초록 ▼

A self-regulating permanent magnet device has a first rotor segment and second rotor segment, each supporting a set of permanent magnets, wherein the position of the second rotor segment relative to the first rotor segment is modified based on the speed of the self-regulating permanent magnet device

A self-regulating permanent magnet device has a first rotor segment and second rotor segment, each supporting a set of permanent magnets, wherein the position of the second rotor segment relative to the first rotor segment is modified based on the speed of the self-regulating permanent magnet device. By modifying the position of the second rotor segment relative to the first rotor segment, the alignment between their respective sets of permanent magnets, and therefore, the electromotive force (emf) generated in the stator coils is regulated. The position of the second rotor segment is defined by the connection of a torsion spring between the first rotor segment and second rotor segment and a reactionary torque device connected to the second rotor segment. The torsion spring creates a spring force that acts to maintain the alignment between the first rotor segment and the second rotor segment. The reactionary torque device provides reactionary torque that is proportional to the speed of the self-regulating permanent magnet device and opposes the spring force. As the speed of the self-regulating permanent magnet device increases, the reactionary torque causes the second rotor segment to rotate, thereby creating a misalignment between the first rotor segment and second rotor segment.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A self-regulating permanent magnet device comprising: a first shaft; a stator core having stator windings; and a rotor situated within the stator core, the rotor comprising: a first rotor segment connected to the first shaft and having a first set of permanent magnets;

The invention claimed is: 1. A self-regulating permanent magnet device comprising: a first shaft; a stator core having stator windings; and a rotor situated within the stator core, the rotor comprising: a first rotor segment connected to the first shaft and having a first set of permanent magnets; a second rotor segment located adjacent to the first rotor segment and having a second set of permanent magnets; spring means connected between the first rotor segment and the second rotor segment for generating a spring force that maintains rotational alignment between the first set of permanent magnets and the second set of permanent magnets when the first shaft is at rest; and reactionary means for generating reactionary torque based on the speed of the first shaft, wherein the reactionary torque opposes the spring force and causes the misalignment of the first set of permanent magnets with respect to the second set of permanent magnets such that the electromotive force (emf) generated in the stator windings of the stator core is regulated based on the speed of the self-regulating permanent magnet device. 2. The self-regulating permanent magnet device of claim 1, wherein the reactionary means for generating reactionary torque includes: a cooling device connected to a second shaft that provides mechanical energy from the second rotor segment to the cooling device. 3. The self-regulating permanent magnet device of claim 2, wherein the cooling device is selected from a group consisting of: a fan, a coolant pump, and a flyweight-type governor. 4. The self-regulating permanent magnet device of claim 1, wherein the spring means includes a spiral-type spring having a first end connected to the first rotor segment and a second end connected to the second rotor segment. 5. The self-regulating permanent magnet device of claim 1, wherein the spring means includes a buckling-type spring having a first end connected to the first rotor segment and a second end connected to the second rotor segment. 6. The self-regulating permanent magnet device of claim 1, wherein the self-regulating permanent magnet device comprises a self-regulating permanent magnet generator that regulates the output voltage (emf) generated in the stator coils of the stator core based on the mechanical energy provided to the self-regulating permanent magnet generator by the first shaft. 7. The self-regulating permanent magnet of claim 1, wherein the self-regulating permanent magnet device comprises a self-regulating permanent magnet motor that regulates the back electromotive force (bemf) generated in the stator coils of the stator core based on the mechanical energy generated by the self-regulating permanent magnet motor in the first shaft. 8. A self-regulating permanent magnet alternator (PMA) for regulating an output voltage, the self-regulating permanent magnet alternator comprising: a first shaft for providing mechanical energy; a stator core having stator windings that generate an output voltage based on magnetic flux provided through the stator windings; a rotor situated within the stator core for providing magnetic flux to the stator windings that varies based on the speed of the first shaft such that the output voltage generated by the self-regulating PMA is maintained within a proscribed range, the rotor comprising: a first rotor segment connected to receive mechanical energy from the first shaft and having a first set of permanent magnets; a second rotor segment located adjacent to the first rotor segment and having a second set of permanent magnets; a torsion spring having a first end connected to the first rotor segment and a second end connected to the second rotor segment wherein the torsion spring transmits mechanical energy provided to the first rotor segment to the second rotor segment and provides a spring force that acts to maintain rotational alignment between the first permanent magnet set and the second permanent magnet set; a second shaft located coaxially around the first shaft and supported by bearings that allow the second shaft to rotate with respect to the first shaft, wherein the second rotor segment is supported by the second shaft; and a cooling device connected to the second shaft wherein the second shaft transmits mechanical energy from the second rotor segment to the cooling device, wherein the mechanical energy supplied to the cooling device generates reactionary torque on the second rotor segment that opposes the spring force generated by the torsion spring and modifies the rotational position of the second rotor segment with respect to the first rotor segment such that the amount of magnetic flux provided to the stator coils is modified. 9. The self-regulating (PMA) of claim 8, further including: a mechanical stop positioned between the first shaft and the second shaft to limit the amount of rotation allowed between the second rotor segment and the first rotor segment. 10. The self-regulating PMA of claim 8, wherein the torsion spring is a spiral spring connected between the first rotor segment and the second rotor segment that provides continual rotational alignment adjustment of the first permanent magnet set and the second permanent magnet set based on the speed of the first shaft. 11. The self-regulating PMA of claim 8, wherein the torsion spring is an over-center type spring connected between the first rotor segment and the second rotor segment that provides step-wise rotational alignment adjustment of the first permanent magnet set and the second permanent magnet based on the speed of the first shaft. 12. The self-regulating PMA of claim 8, wherein the cooling device provides reactionary torque to the second rotor segment that is proportional to the speed of the first shaft. 13. The self-regulating PMA of claim 12, wherein the cooling device is selected from a group consisting of: a fan, a coolant pump, and a flyweight type governor. 14. The self-regulating PMA of claim 8, wherein the stator core includes a magnetic spacer that prevents magnetic flux from a first portion of the stator core located near the first permanent magnet from transferring to a second portion of the stator core located near the second permanent magnet. 15. A rotor for a self-regulating permanent magnet device that regulates an amount of flux provided to a stator core based on a speed of a first shaft, the rotor comprising: a first rotor segment connected to the first shaft; a first set of permanent magnets mounted on the first rotor segment; a second rotor segment mounted on a second shaft located axially around the first shaft, wherein the second shaft is mounted axial around the first shaft such that the second rotor segment is rotatable relative to the first rotor segment; a second set of permanent magnets mounted on the second rotor segment; a torsion spring connected between the first rotor segment and the second rotor segment that provides a spring force for maintaining rotational alignment of the second rotor segment relative to the first rotor segment; a reactionary torque device connected to the second shaft to receive mechanical energy from the second rotor segment, wherein the reactionary torque device generates reactionary torque proportional to the speed of the first shaft that alters the alignment of the second rotor segment relative to the first rotor segment. 16. The rotor of claim 15, wherein the torsion spring is a spiral-type spring that continually modifies the rotational position of the second rotor segment with respect to the first rotor segment based on reactionary torque provided by the reactionary torque device. 17. The rotor of claim 15, wherein the torsion spring is a buckling-type spring that provides step-wise modification of the rotational position of the second rotor segment with respect to the first rotor segment based on reactionary torque provided by the reactionary torque device. 18. The rotor of claim 15, wherein the spring force provided by the torsion spring is sufficient to overcome magnetic repulsive forces generated between the magnetic poles of the first set of permanent magnets and the magnetic poles of the second set of permanent magnets such that the magnetic poles of first permanent magnet set remain rotationally aligned with the magnetic poles of the second permanent magnet set. 19. A self-regulating permanent magnet motor comprising: a first shaft for providing mechanical energy generated by the self-regulating permanent magnet motor to an output; a stator core having stator windings that receive an alternating current (AC) input voltage that generate a rotating magnetic field; a rotor situated within the stator core for generating mechanical power in the first shaft based on the rotating magnetic field generated by the stator core, the rotor comprising: a first rotor segment connected to the first shaft and having a first set of permanent magnets; a second rotor segment located adjacent to the first rotor segment and having a second set of permanent magnets; a torsion spring having a first end connected to the first rotor segment and a second end connected to the second rotor segment wherein the torsion spring transmits mechanical energy from the first rotor segment to the second rotor segment and provides a spring force that acts to maintain rotational alignment between the first permanent magnet set and the second permanent magnet set; a second shaft located coaxially around the first shaft and supported by bearings that allow the second shaft to rotate with respect to the first shaft, wherein the second rotor segment is supported by the second shaft; and a cooling device connected to the second shaft wherein the second shaft transmits mechanical energy from the second rotor segment to the cooling device, wherein the mechanical energy supplied to the cooling device generates reactionary torque on the second rotor segment that opposes the spring force generated by the torsion spring and modifies the rotational position of the second rotor segment with respect to the first rotor segment such that the back electromotive force generated in the stator coils by the rotor is reduced. 20. The self-regulating permanent magnet motor of claim 19, further including: a mechanical stop positioned between the first shaft and the second shaft to limit the amount of rotation allowed between the second rotor segment and the first rotor segment. 21. The self-regulating permanent magnet motor of claim 19, wherein the torsion spring is a spiral spring connected between the first rotor segment and the second rotor segment that provides continual rotational alignment adjustment of the first permanent magnet set and the second permanent magnet set based on the speed of the first shaft. 22. The self-regulating permanent magnet motor of claim 19, wherein the torsion spring is an over-center type spring connected between the first rotor segment and the second rotor segment that provides step-wise rotational alignment adjustment of the first permanent magnet set and the second permanent magnet based on the speed of the first shaft. 23. The self-regulating permanent magnet motor of claim 19, wherein the cooling device provides reactionary torque to the second rotor segment that is proportional to the speed of the first shaft. 24. The self-regulating permanent magnet motor of claim 19, wherein the cooling device is selected from a group consisting of: a fan, a coolant pump, and a flyweight type governor. 25. The self-regulating permanent magnet motor of claim 19, wherein the stator core includes a magnetic spacer that prevents magnetic flux from a first portion of the stator core located near the first permanent magnet from transferring to a second portion of the stator core located near the second permanent magnet. 26. The self-regulating permanent magnet motor of claim 19, wherein reducing the bemf generated in the stator windings of the stator core increases the maximum operating speed of the self-regulating permanent magnet motor.