Abstract: Power generation efficiency is improved with a simple configuration. A braking device is provided with a brake rotor which rotates on a central axis, and friction portions which are in frictional contact with the brake rotor. A coil is wound around the outer peripheral portion of the brake rotor. A friction portion has the north pole of a magnet, and a friction portion has the south pole of a magnet. The braking device generates electricity by using an electromagnetic induction phenomenon and an electrostatic phenomenon that are caused by the interaction between the outer peripheral portion and the friction portion, for example, at the time of braking. As a result, the configuration can be simplified and the amount of power generation is not likely to be limited by a motor capability because there is very little need to use the motor as a generator.

Abstract: A disengagement assembly for disengaging a generator from an engine or gear box may include an inner ball screw having helical threading on an outer surface thereof and surrounding and operatively engaged to a rotating generator drive shaft to cause rotation of the inner ball screw, the inner ball screw may have interlockable teeth engaged to corresponding teeth of the gear box drive shaft. An outer ball screw may surround and may normally rotate with the inner ball screw. A helical ball track may be formed between the inner and outer ball screws. An eddy current brake may slow or stop rotation of the outer ball screw so that the inner ball screw may rotate relative to the outer ball screw and slide axially toward a lock thereby disengaging the generator from the engine.

Abstract: An alternator system includes an input shaft, a planetary gear assembly, a variable resistance generator, and a control unit. The alternator assembly is structured to produce an output current having a frequency. The planetary gear assembly disposed between, and operatively coupled to, the input shaft and the alternator assembly. The planetary gear assembly has a planet gear carrier body with an outer radial surface having teeth. The variable resistance generator has an external generator shaft with a generator gear. The generator gear is structured to engage the outer radial surface teeth. The control unit structured to detect the frequency of the alternator assembly output current and to alter the resistance of the generator. The control unit is structured to maintain the frequency of the alternator assembly output current within a selected range by increasing or decreasing the resistance of the generator.

Abstract: A generating apparatus for charging the battery of an automobile or the like is disclosed. A charging generator has an input shaft on which is mounted a driven pulley which is belt-driven by the drive pulley of an automobile engine. An adjustable speed change mechanism in the form of a planetary cone reduction gear is housed inside the driven pulley. The reduction gear transmits drive force from the driven pulley to the input shaft of the charging generator. A reduction ratio adjustment mechanism automatically decreases the ratio of the rotational speed of the input shaft to the rotational speed of the driven pulley as the rotational speed of the driven pulley increases so as to maintain the rotational speed of the input shaft substantially constant. In a preferred embodiment, the reduction ratio adjustment mechanism comprises a centrifugal governor.

Abstract: A flywheel energy storage system comprises a dynamoelectric machine, a flywheel connected to the dynamoelectric machine for rotation therewith, an auxiliary machine for performing operational tasks associated with the operation of the dynamoelectric machine and the flywheel, a low voltage power source for operating the auxiliary machine, a permanent magnet generator connected to be operated by energy stored in the flywheel for generating electric power which is supplied to the auxiliary machine when the low-voltage power source is not available, and a converter means connected between the permanent magnet generator and the auxiliary machine for converting a varying voltage from the permanent magnet generator into a stable voltage which can be supplied to the auxiliary machine.