Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A homopolar machine, comprising, a stator and a rotor with magnetic portions and a generally cylindrical clearance space between the stator and rotor, means for producing a magnetic flux which moves through a magnetic circuit which extends across said clearance space and through said magnetic portions of the stator and rotor, nonmagnetic electrically conductive elements which extend along the stator and rotor and are electrically insulated from said magnetic portions of the stator and rotor, said conductive elements on said rotor including axially spaced continuous rings and a first set of radially spaced bars, said bars being located in notches on the rotor, said rotor having magnetic portions which project between adjacent said bars and confront said clearance space to minimize the thickness of the clearance space, said conductive elements on said sensor including axially spaced continuous rings and a second set of radially spaced bars, one said set of bars being arranged parallel to the axis of the machine, and the other said set of bars being inclined to the axis of the machine, said other set of bars being formed of two bar sections which are of equal cross section and are equally inclined in opposite directions relative to the axis of the machine, electrical contact means electrically connecting the conductive elements of the rotor to the conductive elements of the stator to form an electrically conductive loop which has no magnetic element therewithin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A homopolar machine, comprising, a stator and a rotor with magnetic portions and a generally cylindrical clearance space between the stator and rotor, means for producing a magnetic flux which moves through a magnetic circuit which extends across said clearance space and through said magnetic portions of the stator and rotor, nonmagnetic electrically conductive elements which extend along the stator and rotor and are electrically insulated from said magnetic portions of the stator and rotor, said conductive elements on said rotor including axially spaced continuous rings and a first set of radially spaced bars, said bars being located in notches on the rotor, said rotor having magnetic portions which project between adjacent said bars and confront said clearance space to minimize the thickness of the clearance space, said conductive elements on said sensor including axially spaced continuous rings and a second set of radially spaced bars, one said set of bars being arranged parallel to the axis of the machine, and the other said set of bars being inclined to the axis of the machine, said other set of bars being formed of two bar sections which are of equal cross section and are equally inclined in opposite directions relative to the axis of the machine, electrical contact means electrically connecting the conductive elements of the rotor to the conductive elements of the stator to form an electrically conductive loop which has no magnetic element therewithin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is a gap in the electrically conductive loop, said apparatus including electric conductors connected to and leading from the electrically conductive loop on opposite sides of said gap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the electrical contact means uses a liquid metal in the electrically conductive loop, said clearance space having a reduced radius toward the center of its length, and terminating at each end of its axial length in an internally facing concave section, means for initially filling the clearances between the stator and the rotor with a liquid metal, and means operable when the rotor is rotating for evacuating liquid metal from said clearances except for the metal filling the said concave sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the internal peripheral surface of the stator and the external peripheral surface of the rotor are each in the form of two oppositely oriented truncated cones.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a peripheral rib on the rotor and a corresponding groove on the stator define said concave section of the clearance space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the concave section of the clearance space is trapezoidal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the liquid evacuating means includes centrifugal overflow passages connected to the clearance spaces near the edges of the concave sections.