DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a mechanical transducer which transforms pneumatic energy (pressure) into rotational energy, the transducer also transforms linear motion into rotary motion.

As known, conventional engines are mainly based on fossil fuels.

All these engines have the disadvantage of being the cause of pollution and depletion of land resources.

Purpose of the present invention is to provide a transducer, which transforms pneumatic energy into rotational energy, which obviates the drawbacks of the known art.

Another purpose is to provide a transducer, which transforms pneumatic energy into rotational energy, of simple implementation.

According to the present invention, these and other objects are achieved by a mechanical transducer for converting pneumatic energy into rotational energy comprising: a fixing structure of said transducer; a shaft; a first disc; a second disc and a third disc arranged in succession and associated to said shaft; said first, second and third disc having means adapted to slide longitudinally along said shaft; said shaft being able to rotate freely at the center of said first and third disc; said shaft being in rotation with said second disc; said first and third disc having means which cooperate with said structure to lock their rotation about said shaft; said first disc having a first plurality of magnets arranged on its inner surface facing said second disc; said third disc having a second plurality of magnets arranged on its inner surface facing said second disc; said second disc having a third plurality of magnets arranged on its surface facing said first disc; said second disc having a fourth plurality of magnets arranged on its surface facing said third disc; said first and fourth plurality of magnets being opposed and having opposite pole to said second and third plurality of magnets.

Further characteristics of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The advantages of this solution with respect to the solutions of the prior art are various.

The transducer or engine according to the present invention has no need of fuel, as far as possible, to operate and does not need all the other parts which an internal combustion engine requires such as the fuel tank, the radiator, etc.. It is very quiet. It does not produce any kind of pollution (e.g. carbon dioxide and noise pollution).

It can be an alternative to any type of internal combustion engine, for example for cars, motorcycles, boats, aircraft.

It produces clean energy and thus with zero impact. It can be applied where a driving force is required such as to produce electrical energy by replacing, as far as possible, the internal combustion engine of a generator having no fuel costs and without polluting, with the advantage that the magnetic field of the magnets has a duration of about 300 years. It can also be used to produce electricity, by applying a generator for mobile phones, torches, PCs, portable radios, etc..

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, that is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows schematically an engine, seen from the front and in section, according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows schematically a fixed disc of an engine, seen from one side, according to the present invention;

Figure 3 shows schematically a mobile disc of an engine, seen from one side, according to the present invention;

Figure 4 shows schematically a portion of a disc of an engine, seen from the front, according to the present invention;

Figure 5 shows schematically a container of an engine, seen from one side in section, according to the present invention.

Referring to the attached figures, a transducer, according to the present invention, comprises a containing structure 10 of a substantially cylindrical shape, having a tubular wall 11 laterally closed by two circular plates 12.

The circular plates 12 are fixed to the tubular wall by means of bolts 13.

The containing structure 10 is moved from side to side by a drive shaft 14.

The shaft 14 can rotate by means of bearings 15 mounted on the two circular plates 12. Downstream of the bearings 15 there is a gasket of O-ring type 16, one on each side.

On the shaft 14, within the containing structure 10, a series of circular discs in a number equal to or greater than two is provided. In the attached figures are shown five discs 20-24.

The circular plates 12 comprise at least a duct 17, and in the attached figures two, one for each plate, which connect the area 18 that is created inside the tubular wall 11 , between the plates 12 and the discs 20 and 24, and the outside.

The discs are of two types, arranged in succession alternate one with the other.

A first type are the discs 20, 22 and 24 which are fixed discs, and a second type are the discs 21 and 23 which are mobile discs.

In particular, the discs 20, 22 and 24 are discs that have the circumference fixed to the tubular wall 11 and the shaft 14 can rotate without problems because each disc 20, 22 and 24 has respective bearings 25. Inside the bearings 25 a toothing 28 is provided which cooperates with corresponding longitudinal grooves arranged on the shaft 14, so that the discs 20, 22 and 24 can freely slide longitudinally along the shaft 14, while remaining stable in their seats.

In particular, on the circumference of the discs 20, 22 and 24 teeth 26 are provided which extend from the circumference and are arranged in a predetermined number for example, in the equally spaced number of nine.

The teeth 26, beside extending from the circumference of the discs 20, 22 and 24, also have a thickness greater than that of the discs themselves. They have a size such that if two of the discs 20, 22 and 24 approach each other the teeth 26 are touching each other while leaving a minimum of space (for example a millimeter) to the intermediate disc thereto, to be able to rotate without interference.

The inner wall of the tubular wall 11 comprises recesses 27, in the equally spaced number of nine, one with respect to the other, longitudinal to the wall 11 itself.

The teeth 26 are positioned in the recesses 27 so that the discs 20, 22 and 24 are locked in rotation with respect to the shaft 14, but can slide longitudinally to the wall 11 and towards, or away from one with respect to the other.

The discs 21 , 23 are mobile discs fixed to the shaft 14, and therefore rotating around the shaft 14. Said discs 21 and 23 have a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the tubular wall 11 , so that they can rotate without interfering therewith. In particular, they are fixed to the shaft 14 by means of a toothing 28 of the disc that cooperates with recesses arranged on the shaft, so that the discs 21 and 23 can freely slide longitudinally along the shaft 14 while remaining attached thereto for their rotational movement.

All the discs 20-24 comprise a plurality of magnets 30 fixed in an appropriate way thereon.

The bearings 25, preferably those associated with the external discs 20 and 24 are sealed bearings.

On each face of each disc, there are, for example, as shown in the figures, eight sets of magnets 30 arranged, preferably, in succession to form spiral rays, each having eight magnets. This provision allows to obtain a good rotation smoothness.

The magnets 30 are for example of the neodymium type and are preferably arranged at an angle of 45°, and with opposite polarities on discs having lateral surfaces set side by side, so that each magnet has to oppose to a magnet correspondingly inclined and having opposite polarity.

The magnets 30 of the intermediate discs 21-23 are arranged as in Figure 4, each preferably inclined by 45°. In particular the discs 21 and 23 have the magnets on the left (set side by side respectively to the disc 20 and 22) inclined upwards by 45° and the positive pole towards the outside, and the magnets on the right (set side by side respectively to the disc 22 and 24) inclined upwards by 45° and the negative pole towards the outside.

The magnets 30 of the disc 22 are arranged as in Figure 4, each inclined by 45°. In particular, the disc 22 has the magnets on the left (set side by side to the disc 21) inclined downwards by 45° and the negative pole towards the outside, and the magnets of the right (set side by side to the disc 23) inclined downwards by 45° and the positive pole towards the outside.

The magnets 30 of the disc 20 are arranged only on its right side (set side by side to the disc 21) inclined downwards by 45° and the positive pole towards the outside.

The magnets 30 of the disc 24 are arranged only on its left side (set side by side to the disc 23) inclined downwards by 45° and the negative pole towards the outside.

Preferably, the fastening of each magnet provides a hole in the disc and the insertion of the magnet therein, with a portion that extends outside the disc itself and secured in the hole by glue or other.

The size and number of magnets may be varied according to the needs.

For the discs has been used aluminum since it does not alter the magnetic field of the magnets, but other materials with these characteristics may be used.

For the toothing 28 a steel insert is preferably used.

The operation of the invention is apparent to the skilled in the art from what has been described and, in particular, is the following.

The engine acts according to a driving force exploiting permanent magnetic fields of the different magnets.

Both the circular fixed discs and the circular rotating ones have a certain distance one with respect to the other. This distance is determined by the repulsive force of the magnets, and must be such as to ensure that, at rest, the repelling force between them has no real effect, and in this way the engine is stopped.

To start the engine, it is necessary to pump a fluid in the tubing 17 so as to increase the internal pressure in the areas 18 and push the discs 20 and 24 towards the inside of the engine. The area 18 is made so that it is watertight and can maintain confined in its inside the fluid entering therein.

Because of the repelling forces of the magnets, the discs will move towards the inside of the engine and therefore will approach all discs therein.

In this way the interactions between the magnets will increase, and the fixed discs 20, 22 and 24 will rotate the mobile discs 21 and 23 by rotating the shaft 14.

The positioning of the magnets is made so that there will always be a magnet aligned with another magnet of the adjacent disc, then by approaching the discs the repelling force increases concentrating the same only on rotating discs thus allowing the rotation thereto, and consequently of the drive shaft.

In the embodiment here described the magnets are oriented by 45°, but other angles can be used, making sure that the magnets of adjacent discs are in opposition.

To increase the speed of the engine it will be necessary to increase the pressure within the areas 18 and thus bring together the discs, to reduce or to stop the engine it is necessary to reduce or eliminate the pressure in the areas 18, the discs will move away from each other, the magnets will be at a distance so as not to interfere with each other and the engine will stop.

The sliding of the discs 20-24 longitudinally along the shaft 14 may be due to their central toothing 28.

As the fluid pressure increases within the chambers 18, the discs approach each other. The width of the teeth 26 determines the limit stop of the disc approach so that the intermediate discs 21 and 23 can rotate without interfering with the near ones.

The drive shaft may be connected to any mechanism that is wanted to be used, from a car to an electric generator for producing electricity, as far as possible.

The size of the transducer, and therefore of the magnets and the number of discs may vary according to necessity.

As fluid, oil, air or other can be used along with appropriate pumps and valves is to be connected to the tubes 17.

On the shaft and where necessary appropriate fluid seals may be positioned.