or a shaft-mounted blade in an ice shaver, uses a comparatively thin circular drive plate of a magnetizable material with circumferentially arrayed poles enclosed within a housing secured to a drive shaft. A brushless d.c. motor in a base separate from the housing has a rotor formed as an array of pie-shaped permanent magnet regions that interact with an electronically controlled, rotating electromagnetic field produced by a ring of stator coils. A second such permanent magnet is coupled to rotate coaxially and in unison with the rotor, with poles of opposite polarity aligned and adjacent one another. A steel disc is sandwiched between and bonded to the rotor and the second permanent magnet. The magnetic field (lines of flux) of the second magnet extends axially away from the rotor to induce magnetic poles of opposite polarity in the drive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Island Oasis Frozen Cocktail Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Karkos, Jr., John Micheli
  • Patent number: 6331743
    Abstract: A magnetic fan clutch having a magnetic field coupling which uses a light weight, strong plastic driving member and driven member to rotate fan blades which are also made of plastic. The fan clutch also uses a plastic mounting member for attaching to a vehicle. Plastic may be used for a vehicle or truck fan clutch because the magnetic coupling between the series of coils on the driving member and the magnetic elements on the driven member may be modulated to provide a slower torque transfer from zero to a full torque transfer over a longer controlled period of time such as over six seconds to eliminate the relatively sharp impact torque transfer pulse heretofore found in fan clutches. This slower and modulated torque transfer with slippage between the driving member and driven member during the torque transfer period reduces the fast acceleration and the resistant high inertia and torque loads of conventional fan clutches as typically found in vehicles or other heavy duty applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: American Cooling Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Larry Ray Link
  • Publication number: 20010010437
    Abstract: An electrical machine, such as a three phase current generator and a starter generator has a stator housing, a shaft supported in the stator housing and carrying an impeller, a stator plate pack mounted on the stator housing and surrounding the impeller, a stator and a rotor chamber and a space which is separated from the chambers in a cooling medium tight manner, a cooling medium pump which is driven by a shaft for heating a cooling medium, the cooling medium pump being arranged in the space, a magnetic coupling through which the cooling medium pump is drivable and which transmits a driving moment from the shaft to the cooling medium pump, the magnetic coupling having a driving part and a driven part which are separated from one another by a magnetically inactive and electrically poorly conductive wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Martin-Peter Bolz, Robert Schenk, Ulrich Kappenstein
  • Patent number: 6265799
    Abstract: The coupling (20) for transmitting rotation in a synchronous permanent magnetic rotor motor with a central rotor shaft (21), the load (24) being for instance the impeller of a drain pump, comprises a cavity (27) that receives one end of the rotor shaft (21), a radial cam (22) attached to the rotor shaft (21), and a noise and vibration cushioning member which engages with the cam (22). The elastic cushioning member (25) is housed in said cavity (27) compressed and subjected to a friction force in opposition to the rotation of the rotor shaft (21), limited so that it undergoes a cushioning displacement during motor starting under the impacts of the radial cam (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Fagor S. Coop.
    Inventor: Javier Errasti Uriarte
  • Patent number: 6244395
    Abstract: The electromagnetic hysteresis brake, especially a yarn brake for textile machines, comprises a stationary brake magnet (1), which consists of inner and outer pole ring parts (2, 3) and a magnet winding (4), and a rotating armature (8), which is connected to a hysteresis ring (7) of permanent magnetic material. The hysteresis ring (7) projects into an annular air-gap (6) of the brake magnet (1), which is formed between the inner and outer pole ring parts (2, 3). At least one permanent magnet (5) is so arranged adjacent the magnet winding (4) that the magnetic field in the air-gap (6) is formed by cooperation of the magnetic fluxes of the electromagnet (4) and the permanent magnet (5). The magnetic flux of the electromagnet (4) can be adjusted in magnitude and direction in the gap by corresponding poling that it assists or counteracts the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Saurer-Allma GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Schlagenhaft
  • Patent number: 6242832
    Abstract: A permanent magnet coupler has a conductor rotor assembly mounted on one shaft and a magnet rotor assembly mounted on a coaxial shaft. The magnet rotor assembly provides two magnet rotors spaced by the adjustable air gaps from two conductor elements provided by the conductor rotor assembly. The air gap adjustment includes adjustable stops, such, for example, as swing arms having an adjustable effective length. These stops operate in conjunction with swing arms causing the magnet rotors to move axially in unison in opposite directions. The air gaps are set so that the coupler will automatically release when subjected to an overloaded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Magna Force, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 6230866
    Abstract: An electromagnetic coupler couples a first rotating element with a second element with a torque transfer between the first and second elements. The coupling is solely by a magnetic field which can be fully coupled, fully uncoupled or modulated to provide a variable transmission of power between the first and second elements. The electromagnetic coupler comprises a set radially disposed electromagnets and a concentric set of pole pieces separated by an air gap. The magnetic field between the electromagnets and the pole pieces is increased as the current through the electromagnets is increased. At low current, there is substantial slippage between the respective driving and driven elements. With full magnetic coupling, the electromagnets and pole pieces are fully coupled or without any slippage therebetween. When the magnetic field is eliminated, there is no torque transfer between the driving and driven elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: American Metal & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Ray Link
  • Patent number: 6232689
    Abstract: An energy converting mechanism includes at least two permanent magnets spaced from each other with the same magnetic poles opposed to each other, and a magnetic spring formed by the at least two permanent magnets. The magnetic spring provides negative damping characteristics or changes static magnetic energy by changing an opposing area of the at least two permanent magnets so that an output is extracted from one of the at least two permanent magnets by applying an input to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Yoshimi Enoki, Hiroshi Nakahira, Seiji Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 6217298
    Abstract: The transmission comprises at least three induction systems which are arranged axially one after the other or coaxially one above the other and which can be rotated about a common axis of rotation (4). The induction system in the middle is in each case provided in the side faces with a winding which are connected to one another and are executed in such a manner that the magnetic rotary fields which arise by means of relative movement between the induction system in the middle and one adjacent induction system effect a relative movement between the induction system in the middle and the other adjacent induction system in order to produce an output movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Sulzer Innotec AG
    Inventor: Erich Kläui
  • Patent number: 6211590
    Abstract: A braking system has a shaft which rotates with a wheel on a vehicle. A rotor rotates with the shaft within a housing. The housing also contains an electromagnetic coil and two armatures. The rearward armature is in contact with the coil while the forward armature is adjacent to the rotor. The rearward armature does not touch the rotor and is more strongly attracted to the coil than the forward armature. Each armature has springs which independently urge it toward the rotor. An electric circuit causes the current supplied to the coil to gradually decay rather than abruptly stop. When the vehicle is parked and subjected to static braking, the coil is de-energized so that the armatures are forced toward the rotor by their springs. In this state, the rearward armature applies force to the forward armature to increase the pressure against the rotor. When the system is disengaged, the coil is energized to attract the armatures and allow the rotor to freely rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignees: Stromag, Inc., Raymond Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Albrecht, Ming Liang Fe
  • Patent number: 6208053
    Abstract: A hysteresis slip clutch having an adjustable stall torque is provided. The clutch components include first and second rotors, with a housing at least partially enclosing the rotors. An annular permanent magnet is rigidly mounted on the first rotor and an annular hysteresis sleeve is rigidly mounted to the second rotor. The first and second rotors are mounted within the housing such that the magnet and hysteresis sleeve are concentrically located and axially aligned with one another within the housing. In this orientation, magnetic flux from the magnet penetrates the hysteresis sleeve and magnetic hysteresis developed within the hysteresis sleeve acts to oppose relative angular motion between the first and second rotors. The magnetic hysteresis establishes a torque by which angular motion of the first rotor is transferred to the second. A annular magnetic shunt is adjustably mounted to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: MPC Products Corporation
    Inventor: Craig Scott
  • Patent number: 6200426
    Abstract: A paper-making machine or an off-line coater includes a rotatable drive unit and a rotatable driven element in the form of a roll, cylinder, pulley and/or gear. A clutch includes a rotatable input shaft coupled with the rotatable drive unit. At least one drive rotor is connected with the input shaft, and includes a plurality of magnetic coils. Each magnetic coil includes a coil winding. At least one driven rotor is positioned axially adjacent to at least one of the drive rotors. Each drive rotor includes a plurality of angularly spaced electrical conductors which are positioned adjacent to at least one of the drive rotors. A rotatable output shaft is coupled with the driven rotor and the rotatable driven element. A source of modulated direct current power is coupled with each of the magnetic coils, whereby a magnetic flux generated by the drive rotor and a coupling force between the drive rotor and the driven rotor can be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Paper Technology North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Edwin X. Graf
  • Patent number: 6189404
    Abstract: A handling robot prevents a positioning in a motor unit power transmission system from becoming inaccurate and can eliminate occurrence of vibrations due to a twisting deformation and so forth in the system. The handling robot has an arm fastened to an outside of each of a plurality of ring bosses that are arranged coaxially and turnably. Each of such arms is connected via a link to a carrier table so that turning the ring bosses in mutally opposite directions may cause the carrier table to reciprocate in a perpendicular direction to a turning axis; and turning them in a same direction may cause the carrier table to turn. A plurality of motor units corresponding to the ring bosses are arranged coaxially with each other and at positions that are insides of the ring bosses and lower than a position where the carrier table may operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hatake, Tatsunori Suwa
  • Patent number: 6181040
    Abstract: A magnetically journalled rotational arrangement comprises a bearing stator and a rotor, with the bearing stator being magnetically coupled to the rotor and producing a magnetic journalling of the rotor. The bearing stator is rotatably journalled. Furthermore, a rotary drive which is associated with the bearing stator is provided, with a rotation of the bearing stator producing a rotation of the rotor via the magnetic coupling of the stator to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignees: Sulzer Electronics AG, Lust Antriebstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Reto Schöb
  • Patent number: 6172435
    Abstract: A flywheel power source device for converting electric energy into kinetic energy and for storing the kinetic energy by rotating a flywheel of which rotary shaft is rotatably supported by a bearing mounted in a casing at high speed, wherein the kinetic energy is reconverted into electric energy when necessary; the flywheel power source device is provided with a rotational fulcrum at a bottom of the rotary shaft and a center of gravity of the flywheel being positioned on a line of action of a resultant force of magnetic attractive forces acting on the flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Furai Hoile KK
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6166465
    Abstract: A vibration generating mechanism includes at least first and second permanent magnets spaced from each other with the same magnetic poles opposed to each other. The first permanent magnet is coupled to a link mechanism so that the drive force of a drive source may be transmitted to the first permanent magnet via the link mechanism. A periodic and reciprocating movement of the first permanent magnet relative to the second permanent magnet changes the opposing area thereof, causing vibration of the second permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Hiroki Honda
  • Patent number: 6155511
    Abstract: A capstan motor which includes: a stator yoke having a multiple number of coils provided on a circle centered about a rotational shaft; and a rotor yoke having an annular magnet opposing the multiple number of coils and rotating integrally with the rotational shaft, and is constructed such that a hysteresis plate is provided opposing the rotor yoke on the side opposite the multiple number of coils for receiving leakage of the magnetic flux from the magnet and is attached rotatably relative to the rotary shaft; and driving force for rotation is extracted from the hysteresis plate, and a tape driving system using it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamitsu Tadera, Koji Yamabuchi, Mitsunobu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6140723
    Abstract: An oral hygiene device comprises a rotating body 22 mounted to a rotating shaft 21 of an electric motor 14, an output shaft 11 resiliently supported via a resonance pin 25 to be swingable finely, a drive magnetic body 23 provided on the rotating body 22, and a driven magnetic body 31 provided on the output shaft 11 to face the drive magnetic body 23 so as to be out of contact therewith. The drive magnetic body 23 and the driven magnetic body 31 are composed of permanent magnets, and as the rotating body 22 revolves, a varying magnetic field is generated between the both magnetic bodies 23, 31 to cause vibration of the output shaft 11 at high speed. In this manner, there are provided a vibration generating device, which can be manufactured at low cost and efficiently transmits vibration, and an oral hygiene device using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Sunstar Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuguo Matsui, Michihisa Sugimoto, Masaharu Kita
  • Patent number: 6133656
    Abstract: A brushless commutated torque motor suitable for use with a rotary low frequency sound reproducing apparatus, includes a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a position sensor, a rotor having a plurality of permanently magnetized rotor pole sectors, the rotor being mounted for rotation upon the shaft, and a stator having a plurality of stator poles and stator winding slots disposed alternately therein, the stator slots having stator windings therein driven by individual power amplifiers in response to a control signal, the stator having commutation between stator windings controlled by sensing of rotor angular position by the position sensor, with each rotor pole sector being configured and disposed such that a plurality of stator poles are axially adjacent to each rotor pole sector and each rotor pole sector is angularly separated from adjacent rotor pole sectors by a selective number of stator poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Bradner L. Hisey
  • Patent number: 6129193
    Abstract: A magnetic slip clutch system that can be used tin a number of different applications where a slip clutch is desired to be used; and particularly, to applications where the clutch is desired to be fully disengaged, i.e., free-wheeling, fully engaged to transmit 100% of the power, or coupled in a modulated or slip manner for transmission of a variable amount of power. The torque transfer is modulated by controlling the electric power to the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: American Cooling Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Larry Ray Link
  • Patent number: 6121705
    Abstract: This invention relates to an electrical machine that functions both as an electrical motor as well as a generator concurrently. This motor or generator consist of three major members i.e. an outer stationary member called the stator (10) and two inner rotating member called Rotor A (20) and Rotor B also known as the armature (30), both of which is mounted within each other on the same rotating axis. Rotor A (20) is mounted inside the stator (10) and is made of plurality of permanent magnets arranged in such a way that there are a plurality of alternating poles is available on both the outer and inner surface. It is the plurality of alternating poles on the outer surface that is used to interact with the magnetic field from the stator windings. The inner alternating poles is used to interact with the alternating magnetic field from the coil windings on Rotor B (30) or the armature (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Fong Chean Hoong
  • Patent number: 6118202
    Abstract: An inductor-alternator provides highly efficient conversion between mechanical and electrical energy. The inductor-alternator produces increased output by providing armature coils in a single air gap formed between two halves of a toothed rotor. In preferred embodiments, field coils of a magnetic circuit are energized with DC drive current that creates homopolar flux within the rotating rotor. Airgap armature coils are mounted with the field coils to form a stationary assembly that is placed within the single air gap in the rotor so that the changing flux density (due to the rotating teeth) induces an output voltage in the armature coils. The rotor and stationary assembly are mounted in a housing by bolts that may also be used as terminals for the armature coils to reduce assembly complexity and production cost. The combined assembly provides high energy and power density because tip speed of the rotor is maximized and the use of air gaps is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Active Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph F. Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 6097122
    Abstract: A drive unit has an electric motor having a motor shaft, an electrically disenageable arresting mechanism including a hub connectable with the motor shaft, a plurality of arresting teeth radially projecting from the hub, and at least one arresting pin for electrical disengagement of an element composed of windings of an electrically conductive wire and for disengagement of electrical current, the arresting piece being composed of a magnetically conductive material, the at least one arresting pin being arranged stationary and forming a component of a permanent-magnetic circuit relative to whose poles the arresting teeth are oriented one after the other, the electrically conductive wire being wound to form a magnetic coil which forms at least a partial length of the permanent-magnetic circuit so as to provide a temporary at least partial compensation of a permanent magnetic flux of the permanent-magnetic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Olaf Bock
  • Patent number: 6093989
    Abstract: A rotary-arm drive includes a wobble-absorbing magnetic bearing (WAMB). One end of the arm engages a load-carrying surface. The other end rotates with a power-carrying rotary shaft. The arm transmits power at least one way between surface and shaft. The WAMB is between the first end of the arm and the surface.As to one aspect of the invention, the WAMB directly transmits force mechanically, but absorbs mismatched motion, between end and surface. Preferably the bearing has at least two elements (more preferably rolling elements, ideally balls) fastened to neither the end nor the surface.As to a second aspect, the drive is a traveling antirotation module. The first end rides on a fixed guideway that defines the surface; the other is fixed to a mechanical element forming the shaft and travels, carrying the arm, along a drive direction and is subject to undesired rotation about the axis. Thus the arm and its engagement with the guideway help restrain the element against rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Benjamin Joffe
  • Patent number: 6087753
    Abstract: An inductor-alternator provides highly efficient conversion between mechanical and electrical energy. The inductor-alternator produces increased output by providing armature coils in a single air gap formed between two halves of a toothed rotor. In preferred embodiments, field coils of a magnetic circuit are energized with DC drive current that creates homopolar flux within the rotating rotor. Airgap armature coils are mounted with the field coils to form a stationary assembly that is placed within the single air gap in the rotor so that the changing flux density (due to the rotating teeth) induces an output voltage in the armature coils. The rotor and stationary assembly are mounted in a housing by bolts that may also be used as terminals for the armature coils to reduce assembly complexity and production cost. The combined assembly provides high energy and power density because tip speed of the rotor is maximized and the use of air gaps is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Active Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph F. Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 6084326
    Abstract: A ball screw of an actuator is inserted through a displacement member. Driving-side axial magnetic patterns and driving-side circumferential magnetic patterns are formed on an outer circumference of the displacement member. The ball screw and the displacement member are surrounded by a tube. A slider is provided at the outside of the tube. Driven-side axial magnetic patterns opposing to the driving-side axial magnetic patterns and driven-side circumferential magnetic patterns opposing to the driving-side circumferential magnetic patterns are formed on the slider. Mutual magnetic attraction between the driving-side patterns and the driven-side patterns prevents the displacement member from rotation, and it causes the slider to make displacement in the axial direction together with the displacement member. Since the ball screw of the actuator is surrounded by the tube, the actuator can be prevented from scattering of lubricating oil, dust or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigekazu Nagai, Hiroyuki Shiomi
  • Patent number: 6084322
    Abstract: A magnetically operating device comprises a driven magnet having magnetically opposite poles which are separated, a driver magnet having magnetically opposite poles, and the magnets are mounted for relative movement to maintain one of the driver magnet's poles substantially equidistant from the poles of the driven magnets as the driven magnet moves relative to the driver magnet. A first rotor may mount the driven magnet or magnets for rotation about a first axis, and a second rotor may mount the driver magnet or magnets for rotation about a second axis, and such axes are typically non intersecting and skewed, the rotors being intercoupled. A source of torque such as a motor may be coupled to the second rotor to effect torque input to the second rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventor: Donald E. Rounds
  • Patent number: 6072258
    Abstract: A cage carrying two axially adjustable conductors is mounted on one shaft and a rotor is mounted on a second coaxial shaft to occupy a position between the conductors. Permanent magnets on the rotor have poles spaced by air gaps from the conductors. The air gaps are adjusted by sliding the conductors toward and away from one another along slide members on the cage by use of adjustment units engaging the conductor rotors. Alternatively, the conductors can be mounted on the rotor, and the magnets can be adjustably mounted on the cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Magna Force, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 6054788
    Abstract: A magnetic coupling is provided having a first shaft and a second shaft. A plurality of first magnets is in rotationally driving engagement with the first shaft and defines alternating polarity magnetic surfaces. A plurality of second magnets is in rotationally driving engagement with the second shaft and defines alternating polarity magnetic surfaces. The first and second magnet surfaces are separated by a gap so that rotation of one of the first magnets and second magnets urges synchronous rotation of the other. An electrically conductive member is in rotationally driving engagement with the second shaft and is disposed proximate to the first magnet surfaces so that rotation of the conductive member or the first magnets relative to the other induces electric current in the conductive member and urges asynchronous rotation of the other of the conductive member and the first magnets in the same rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Industrial Company
    Inventors: Viatcheslav Dombrovski, Suresh Tirumalai, Ira Goldberg, David Driscoll
  • Patent number: 6043578
    Abstract: An adjustable coupler has a group of magnet rotors with permanent magnets separated by air gaps from non-ferrous conductor elements presented by a group of conductor rotors. The air gaps are adjusted by axial movement of one of the groups relative to the other to vary the slip of the coupler and control the load speed under varying load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Magna Force, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 6041571
    Abstract: A capping apparatus and a magnetic coupling assembly therefor comprises a capping head for applying a cap, a drive mechanism for driving the capping head, and a separable magnetic coupling for selectively coupling the capping head to the drive mechanism. The separable coupling is operable to selectively drive the capping head at an initial rotational speed and for selectively de-coupling the capping head from the drive mechanism while the capping head is rotating. This allows the capping head to be moved toward a container to place the cap on the container while preventing the drive mechanism from continuing to drive the capping head as the cap is placed on the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Fowler Products Company
    Inventors: Acie R. Fields, Stanley J. Puskarz
  • Patent number: 6034457
    Abstract: A magnetically driven apparatus useful, for instance, for conveying webs, utilizes magnetically coupled first and second rotatable elements and means for rotating one of the rotatable elements which causes the simultaneous synchronous rotation of the other rotatable element. Both first and second rotatable elements include a magnetic core, and a media bearing surface comprising a mixture of a polymeric matrix and a hard, inorganic particulate material wear and abrasion resistant layer surrounding the magnetic core. The means for rotating one of the rotatable elements includes a ferromagnetic stator member integrally associated with one of said first and second rotatable elements. The ferromagnetic stator member has a plurality of spatially separated pole teeth, wherein each of the pole teeth has an operably connected coil arranged for producing rotation of one of said first and second rotatable elements once the coil is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Edward P. Furlani, Dilip K. Chatterjee, Syamal K. Ghosh
  • Patent number: 6031309
    Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch includes a field member having a hollow in a center thereof and carrying a field coil in the form of a ring, a shaft rotatably placed in the hollow of the field member, a rotor member fixedly attached on the shaft, the rotor member being arranged on one side of the field member, a driving member rotatably mounted on the shaft, the driving member being arranged on one side of the rotor member, and an armature member attached to the driving member, the armature member being arranged between the rotor member and the driving member and bendable toward the rotor member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kozo Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6011334
    Abstract: An electric power generator driven by a fluid circulating under pressure in a pipe (9) includes an internal moving contact (1) placed inside a non-magnetic section (10) of the pipe (9), and a stator (4) placed around the pipe (9). The internal moving contact (1) includes permanent magnets (2), a rotational drive means (3), and means (7 and 8) of support. The electric power generator does not require any sealed joints for the passage of mechanical shafts or electric cables and is particularly adapted for the production of electricity from dangerous fluids which circulate in pipes under high pressure. The electric power generator has application in gas and liquid transport networks, particularly at isolated hydrocarbon production sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Elf Aquitaine Production
    Inventor: Louis Roland
  • Patent number: 6011337
    Abstract: A double-sided, non-iron core, brushless, axial magnetic field permanent-magnet type DC motor includes a shaft, two electromagnet units parallelly mounted on the shaft, and a permanent magnet unit mounted on the shaft between the electromagnet units and having its direction of magnetization disposed in parallel to the shaft. The permanent magnet unit is allowed to rotate relatively around the electromagnet units by being forced by magnetic repulsion force from both sides. Electromagnetic areas at the electromagnet units are arranged in a staggered manner, enabling permanent steel magnets at the permanent magnet unit to be alternatively fully induced from its two opposite sides to provide a high torsion output. The electromagnetic areas of the two electromagnet units are caused to change the phase alternatively at a 90.degree. phase difference, so that vibration and dead section problems are eliminated during the operation of the DC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Inventors: Shou-Mei Lin, Yu-Yen Wang
  • Patent number: 6005317
    Abstract: An adjustable coupler has a group of magnet rotors with permanent magnets separated by air gaps from non-ferrous conductor elements presented by a group of conductor rotors. The air gaps are adjusted by axial movement of one of the groups relative to the other to vary the slip of the coupler and control the load speed under varying load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Magna Force, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 5998901
    Abstract: When power is output from an engine 50 to a crankshaft 56, a multiplying gear unit 57 attached to the crankshaft 56 increases a revolving speed but decreases a torque and transmits the increased revolving speed and the decreased torque to a rotating shaft 57e. A drive shaft 22 of a vehicle that cruises at a constant speed is generally driven at a higher revolving speed and a smaller torque than a driving point at which the engine 50 is driven with a high efficiency. The multiplying gear unit 57 converts the power output from the engine 50 to a power of high revolving speed and low torque. This structure decreases the amount of electrical energy transmitted between a clutch motor 30 and an assist motor 40 in the process of torque conversion by the clutch motor 30 and the assist motor 40 and thereby reduces an energy loss of both the motors 30 and 40. This effectively reduces the required capacities and size of the clutch motor 30 and the assist motor 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasutomo Kawabata, Masanao Shiomi, Shigeru Matsuhashi
  • Patent number: 5994809
    Abstract: Three magnetically cooperating parts are movable relative to one another, one part being provided for connection to a drive shaft, one part being provided for connection to an output shaft, and one part being provided as a stationary part. A first part surrounds a second part, these parts having permanent magnets which alternately exhibit north poles and south poles along the circumference. The third part comprises a yoke surrounding the first part, which yoke serves as a magnetic return element, and which has magnetically conductive teeth at the inner side of the yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Bernd Ackermann
  • Patent number: 5994811
    Abstract: An electric motor comprising two separate and coaxially spaced armatures as well as a magnet-equipped rotor arranged between the two armatures. One armature is fixed to a motor housing being a static armature, while the other armature is free to rotate, having the motor output shaft as a central and integral part thereof. The rotor operates as a rotor for both armatures having magnet pole pairs on both sides for interaction with each respective armature. Thus, the motor comprises two part-motors having a common rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Electret AS
    Inventor: Karl A. Thomassen
  • Patent number: 5990587
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a device for generating ultra-high precision rectilinear movement based on aerostatic suspension and magnetic traction, the device including a nut, a leadscrew, a thrust bearing, a contactless motor, and feedback drive electronics. The contactless motor provides the actuation by turning the leadscrew which is made of magnetically soft materials and has a pitched helical groove machined on its surface. The leadscrew passes through the core of the nut which is free to move in a rectilinear motion on a aerostatically suspended guide. The nut, also made with magnetic material, has a matching helical groove in its core so that a closed magnetic circuit is formed between the grooves of the leadscrew and the nut. The closed circuit in turn provides the necessary magnetic traction to move the nut in a rectilinear fashion. A primary aerostatic suspension is utilized to stabilize and center the leadscrew and nut transversally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: New Jersey Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael Shimanovich, Reggie J. Caudill, Timothy N. Chang, Zhiming Ji
  • Patent number: 5977678
    Abstract: A multi-functional apparatus employing a magnetic coupling mechanism. The magnetic coupling mechanism selectively couples an actuator shaft and a second shaft driven by a rotatable driving member. In another aspect of the present invention, the magnetic coupling of the shafts is electrically controlled, whereby the driven shaft can be actuated independently from other systems actuated by the multi-functional apparatus. In an automotive context, a window wiper may be attached to the driven shaft, such that when the magnetic coupling mechanism is disengaged the window wiper can move in relation to upward pivotal movement of the opened window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: UT Automotive Dearborn, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Mihekun Miller, Monte L. Falcoff
  • Patent number: 5947248
    Abstract: A new and improved fan clutch system for use with an internal combustion engine which provides variable speed drive of the fan by the engine with the coupling between the fan and the engine being solely by a magnetic field. The variable speed drive provides true proportional control of the convective heat transfer from the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: American Cooling Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Larry Ray Link
  • Patent number: 5936321
    Abstract: A position of a second permanent magnet with respect to a first permanent magnet is defined by assembling a driving side support member, a thrust bearing, a spacing member, a radial bearing, and a driven side support member. The first and second permanent magnets are respectively held on the driving side support member and the driven side support member. Accordingly, variation of a magnetic gap between the first and second permanent magnets can be reduced. Variations in assembling the parts hardly affect the variation of the magnetic gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Teruhiko Kameoka, Kazutoshi Kuwayama, Hikaru Sugi
  • Patent number: 5909075
    Abstract: A crankshaft-mounted, multiple-speed electromagnetic clutch for driving multiple rotary devices of an engine, the engine having a crankshaft, the clutch comprising: a clutch support plate mounted to the crankshaft; a spring connected to the clutch support plate; a pair of clutch plates connected to the spring with the spring biasing the pair of clutch plates toward the clutch support plate; a pair of rotors rotating about the crankshaft on bearings; an electromagnet fixedly engaging each of the rotors and adapted to attract one of the clutch plates against the rotor, thereby transferring the rotational force of the crankshaft to the rotor; and a transmission device connecting each of the rotors to the rotary device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Inventor: Charles L. Heimark
  • Patent number: 5909073
    Abstract: A magnetic coupling device has an electroconductive rotor presenting a band of electroconductive material and has a magnet rotor with permanent magnets which may be slide-mounted to move radially outward responsive to centrifugal force in opposition to a spring bias. When the magnet rotor is stationary the magnets are radially inward of the orbit of the electroconductive band, and when the magnets have moved outwardly when the magnet rotor is rotating, the magnets are spaced by an air gap from the electroconductive band so that eddy currents are induced in the band resulting in coupling of the rotors. In the alternative the magnets may be always at least partly opposite the electroconductive band. The electroconductive rotor preferably has two electroconductive bands positioned on opposite sides of the magnet rotor. One or both of the rotors may have sheaves mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Magna Force, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl J. Lamb
  • Patent number: 5902185
    Abstract: A magnetic transmission coupling includes an inner torque tube (62) carrying one or more stacks of annularly disposed spaced magnets (70), located within a sealing membrane element (38), and an outer, eccentric drive rotor (74) with a matching one or more stacks of annularly disposed spaced magnets (70). Rotary drive is transmitted across the membrane by rotating the drive rotor which causes the inner torque tube (62) to be driven. The torque tube (62) has an unusually large bore diameter through which an elongate stiff tube (52) may pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Inventors: Richard Andrej Kubiak, Paul Richard Stonestreet
  • Patent number: 5898249
    Abstract: A variable speed eddy current drive has a driven member and an output member. The driven member is structured and arranged to be coupled to a motor shaft. The output member is structured and arranged to be coupled to a load. The drive also has an armature and an electromagnet. The armature is coupled to either the driven member or the output member, while the electromagnet is coupled to the other of the driven member or the output member. The drive is provided with a coupler that is in addition to the armature and the electromagnet. The coupler is selectively operable between a coupled position and an uncoupled position. Actuating the coupler to the coupled position causes the output member to rotate at the same speed as the driven member, with no slip between the two members. The coupler can be actuated between the coupled and uncoupled positions while the drive is rotating. The coupler can be actuated to move either axially or radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventor: Paul D. Boggs, III
  • Patent number: 5895338
    Abstract: The alternator on an engine has a set of stator coils which are connected to supply current to power accessories and current for a battery charger when the engine is running. When the ignition is turned off, a braking switch is closed which short circuits the stator coils. The resulting high current in the stator coils produces a braking torque on the engine shaft that brings it and any attached implement to a rapid halt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Michael J. Dins, Michael R. Kleczewski, Robert K. Lindorfer, Jr., Hal R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5886608
    Abstract: A device for displaying the loose coupling between magnetic fields is provided, comprising a first disk having a plurality of magnetic elements attached to the first disk so that the magnetic field of the magnets extend radially from an outer edge of the first disk, a second disk having a plurality of magnetic elements attached to the second disk so that the magnetic field of the magnets extend radially from an outer edge of the second disk so that the magnets on the disks are loosely coupled to each other, the strength of the loose coupling depending on the orientation of the magnets with respect to each other, and a rotatable control member having a magnetic element attached to an end of the control member, the control member magnet being rotated to a first position such that a predetermined pole of the control member magnet is located adjacent to the magnets on the first disk causing a magnetic coupling of the magnet on the control member to the magnets on the first disk so that loose coupling and the chao
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: The New Curiosity Shop, Inc.
    Inventor: Ilan S. Chabay