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The coupling includes drive and driven hubs. The drive hub is mounted to a rotating element and has a surface presenting away therefrom. In the absence of externalities, a magnetic field is produced wherein, if depicted graphically, concentrations of field lines extend from two or more North pole do

The coupling includes drive and driven hubs. The drive hub is mounted to a rotating element and has a surface presenting away therefrom. In the absence of externalities, a magnetic field is produced wherein, if depicted graphically, concentrations of field lines extend from two or more North pole domains defined in the surface to two or more South pole domains defined in the surface, the domains being spaced apart and encircling the rotation axis in alternating relation. The driven hub is disposed in spaced, frontwardly adjacent relation to the drive hub, is fixed to the rotatable element and is at least substantially constrained against movement but for rotation with the rotatable element. The driven hub includes: a rotor body of a non-magnetic, electrically-conductive material having relatively low magnetic permeability; and a flux ring of material having a relatively high magnetically permeability arranged in spaced relation to the body.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for coupling a rotating element to a rotatable element, the rotating element rotating around a rotation axis, the apparatus comprising: a drive hub which, in use, is mounted to the rotating element for rotation therewith about the rotation axis, the hub having a front surface which p

1. An apparatus for coupling a rotating element to a rotatable element, the rotating element rotating around a rotation axis, the apparatus comprising: a drive hub which, in use, is mounted to the rotating element for rotation therewith about the rotation axis, the hub having a front surface which presents away from the rotating element and having magnetic properties such that, in the absence of externalities, a magnetic field is produced which extends from and returns to the drive hub, the magnetic field being characterized in that, if depicted graphically, concentrations of field lines would appear to extend from two or more North pole domains defined in the front surface to two or more South pole domains defined in the front surface, the North and South pole domains being spaced apart from each other and arranged to encircle the rotation axis in alternating relation;a driven hub which, in use, is disposed in spaced, frontwardly adjacent relation to the drive hub, is fixedly coupled to the rotatable element and is at least substantially constrained against movement but for rotation, with the rotatable element, about the rotation axis, the driven hub including a rotor body of a non-magnetic, electrically-conductive material having relatively low magnetic permeability; anda flux ring of material having a relatively high magnetically permeability is arranged in spaced relation to the rotor body such that rotation of the drive hub relative to the driven hub creates a net rotational force on the driven hub that urges the driven hub to rotate in the same direction as the drive hub. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in use, magnetic field lines from the drive hub pass through the rotor body in a manner such that, in the aggregate, the through-passing field lines are dominated by field lines that extend through the rotor body in a direction that is substantially tangential to the direction of rotation. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the North pole domains is defined by a respective permanent magnet and each of the South pole domains is defined by a respective permanent magnet. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the number of North pole domains equals the number of South pole domains. 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, in use, the permanent magnets are equally spaced about the rotation axis. 6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the drive hub has a backer plate defined by a material having relatively high magnetic permeability. 7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the drive hub has a backer plate defined by a ferromagnetic material. 8. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the drive hub has a backer plate defined by an iron alloy. 9. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the permanent magnets are disc-shaped. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotor body is a made of a paramagnetic material. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotor body is made of an aluminum alloy. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receptors are made from a ferromagnetic material. 13. An improved spa comprising: a basin for containing water;a motor mounted exteriorly of the basin and having a rotating shaft; anda centrifugal pump mounted interiorly of the basin and including an impeller which, in use, is rotated by the motor for circulating water contained in the basin,wherein the improvement comprisesthe apparatus of claim 1 in use such that the rotating shaft defines the rotating element and the impeller defines the rotatable element. 14. The improved spa according to claim 13, wherein, in use, magnetic field lines of the apparatus pass from the drive hub pass through the rotor body in a manner such that, in the aggregate, the through-passing field lines are dominated by field lines that extend through the rotor body in a direction that is substantially tangential to the direction of rotation. 15. The improved spa according to claim 13, wherein each of the North pole domains of the apparatus is defined by a respective permanent magnet and each of the South pole domains is defined by a respective permanent magnet. 16. The improved spa according to claim 15, wherein the number of North pole domains equals the number of South pole domains. 17. The improved spa according to claim 13, wherein the rotor body of the apparatus is a made of a paramagnetic material. 18. The improved spa according to claim 13, wherein the rotor body of the apparatus is made of an aluminum alloy. 19. The improved spa according to claim 13, wherein the receptors of the apparatus are made from a ferromagnetic material.