Method and apparatus for coil-less magnetoelectric magnetic flux switching for permanent magnets

Abstract

Methods and apparatus that employ a coil-less magnetoelectric flux switch arrangement to repeatedly switch magnetic flux from at least one permanent magnet for the purposes of generating motive force and/or electrical energy.

1 . An apparatus for switching magnetic flux comprising:
 a permanent magnet having a north pole and a south pole;   at least two magnetic flux conductors operably connected to define different magnetic paths between the north pole and the south of the permanent magnet;   for each magnetic path, at least one coil-less magnetoelectric flux switch operably positioned along the magnetic path; and   a control system operably connected to the magnetoelectric flux switches to selectively switch a flow of magnetic flux from the permanent magnet through the different magnetic paths.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control system selectively controls at least one magnetic property of the magnetoelectric flux switches by electronic control, optical control, mechanical control, or any combination thereof applied to the magnetoelectric flux switch. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a pickup coil wound around at least one of the magnetic flux conductors such that a flow of current is generated in the pickup coil by alternately switching the flow of magnetic flux through the at least one of the magnetic flux conductors. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the coil-less magnetoelectric flux switches are comprised of liquid crystal magnetoelectric material. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the coil-less magnetoelectric flux switches are comprised of laminated layers of liquid crystal magnetoelectric material: 
   
   
       6 . A method for switching magnetic flux generated by a permanent magnet having a north pole and a south pole, the method comprising:
 operably connecting at least two magnetic flux conductors to define different magnetic paths between the north pole and the south of the permanent magnet;   for each magnetic path, operably positioning at least one coil-less magnetoelectric flux switch along the magnetic path; and   controlling the coil-less magnetoelectric flux switch to selectively switch a flow of magnetic flux from the permanent magnet through the different magnetic paths.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the step of controlling is performed by electronic control, optical control, mechanical control, or any combination thereof applied to the magnetoelectric flux switch. 
   
   
       8 . A method for generating a flow of current in a pickup coil associated with switching of magnetic flux generated by a permanent magnet having a north pole and a south pole, the method comprising:
 operably connecting at least two magnetic flux conductors to define different magnetic paths between the north pole and the south of the permanent magnet;   for each magnetic path, operably positioning at least one coil-less magnetoelectric flux switch along the magnetic path;   providing at least one pickup coil wound around at least one of the magnetic flux conductors; and   controlling the coil-less magnetoelectric flux switch to selectively switch a flow of magnetic flux from the permanent magnet through the different magnetic paths such that a flow of current is generated in the pickup coil by alternately switching the flow of magnetic flux through the at least one of the magnetic flux conductors.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the step of controlling is performed by electronic control, optical control, mechanical control, or any combination thereof applied to the magnetoelectric flux switch.