초록 ▼

A polyphasic multi-coil generator includes a driveshaft, at least first and second rotors rigidly mounted on the driveshaft so as to simultaneously synchronously rotate with rotation of the driveshaft, and at least one stator sandwiched between the first and second rotors. The stator has an aperture

A polyphasic multi-coil generator includes a driveshaft, at least first and second rotors rigidly mounted on the driveshaft so as to simultaneously synchronously rotate with rotation of the driveshaft, and at least one stator sandwiched between the first and second rotors. The stator has an aperture through which the driveshaft is rotatably journalled. A stator array on the stator has an equally circumferentially spaced-apart array of electrically conductive coils mounted to the stator in a first angular orientation about the driveshaft. The rotors and the stator lie in substantially parallel planes. The first and second rotors have, respectively, first and second rotor arrays.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of operating a generator, said generator comprising: a driveshaft;a first rotor rotatable by said driveshaft, said first rotor having a first array of magnets mounted thereon;a first stator having a first plurality of electrically conductive coils mounted thereon, wherein rotation of sai

1. A method of operating a generator, said generator comprising: a driveshaft;a first rotor rotatable by said driveshaft, said first rotor having a first array of magnets mounted thereon;a first stator having a first plurality of electrically conductive coils mounted thereon, wherein rotation of said first rotor relative to said first stator induces a current in at least some of said electrically conductive coils;said method comprising controlling an output voltage of said generator by dynamically modifying an electrical connection between coils of said first plurality of electrically conductive coils;wherein said first plurality of electrically conductive coils are grouped into a plurality of stages, each stage comprising at least one electrically conductive coil, wherein rotational resistance for rotating said driveshaft increases when each stage is electrically energized from an open to a closed circuit, said method further comprising selectively electrically energizing each of said stages to increase the rotational resistance for rotating said driveshaft when said driveshaft rotates at a predetermined rotational speed. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said generator is providing electrical power to a variable load, and a series-parallel electrical connection between coils is modified to provide a predetermined output voltage over a range of electrical loads. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said magnets are permanent magnets. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said magnets are hybrid magnets. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first rotor is rigidly couple to said driveshaft. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said generator has a single rotor and a single stator. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said first plurality of electrically conductive coils and said first array of magnets are mutually arranged to provide multi-phase output from said generator. 8. The method of claim 1 further comprising electronically checking the integrity of said at least one coil in each stage prior to electrically energizing that stage and, if a fault is detected then not electrically energizing that stage. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the number of stages that is electrically energized is dynamically modified based on at least one of: an input energy from the driveshaft and an electrical load on said generator. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said generator further comprises: a second rotor and a third rotor, each rotatable by said driveshaft, said second rotor having a second array of magnets mounted thereon, and said third rotor having a third array of magnets mounted thereon; anda second stator and a third stator, said second stator having a second plurality of electrically conductive coils mounted thereon, and said third stator having a third plurality of electrically conductive coils mounted thereon;wherein said method farther comprises controlling an output voltage of said generator by dynamically modifying an electrical connection between coils of each of said first, second and third plurality of electrically conductive coils. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said first, second and third plurality of electrically conductive coils are offset mechanically relative to one another to provide three-phase output. 12. A multi-coil generator comprising: a driveshaft;a first rotor rotatable by said driveshaft, said first rotor having a first array of magnets mounted thereon;a first stator having a first plurality of electrically conductive coils mounted thereon, said first plurality of electrically conductive coils grouped into a plurality of stages, each stage comprising at least one electrically conductive coil, wherein rotation of said first rotor relative to said first stator induces a current in at least some of said electrically conductive coils; andcontrol electronics coupled to control an output voltage of said generator by dynamically modifying an electrical connection between coils of said first plurality of electrically conductive coils,wherein the control electronics selectively electrically energizes the electrically conductive coils between open and closed circuits to increase the rotational resistance for rotating said driveshaft when said driveshaft rotates at one or more predetermined rotational speeds. 13. The multi-coil generator of claim 12 wherein said control electronics modifies a series-parallel electrical connection between coils, to provide a substantially constant output voltage over a range of driveshaft rotation speeds. 14. A method of operating a generator, the generator comprising: a driveshaft; a first rotor rotatable by said driveshaft, said first rotor having a first array of magnets mounted thereon; a first stator having a first plurality of electrically conductive coils mounted thereon, said first plurality of electrically conductive coils grouped into a plurality of stages, each stage comprising at least one electrically conductive coil, wherein rotation of said first rotor relative to said first stator induces a current in at least some of said electrically conductive coils, the method comprising: at a first time, selectively activating a first set of electrically conductive coils and deactivating any remaining electrically conductive coils to achieve a first power output; andat a second time, selectively activating a second set of electrically conductive coils and deactivating any remaining electrically conductive coils to achieve a second power output, the second set different than the first set, and the second power output different from the first power output. 15. The method of claim 1 wherein selectively activating a first set of electrically conductive coils and deactivating any remaining electrically conductive coils to achieve a first power output includes selectively activating the first set of electrically conductive coils and deactivating the remaining electrically conductive coils to achieve the first power output at a first frequency, and selectively activating a second set of electrically conductive coils and deactivating any remaining electrically conductive coils to achieve a second power output includes selectively activating the second set of electrically conductive coils and deactivating the remaining electrically conductive coils to achieve the second power output at the first frequency.