Contra-rotating homopolar motor-generator for energy storage and return

Claim 1

An apparatus for receiving electrical energy, storing the energy as rotational mechanical energy, and delivering the stored energy to a load as electrical energy, the apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of electrically conducting nested coaxial concentric cylindrical shells; b. a plurality of electrically insulating cylindrical shells coaxial and concentric with each other and with the conducting shells and disposed to insulate the conducting shells from each other; c. an electromagnet disposed to produce a magnetic flux that is directed radially through the conducting shells; d. a plurality of air bearings disposed to support the conducting shells in rotation about an axis; e. an air supply connected to the air bearings to supply air flow therethrough; f. a plurality of spokes connected to the electromagnet and to the insulating cylindrical shells to maintain the insulating shells in fixed irrotational engagement; g. a plurality of brushes connected to the conducting shells at edges thereof to create a series electric circuit therethrough that carries electric current in opposite axial directions in adjacent conducting shells; h. a first terminal connected to one of the brushes that is connected to an innermost conducting shell; and i. a second terminal connected to one of the brushes that is connected to an outermost conducting shell to form a series circuit through the conducting shells and brushes to the first terminal, whereby electrical energy that is supplied to the first and second terminals is stored as rotational mechanical energy in the conducting cylinders for delivery as electrical energy to a load.

Claim 2

An apparatus for receiving electrical energy, storing the energy as rotational mechanical energy, and delivering the stored energy to a load as electrical energy, the apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of electrically conducting nested coaxial concentric cylindrical shells; b. a plurality of electrically insulating cylindrical shells coaxial and concentric with each other and with the conducting shells and disposed to insulate the conducting shells from each other; c. an electromagnet disposed to produce a magnetic flux that is directed radially through the conducting shells; d. a plurality of air bearings disposed to support the conducting shells in rotation about an axis; e. an air supply connected to the air bearings to supply air flow therethrough; f. a plurality of spokes connected to the electromagnet and to the insulating cylindrical shells to maintain the insulating shells in fixed irrotational engagement; g. a plurality of brushes connected to the conducting shells at edges thereof to create a series electric circuit therethrough that carries electric current in opposite axial directions in adjacent conducting shells; h. a first terminal connected to one of the brushes that is connected to an innermost conducting shell; and i. a second terminal connected to one of the brushes that is connected to an outermost conducting shell to form a series circuit through the conducting shells and brushes to the first terminal, whereby electrical energy that is supplied to the first and second terminals is stored as rotational mechanical energy in the conducting cylinders for delivery as electrical energy to a load.