TECHNICAL FIELD;

This invention relates to motor apparatus and methods for producing work at an output thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to electrically powered motor apparatus and method of producing work at an output thereof. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to electromagnetical ly powered rotary motor apparatus that produce work at an output thereof by means of combining electromagnet devices to drive a rotatable mechanical arrangement of elements to produce work useful in propulsion of vehicles and other power input dependent apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART:

The principles of work are considered well known to the artisan as they relate to rectilinear and rotary motion of an object, suffice it to say that it concerns the transference of energy produced by the motion of an object by application of a force and is measured by the product of the force and displacement of the object. The internal combustion engine is a known apparatus employed to perform work by cranking a crankshaft. The advantage to mankind in having the internal combustion engine, is without question, superior to other tools developed by man to manage the daily tasks of living, including the electric motor whose rotor equates to the crankshaft in performing work. The internal combustion engine has had much research attention and has been perfected to yield great satisfaction in work efficiency, torque and .speed, but, while the advantages are recognized by all, the polluting disadvantages to the environment have been largely ignored to the detriment of society. Electric motors have replaced many machine application formerly relying on the internal combustion engines, and while they have also enjoyed much technological advances, they have not been

perfected to the point of replacing the greatest source of pollution, namely the automobile engine, (see Wall Street Journal Article entitled: "GM Says It Plans an Electric Car, but Details Are Spotty", page Bl , dated Thursday April 19, 1990).

The internal combustion engine requires timely firing of a spark within a cylinder chamber having gone through a compression stroke to produce the power stroke that moves a piston/rod in a reciprocating manner to drive a crankshaft having a power output attachment. The end-use apparatus of the power output attachment are many, and include the automobile which has required many engine variations and cylinder block configurations to harness the energy produced at the crankshaft that results into propulsion of the automobile. The electric motors traditionally require large battery units to continually produce rotating drivetrain power, and as alluded to in the Wall Street article, have yet to be commercially attractive as an alternative to the combustion engine technology.

Therefore, a need is seen to exist for a motor apparatus that maintains the attributes of an internal combustion engine, including high performance parameters such as horsepower ratings, speed and torque packaged in a small volume and that further includes the non-polluting attributes of an electric motor without the need for large storage battery units. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION:

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a motor apparatus having high performance parameters, such as horsepower ratings, speed and torque without the disadvantages of an internal combustion engine, primarily pollution associated with the use of petroleum products. Another object of the present invention is to provide a motor that operates clean similar to the electric motor but that is more efficient in the conversion of electrical energy to mechanical energy.

A related object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular apparatus that utilizes a motor having the foregoing objects.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of cranking a crankshaft/axle using a motor having the foregoing objects.

The present invention provides the foregoing objects by providing a motor apparatus that utilizes electrical energy to activate an arrangement of electromagnets that control lably produces magnetic fields to generate repeated rotary power strokes on a pair of rotatable wheels having a circumferential arrangement of permanent magnets that coact with the respective electromagnets to maintain rotary motion on the wheels and a coupled shaft. The electromagnet arrangement is pulsed ON to produce a repelling power stroke on each of the permanent magnets and pulsed OFF to allow free wheeling alignment of all rotating permanent magnet members towards corresponding window regions where the permanent magnets are again subjected to the repelling magnetic field during an ON state of each electromagnet. The underlying principles of the electromagnet rotary motor of the present invention allows motor configurations from at least one rotary permanent magnet means utilizing only one magnetic polarity field produced by an electromagnet to a plurality of complementary pairs of rotatable permanent magnet means, each pair utilizing both north and south magnetic polarities produced by an arrangement of electromagnetic structure.

Therefore, to the accomplishments of the foregoing objects, the invention consists of the foregoing features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the accompanying drawings and the following disclosure describing in detail the invention, such drawings and disclosure illustrating two of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating a rotary motor apparatus which includes a complementary pair of rotatable permanent magnet means about which is disposed an arrangement of electromagnet means for producing rotary power strokes directly on permanent magnet members of the rotatable permanent magnet means, which transfer mechanical energy to a coupled shaft drive. Fig. 2 is an electrical block diagram illustrating the energy source arrangement for producing the ON and OFF magnet states that produce the rotary power drive.

Fig. 3 is a top view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1 showing the skewed mechanical relationship of the electromagnets with, respect to the drive shaft for circumferential ly spacing the composite magnetic window regions and associated rotary power strokes acting on the output drive shaft.

Fig. is an enlarged view of a rotatable permanent magnet means rotated 90 degrees from the view taken along line ^■ <»•—<t in Fig. 3 illustrating the arrangement of electromagnets including a cutaway view showing a permanent magnet fixedly mounted between two wheel plates that make up one rotatable wheel. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating a rotary motor apparatus which includes a single rotatable permanent magnet means about which is disposed an arrangement of electromagnets which are partially utilized in that only one magnetic polarity is required for producing rotary power at a shaft coupled to the rotatable permanent magnet means..

Fig. 6 is a side view taken along line 6-6 in Fig. 5 illustrating the spaced circumferential arrangement of electromagnets about the permanent magnet means and also illustrating the skewed placement of the permanent magnets with respect to the output drive shaft to gain a gravitational advantage during a free wheeling state

of operation.

Fig. 7 a partial side view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 5 illustrating a cut-away view of a window region's mechanical structure supporting the rotatable permanent magnet means exposing one of the rotatable wheel plates upon which a permanent magnet is fixedly attached. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION:

Figs. 1 and 5 illustrate rotary motor embodiments 100 and 800, respectively, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Both embodiments 100 and 800 rotate for purposes of turning a crankshaft 600 to produce output rotary power drive motions A3. Before detailing the primary elements of the present invention as embodied in Fig. 1 and 5, it is believed best to briefly discuss the magnetic phenomenon involved in operation of the rotary motor apparatus of the present invention. As best understood from the block diagram in Fig. S, an electrical energy source 1000, comprising dc power sources, such as dc battery sources 1001, 1005, input power to inverters 1002, 1006 respectively, to produce ac voltages AC1 , ACS, which are respectively further conditioned and controlled by rectifier 1003 and switched by switch means 100--+, 1007 for inputing the respective bias voltages DC1 , AC2 to respective windings Wl , WS on coil member 4-01 via interface 0^t. DC1 and ACS electrically combine within structure 4-00 to produce a null composite magnetic responses EPl, EPS at ends 402a, 02b of core member 0S, while DC1 alone produces an active composite magnetic responses EPl, EPS at ends 0Ξa , 402b of core member 402. The null state of magnetic coupling on core ends 402a, 402b facilitates free wheeling of rotatable permanent magnets 203, 303, while the active state of magnetic coupling repel the rotatable permanent magnets, which are polarized to opposite polarities PI, P2, to produce rotary motion of respective rotatable permanent magnet structures 200,

300, resulting in composite motion A3. The composite magnetic responses EPl and EP2 are preferred because the circuitry associated with battery 1001 produces a continuous dc bias DC1 on the electromagnets which maintains a fixed magnetic field that is controllably neutralized by input AC2 associated with battery 1005 and does not produce any inductive back emf. In operation, sensor switch 1007 is OFF and switch 1004 is ON such that ends 402a, 402b are magnetized by only the input DCl which generate active composite magnetic responses EPl, EP2 that are the same as polarities PI, PS on permanent magnets 203, 303. The OFF/ON state of 1007/1004, respectively, results in a repelling force that rotates the permanent magnets away from the window region 502. Optical sensor 1008 detects the movement of the permanent magnets away from the window region and instantaneously causes sensor switch 1007 to change to an ON state and delivers output AC2 to the coil member 402. The resulting magnetic effect of AC2 is to neutralize the magnetic effect of DCl such that there is no magnetic coupling at the window region 502, i.e. a null state that facilitates free wheeling action of the rotatable permanent magnet means 200, 300. Repeated OFF/ON and ON/ON states results in continuous rotary drive on shaft 600. The magnetic strength of PI, P2 on permanent magnets 203, 303 determines the repulsion force required of an active composite magnetic response EPl, EP2 to produces the rotary motion A3. As an added feature, utility winding W3 is imposed on core 402 that capitalizes on induction principles to provide a utility power output 1009 during operation of the apparatus 100.

Referring now to Fig. 1 where, by example, a complementary pair of rotatable permanent magnet means 200, 300 are supported on frame structure 700. Rotatable permanent magnet means 200, 300 include a common shaft 600 supported on block bearings 701 with sleeves 701a extending to wheel enclosures 500. Wheel

enclosures 500 include a band member 501 upon which window regions 502 are circumferential ly disposed for attachment of a plurality of electromagnetic structures 400 that span a distance d from one wheel structure to the other. Within each wheel enclosure 500 are located a pair of wheel plates (201, 202), (301, 302) that are mechanically coupled to shaft 600 and between which are fixedly attached permanent magnets 203, 303 with respective polarities PI, P2. The material used to construct wheel plates (201, 202), (301, 302) is preferably aluminum which is lightweight and factors the magnetic effect of the high strength permanent magnets 203, 303, especially during a free wheeling state of operation. Each permanent magnet means 400 comprises a coil member 401 and a concentric core member 402 having ends 402a, 402b that are mechanically coupled to window regions 502 by means of mechanical coupler 403 and associated mounting hardware 403a. Thus, when windings Wl and W2 on each electromagnet structure 400, (also W3 for utility power only or for possible battery recharge), are electrically coupled to circuit 1000 and each end 40Sa and 40Ξb is controllably activated, rotary motion Al combines with rotary motion AS to produce composite rotary motion A3 on shaft 600.

By example, and in reference to Fig. 3, a more uniform composite rotary power stroke can be developed from output shaft 600 if electromagnets 400 are arranged in a skewed relationship S with respect to a projected axis of shaft 600. Assuming that there are four equally spaced permanent magnets 203, 303 on each wheel and four electromagnets 400 are arranged in a 45 degree skewed arrangement with respect to shaft 600, then in one revolution, each permanent magnet receives four power strokes from any one electromagnet for a total of 32 power strokes in one revolution. The 32 power strokes are transferred to shaft 600 in sets of eight (8) strokes, at eight (8) equally distributed

B points on the composite power circle associated with shaft 600.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged typical view of a rotatable permanent magnet means 200, 300, where a permanent magnets 203 is shown fixedly mounted between wheel plates 201, 202 and disposed at a window region 502 where electromagnet 400 and magnet 203 are in a magnetically coupled relationship for producing motion A3. Also shown is the mechanical attachment of electromagnet 400 to enclosure/band 500/501 using coupler 403 and hardware 403a.

The rotary motor embodiment 800, shown in Fig. 5, functions in the same manner as the embodiment 100, Shown in Fig. 1, except that only one rotatable wheel structure 200 is supported on frame structure 7000 and electromagnets 4000 are not formed in a U-shape manner as electromagnets 400 in embodiment 100. Rather, each electromagnet 4000 is formed such that core member 4002 is arrangement in a straight line for mechanical attachment of one end 4002a over a window region 502 using coupler 4003 and hardware 4003a. Electromagnet end 4002b is not utilized. The structure for rotatable permanent magnet means 200 is the same a previously described and includes a plurality of circumferential ly spaced permanent magnets 203, each having a polarity PI that electromagnetically coacts with end 4002a upon energization of electromagnet 4000 from a controlled energy source, such as energy source 1000, for producing rotary motion Al that transfers to output rotary power drive A3. By Example, each coil member 4001 is comprised of windings Wl, W2, and W3 for sakes of maintaining electrical interface compatibility. Fig. 6 illustrates a side view of apparatus 800 exemplifying the equally circumferential spacing B and vertical offset Bl , with respect to line A-A, of electromagnets 4000. Although of not much significance once rotary motion is established, offset Bl is believed to be of initial value in that the

gravitational effect assist the initial rotary power stroke to overcome inertia associated with the wheel structure. Fig. 7 shows a cutaway view of electromagnet 400 and the mechanical attachment thereof onto band 501 and associated enclosure 500 over a window region 502 where magnetic coupling occurs. A coupler 4003 mechanically interfaces between core end 4002a and band 501 over window 502 for timed magnetic coupling with each permanent magnet 203 that rotates within the window region.

Therefore, while the present invention has been shown and described herein in what is believed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures can be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus.