Rotary curie point magnetic engine

Claim 2

A magnetic engine to produce mechanical work comprising the combination of a stator, a carrier structure mounted for movement with respect to the stator, means mounted on the stator and carrier structure to create a magnetic field therebetween, said magnetic field having lines of flux disposed to cause said carrier structure to undergo said movement with respect to said stator, magnetic flux distorting means positioned within said field and including a transition material characterized in having a Curie point above and below which said material has, respectively, insubstantial and substantial magnetic response, said flux distorting means including a plurality of flat laminae disposed in spaced-apart parallel planes lying substantially within said magnetic field, said transition material being substantially comprised of Gadolinium metal, and means to sequentially heat and cool sAid transition material above and below its Curie point whereby said lines of flux are, respectively, released from and captured by said flux distorting means to create sequential mutual attraction between said carrier structure and said stator, said heating and cooling means including means forming fluid flow passageways between adjacent laminae, and means to direct a coolant medium through said passageways in direct heat exchange relationship with said laminae.

Claim 3

A magnetic engine as in claim 1 in which said means creating the magnetic field includes a plurality of magnets each having spaced apart north and south poles between which said lines of flux extend, and said laminae are disposed between the poles of individual magnets.

Claim 4

A magnetic engine as in claim 2 in which said heating and cooling means includes means to selectively direct an electrical current through said laminae for resistance heating thereof to a temperature above said Curie point.

Claim 5

A magnetic engine as in claim 1 in which said carrier structure comprises a rotor mounted for rotation with respect to said stator, and said means creating the magnetic field includes a first series of magnets mounted on and spaced about the periphery of said rotor, and a second series of magnets mounted on the stator and spaced about said first series of magnets, the poles of individual ones of said second series magnets being arranged to move into radially spaced registry with the poles of individual ones of said first series magnets during rotation of said rotor.

Claim 6

A magnetic engine to produce mechanical work comprising the combination of a stator, a carrier structure comprising a rotor mounted for rotation with respect to the stator, means mounted on the rotor and carrier structure to create a magnetic field therebetween including a first series of magnets mounted on and spaced about the periphery of said rotor, and a second series of magnets mounted on the stator and spaced about said first series of magnets, the poles of individual ones of said second series magnets being arranged to move into registry with the poles of individual ones of said first series of magnets during rotation of said rotor, at least a pair of said second series of magnets being mounted at substantially diametrically opposed positions on said rotor, said magnetic field having lines of flux disposed to cause said carrier structure to undergo said movement with respect to said stator, magnetic flux distorting means positioned within said field and including a transition material characterized in having a Curie point above and below which said material has, respectively, insubstantial and substantial magnetic response, means to sequentially heat and cool said transition material above and below its Curie point whereby said lines of flux are, respectively, released from and captured by said flux distorting means to create sequential mutual attraction between said carrier structure and said rotor, said transition material being disposed between the poles of each of said second series magnets whereby the sequential heating and cooling thereof above and below the Curie point creates sequential attraction between the first and second series magnets to turn said rotor.

Claim 7

A magnetic engine to produce mechanical work comprising the combination of a stator, a carrier structure comprising a rotor mounted for rotation with respect to the stator, means mounted on the rotor and carrier structure to create a magnetic field therebetween including a first series of magnets mounted on and spaced about the periphery of said rotor, and a second series of magnets mounted on the stator and spaced about said first series of magnets, the poles of individual ones of said second series magnets being arranged to move into registry with the poles of individual ones of said first series of magnets during rotation of said rotor, at least a pair of said second series of magnets being mounted at substantially diametrically opposed positions on said rotor, said magnetic field having lines of flux disposed to cause said carrier structure to undergo said movement with respect to said stator, magnetic flux distorting means positioned within said field and including a transition material characterized in having a Curie point above and below which said material has, respectively, insubstantial and substantial magnetic response, means to sequentially heat and cool said transition material above and below its Curie point whereby said lines of flux are, respectively, released from and captured by said flux distorting means to create sequential mutual attraction between said carrier structure and said rotor, said transition material being disposed between the poles of each of said second series magnets whereby the sequential heating and cooling thereof above and below the Curie point creates sequential attraction between the first and second series magnets to turn said rotor.

Claim 8

A magnetic engine as in claim 5 is said first series magnets are disposed in equal spaced-apart relationship about the periphery of said rotor, and one of said second series magnets is disposed in circumferential offset relationship with a diameter passing through the center of the other of said second series magnets.

Claim 9

A magnetic engine to produce mechanical work comprising the combination of a stator, a carrier structure mounted for movement with respect to the stator, means mounted on the stator and carrier structure to create a magnetic field therebetween including two or more magnets having north and south poles thereof spaced-apart along the path of movement of said carrier structure, said magnetic field having lines of flux disposed to cause said cArrier structure to undergo said movement with respect to said stator, magnetic flux distorting means positioned within said field and including a transition material characterized in having a Curie point above and below which said material has, respectively, insubstantial and substantial magnetic response, said flux distorting means comprising a plurality of foil strips disposed in laterally spaced-apart planes extending between associated north and south poles of each magnet, each of said strips being substantially formed of Gadolinium metal as said transition material and having a thickness on the order of 0.001 inches, and means to sequentially heat and cool said transition material above and below its Curie point whereby said lines of flux are, respectively, released from and captured by said flux distorting means to create sequential mutual attraction between said carrier structure and said stator, said heating and cooling means including means to selectively direct an electrical current through said strips to heat the same above the Curie point together with means to direct a coolant fluid in heat exchange relationship with said strips to cool the same below the Curie point.

Claim 10

A magnetic engine to produce mechanical work comprising the combination of a stator, a carrier structure mounted for movement with respect to the stator, means mounted on the stator and carrier structure to create a magnetic field therebetween including two or more magnets having north and south poles thereof spaced-apart along the path of movement of said carrier structure, said magnetic field having lines of flux disposed to cause said cArrier structure to undergo said movement with respect to said stator, magnetic flux distorting means positioned within said field and including a transition material characterized in having a Curie point above and below which said material has, respectively, insubstantial and substantial magnetic response, said flux distorting means comprising a plurality of foil strips disposed in laterally spaced-apart planes extending between associated north and south poles of each magnet, each of said strips being substantially formed of Gadolinium metal as said transition material and having a thickness on the order of 0.001 inches, and means to sequentially heat and cool said transition material above and below its Curie point whereby said lines of flux are, respectively, released from and captured by said flux distorting means to create sequential mutual attraction between said carrier structure and said stator, said heating and cooling means including means to selectively direct an electrical current through said strips to heat the same above the Curie point together with means to direct a coolant fluid in heat exchange relationship with said strips to cool the same below the Curie point.

Claim 11

A magnetic engine as in claim 7 in which said flux distorting means includes grid means disposed between adjacent foil strips, and said grid means supports said foil strips in planes which are spaced-apart a distance on the order of 0.03 inches.

Claim 12

A magnetic engine as in claim 8 in which said grid means defines in cooperation with said foil strips a plurality of coolant flow passageways adapted to direct said coolant fluid in direct heat exchange contact with substantial surface area portions of the foil strips.

Claim 13

A magnetic engine as in claim 1 in which said carrier structure is mounted for rotation with respect to said stator, and said heating and cooling means includes circuit means to direct an electrical current through said laminae to heat the same above the Curie point, said circuit means including switch means operating responsive to the relative position of said carrier structure with respect to said stator to open the circuit means for said cooling and to close the circuit means for said heating, said coolant medium comprising a fluid being directed through said passageways to cool said laminae below the Curie point while said circuit means is open.