Magnetic Gearing Patents (Class 74/DIG4)
  • Patent number: 6111491
    Abstract: A magnetic screw having a screw shaft of magnetic material having thread crests formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and a magnetic nut fitted on the outer periphery of the screw shaft. The magnetic nut includes annular permanent magnets magnetized with magnetic poles of opposite polarities on opposed sides, and annular yokes disposed such that the annular yokes are magnetically coupled with the magnetic poles of the magnets. The inner peripheral surfaces of the yokes are provided with thread crests corresponding with the thread crests of the screw shaft with a minute gap G defined therebetween such that magnetic circuits are formed between the screw shaft and the magnets through the thread crests of the screw shaft. The magnets are magnetized on their inner and outer radial surfaces with magnetic poles of opposite polarities, and the yokes are fitted in the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignees: Koyo Machinery Industries Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Special Metals Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Furuse, deceased, Kazuto Kunihiro, Nobuyuki Kitai, Junichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6089116
    Abstract: In a gearing stage, a driving first wheel has a ferromagnetic profiled rib which is circumferential in one thread, whereas a second driven wheel has permanently magnetic profiled ribs which are disposed in a multi-start manner and which extend only over a fraction of the circumference and are opposite the ferromagnetic profiled rib with a small air gap. The driving wheel drives the driven wheel via a magnetic reluctance coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Max Stegmann GmbH Antriebstechnik-Elektronik
    Inventor: Josef Siraky
  • Patent number: 6047456
    Abstract: A method for designing an optimal bi-axial type of magnetic gear system that uses magnetic coupling for transmitting torque in order to be free from the defects caused by using a conventional mechanical gear system. A non-coaxial rather than a conventional coaxial type of magnetic gear design is considered for this invention. For the non-coaxial magnetic gear system, the size of torque will depend on the number of poles magnetized out of the strong magnetic material around the magnetic gear. Therefore, the optimum number of magnetized poles must be carefully selected for a set of specified conditions such that the largest torque can be obtained. An optimal magnetic gear system can be produced by the method in this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yeong-Der Yao, Chia-Ming Lee, Shyh-Jier Wang, Der-Ray Huang
  • Patent number: 5771745
    Abstract: A gear arrangement which prevents clattering or rattling noises associated with the engagement of gear teeth with another gear includes a gear and a magnetic toothed disk engaging one side of the gear and having the same diameter as the gear and a different number of teeth than the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Timo Goette, Helmut Goebbels
  • Patent number: 5717266
    Abstract: An oscillatory drive incorporating the invention includes a driven rotor that is mounted on a shaft and includes plural driven permanent magnets disposed thereon. A spring arrangement is coupled to the driven rotor and limits both clock-wise (CW) and counter-clockwise (CCW) rotation thereof. A first driving rotor includes first driving magnets, is mounted for rotation on the shaft and is positioned to a first side of the driven rotor. A second driving rotor includes second driving permanent magnets, is mounted for rotation on the shaft and is positioned to a second side of the driven rotor. The drive mechanism imparts a CW rotation to the first driving rotor and a CCW rotation to the second driving rotor. The first driving permanent magnets coupling to the driven permanent magnets causes a CW rotation of the driven rotor until the spring arrangement terminates the CW rotation and causes a reversal of rotation direction in the CCW direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Julian D. Maynard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5687614
    Abstract: This magnetic screw device comprises a screw shaft made of magnetic material and having thread ridges formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and a nut body fitted on the screw shaft with a clearance defined therebetween. The nut body comprises a magnetic sleeve having a smoothly finished inner peripheral surface and substantially concentric with the screw shaft, and guide rings disposed at the opposite ends of the magnetic sleeve as viewed in the thrust direction, and a housing for holding the magnetic sleeve and guide rings. The magnetic sleeve is helically magnetized on its inner peripheral surface with magnetic poles opposed to the thread ridges of the screw shaft, so that when the screw shaft is rotated, the nut body 7 is linearly moved by the magnetic action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Koyo Machine Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Yukito Kubo
  • Patent number: 5590568
    Abstract: A device for rotating a layered body includes multiple rotating plates arranged in equally spaced layers and coaxially aligned about an axis of rotation. Facing plate surfaces between each pair of neighboring plates form a gap between neighboring plates. At least one magnetic pole is provided on each plate surface that forms a gap. The magnetic poles being arranged such that the polarities of magnetic poles on facing surfaces in each gap are the same. When the rotating plates are stationary, the at least one magnetic pole on one plate is arranged to occupy an alternating position with a corresponding magnetic pole on the facing surface of the neighboring plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: Muneaki Takara
  • Patent number: 5569967
    Abstract: A magnetic gear configuration utilizing non-metallic magnetic material about a circumference of a rotatable member is disclosed. A plurality of magnetic units may be spaced around the circumference of the rotatable member. Each magnetic unit may extend along a direction substantially parallel to the central axis of the rotatable member and each magnetic unit may be inversely aligned to its adjacent magnetic unit. The magnetic units may be equidistantly spaced from one another and each magnetic unit contains a north and south pole. Gear train configurations may be constructed by utilizing gears having similarly spaced magnetic units where inversely aligned magnetic units attract one another to facilitate gear rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Temper Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Rode
  • Patent number: 5456134
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism for converting a rotary movement into a translatory movement includes an internal and an external coupling member which have cooperating double thread systems made of a magnetizable material. The external coupling member includes a series of permanent magnets which are polarized in an axial direction and are provided at regular intervals between the individual threads of the thread system so that the individual threads each form a common pole shoe for the permanent magnets providing a maximum magnetic flux density along the portion of the thread system containing the permanent magnets. The presence of a non-magnetizable material between the threads provides that the mutually facing walls of the coupling members are smooth, and a static gas bearing can be applied between these walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Adrianus G. Bouwer, Frank B. Sperling
  • Patent number: 5357963
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic drive device enabling a member placed one side of a non-magnetic wall to be driven by a rotary drive shaft placed on the other side of the wall. The driven member is mounted to rock about an oscillation axis orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft and carries an axially-magnetized magnet whose outside surface has a right cross-section in the plane containing the oscillation axis and the axis of rotation of the drive shaft that is in the form of a circle centered on the oscillation axis. The drive shaft carries an axially-magnetized magnet offset from the axis of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Societe d'Applications Generales d'Electricite et de Mecanique Sagem
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Mayol, Jerome Piaton
  • Patent number: 5081876
    Abstract: Movement in a pressurized environment is transmitted to a non-pressurized environment by means of a strong magnetic coupling whereby linear movement of a magnet in a pressurized environment causes linear movement of a surrounding magnet which is in a non-pressurized environment. Because of the strong magnetic coupling, the surrounding magnet is used to drive a linear to rotary motion converter. In the preferred embodiment, the pressurized environment is within a screw compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Arthur J. Marshall
  • Patent number: 5013949
    Abstract: A magnetic transmission is provided which incorporates a first rotatable member that is generally annular in shape and provided with a plurality of magnetic poles in which the plurality of magnetic poles comprise alternating polarities. A second rotatable member is similarly provided with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles. Both the first and second rotatable members are supported for rotation about individual axes and, preferably, are arranged in concentric and coaxial relation with each other. One of more third rotatable members are also provided with magnetic poles having alternating polarity and supported for rotation about individual axes. These third rotatable members are disposed radially between the first and second rotatable members and are arranged in noncontact magnetic torque transmitting relation with both the first and second rotatable members. Any of the first, second or third rotatable members can be provided with connection to a driving force, such as a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Mabe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4878869
    Abstract: A toy having a movable element is provided with a magnetic actuator which includes a magnet that is placed in proximity to a magnetically attractable component of a transmission disposed within the toy for transmitting power from a motor to the movable element of the toy. The magnet is embedded in a play piece which is placed on the toy on a designated area in proximity to the magnetically attractable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yuji Yamane, Hideya Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 4850821
    Abstract: A multiple magnet drive pump is disclosed, which includes a driving magnet having opposite polarities circumferentially spaced apart from each other, a plurality of driven magnets on a circumference of the driving magnet for rotation in a non-contact state therewith, and a plurality of pump sections each having the driven magnet incorporated into a rotor for a pumping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Nikkiso Eiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naotake Sakai
  • Patent number: 4732156
    Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscope includes an operation section and an insertion section extending therefrom. A driving member having a magnet is disposed in the distal end of the insertion section to be rotatable. The member is rotated by a motor through a transmission shaft. An ultrasonic scanning unit is removably attached to the distal end of the insertion section. The unit has a casing in which a scanning chamber filled with a liquid ultrasonic transmission medium is defined. A ultrasonic generator is disposed in the casing. A rotating mirror for reflecting the ultrasonic waves generated by the generator is rotatably arranged in the chamber. A driven member is rotatably arranged in the chamber and coupled to the mirror. The driven member has a magnet magnetically connected to the magnet of the driving member so that it rotates as the driving member rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4684836
    Abstract: A magnetic speed device includes a rotatable driving shaft and a driven shaft also rotatable about an axis. A stationary pole includes a plurality of pole elements, each having at least one stationary pole surface. The pole elements are circumferentially arranged around the axis. A rotor is operatively coupled to the driven shaft for rotation with the driven shaft about the axis. The rotor includes a plurality of circumferentially arranged rotor pole surfaces. The number of rotor pole surfaces is different from the number of stationary pole surfaces. The rotor pole surfaces are disposed in a spaced, generally opposed relation to the stationary pole surfaces, and define a series of air gaps therebeween. A magnet is mounted for rotation with the driving shaft for supplying a magnetic flux to a flux path which includes successive, adjacent pairs of pole elements, the rotor, and the air gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Spectra-Physics, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward E. Hart
  • Patent number: 4648286
    Abstract: A ball-retaining structure in a power transmission apparatus for transmitting power by means of magnetic balls arranged between non-magnetic rotating bodies is disclosed, in which a magnet or magnets are arranged within either one of the rotating bodies in the vicinity of the balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Nemoto Kikaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Nemoto
  • Patent number: 4649307
    Abstract: In this gearless, induction-type planetary reducing coupling, electric currents induced in the collars of the driving rotor react with the inductive magnetic field carried by the self-excited planet wheels causing the planet wheel hubs to roll along circular tracks. Skidding is prevented by similar electromagnetic interaction in other, stationary rings. Said rolling action drives planet wheel carriers attached to the output shaft, effecting a power take-off with speed reduction from a very high rotational speed. The device is thus suitable for miniature turbines, whether driven by gas or steam, operating too fast for mechanical gear trains, and can be used to manufacture low-cost turbomotors and turbogenerators, for example using existing turboblowers converted into gas turbines by adding a combustion chamber and burner; this coupling, being reversible, serves as the starter therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Inventor: Jean A. Bech
  • Patent number: 4635501
    Abstract: Gear made of magnetic material is attached with permanent magnet on the web thereof for damping vibration and noise caused when gears are in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichiro Mizuno, Kazuyoshi Iida, Kazutomo Murakami
  • Patent number: 4616519
    Abstract: An improved stepless power transmission apparatus of the type utilizing magnetic force for making an operative connection between a driving pulley and a driven pulley. The apparatus essentially comprises a primary shaft operatively connected for rotation to a prime mover and having a spirally extending groove formed thereon, a disc-shaped driving pulley displaceably fitted onto the primary shaft in operational engagement with the spirally extending groove, an expansive spring for causing the driving pulley to be normally urged in a direction away from the proper input end of the primary shaft, a truncated cone-shaped driven pulley whose outer conical surface is adapted to come in rolling contact with the peripheral surface of the driving pulley and a secondary shaft made integral with the driven pulley and operatively connected to a power consuming machine or apparatus via a universal joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Inventor: Tokuichiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4486176
    Abstract: A hand held device with built-in motor for rotational drive of small tools. The hand held device includes an outer housing consisting of a larger diameter rear part which contains an electric driving motor, an intermediate part of small diameter which contains motion transmitting means, and a front part in which is mounted a holder for the tool to be driven. The electric driving motor is a brushless motor having a rotor encapsulated in a sealed insulating enclosure and includes permanent magnets covered with a layer of conducting metal and a stator made up of multi-phase winding coils embedded in a molded plastic material. The motion transmission means consists of non-contacting magnetic coupling means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Kollmorgen Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Pierre R. Tardieu, Yves H. Mulet-Marquis
  • Patent number: 4479396
    Abstract: A propulsion system for converting rotary motion into unidirectional motion and consisting of a frame, a pair of counterrotating lower members rotatably mounted to the frame and containing damping elements, a pair of upper members containing damping elements and rotatably mounted to the frame and positioned above the lower members, each at an angle to the lower member so that each contacts a surface of the member below it at a single point, and a motor and drive train for driving the lower members. Each lower member includes a pair of studs mounted at its periphery which engage radially extending posts mounted to its corresponding upper cylinder so that rotation of the lower member causes the upper member to rotate in the same sense and at the same angular velocity. The superposition of the damped upper members upon the damped lower members generates unbalanced centrifugal forces which create a constant unidirectional resultant force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Inventor: Fred deWeaver,III
  • Patent number: 4458603
    Abstract: An improved star guard mechanism for protecting the haul rope of a ski lift system from deropement from the system's carrying sheaves. The guard mechanism is constricted with a guard plate having four radial fingers arranged to cooperate with the cross arm connector of a lift chair gondola or other carrier to rotate the guard plate adjacent the rope carrying sheaves in a turnstile manner providing continuous protection from deropement by at least one of the fingers of the star guard mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Inventor: Larry Voecks
  • Patent number: 4449788
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an angle adjusting arrangement for mirror for use in a motor vehicle and the like, which is free from variations due to atmospheric temperatures, in the state of magnetic coupling between driving mechanisms and the mirror so as to achieve a predetermined coupled state for positive operations at all times, and is also capable of manual adjustments as desired, without a possibility of any damage to the arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Masaru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4444069
    Abstract: A play-free precision drive apparatus is disclosed which comprises a rotatable drive element (2, 20) for driving a driven element (8, 21), a biasing element (12, 26) for urging the driven element (8, 21) into engagement with the drive element (2, 20), and two rotatable support elements (11, 22) abutting the drive element (2, 20) along its periphery for holding the drive element (2, 20) against the driven element (8, 21). The support elements (11, 22) are positioned such that the centers of the support elements (11, 22) and the center of the drive element (2, 20) define an angle (A.sub.1, A.sub.21) of less than 180.degree. having its apex at the center of the drive element (2, 20) and such that the centers of the support elements (11, 22) define a line (L.sub.3, L.sub.23) parallel to a tangent to the drive element (2, 20) which passes through a contact point between the drive element (2, 20) and the driven element (8, 21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Holmer Dangschat
  • Patent number: 4196639
    Abstract: A friction gear permanent magnetic entrainment means for rolling transmission of motion in combination with a magnetic-technical system having one magnetic circuit comprising at least two magnets and at least one operating air gap, including a frame being composed of symmetrically arranged permanent magnets and symmetrically arranged mild iron or steel parts, with the mild iron or steel parts arranged between analogous poles of the magnets forming central frontal surfaces drawn into the interior of the frame, which central frontal surfaces are opposing one another forming an operating air gap with opposite polarities in the direction of magnetizing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Inventor: Heinrich Spodig