On a rotor (6;8) which is fixed to a rotatable rotating shaft (4), a plurality of permanent magnets (22A-22H) are disposed along the direction of rotation such that the same magnetic pole type thereof face outward. In the same way, balancers (20A-20H) are disposed on the rotor for balancing the rotation of this rotor. Each of the permanent magnets is obliquely arranged with respect to the radial direction line of the rotor. At the outer periphery of the rotor, an electromagnet (12;14) is disposed facing this rotor, with this electromagnet intermittently energized based on the rotation of the rotor. According to the magnetic rotating apparatus of the present invention, rotational energy can be efficiently obtained from permanent magnets. This is made possible by minimizing as much as possible current supplied to the electromagnets, so that only a required amount of electrical energy is supplied to the electromagnets.

An apparatus has spaced permanent magnets (24;54,56) positioned so that there is magnetic interaction between them, and controlling the interaction by having a coil (26-38) in the space between the permanent magnets (24;54,56) connected to a source of electric potential and a controllable switch (58-70) in series such that closing the switch (58-70) places a voltage across the coil (26-38) and predeterminately affects the magnetic interaction between the spaced permanent magnets (24;54,56). The invention also teaches mounting one (54,56) of the permanent magnets on a rotatable structure (52) so that the spaced permanent magnets (24;54,56) can move relative to each other, the controllable switch (58-70) operating to control the application of electric potential across the coil (26-38) in such a manner as to produce relative rotational movement between the spaced permanent magnets (24;54,56).

An apparatus has spaced permanent magnets (24;54,56) positioned so that there is magnetic interaction between them, and controlling the interaction by having a coil (26-38) in the space between the permanent magnets (24;54,56) connected to a source of electric potential and a controllable switch (58-70) in series such that closing the switch (58-70) places a voltage across the coil (26-38) and predeterminately affects the magnetic interaction between the spaced permanent magnets (24;54,56). The invention also teaches mounting one (54,56) of the permanent magnets on a rotatable structure (52) so that the spaced permanent magnets (24;54,56) can move relative to each other, the controllable switch (58-70) operating to control the application of electric potential across the coil (26-38) in such a manner as to produce relative rotational movement between the spaced permanent magnets (24;54,56).

A motor-wheel comprises an axle (1), a rim (2) mounted rotatably about the axle (1), a voltage control unit (32) and an electric motor comprising a stator (4) secured on the axle (1) and provided with a magnetic circuit (5) with electromagnets (6, 7) arranged in two groups, and a rotor (10) connected to the rim (2) and provided with a magnetic circuit (11) with magnetic elements (12), current collectors (8 and 9) and a distributing collector (13). The groups of the electromagnets (6 and 7) are mutually offset so that when the current collecting elements (17, 18 or 19, 20) of the current collector (8 or 9) corresponding to one of the groups of electromagnets (6 or 7) are situated between the plates (14, 15) of the distributing collector (13) the electromagnets (6 or 7) of that group are disconnected from the voltage control unit (32), whereas the electromagnets (7 or 6) of the other group are electrically connected, through a contact element (21), the current collecting elements (19, 20 or 17, 18) and the plates (14, 15) of the distributing collector (13), to the voltage control unit (32) and are magnetically interconnected with the magnetic elements (12) of the rotor, thus providing for rotation of the rim (2), while the axes (43) of the electromagnets (7 or 6) of that said group are situated between the axes (44) of the magnetic elements (12) of the rotor (10).

A direct current machine construction in which the rotor includes a permanent magnet (10) with the stator (50) including field winding energizable from a direct current source. In a first embodiment first and second stationary slip rings (26,27) are connected to an external direct current source. Coupled for rotation with the shaft are to first and second brush assemblies with brushes (18,20) which are spring biased and protrude radially outwardly from the rotor shaft (12). The commutator for the field windings is stationary relative to the housing and includes a plurality of commutator segments (32) positioned intermediate the slip rings (26,27) and in a cylindrical manner facing inwardly toward, and for contact with, the commutator brushes (18,20). The field windings are on the stator (50) with the winding leads windings being accessible externally of the stator for enabling switching devices to be utilized for changing of the number of turns of the stator windings for thereby varying the motor characteristics, as needed. The switching devices may be mechanical switch devices or static semiconductor switch devices. In a second embodiment, commutation is effected by non-contact position sensing devices, such as encoder wheels, optical devices and the like, operable in response to a rotating device keyed to the rotor shaft, which device is positioned for electromagnetic accuracy relative to the pole positions of the stator of the machine. Other embodiments are disclosed. With accessible external leads, the machine may be alternately used as both a propulsion motor and generator in the same device for returning power to the direct current source.

57 Der Motor besteht aus einem Stator und einem um eine Achse drehenden Rotor aus Elektro- bzw. Permanentmagnet. Dabei weisen Stator und/oder Rotor versetzt zueinander angeordnete polarisierte Schalen (6, 7) bzw. Polkappen (2, 3) auf, wobei die Polarität der einzelnen Schalen (6, 7) bzw. Polkappen (2, 3) wechselbar und/oder die Stärke ihres magnetischen Kraftfeldes veränderbar ist. Schalen (6,7) bzw. Polkappen (2, 3) sind axial entlang einer Achse versetzt angeordnet. Axial aufeinanderfolgende Schalen bzw. Polkappen sind jeweils um einen Winkel (w) gedreht versetzt angeordnet.