Variable torque linear motor/generator/transmission

Abstract

A linear motor/generator/transmission system includes a guideway with rails and a plurality of stator cores and coils evenly disposed along the length and in the center of the guideway. The system also includes a carriage configured to travel along the guideway having at least two magnet bars with alternating pole magnets, each successive magnet of each magnet bar mounted in front of the other in a direction of travel of the carriage. In embodiments, the magnet bars are mounted parallel to and on either side of a longitudinal centerline of the carriage such that, when adjacent to the center line and each other, the at least two magnet bars are positioned over the stator coils and are configured to be slidably translated away from the center line of the carriage to a position where the at least two magnet bars are not over the stator coils.

1 . A linear motor/generator/transmission (LMGT) system, comprising:
 a guideway including guide rails;   a carriage configured to travel along the guideway in a first direction;   a plurality of stator cores and coils disposed along the length of the guideway, each phase of the plurality of stator coils including sets of at least three coils and mounted in stator slots;   a respective set of parallel non-twisted wires with electronic switches for connecting the parallel non-twisted wires of each phase of the three or more stator coils all in series, all in parallel, or in a combination of series and parallel;   a plurality of linear slideways disposed on the carriage and extending in a second direction; and   at least two magnet bars adjacent to each other in the second direction, each one of the at least two magnet bars with alternating pole magnets, each successive magnet of each magnet bar mounted in front of the other in the first direction,   wherein each of the at least two magnet bars have a plurality of linear slide bearings, the plurality of linear slide bearings disposed on a side opposite to the alternating pole magnets and engaged with the plurality of linear slideways,   the at least two magnet bars sliding parallel to and on either side of a longitudinal centerline of the carriage such that, when adjacent to the centerline and each other, the at least two magnet bars are positioned over the stator coils and configured to be slidably translated away from the center line of the carriage to a position where the at least two magnet bars are not over the stator coils.   
     
     
         2 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The LMGT system of  claim 1 , wherein the surfaces of the cores between the stator slots are separated from the surfaces of the magnets by a small gap. 
     
     
         7 . The LMGT system of  claim 6 , wherein a transverse centerline of the stator coils is directly above the centerline of the carriage frame. 
     
     
         8 . The LMGT system of  claim 7 , wherein the stator slots and respective stator cores are equal to or slightly longer than the combined width of the total number of magnet bars, such that when the magnet bars are together in the center of the carriage they are directly under the stator cores. 
     
     
         9 . The LMGT system of  claim 8 , wherein the magnet bars are slightly separated and still remain under the stator cores to allow for space between the magnet bars for magnetic field adjustment. 
     
     
         10 . The LMGT system of  claim 1 , wherein the stator coils are mounted in slots in the stator core such that the coil loop extends slightly beyond the end of the core material on each side of the stator core, providing a different magnetic field strength when the magnets are positioned, partially or fully over the coil ends than when fully over the stator cores themselves. 
     
     
         11 . The LMGT system of  claim 1 , wherein the individual coils in a phase may be connected to each other in series within a group of two or more coils connected to a power source or combinations of series and parallel connected to the power source whereby the resistance within each group of coils may be effectively changed by the computer controlled switches. 
     
     
         12 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A linear motor/generator/transmission (LMGT) system, comprising:
 a guideway with parallel rails;   a plurality of stator cores and stator coils evenly disposed along the length and in the center of the guideway, the stator coils mounted in stator slots;   a carriage configured to travel along the guideway in a first direction;   a plurality of linear slideways disposed on the carriage and extending in a second direction; and   at least two magnet bars with alternating pole magnets, each successive magnet of each magnet bar mounted in front of the other in the first direction, wherein each of the at least two magnet bars have a plurality of linear slide bearings, the plurality of linear slide bearings disposed on a side opposite to the alternating pole magnets and engaged with the plurality of linear slideways ,   the at least two magnet bars sliding parallel to and on either side of a longitudinal centerline of the carriage such that, when adjacent to the centerline and each other, the at least two magnet bars are positioned over the stator coils and configured to be slidably translated away from the center line of the carriage to a position where the at least two magnet bars are not over the stator coils.   
     
     
         15 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The LMGT system of  claim 14 , wherein the surfaces of the stator cores between the stator slots are separated from the surfaces of the magnets by a small gap. 
     
     
         20 . The LMGT system of  claim 19 , whereina transverse centerline of the stator coils is directly above the centerline of the carriage frame. 
     
     
         21 . The LMGT system of  claim 20 , wherein the stator slots and respective stator cores are equal to or slightly longer than the combined width of the total number of magnet bars, such that when the magnet bars are together in the center of the carriage they are directly under the stator cores. 
     
     
         22 . The LMGT system of  claim 21 , wherein the magnet bars are slightly separated and still remain under the stator cores to allow for space between the magnet bars for magnetic field adjustment. 
     
     
         23 . The LMGT system of  claim 14 , wherein the stator coils are mounted in slots in the stator core such that the coil loop extends slightly beyond the end of the core material on each side of the stator core, providing a different magnetic field strength when the magnets are positioned, partially or fully over the coil ends than when fully over the stator cores themselves. 
     
     
         24 . The LMGT system of  claim 14 , wherein the individual coils in a phase may be connected to each other in series within a group of two or more coils connected to a power source or combinations of series and parallel connected to the power source whereby the resistance within each group of coils may be effectively changed by the computer controlled switches. 
     
     
         25 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A linear motor/generator/transmission (LMGT) system, comprising:
 a guideway with parallel rails;   a plurality of stator cores and stator coils evenly disposed along the length and in the center of the guideway, wherein each phase of the plurality of stator coils includes, in sets of three or more coils, a respective set of parallel non-twisted wires with electronic switches for connecting the parallel non-twisted wires of each phase of the three or more stator coils all in series, all in parallel, or in a combination of series and parallel;   a carriage configured to travel along the guideway in a first direction;   a plurality of linear slideways disposed on the carriage and extending in a second direction; and   at least two magnet bars adjacent to each other in the second direction, each one of the at least two magnet bars with alternating pole magnets, each successive magnet of each magnet bar mounted in front of the other in the first direction, the at least two magnet bars having a plurality of linear slide bearings, the plurality of linear slide bearings disposed on a side opposite to the alternating pole magnets and engaged with the plurality of linear slideways.   
     
     
         28 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The LMGT system of  claim 27 , wherein the stator coils are mounted in stator slots, cut in laminated soft iron, perpendicular to the centerline of the guideway throughout the length of the system directly above the surface of the carriage magnet bar magnets as the carriage moves along the guideway. 
     
     
         32 . The LMGT system of  claim 31 , wherein the surfaces of the stator cores between the stator slots are separated from the surfaces of the magnets by a small gap. 
     
     
         33 . The LMGT system of  claim 32 , wherein the transverse centerline of the stator coils is directly above the centerline of the carriage frame. 
     
     
         34 . The LMGT system of  claim 33 , wherein the stator slots and respective stator cores are equal to or slightly longer than the combined width of the total number of magnet bars, such that when the magnet bars are together in the center of the carriage they are directly under the stator cores. 
     
     
         35 . The LMGT system of  claim 34 , wherein the magnet bars are slightly separated and still remain under the stator cores to allow for space between the magnet bars for magnetic field adjustment. 
     
     
         36 - 39 . (canceled)