초록 ▼

An electrical machine comprises a combined magnetic gearbox and electrical generator. A first set of permanent magnets ( 30 ) are arranged on a rotor ( 16 ) to produce a spatially variable first magnetic field. A second set of permanent magnets ( 32 ) are arranged on a rotor ( 40,41,43 ), stationary

An electrical machine comprises a combined magnetic gearbox and electrical generator. A first set of permanent magnets ( 30 ) are arranged on a rotor ( 16 ) to produce a spatially variable first magnetic field. A second set of permanent magnets ( 32 ) are arranged on a rotor ( 40,41,43 ), stationary pole pieces ( 36 ) are positioned between the first set of permanent magnets ( 30 ) and the second set of permanent magnets ( 32 ) to interfere with the first magnetic field. Rotation of the rotor ( 16 ) relative to the pole pieces ( 36 ) produces a second magnetic field which rotates the second set of permanent magnets ( 32 ). A stator ( 42 ) has windings ( 46 ) to transduce a changing second magnetic field produced by the rotation of the second set of permanent magnets ( 32 ) into an electrical voltage. The electrical machine is useful for a wind turbine generator. Alternatively the arrangement may be modified to produce an electrical motor.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An electrical generator arrangement comprising:a first plurality of permanent magnets collectively producing a spatially variable first magnetic field;a second plurality of permanent magnets arranged to rotate about a first axis;interference means positioned between the first plurality of permane

1. An electrical generator arrangement comprising:a first plurality of permanent magnets collectively producing a spatially variable first magnetic field;a second plurality of permanent magnets arranged to rotate about a first axis;interference means positioned between the first plurality of permanent magnets and the second plurality of permanent magnets to interfere with the first magnetic field;motive means for moving the first plurality of permanent magnets and interference means relative to one another, to produce a second magnetic field for rotating the second plurality of permanent magnets; anda stator having windings arranged to transduce a changing magnetic field produced by the rotation of the second plurality of permanent magnets into electrical energy. 2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first plurality of permanent magnets are attached to a soft-ferromagnetic support and the second plurality of permanent magnets are supported without attachment to soft-ferromagnetic material. 3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second plurality of permanent magnets are supported by a magnetically transparent material. 4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second plurality of permanent magnets are arranged in a cylinder with an air gap of 3-5 mm between the stator and the cylinder. 5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first plurality of permanent magnets is supported, using a first support, at a first fixed radius from the first axis and the second plurality of permanent magnets is supported, using a second support and the first support, at a second fixed radius from the first axis, wherein a shaft and a plurality of bearings couple the first and second supports. 6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first support and the second support rotate independently about the shaft on the plurality of bearings and the first support rotates relative to a housing on large bearings. 7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support for the second plurality of permanent magnets provides for air circulation over the stator when in use. 8. An electrical motor arrangement comprising:a first plurality of permanent magnets collectively producing a spatially variable first magnetic field;a second plurality of permanent magnets arranged to rotate about a first axis;interference means positioned between the first plurality of permanent magnets and the second plurality of permanent magnets to interfere with the first magnetic field; andmotive means for moving the first plurality of permanent magnets and interference means relative to one another, to produce a second magnetic field for rotating the second plurality of permanent magnets, said motive means comprising a stator having windings for transducing a changing electric field in the windings into a rotation of the first plurality of permanent magnets. 9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first plurality of permanent magnets are attached to a soft-ferromagnetic support and the second plurality of permanent magnets are supported without attachment to soft-ferromagnetic material. 10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second plurality of permanent magnets are supported by a magnetically transparent material. 11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second plurality of permanent magnets are arranged in a cylinder with an air gap of 3-5 mm between the stator and the cylinder. 12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first plurality of permanent magnets is supported, using a first support, at a first fixed radius from the first axis and the second plurality of permanent magnets is supported, using a second support and the first support, at a second fixed radius from the first axis, wherein a shaft and a plurality of bearings couple the first and second supports. 13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first support and the second support rotate ind ependently about the shaft on the plurality of bearings and the first support rotates relative to a housing on large bearings. 14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8 wherein the support for the second plurality of permanent magnets provides for air circulation over the stator when in use. 15. A wind turbine generator comprising an arrangement as claimed in claim 1. 16. A wind turbine generator comprising an arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the large bearings support the turbine rotor shaft. 17. A method of generating electricity comprising the steps of:interfering with a first magnetic field produced by a first plurality of permanent magnets to form beats in the first magnet field;using said beating first magnetic field to rotate a second plurality of permanent magnets; andtransducing the time variable magnetic field produced by the rotating second plurality of permanent magnets into electrical energy. 18. A method of transducing time varying electrical energy into the rotation of a motor shaft, comprising the steps of:using the time varying electrical energy to rotate a first plurality of permanent magnets;interfering with a first magnetic field produced by the rotating first plurality of permanent magnets to form beats in the first magnet field; andusing said beating first magnetic field to rotate a second plurality of permanent magnets attached to the motor shaft.