Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A permanent magnet coupling having: an outer member with a plurality of permanent magnets mounted on its inner surface; an inner member having a radius and lying within said outer member; a plurality of interpole members circumferentially disposed on the inner member in proximity to said outer member and defining gaps having an inner boundary and an outer boundary wherein the length of the inner boundary is greater than the outer boundary; and a plurality of permanent magnets each having a north and south pole and wedged into respective ones of the gaps defined by the interpole members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A permanent magnet coupling having: an outer member with a plurality of permanent magnets mounted on its inner surface; an inner member having a radius and lying within said outer member; a plurality of interpole members circumferentially disposed on the inner member in proximity to said outer member and defining gaps having an inner boundary and an outer boundary wherein the length of the inner boundary is greater than the outer boundary; and a plurality of permanent magnets each having a north and south pole and wedged into respective ones of the gaps defined by the interpole members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The permanent magnet coupling of claim 1 wherein the north and south poles of the magnets wedged into the gaps defined by the interpole members are aligned with the radius of the inner member and wherein the north and south poles alternate about the periphery of the inner member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The permanent magnet coupling of claim 1 wherein the north and south poles of the magnets wedged into the gaps are in circumferentially spaced locations and wherein adjacent poles on adjacent magnets are identical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The permanent magnet coupling of claim 1 wherein the inner and outer members are on coaxial shafts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The permanent magnet coupling of claim 1 wherein the inner member includes a disk having said interpole members mounted thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The permanent magnet coupling of claim 4 wherein the north and south poles are aligned along the radius of the shafts and poles of magnets positioned at the inner boundary of the gap alternate about said inner member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The permanent magnet coupling of claim 1 wherein the inner member has a containment means disposed around the radially outwardly facing edge of the interpole members and magnets for restraining the permanent magnets during rotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
A permanent magnet coupling having: an outer member with a plurality of magnets mounted on one side thereof; an inner member; a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnets having a nominally trapezoidal cross section on said inner member; and a plurality of interpole members on said inner member having a nominally trapezoidal cross section wherein the interpole members are circumferentially disposed between adjacent magnets and wherein the major base of the magnets and the minor base of the interpole members are positioned on the surface of the inner member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
A permanent magnet coupling having: an outer member with a plurality of magnets mounted on one side thereof; an inner member; a plurality of circumferentially spaced magnets having a nominally trapezoidal cross section on said inner member; and a plurality of interpole members on said inner member having a nominally trapezoidal cross section wherein the interpole members are circumferentially disposed between adjacent magnets and wherein the major base of the magnets and the minor base of the interpole members are positioned on the surface of the inner member.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of reducing a magnetic air gap of a permanent magnet coupling comprising the steps of: providing an inner member having a shaft and a first surface; providing a plurality of magnets having a nominally trapezoidal cross section, each magnet having a major and minor base; providing a plurality of interpole members having a nominally trapezoidal cross section, each interpole member having a major and minor base; positioning the major bases of the magnets on the first surface of the inner member while spacing the magnets about the inner member; positioning the interpole members between the magnets and in abutment therewith and with the minor bases of the interpole members on the first surface of the inner member between adjacent magnets.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of reducing a magnetic air gap of a permanent magnet coupling comprising the steps of: providing an inner member having a shaft and a first surface; providing a plurality of magnets having a nominally trapezoidal cross section, each magnet having a major and minor base; providing a plurality of interpole members having a nominally trapezoidal cross section, each interpole member having a major and minor base; positioning the major bases of the magnets on the first surface of the inner member while spacing the magnets about the inner member; positioning the interpole members between the magnets and in abutment therewith and with the minor bases of the interpole members on the first surface of the inner member between adjacent magnets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 9 also comprising the steps of: providing a containment means for retaining the magnets and interpole members during rotation; and positioning the containment means on a second surface formed by the major bass of the interpoles and the minor bases of the magnets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 9 also comprising the steps of: providing a disk means for attaching the interpole members on the first surface of the inner member; and positioning the disk means coaxially with the shaft of the inner member.