Magnetic fluid clutch with laminated structure

Claim 1

AN ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE THAT COMPRISES: (A) A ROTOR, (B) A STATOR, (C) SAID ROTOR AND SAID STATOR HAVING CONFRONTING PORTIONS THAT ARE SPACED APART TO DEFINE A WORKING GAP, (D) A HOUSING THAT ENCLOSES SAID WORKING GAP AND SAID CONFRONTING PORTIONS OF SAID ROTOR AND STATOR AND THAT HOLDS MAGNETIC PARTICLES AVAILABLE TO SAID WORKING GAP, (E) BEARINGS THAT PERMIT RELATIVE ROTATION BETWEEN SAID ROTOR AND SAID STATOR, (F) A WEB THAT SUPPORTS SAID CONFRONTING PORTION OF SAID ROTOR, (G) AN ANNULAR RECESS IN SAID CONFRONTING PORTION OF SAID ROTOR, (H) A WINDING THAT IS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID ANNULAR RECESS AND THAT RESPONDS TO THE FLOW OF CURRENT THERETHROUGH TO CAUSE MAGNETIC LINES OF FLUX TO PASS THROUGH SAID WORKING GAP BETWEEN SAID ROTOR AND SAID STATOR, AND (I) A SHAFT THAT SUPPORTS SAID WEB, (J) SAID MAGNETIC PARTICLES RESPONDING TO SAID MAGNETIC LINES OF FLUX TO MOVE INTO SAID WORKING GAP AND APPLY FORCES TO BOTH SAID ROTOR AND SAID STATOR, (K) SAID ROTOR HAVING THE CONFRONTING PORTION THEREOF FORMED FROM A PLURALITY OF LAMINATIONS OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL, (L) SAID LAMINATIONS BEING PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID SHAFT, (M) SAID STATOR HAVING THE CONFRONTING PORTION THEREOF FORMED FROM A PLURALITY OF LAMINATIONS OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL, (N) SAID LAMINATIONS OF SAID STATOR BEING PARALLEL TO SAID AXIS OF SAID SHAFT, (O) SAID CONFRONTING PORTION OF SAID STATOR BEING COMPLETELY FREE OF AIR GAPS IN THE DIRECTION OF FLOW OF SAID MAGNETIC LINES OF FLUX, ( P) SAID CONFRONTING PORTION OF SAID ROTOR BEING COMPLETELY FREE OF AIR GAPS IN THE DIRECTION OF FLOW OF SAID MAGNETIC LINES OF FLUX, (Q) WHEREBY SAID WINDING CAN APPLY FLUX LINES OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNDIMINISHED STRENGTH TO SAID WORKING GAP, (R) SAID WEB BEING NARROW AND BEING INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID CONFRONTING PORTION OF SAID ROTOR, WHEREBY SAID CONFRONTING PORTION OF SAID ROTOR IS CANTILEVERLIKE RELATIVE TO SAID WEB.