US-12627211-B2 - Torque augmentation apparatus

Abstract

The torque augmentation apparatus includes one or more plates fixed to a shaft. Adjacent to each plate, either on only one side of the rotor, or on both sides of the rotor, is placed a static spiral-shaped magnetic diversion plate. A collection of magnets is placed along the perimeter of the rotor on each side of the rotor that faces a static spiral-shaped magnetic diversion plate. The rotor is perpendicular to the shaft, with rotation of the rotor causing rotation of the shaft. The shaft has an input side that is connected to a driver, such as an electric motor. The shaft further has an output side connected to a load, such as a generator. During rotation of the shaft by the external driver the interaction of the magnets on the rotor and the static spiral-shaped diversion plate results in a torque vector that is perpendicular to the shaft.

Inventors

• Robert Herrin
• Sean R. Khant

Assignees

• Robert Herrin
• Sean R. Khant

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240723

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A device for enhancing rotational torque, comprising: a shaft; a rotor rotationally connected to the shaft and oriented perpendicular to the shaft; a plurality of magnets disposed on the rotor; a magnetic diversion plate, with a magnetic diversion plate face, positioned adjacent to the rotor with the plurality of magnets; the magnetic diversion plate having an exit end where the magnetic diversion plate is furthest from the rotor; the magnetic diversion plate having an entrance end where the magnetic diversion plate is closest to the rotor; wherein interaction between the plurality of magnets and the magnetic diversion plate contributes torque to a rotational system; and wherein the magnetic diversion plate is a flat plate set with a flat plate face set at an angle of between one and ten degrees with respect to a face of the rotor.
2. 2 . The device for enhancing rotational torque of claim 1 , wherein: the magnetic diversion plate is a spiral-shaped plate.
3. 3 . The device for enhancing rotational torque of claim 1 , wherein: from a perspective of a magnet of the plurality of magnets, the magnetic diversion plate face is continually moving toward the magnet as the rotor rotates, with an exception of a plate discontinuity, where the magnetic diversion plate face resets to a position further away from the magnet.
4. 4 . The device for enhancing rotational torque of claim 3 , further comprising: an exit diversion; the exit diversion at the plate discontinuity; the exit diversion acting to transition a magnetic field created by the plurality of magnets on the rotor from the exit end to the entrance end of the magnetic diversion plate.
5. 5 . The device for enhancing rotational torque of claim 4 , wherein: the exit diversion includes a curved surface that transitions from the magnetic diversion plate face at the exit end to the magnetic diversion plate face at the entrance end.
6. 6 . The device for enhancing rotational torque of claim 4 , wherein: the exit diversion includes two magnets.
7. 7 . The device for enhancing rotational torque of claim 1 , wherein: as the rotor rotates, the magnetic diversion plate face continually moves closer to a given magnet set of the plurality of magnets, but for a point where the given magnet set crosses a plate discontinuity, where the magnetic diversion plate face returns to its furthest position.
8. 8 . An apparatus for contributing torque to a rotational system comprising: a shaft; a rotor mounted to the shaft; one or more magnets placed on a face of the rotor; a static spiral plate with a spiral plate face; the spiral plate face set at an angle (with respect to a face of the rotor; the static spiral plate including an exit end and an entrance end; a plate discontinuity, or gap in the static spiral plate, existing between the exit end and the entrance end; the one or more magnets, during rotation of the rotor, passing closer to the exit end than to the entrance end; the one or more magnets of the rotor interacting with the static spiral plate as the rotor rotates.
9. 9 . The apparatus for contributing torque to a rotational system of claim 8 , wherein: from a perspective of a magnet of the one or more magnets, the spiral plate face is continually moving toward the magnet as the rotor rotates, with an exception of the plate discontinuity, where the spiral plate face resets in position away from the magnet.
10. 10 . The apparatus for contributing torque to a rotational system of claim 8 , wherein: as the rotor rotates, the spiral plate face continually moves closer to a given magnet set of the one or more magnets, but for a point where the given magnet set crosses the plate discontinuity, where the spiral plate face returns to its furthest position.
11. 11 . The apparatus for contributing torque to a rotational system of claim 8 , further comprising: an exit diversion; the exit diversion at the plate discontinuity; the exit diversion acting to transition a magnetic field created by the one or more magnets on the rotor from the exit end to the entrance end of the static spiral plate.
12. 12 . The apparatus for contributing torque to a rotational system of claim 11 , wherein: the exit diversion includes a curved surface that transitions from spiral plate face at the exit end to the spiral plate face at the entrance end.
13. 13 . The apparatus for contributing torque to a rotational system of claim 12 , wherein: the exit diversion includes two magnets.
14. 14 . A device to contribute torque to a rotating system comprising: a disc-shaped rotor connected to a shaft; a plurality of magnets disposed on the disc-shaped rotor; a fixed spiral-shaped diversion plate positioned adjacent to the disc-shaped rotor; the fixed spiral-shaped diversion plate having a diversion plate face; the diversion plate face having a plate discontinuity between an exit end that is closest to the disc-shaped rotor and an entrance end that is furthest from the disc-shaped rotor; wherein magnetic fields from the plurality of magnets interact with the fixed spiral-shaped diversion plate as the disc-shaped rotor rotates.
15. 15 . The device to contribute torque to a rotating system of claim 14 , wherein: from a perspective of a magnet of the plurality of magnets, the diversion plate face is continually moving toward the magnet as the disc-shaped rotor rotates, with an exception of at the plate discontinuity, where the diversion plate face resets in position away from the magnet.
16. 16 . The device to contribute torque to a rotating system of claim 14 , wherein: as the disc-shaped rotor rotates, the diversion plate face continually moves closer to a given magnet set of the plurality of magnets, but for a point where the given magnet set crosses the plate discontinuity, where the diversion plate face returns to its furthest position.
17. 17 . The device to contribute torque to a rotating system of claim 14 , further comprising: an exit diversion; the exit diversion at the plate discontinuity; the exit diversion acting to transition a magnetic field created by the plurality of magnets on the disc-shaped rotor from the exit end to the entrance end of the fixed spiral-shaped diversion plate.
18. 18 . The device to contribute torque to a rotating system of claim 17 , wherein: the exit diversion includes a curved surface that transitions from the diversion plate face at the exit end to the diversion plate face at the entrance end.
19. 19 . The device to contribute torque to a rotating system of claim 18 , wherein: the exit diversion includes two magnets.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/326,509 titled Torque-increasing device, filed May 21, 2021, issued Jul. 30, 2024, as U.S. Pat. No. 12,051,959, which is in-turn a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/847,739 titled Torque augmentation device, filed Apr. 14, 2020, and issued May 25, 2021, as U.S. Pat. No. 11,018,569. FIELD This invention relates to the field of mechanical devices producing rotational energy and more particularly to an apparatus that contributes torque to a rotating system. BACKGROUND Rotational mechanical energy is the workhorse of our world. From pumping liquids to moving trains, rotational motion is critical. While horsepower is the metric most often cited when discussing the capability of a machine, it is torque that allows machines to accomplish their work. Without the torque to rotate, there is no work. What is needed is a system for adding to the torque of a rotational system. SUMMARY The torque augmentation apparatus includes one or more plates fixed to a shaft. Adjacent to each plate, either on only one side of the rotor, or on both sides of the disc-shaped rotor, is placed a static spiral-shaped magnetic diversion plate. A collection of magnets is placed along the perimeter of the rotor on each side of the rotor that faces the static spiral-shaped magnetic diversion plate. The rotor is perpendicular to the shaft, with rotation of the rotor causing rotation of the shaft. The shaft has an input side that is connected to a driver, such as an electric motor. The shaft further has an output side connected to a load, such as a generator. During rotation of the shaft by the external driver the interaction of the magnets on the rotor and the static spiral-shaped diversion plate results in a torque vector that is perpendicular to the shaft, therefore adding torque to the rotation of the shaft. The torque vector induces kinetic energy into the rotor, which is then utilized to detach from the attachment plate at the exit point of the magnet and attachment plate. This stored energy and the exit energy are theoretically the same. However, by using exit magnets or a transitional plate to guide the flux lines at the exit, the exit energy can be reduced. This concept is similar to that of an air conditioning system. When gas is compressed it generates heat, and the decompression cools the gas. Theoretically, the energy and temperature remain the same. However, if you cool the compressed gas, it becomes colder than the ambient temperature upon decompression. The direction of rotation of the rotor is such that the magnets continually see an associated face of the spiral diversion plate drawing closer as the rotor rotates. At the point where the spiral-shaped plate reaches the closest position with respect to the magnets, the spiral diversion plate steps or jumps away from the magnets. This discontinuity in the static spiral plate interrupts the interaction between the magnets and the spiral-shaped diversion plate. To smooth this discontinuity, or ease the transition between the spiral plate being at its closest position with the given magnet and its furthest position, a ramped or curved transition piece, or alternatively one or more magnets, is used to shape the magnetic field at the transition. By shaping the magnetic field at the transition, the resistance created by the magnets transitioning from the close position of the spiral plate to the far position is reduced, and the resulting decrease in torque is correspondingly minimized, increasing the efficiency of the system. While the preferred embodiment is as described, alternative embodiments are anticipated. For example, permanent magnets are preferred, but electromagnets can be substituted. Discrete permanent magnets are shown, but arc-shaped magnets can be substituted. As shown in the drawings, the magnets are preferably placed in a Halbach arrangement, thus focusing the magnetic flux away from the rotor and plate faces. For example, stacked atop each other, a typical Halbach arrangement of magnets is: N-S magnet horizontalN-S magnet verticalS-N magnet horizontal Magnetic flux is a measurement of the magnetic field that passes through a given area. The measurement and illustration of magnetic flux is used to understand and measure the magnetic field present across a given area. Flux lines are a visualization of the magnetic field. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of the torque augmentation apparatus. FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the torque augmentation apparatus. FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the torque augmentation apparatus. FIG. 4 illustrates a second isometric view of the torque augmentation apparatus. FIG.