Direct current motor having improved commutation means

Claim 1

An electric motor suitable for connection between the positive and negative terminals of a direct current source comprising: a rotatable output shaft; a rotor mounted on said output shaft having a pair of magnetiCally opposite poles rotatable, with said shaft, in a circular path; a plurality of energizable windings of current carrying conductors selectively connectable to the direct current source and positioned with respect to said rotor to provide a rotation-producing torque on said rotor when energized; and commutation means interposed between said windings and the direct current source for sequentially connecting said windings to the direct current source responsive to the rotation of said rotor, said commutation means being spacedly located along the circular path of said rotor and comprising a plurality of switch groups equal in number to the number of motor windings, each of said switch groups comprising a pair of single pole, double throw, magnetic reed switches having bias means urging said switches into a normally closed first position and having an open second position, one switch of each pair being interposed between one of said motor windings and the positive terminal of the direct current source for energizing the former from the latter when in the first position, the other switch of each pair being interposed between the one of said windings and the negative terminal of the direct current source for energizing the former from the latter when in the first position, the switches of each pair having oppositely poled magnetic bias means associated therewith for overcoming the first position bias means of said switches to place said switches in the second position and for allowing opposite polarity magnetic poles of said rotor to return the switches to the normally closed first position when in proximity to said switches, thereby selectively energizing said windings from said direct current source.