Electromechanical energy conversion device

Claim 1

An improved electromechanical energy conversion device comprising, in combination: a magnetic field structure having at least one magnetically north denominated field pole and a corresponding magnetically south denominated field pole, said north and south poles being displaced axially relative to one another along a longitudinal axis, each north field pole being interconnected in common with an associated south field pole to establish a common magnetic path intermediate the interconnected north field pole and associated south field pole; an armature structure having a first armature assembly adjacent the north field poles and a second armature assembly adjacent the south field poles, the armature assemblies being movable relative to the field structure along relative paths of travel adjacent to each of said north field poles and each of said south field poles, the armature structure including a plurality of individual magnetic circuits interconnecting said first and second armature assemblies and terminating at opposite terminal ends adjacent to the relative paths of travel of the field structure to establish armature cores adjacent to the relative paths of travel of said north and south field poles, each of said magnetic circuits forming at least in part a primary armature pole at said first armature assembly and at least in part a primary armature pole at said second armature assembly, the armature cores at opposite terminal ends of common magnetic circuits of at least some of the magnetic circuits being laterally off-set relative to one another about said paths of travel, and each armature pole adjacent one of said relative paths of travel is at least in part connected in common to the magnetic circuits of a plurality of armature poles adjacent the other relative path of travel; and first coil means encompassing armature cores of the first armature assembly to establish armature poles of the first armature assembly, said first coil means including a first plurality of main energizing winding coil portions electrically joined in a first common circuit with each of said first plurality of main energizing winding coil portions wound about alternate armature poles of said first armature assembly; second coil means encompassing armature cores of the second armature assembly to establish armature poles of the second armature assembly, said second coil means including a second plurality of main energizing winding coil portions electrically joined in a second common circuit with each of said second plurality of main energizing winding coil portions wound about alternate armature poles of said second armature assembly; and a third coil means having a third plurality of main energizing winding coil portions electrically joined in a third common circuit, each of said third energizing winding coil portions wound about alternate armature poles of at least one of the armature assemblies.