Multi-tunnel electric motor/generator

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments for a motor/generator where the stator is a coil assembly and the rotor is a magnetic toroidal cylindrical tunnel or where the rotor is a coil assembly and the stator is a magnetic toroidal cylindrical tunnel.

1 . A rotary motor/generator comprising:
 a toroidal magnetic cylinder radially arranged about an axial axis to form a circular path comprising of at least a first magnetic tunnel segment, wherein the first magnetic tunnel segment comprises:
 a first magnetic wall having a magnetic pole orientation that points generally towards an interior of the first magnetic tunnel segment; 
 a first opposing magnetic wall having a magnetic pole orientation that points generally towards the interior of the first magnetic tunnel segment and positioned a predetermined distance from the first magnetic wall; 
 a first inner magnetic wall generally spanning between the first magnetic wall and the first opposing magnetic wall and having a magnetic pole orientation that points generally towards the interior of the first magnetic tunnel segment; 
 a first outer magnetic wall generally spanning between the first magnetic wall and the first opposing magnetic wall, positioned radially away from the first inner magnetic wall, and having a magnetic pole orientation that points generally towards the interior of the first magnetic tunnel segment; 
 wherein like magnetic poles of magnets forming the first magnetic wall and magnets forming the first opposing magnetic wall are of an opposite magnetic polarity orientation than the like poles of magnets forming the first inner magnetic wall and magnets forming the first outer magnetic wall such that the first magnetic tunnel has a NSNS magnetic pole configuration; and 
 a coil assembly positioned within the circular path. 
   
     
     
         2 . The rotary motor/generator of  claim 1 , wherein the toroidal magnetic cylinder further comprises a second magnetic tunnel segment radially arranged about the axial axis and positioned adjacent to the first magnetic tunnel segment, wherein the second magnetic tunnel segment comprises:
 a second magnetic wall having a magnetic pole orientation that points generally towards an interior of the second magnetic tunnel segment;   a second opposing magnetic wall having a magnetic pole orientation that points generally towards the interior of the second magnetic tunnel segment and positioned the predetermined distance from the second magnetic wall;   a second inner magnetic wall generally spanning between the second magnetic wall, the second inner magnetic wall having a magnetic pole orientation that points generally towards the interior of the second magnetic tunnel segment;   a second outer magnetic wall generally spanning between the second magnetic wall and the second opposing magnetic wall, positioned radially away from the second inner magnetic wall, and having a magnetic pole orientation that points generally towards the interior of the second magnetic tunnel segment;   wherein like magnetic poles of magnets forming the second magnetic wall and magnets forming the second opposing magnetic wall are of an opposite magnetic polarity orientation than the like poles of magnets forming the second inner magnetic wall and magnets forming the second outer magnetic wall, and   where the like magnetic poles of magnets forming the second magnetic tunnel segment are orientated in an opposite direction from the like magnet poles of the magnets forming the first magnetic tunnel segment such that the second magnetic tunnel segment has a SNSN magnetic pole configuration.   
     
     
         3 . The rotary motor/generator of  claim 1 , wherein the coil assembly further comprises:
 a ring-like core;   a plurality of teeth radially positioned about the ring-like core and extending from the ring-like core to form a plurality of slots about the ring-like core; and   a plurality of coil windings wherein each coil winding in the plurality of winding is positioned within a slot within the plurality of slots.   
     
     
         4 . The rotary motor/generator of  claim 3 , wherein the ring-like core and the plurality of teeth are made from a soft magnetic material. 
     
     
         5 . The rotary motor/generator of  claim 4 , further comprising longitudinal grooves defined in the back iron circuit for positioning and supporting the magnets forming the first outer magnetic wall and the first inner magnetic wall. 
     
     
         6 . The rotary motor/generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a back iron circuit generally surrounding the toroidal magnetic cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . The rotary generator/motor of  claim 1 , further comprising a hub coupled to the coil assembly and a shaft coupled to the hub. 
     
     
         8 . The rotary generator/motor of  claim 1 , further comprising a hub coupled to the toroidal magnetic cylinder and a shaft coupled to the hub. 
     
     
         9 . The rotary generator/motor of  claim 1 , further comprising an exterior circumferential slot defined in the toroidal magnetic cylinder sized to allow for passage of a structural support and/or electrical conductors. 
     
     
         10 . The rotary generator/motor of  claim 1 , further comprising an interior circumferential slot defined in the toroidal magnetic cylinder sized to allow for passage of a structural support and/or electrical conductors. 
     
     
         11 . The rotary generator/motor of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a support ring coupled to the coil assembly and partially extending through the side circular slot; and   a first end plate coupled to the support ring.   
     
     
         12 . The rotary generator/motor of  claim 1 , further comprising a side circular slot defined in a flat wall of the toroidal magnetic cylinder sized to allow for passage of a structural support and/or electrical conductors. 
     
     
         13 . The rotary generator/motor of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a shaft coupled to the toroidal magnetic cylinder;   a second end plate coupled rotatably coupled to the shaft; and   a means for connecting the first end plate to the second end plate.   
     
     
         14 . The rotary generator/motor of  claim 1  further comprising a slot defined in at least one wall of the toroidal magnetic cylinder and at least one magnet positioned adjacent to the at least one slot for preventing the magnetic flux forces within the interior of the tunnel from escaping through the at least one slot. 
     
     
         15 . The rotary generator/motor of  claim 1 , wherein the first inner magnetic wall, the first outer magnetic wall, the first ring magnetic wall and the first opposing ring magnetic wall are formed from electromagnets.