The invention relates to the field of electrical engineering, in particular, to devices intended for converting mechanical energy of motion into electric current and vice versa and may be used as an electric motor or as a generator or as a starter or as a combination of these devices.

The principle of operation of such devices is based on generation of a magnetic field being changed spatially with rotationalmotion of a core relative to winding of an induction coil or vice versa, similar to operation of an induction motor.

Similar devices, considered the closest prior art, are known to the applicant including those referred to below.

A linear electric generator disclosed by Utility Model Patent RU 101 881 Ul published on 27 January 2011, comprising a cylindrical case made of magnetically soft iron, aframe made of non-magnetic material positioned inside therein and toroidal inductive coils positioned thereon in a row and separated with side plates and a magnetic core with at least two permanent magnets with axially oriented magnetization. Permanent magnets are disk-shaped andpositioned inside the cylinder made of a non-magnetic material to forma gap between each other and counter-located similar magnetic poles and allow for free reciprocating motioninside the casewithtoroidal inductive coils positioned therein.

The disadvantage of the known linear electric generator is relatively low efficiency caused by manymotion-transmitting elements that affect the design and reduce reliability of the device operation.

A motor-generator used to generate electricpowercomprising a casemade of a non-magnetic material having inside at least one induction coil with turns which at least partially cover the magnetic core with at least two permanent magnets (Ukrainianlnvention Patent No. 102808 published on 12 August 2013) is taken as a prototype. The motor-generator further comprises a bipolar rotor-inductor positioned inside the magnetic core and coupledwith an external drive capable of rotatingon its axis to produce an additional torque to the external drive.

The use of the prototype mayimprove efficiency of the motor-generator and reduce power of the external drive required for its rotational motion. The disadvantage of the device described above is the use of a rotor-inductor to transfer motion from/to the magnetic core wherebydimensions and weights of the device are increased while its reliability as well as its efficiency is reduced.

The object of the invention claimed is to improve reliability and manufacturability of the motor-generator-starter and, at the same time, to increase its power and performance characteristics by changing the configuration of the magnetic core and the induction coil and their relative positionsas well as the way of allocating/transferring a torque of the magnetic core.

This objective is resolved so that, in the known motor-generator-starter comprising the case made of a non-magnetic material with at least one induction coil, which at least partially positioned therein, with turns which at least partially cover the magnetic core having at least one permanent magnet, according to the invention, the magnetic core is coupled with the outer race of at least one bearing with the inner race partially coupled with thecase,and turns of the induction coil are at least partially located along the perimeter of the inner race of the bearing to form winding, which, at the same time, covers the magnetic core and the inner race of the bearing to form a gap between the outer surface of magnets and the inner surface of a part of the coil positionedin the case, which at least partially covers the magnetic core, and the motor-generator-starter further comprises a drive shaft coupled with at least one permanent magnet with opposite poles oriented to the magnetic core coaxially to the latter.

This motor-generator-starter may further comprise a shaft with an inner race of thebearing positioned thereon.

In this case, the shaft may be coupled with the case.

The drive shaft may be mounted in the case by at least one bearing.

Further, bearings made of a non-magnetic material, such as ceramics, may be used as bearings.

Further, the magnetic core may be configured so that to rotateon its axis.

In one embodiment, the induction coil may be made so that to rotate on its axis.

In this case, the motor-reducer may further comprise a unit supplying current to the induction coil comprising a collector and brushes installed in the case.

Further, the magnetic core may be configured toform a ring.

The invention claimed achieves the following technical result:

- better efficiency of the device by avoiding structural elements which transfer translational motion and by reducing structural elements which transfer rotational motion from the magnetic core to the drive mechanism and vice versa, depending on operation of the motor-generator-starter, as well as by forming a gap between outer surface of magnets and inner surface of a part of the coil positioned in the case, which reduces friction losses and allows rotation of the magnetic core; - better reliability of operation of the device by transferring the rotational motion from the magnetic core to the drive mechanism via permanent magnet oriented by opposite poles to the magnetic core, and

- the gap formed between outer surface of magnets and inner surface of the part of the coil positioned in the case allows the magnetic core going through the induction coil.

The invention claimed is illustrated by an example of the motor-generator-starter, method of operation and relevant drawings, where:

- Figure 1 is a sectional side-viewof the proposed motor-generator-starter, and

- Figure 2 shows view A of Figure 1.

The examples and drawings provided herein are not intended to restrict the rights claimed under this invention orany other embodiments of the inventionin accordance with essential features so described, but to explain the essence of the invention and confirm the possibility of its implementation in accordance with the above features.

The motor-generator-starter comprises a case 1 made of a non-magnetic material, a magnetic core 2, a bearing 3, a coil 4, a drive shaft 5, permanent magnet 6, and a drive shaft bearing 7.

The case 1 may be cylindrically shapedhaving at least the magnetic core 2, the bearing 3 and the coil 4 inside.

A permanent magnet may be used as the magnetic core 2. The magnetic core 2 may be configured as a ring and mounted on the outer race of the bearing 3. The inner race of the bearing 3 is coupled with the case 1. Winding turns of the coil 4 are located along the perimeter of the ring of the magnetic core 2 and may pass through the inner race of the bearing 3 or through its seat or through the shaft.

In one embodiment with the coil 4 configured moveable and the magnetic core 2 configured fixed, the device may be further equipped with a collector and brushes to supply electric current to the coil 4 (not shown on figures). Further, electric current may be transferred to the moveable coil 4 wirelessly, e.g. by electromagnetic induction or electromagnetic resonance. In this case, the motor- reducer may, in addition to the coil 4, comprise a second transmitting coil positioned on the coil 4 for wireless acceptance of electrical current.

In yet another embodiment, the motor-generator-starter may further comprise a shaft 8 with the inner race of the bearing 3 positioned thereon which may be fixed on the case 1.

The case 1 furthercomprisesthe drive shaft 5 being rotated by the bearing 7 fixed in the case 1. Permanent magnet 6 with poles located in mutual antithetical direction to respective poles of the magnetic core 2 and coaxially to the latter is positioned on the drive shaft.

The drive shaft 5 and permanent magnet 6 may be separated from the magnetic core 2 and the coil 4 with a wall 9 located in the case 1.

The motor-generator-starter may have several coils 4 with windings located along the perimeter of the magnetic core 2 through the inner race of the bearing 3 or through its seat or through the shaft.

Bearings 3 and 6 are preferably made of a non-magnetic material, for example, there may be ceramic bearings to avoid the effect of "magnetic freezing", when high moment of resistance to rotation of the magnetic core 2 and/or the drive shaft 5 occurs if permanent magnets coincide due to forces of gravity thereby reducing efficiency and preventing rotation of these elements.

Other structural elements of the case 1 are preferably made of a non-magnetic material such as brass etc. The device claimed herein is used as follows.

For example, the motor-generator-starter is configured so that the magnetic core 2 is moveable. In this case, its magnetic field goes beyond the fixed coil 4. When the drive shaft 5 rotates in the bearing 7, the permanent magnet 6 also rotates, so opposite magnetic fields of permanent magnet 6 and the magnetic core 2 interact and the latter rotatestogether with the drive shaft 5 inside windingsof the coil 3 resulting in generation ofEDF (Electric Driving Force)in its windings and production of electric power directly from the rotational motion and operation of the device in a generator mode. When electric current is supplied to windings of the coil 3,a magnetic field, which interacts with the magnetic field of the magnetic core 2, is produced by induction, and EDF isalso generated,so the magnetic core 2 produces rotational motion on its axis and, accordingly, rotatespermanent magnet 6 with the drive shaft 5 giving a torque when the device is operated as a motor.

The device claimed herein may also be used as a starter with the principle of operation similar to that described above. Further, the motor-generator-starter may be used as a standalone device e.g. as a generator, a starter, an electric motor or a combination thereof with the separate case 1 or may be used as a part of another device.

The invention claimed improves reliability and manufacturability of the motor- generator-starter and, at the same time, enhances its power and performance.