GB2490816A

GB2490816A - Electricity Generating Unit

Info

Publication number: GB2490816A
Application number: GB1211492.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Francis Mchale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-06-28
Filing date: 2012-06-28
Publication date: 2012-11-14
Also published as: GB201211492D0

Abstract

An electricity generating unit comprises a number of electric generators 3,8 mounted on a rotatable support structure 2, the axle of each generator having an attached gear 4, 7, the gears of the rotational generators interlinked with a further central gear 6, this gear being rotated by an axle 5, which is in turn driven by a motor. When central gear 6 is spun, the rotors of the structure-mounted generators 3, 8 spin, electricity is induced and a turning force is applied to the structure 2, the rotational support structure 2 turns with the axle 9 which can rotate a further stationary electric generator. Electric circuits link the coils of the generators 3,8 to slip rings 1, so that current can be removed from or, if applicable, supplied to the rotational generators using brushes.

Description

I

Electricity Generating Unit

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to electricity generation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Current electrical generators produce electricity by changing the magnetic flux through a closed circuit. This can be achieved, for example, by rotation of a rotor of electromagnets in proximity to fixed coil stators.

[0003] In conventional electric generators no use is made of the equal and opposite reaction forces acting on the stator as the rotor rotates.

[0004] The reaction force of electromagnetic induction is an example of the principle of the law of conservation of momentum.

[0005] When a magnet is pushed pole-first through a fixed coil of wire, a current is induced in the coil and a magnetic field forms with orientation to oppose that of the approaching magnet, as a result work must be done to overcome the repulsion force that arises -and a force must be applied to the magnet to make it proceed through the coil.

Due to the field formed during this electromagnetic induction, a force acts on the magnet to oppose its motion through the coil, from Newton's third law, an equal and opposite reaction force must also act upon the coil of wire.

[0006] Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, therefore, in this magnet-coil arrangement when a force is applied to the magnet to propel it through the coil, and electricity is generated, there are two forces that arise: [0007] Action force of electromagnetic induction: force acting on the magnet to oppose its motion through the coil, due to induced current in the coil. This force is required by the law of conservation of energy.

[0008] Reaction force of electromagnetic induction: force acting on the coil equal and opposite to that of the action force of electromagnetic induction acting on the magnet [0009] In addition to this pair of forces arising, a current is also produced in the coil. This is the same current that's flow through the coil has produced the opposing magnetic field.

[0010] The emergence of the reaction force of electromagnetic induction acting on the coil is a consequence of the law of conservation of momentum. An isolated coil-magnet system must obey the law of conservation of momentum. If a magnet is passed pole-first through a stationary coil of wire at some initial velocity and electricity is induced in the coil, the magnet loses momentum and the coil of wire gains momentum. The total momentum of the system must remain unchanged before and after electromagnetic induction since it is a fundamental law that the total momentum of an isolated system cannot change.

[0011] The present invention proposes a means of generating electricity that mounts a number of electric generators on a rotatable rigid rotor structure, the axle of each generator has a gear mounted. The gears of the rotor generators interlink with a further driving gear, this driving gear is driven by a force provided by a motor such as an electric motor, and when spun, the rotors of the structure-mounted generators also spin, a turning force being applied to the structure.

FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The driving gear may be located centrally with the gears of the rotor generators revolving around it.

[0013] The rotor may be engaged with a further stationary electric generator. Rotation of structure(and the mounted generators) causes rotation of said stationary generator.

Electric circuits can link the coils of the generators of the rotor to slip rings and brushes, so that current can be removed from and (if applicable) supplied to the rotational generators.

[0014 The central gear of the invention may be mounted on a shaft which is spun by an electric motor.

[0015] The stationary electric generator may be of the electrically excited type or a permanent-magnet dynamo.

[0016] Slip rings along with brushes may be used to take electricity from the rotational generators as they are spun.

[0017] The rotor-mounted generators may be of the electrically excited type or permanent-magnet dynamos. If electrically excited, power may be supplied to the rotational generators by slip rings and brushes.

[0018] There can be two or more generators mounted on the support structure.

[0019] If there are two mounted generators they should be mounted 180 degrees apart, on opposite sides, so that the rotor is balanced.

[0020] There may be a multitude of generators mounted, each with attached gear arranged around the central driving gear. If mounting multiple generators they should be equally spaced so that rotation is balanced.

[0021] A system of gears may be used in connecting the shaft of the supporting rotor to the rotor of the stationary electric generator to increase the resistance to turning on the rotor.

[0022] In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the rotary generator's gears may be interlocked with an exterior ring gear, rotation of this ring gear thus providing the turning force to the rotor.

[0023] The apparatus may be enclosed in a sealed low-pressure container to reduce air friction and increase efficiency.

INTRODUCTION TO DRAWINGS

[0024] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0025] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the invention with two electric generators mounted on a rotational support structure each engaged with a spur gear which is interlinked with a central spur gear that is driven by a shaft.

[0026] Figure 2 demonstrates forces acting when a magnet is pushed through a coil of wire and electricity is induced in the coil.

[0027] Figure 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention where a ring gear is used to rotate internal gears.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In figure 1, the shaft 5 drives the central gear 6 which causes the orbital gears 4 7 to rotate, this in turn drives their respective generators 3 8. A turning force is applied the support structure 2 and connected shaft 9. A circuit leads from the rotary generators to arrangement of slip rings 1 to take current from the generators. The shaft 9 can drive a further stationary electric generator.

[0029] A stationary electric generator provides a resistance to turning to the rotation structure so that the gears of the planetary generators also rotate by the action of the central gear. A greater magnetic field strength in the stationary generator will result in a greater resistance to turning force on the structure and the rotors within the orbital generator will spin more quickly.

[0030] The more rapidly the shaft of the central gear is spun, the greater will be the velocity of the rotors within the orbital generators, their electromotive force will be greater and so consequently the turning force acting on the supporting rotor will be increased.

[0031] In figure 2, the magnet 13 is pushed pole-first through the coil 17 by driving force 12 in a straight line along the path 16. As the magnet approaches the coil 17 a repelling magnetic field 14 forms in the coil which causes resistance to motion action force 11 to act on the magnet. An equal and opposite resistance to motion reaction force 10 acts on the coil. This force can be used to drive a further electric generator. Electromotive force 15 is also generated in the coil 17.

[0032] In figure 3, there are four rotary generators mounted on the structure 18, the ring gear 19 interlocks with the rotary generator's gears, in this case turning of the ring gear causes the generators and the support structure 18 to rotate. The ring gear may be turned with a motor using a belt or another gear

Claims

Claims 1. An electricity generating unit, including a rotor mounting a number of electric generators, shafts of said generators having affixed gears, where said gears interlink with a further gear, said gear driven by a motor.
2. An electricity generating unit according to claim 1, where said rotor structure is coupled to the rotor of a further stationary electric generator.
3. An electricity generating unit according to any preceding claim, where electric circuits lead from the generators mounted on the rotor to slip rings and brushes.
4. An electricity generating unit according to any preceding claim, where there are two generators mounted on the rotor, each generator on opposite sides of the rotor, each of the generator's axles mounting a gear which interlinks with a central driving gear.
5. An electricity generating unit according to any preceding claim, where the driving gear is mounted on a shaft which is spun by an electric motor.
6. An electricity generating unit according to any preceding claim, where a system of gears is used in connecting the shaft of the supporting rotor to the rotor of the stationary electric generator.
7. An electricity generating unit according to any preceding claim, where the rotary generators are of the electrically excited type and current is supplied to them during rotation via electric circuits and slip rings and brushes.
8. An electricity generating unit according to any preceding claim, where the rotary generator's gears are interlocked with an exterior ring gear, said ring gear being rotated by a motor.
9. An electricity generating unit according to any preceding claim, where the apparatus is enclosed in a sealed low-pressure container.
10. An electricity generating unit according to any preceding claim, where there are two generators mounted on the rotor, each generator on opposite sides of the rotor, each of the generator's axles mounting a gear which interlinks with a central driving gear, where the driving gear is mounted on a shaft which is spun by a motor.
11. An electricity generating unit according to claim 10, where the driving gear is spun by an electric motor
12. An electricity generating unit according to claim 10 or 11, where the rotary generators are of the electrically excited type and current is supplied to them during rotation via electric circuits and slip rings and brushes.
13. An electricity generating unit according to claim 10,11 or 12, where the apparatus is enclosed in a sealed low-pressure container
14.An electricity generating unit according to claim 10,11,12 or 13 where the rotor structure is coupled to the rotor of a further stationary electric generator.
15.An electricity generating unit according to claim 10,11,12,13 or 14 where either the stationary electric generators or the rotor generators are of the permanent magnet type.