Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
l!
l I BACKGROU~D OF TH~ INVEr1TION
2 This invc-ntion relates to an electric field machine
3 characterized by a multiplicity of small scale force-generating
4 elements positioned in close proximity to one another to
take advantage of the increased force of electric fields
6 with reduced distance of separation.
7 Conventional electric motors typically include various
8 combinations and arrangements of electrical conductors,
9 magnetic field containment structures, electroma~nets,
10 ¦ permanent magnets, slip rings, commutators and other mechanical
11 and electromechanical components. These electric motors can
12 ~e ~C powered, nc powered, or powered in a type of stepper
13 operation. For certain usc-s, conventional electric motors
14 exhibit various desirable characteristics such as efficient
operation at design speed, controllability, noncontaminating
16 operation, high output speed~ etc. HoweveL-, there exist a
17 number of problems with conventional electric motors which
18 limit their effectiveness in cc-rtain areas of use such as
19 servo control and robot control.
Conventional electric motors ~evelop relatively low
21 field stren~ths and as a result the output torques are low
relative to other types of ~ctuation syst~ms suc~ as hydraulic
23 and pneumatic systems. But, as already mentioned, high
24 output sp~eds can be achieved and so the combination of low
output torques and_hi9h speed make electric motors well
26 suited for such thinqs as fans, disc drives, pumps, etc.--
l' " ~
-2-
,
~ 2~37~i6~
1 ~but not ~or applications where high torque and low output
2 1 speed are r~quired. Of course, transmission systems can be
3 utilize~ with the motors to develop a higher torque/lower
4 speed operation, but when a transmission is add~d, not only
is the output torque of the motor increased, a number of
6 undesirable dynamic characteristics of the motor resulting
7 from armature inertia and damping are also increased even
8 more. In other words, the use of transmission systems with
9 electric motor~ compromises the dynamic per~ormance of the
motors. In addition, the use of transmission systems introduces
12 a power loss in motors with a resulting decrease in operating
eficiency and increases the weight and cost of the motors.
13 Another disadvantage of conventional electric motors
14 arises from the use of high mass density ma~netic materials
and e~ectric conductors which give-s a ~ ry poor power-to-
16 wc-ight ratio for the motors; This problem is most apparent
17 when convention~1 e1cctric motors are compare~ with hydraulic,
18 pnematic, and combustion based power systems.
19 Finally, the magnitude of magnetic eield forces developed
in conventional electric motors is dependent upon the current
21 carryin~ capabilities of the conductors which, in turn, is
dependent upon the size (cross-section) o~ the conductors.
23 Any attempt at reducing the scale of such magneeic-field
based motors would result in a significant reduction of the
i 25 forces and thus a diminishment of the utility of the motors.
26
,, i,
.
--3--
! l
~ 37~60
1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
2 It is an object of the invention to provide a new,
3 improved and more efficient electric machine or motor.
4 It is a~so an object of the invention to provide an
electric motor which utilizes the forces generated by ~lectric
6 fields.
7 It is a further object of the invention to provi~e an
8 electric field machine or motor which can be scaled with
9 j microgeometric dimensions.
10 1 It is an additional object of the invention to provide
11 an electric motor which generates relatively high torque at
12 low speed.
13 It is anotheL object o the invention to provicle an
14 elc-ctric motor which has a high power-to-weight ratio.
It is still another object of the invention to provide
16 an electric motor which can be readily manufactured utilizing
17 semiconductor technology and materials.
18 The above and other objects are realized in a specific
19 illustrativc- embodiment of an electric field machine which
includes a first plurality of elements disposed in an array
21 and capable of being charged with an electrical charge, and
22 a second plurality of elem~nts also disposed in an array in
23 close proximity to the first array and movable with respect
24 thereto. The second plurality of elements is also capable
of being charged with an electrical charge. Selected ones
~7 of the elements of the first plurality are charged positively
~ ~376~iO
1 and other elements of the first plurality, interleaved with
2 the selected elements, are charged negatively. Also included
3 is a voltage source for successively applying electrical
4 charges to the elements of the second plurality with positive
charges being applied to certain ones of the elements and
6 negative charges being applied to other of the elements so
7 that a pattern of alternate positive and negative charges is
8 applied to the elements of the second plurality and so that
9 the pattern i5 caused to move, relative to the second plurality,
along the array.~ Application of this moving pattern of
11 alternate positive an~ negative charges to the second plurality
12 of elements results in electric force fields being produced
13 which interact with the electric force fields produced by
14 th~ alternate positively ancl negatively charqed elc-ments of
the first plurality to thereby cause the second plurality of
16 elements to move relativ~ to the first plurality.
17 Advantaqeously, the elements comprise elongate conductors
18¦ disposed on substrates or other bases which are formed into
19 discs, planes, or other shapes. Alternatively, nonconductive
material which contain immobilized charges may be used,
21 e.g., electrets. Such material can be fabricated to produce
22 the desired electric ~ields. Su~strates caLrying the static
23 electrical charges are interleaved with substrates carryinq
24 the dynamic electric charges. The substrates advantageously
contain numerous electrical conductors and substrates are
27 dimensioned ~or placem~nt in close proximity with the other
" -5-
J~ f~6~:;t`)
6g912-116
substrates. Such positioning of electrical charge carrying
elements results in the production of strong electric force fields
and these fields interact to produce motion in cer~ain of the
elements relative to other elements.
The strong electric fields resulting from the close
proximity of charge carrying elements can be understood by
recognizing that for point charges the field force is inversely
propor~ional to the distance squared (F~ ~ ), and for line
charges the field force is inversely proportional to the distance
(F~k- ). Although reductlon of scale for electromagnetic
components of motors will not provide the forces desired, for the
reasons given earlier, reduction of scale for electric field
producing components will allow placement of the components in
close proximity to produce the desired forces. Also, with reduced
scale, there is less mobility of charges and so less opportunity
for the forces to be neutralized by shifting charges. Finally,
reducing ~he scale while increasing the number of charge carrying
elements tends to "bundle~ the charges into smaller volumes so no
part (or charge) of any element is very far from any part (or
charge) of an adjacent element--thus, forces cumulate to produce a
large overall force.
Accordlng to a broad aspect of the invention there is
provided an electric field machine comprising
a movable elongate rod and a plurality of other elongate rods
arranged parallel with and spaced about the movable rod,
~-~ 6
37660
69gl2-116
a first plurality of elongate elements capable of being
charged with an electrical charge, each helically wound about a
different one of the plurality of rods,
a second plurality of elongate elements capable of being
charged with an electrical charge, and helically wound about and
spaced apart along the movable rod,
wherein the first plurality of elements is electrically
charged with a certain polarity, and
means for successively applying electrical charges to the
second plurality of elements to produce electrical force fields
which cause the second plurality of elements and movable rod to
move wlth respect to the first plurality of elements and plurality
of other rods.
According to another broad aspect of the invention there
ls provided an electrlc ileld machine comprising
a first set of movable elongate rods arranged generally in
parallel with one another,
a second set of stationary elonyate rods arranged generally
ln parallel with and interspersed among the movable rods,
each movable rod having a plurality of elongate electrical
conductors helically wound thereabout and spaced-apart therealong,
each stationary rod having a plurality of elongate electrical
conductors hellcally wound thereabout and spaced-apart therealong,
wherein the conductors of one set of rods are electrically
charged with a certain polarity, and
means for applying electrical charges of the other polarity
6a
7~60
69912-116
su~cessively to alternate ones of the conductors of the other set
of rods to thereby propagate and move the pattern of charges along
the rod of the other set and cause the movable rods to move.
According to another broad aspect of the invention there
is provided an electric field machine comprising
a first plurality of elongate, generally parallel elements
capable of being charged with an electrical charge and arranged in
a multiplicity of planes stacked one above another in a spaced-
apart relationship,
a second plurality of elongate, generally parallel element~
capable of being charged with an electrical charge and arranged in
a multiplicity of planes interleaved among the planes of the first
plurality, generally parallel therewith and movable in a direction
parallel with the planes,
either the first or second plurality of elements being
electrically charged, with certain elements being charged
negatlvely and other elements, interspersed among the certain
elements, being charged positively, and
means for gucces6ively applying electrical charges to the
other plurality of elements to produce electrical force fields
which cause the second plurality of elements to move with respect
to the first plurality of elements.
According to another broad aspect of the invention there
is provlded an electric field machine comprising
a first plurality of generally planar, parallel substrates
stacked one above another in a spaced-apart relationship,
6b
~!.2~37~60
69912 116
a first multiplicity of generally elongate, spaced-apart,
parallel conductors carried by the first substrates,
a second plurality of generally planar, parallel substrates
stacked one above another and interleaved with the first plurality
of substrates ~o be generally parallel therewi~h, said second
substrates being movable in a reciprocating manner, in a direction
parallel with the first substrates,
a second multiplicity of generally elongate, spaced-apart,
parallel conductors carried by the second substrates,
whereln alternate ones of the first conductors are charged
positlvely, with the remaining first conductors being charged
negatively, and
means for applying alternate positive and negative charges to
successive ones of the second conductors to thereby propagate and
move the pattern of positive and negative charges along the second
conductors and thus cause the second substrates to move linearly
wlth respect to the first substrates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and advantages of
the lnvention wlll become apparent from a conslderatlon of the
followlng detalled descrlption presented in connection
6c
~.2~ ;60
1 with the accompanying drawings in which:
2 FIG. l is a perspective, exploded view of an electric
3 field machine made in accordance with the principles of the
4 pr~sent invention to include a plurality of discs carrying
5 ¦ electric field producing conductors;
6 ¦ FIG. 2 is a side, cross-sectional view of the machine
7 of FIG. l;
8 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of
9 an electric field machine in which one set of electric field
producing elc-~c-nts reciprocates linearly with respect to
11 another set;
12 FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the voltage
13 source and some of the electric field producing elements of
14 the machine of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of sti]l another embodiment
16 of the invention in which arrays of electric ~ield producing
17 elements are disposed in cylinders arranged concentrically
18 with respect to one another; and
19 FIGS. 6A and 6B show, respectively, a perspective,
partially cut away vic-w and a side, partially fragmented
21 view of an additional embodiment of the invention which
22 utilizes helically wound rods.
23 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
24 Referring to FIGS. l and 2, there is shown one illustrative
embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment includes
26 a plurality of substrates or base members 4, formed into
3~
.
l discs and stacked one above the other. Disposed on each
2 substrate are a plurality of ~longate, ~nera]ly radially
3 positioned conductors 8. Although only four conductors are
4 shown on each of substrat~s 4A and 4C, it should be understood
that thc-re would be a much gLeater number than this. ~ternate
6 or,es of tl~e cor-luctors on substrates 4A and 4C are charged
7 positively and the remaining conductors are charged negatively.
8 1I Like charged conductors of substrates 4A and 4C are align~d
9 in the vertical direction as shown. Advantageously, the
substrat~s woulcl be constructed oE an ~lectrical insulative
11 mat~rial such as silicone, and the conductors would b~
12 de~osit~d or ~ormed thereon using conventional semi-conductor
13 fabrication tc-chniquc-s. The conductors might be copp~r,
14 gold, or a variety of other metal~, alloys or semiconductors.
Alternatively, electrets (nonconductiv~ material containing
16 immobilized charges) made, for example, of polypropylene,
17 polyethylene, etc., could be utilizc~d in place of the conductors
18 8.
19 The cc-nter substrate 4~ also carries a plurality of
radially positioned confluctors which extend from near the
222 center oE the substrate to the outer edge tllereoE. Substrate
4B contains three times the number of conductors as do
23 substrates 4A and 4C. Contact pa~s 12 are disposed on the
24 edge of the substrate 4n in contact with each of the conductors.
Substrates 4A and 4C are static whereas substrate 4~ is
2d mounted to tste relative to the substrates 4A and 4C, as
_ ~,
:
,
.
76~
1 best seen in FIG. 2. In particular, substrate 4~ is mounted
2 on the end of a shaft 16 which, in turn, is rotatably mounted
3 ¦ in bearings 20. The shaft 16 exten~s through an opening 24
4 1 in substrate 4A as shown. As mentioned earlier, the electric
field machine of FIGS. l and 2 would advantageously contain
6 many more substrates than the three shown, in which event
7 each of the rotatable substrates would be mounted on a
8 single sha~t and each would be disposed between a different
9 pair of static substrates in an interleaved fashion.
Disposc-d to contact the contact pads 12 of the substrate
11 4B are two pair of electrical contact brushes 28 and 32.
12 ~rufih 28A is coupled to a negative volta~e source 36 and
13 brush 28B is coupled to ground. 8rush 32A is coupled to a
14 ~ositive voltage source 40 and brush 32B is coupled to
ground. Brushes 28A and 32A are positioned to simultaneously
16 contact every third conductor contact pad on substrate 4B so
17 that, for example, as conductor 8B ~which extends diametrically-
18 on the substrate 4B) i8 contacted by brush 28A to receive a
19 negative charge, conductor 8~ ~which also extends diametrically
on the substrate 4~) is in contact with brush 32A to receive
21 a positiv~ charge. The two conductors positioned at this
22 time between brushes 28A and 32A are uncharged. This is
2~ because these conductors' contact pads would have contacted
24 brush 28B which would have discharged the conductors. Thus,
every third conductor of substrate 48 is charged alternately
26 with a po5itiv~ charge and a negative charge.
?7 i
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... . . . . .
-
:~: . ' ' ` . ` - ' .` :
', '~ ' ' :,, ,~ , ` . '
`
: ~ ', ' ~ ~ - '
$.~ ~7 ~6
1 In the discussion above, mention was made of ~brushes~
2 28A, 28B, 82~ and 32B which perform a commutation function
3 in the FIG. l embodiment ~and in other embodiments of the
4 present invention to be described momentarily). That is,
the brushes serve to change the charge on selected conductors
6 at sc-lected timc-s. This function, one of sensing the location
7 of certain conductors and controlling the charge thereon,
8 mi~ht be carried out by a variety of other mechanisms including
9 solid state devices which sense conductor locations and
control application of charges thereto. Additionally,
11 various charge carrying elements of an electric ield machine
12 ma~1c- in accoi^dancc with the presc-nt invention could be
13 com~utated locally, for example, by solid state devices
14 integrated with the conductors and adapted to sense the
location of the conductors and control the application of
16 charges. Hereinafter, when the usc- of "brushes" is discussed,
17 it should be understood that such terminology represents
18 commutation in general and that various other specific
19 implementations cou]d be utilized.
As conductor 8~ becomes negatively charged, an electric
21 force field is produced which interacts with the electric
22 force fields produced by the aligned conductors on substrates
23 4A and 4C. Since these aligned conductors are also neqatively
24 charged, the resulting force field produced by conductor 8B
causes the conductor to be repelled and this, in turn,
26 causes the substrate 4B to rotate in the clockwise direction
27
~ ~ .
_ l o--
.,
~!.2~ 6U --
. I ~ ~
1 (when looking ~30wn on the stac~) as in~icated by the arrow.
2 Similarly, when conductor 8A contacts brush 32A via its
3 contact pad, it becomes positively charged and the resulting
4 electric force fie]d interacts with the force field of the
aligned conductors of substrates 4A and 4C so that it also
6 is repelled. As the substrate 4B lotates, the conductors
8 just previously char~ed contact brushes 28B and 32B and are
thus discharged.
The positioning and dimensions of the pairs of brushes
28 and 32 ar~ selected so that for any position of the
11 substrate 4B, at least one of its conductors is in contact
12 with either brush 28~ or brush 32A. The reason for this is
3 so that when powc-r is turned on, the substrate 4B will begin
14 to rotate regardless of its position. The pairs of brushes
28 and 32 may be of conventional design to include, for
16 example, a multiplicity of wire ~onductors dispos~d to
contact the contact pads 12 as the substrate 4B is rotated.
18 The voltage sources 36 and 40, of course, are conventional
19 and could include switching devices to allow selective
coupling and uncoupling of the voltage sources from their
respective brushes.
22 As already discussed, there would be a far greater
number of conductors than the number shown in FIG. l. For
24 exa~ple, for a substrate 4C having a diameter of one-eighth
26 of an inch, illustratively sixteen conductors could be
provided thereon. Then, substrate 4B, which would have
,
I ~.2~`3'~6~iU
~ ~, .
1 substantially the same ~iameter, would include forty-eight
2 ¦ conductors. Also, electrical contact brushes would be
3 provided so that every third conductor on substrate 4B would
4 be successively charged either positiv~ly or neqativ~;ly as
tl1e substrate rotated. Generally, the width for the conductors
6 would be ahout 200 to 5000 angstroms, the spacing between
7 ¦ conductors a~out 200 to S000 an~stroms, and the spacing
8 ! between the substrates about 200 to S000 angstroms.
9 In order to reduce the chance of arcing between conductors
on the different substrates, the substrates could be housed
11 in a container 44 holding a dielectric oil such as mineral
12 oil. In ef~cct, thc centeL substrat~ 4~ would rotate in the
13 oil which would serve both to prev~nt arcing and as a luhricant
14 and preservative for the plates and conductors. To further
enhance the electric force fields produced by the charged
16 conductors, the dielectric oil mi~ht advantageously include
17 polymeric dipoles, other dipoles or multi-poles. Exemplary
18 dipoles could include electron impregnated nylon, polypropylene
19 or poly~st~r particles. Th~ effect of including the dipoles
would be to promote and enhance tl~e interaction of electric
21 force fields betwec-n conductors on one substrate contiguouS
Z with conductors of an adjacent substrate.
23 Also shown in FIG. 2 is a packin9 element 48 through
24 which the shaft 16 extends out of the housing 44. The
packing element 48 is provided to prevent leakage of the
26 dielectric oil from the entry and exit location of the shaft
~7
-12-
,.,
.
~ 76~iO
. ~ 6~
1 16 in the housing. The end of the sha~t 16 opposite that on
2 which the substrat~ 4B is mounted is coupled to some typ~ of
3 load 52.
4 As is evident from the description of the FIGS. 1 and 2
machir.~, the conductors on alternate ones of th~ substrates
6 are chargêd in such a way that patterns of alternate positive
7 and n~gative char~es are caused to move r~lative to those
8 substrates. In the FI(;S. 1 and 2 embodiment, it is actually
9 the substrate 4B which moves while the patt~rn of alternately
charged conductors remain static. That is, the general
11 ].ocationS of the positively charged conductors and negativêly
12 chargêd conductors of substrate 4B remain static while the
13 substrate is causc-d to move. Of course, by appropriate
14 elc-ctrical switching, patterns o~ alternate positive and
negative charges could be made to "rotate" on a set oE
16 static substrates and ther~by caus~ rotatable substrates
containing conductors witll fixc-~ charges to rotate. This
18 latter approach to producing the electric force fields is
adopted in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4.
The embodiment oE FIG~. 3 and 4 includes a stack of
21 genc-rally rectangular substrates 64 on which are positioned
Z a plurality of generally elongate, parallel conductors 68.
23 Each conductor on the topmost substrate 64 is ali~ned vertically
24 with a correspondin9 conductor on each of the lower substrates.
A sc-cond stack of generally rectangular substrates 72 is
26 interleavêd with the substrate 64 of the first stack as
.
-
37~i60
'l l
1 ger.erally s~own in ~IG. 3. A plurality of conductors 76 are
2 also Eormed on the substrate 72 in a generally parallel
3 relationship both with the remaining conductors on the
4 substrate 72 and with the conductors 68 of the substrates
5 64. A5 with the emhodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, in the embodiment
6 of FIGS. 3 and 4, substrates 64 contain three times the
7 number of conductors as do substrates 7~.
8 The 3ubstrates 64 are coupled together by a plate 80
9 which, in turn, is fixed in place by a support rod 84. The
substrates 72 are similarly held in place by a plate 88
11 which is mounted on a rod 92. The rod is slidably mounted
12 in fixed bearings 96. The end of the rod 92 opposite the
14 end on which thc plate 8~ is mounted is mechanically coupled
to a utilization unit 100.
Each of the conductors 68 of the substrates 64 are
16 coupled to a switching device 104 and the switching device,
17 in turn, is coupled to a negativc- voltage source 108, a
18 positive voltage source 112 and ground potential. As will
19 be described mom~ntarily, th~ switching ~evice 104 applies
alternate positive- and neqative charges to the conductors of
21 substrates 64. ~lthough L~IG. 3 shows coupling of the switching
22 device 104 only to the conductors of the bottommost substrate
23 64, it should be understood that each line from the switching
24 device is coupled to a selected conductor on the bottommost
substrate and to each of the vertically ali9ned conductors
26 of the other substrates.
~7 Alternate ones of the conductors 76 of the substrate 72
., ' '.
~ 37~60
1 are charged negatively, with the remaining conductors being
2 charged positively. Aqain, vertically aligned conductors of
3 the substrate 74 contain like charges. Application of
4 alternate patterns of positive and negative charges to the
conductors 6~ of the substrates 64 results in force fields
6 bein~ produced which causes the conductors 76 an~ thus the
7 su~strate 74 to move linearly. In other words, the substrates
8 72 may be caused to move to the right, to the left, or back
9 and forth between the substrates 64 and this causes the rod
92 to move simi]arly.
11 ¦ lIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the switching
12 device 104, the bottommost substrate 64 and the next upper
13 adjacent substrate 72. Conductors on the substrate 72 are
14 represented by circles with either a positive or negative
sign therein represc-nting the charge contained on the conductor.
16 Similarly, the conductors of substrate 64 are represented by
17 circles. Switching device 104 includes two ganged rotary
18 switches 116 and 120. The wipers of switches 116 and 120
19 arc- caused to rotate by an actuator 124 which could be a
small conventional motor. The actuator 124 operates to
21 cause the wipers to rotate first in the clockwise direction
22 until the wipers reach the respective rightmost stationary
23 contacts, and then counterclockwise until the wipers reach
24 the respective leftmost stationary contacts, and then counter-
clockwise again, etc. ~s the wipers rotate clockwise, a
26 pattern of alternate negative and positive charges on the
~ 3~ ~;O
1 conductors of substrate 64 is caused to mo ~ toward the
right in FIG. 4 and thereby produce a moving force field
3 which causes the substrate 72 to also move to the right.
4 When the wipers reach the respective rightmost contacts, the
direction of movelnent of the wipers may be reversed by the
6 actuator 124 so that the pattern of alternate negative and
7 positive charges is caused to mo ~ alon~ the conductors of
8 substrate 64 toward the left and this, in turn, would cause
3 the substrate 72 to mov~ to the left. In this manner, the
substrate 72 may be caused to move in either direction in a
11 linear fashion. (Groundin~ wipers would also be provided to
12 ground the conductors of substrate 6~ just after the conductors
13 are charged.)
14 As with the c-mbodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the embodiment
15 of FIGS. 3 and 4 could include ~rovision of a dielectric oil
16 about the substrates 64 and 72. Again, the substrates would
17 simply be contained in a housing which included the dielectric
18 oil.
19 FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment which includes a
pair of cylindrical substrates 150 and 154. with substrate
21 150 disposed concentrically about substrate 154. The inner
22 cylindrical substrate 154 is fixed to a stationary support
23 158 and the outer cylindrical substrate 150 is rotably
24 mounted on and carried by the inner substrate 54. A pulley
162 is mounted to the exterior of the substrate 150 to allow
26 mechanically coupling the substrate to a load. Substrate
Il -16-
7~0
.
1 150 inc]udes a p]urallty of elongate conductors 166 arranged
2 in parallel around the inner periphery of the substrate.
3 Substrate 154 similarly includes a plurality of conductors
4 170 arranged in parallel on the outer periphery of the
substrate. Substrate 150 includes three ti~es the nu~ber o
6 conductors as does substrate 154. Each of the conductors on
7 substrate 150 includes a contact element 174, each o~ which
extends from its respective conductor to the outer periphery
9 of the substrate 150. There, the contact elements 174
successively contact two pairs of electrical contact brushes
11 17~ and 182, as the substrate 150 rotates. Contact brush
12 178A is coupled to a negative voltage source 186 and contact
13 brush 182~ is coupled to a positive voltage source 190.
14 Contact brushes 178B and 182B are each coupled to ground.
The c-mbodiment of FIG. 5 operates in a fashion similar
16 to that of FIG. 1 in which a pattern of alternate positive
17 and negative charges are ~roduced on the con<luctors of
18 substrate 150 and this pattern produces electric force
19 fields which interact with the electric force ~ields produced
by conductors 170 to cause the substrate 150 to rotate in
21 the counterclockwise direction. At any given time, every
22 third conductor 166 of the substrate 150 is charged alternately
23 positively or negatively. ~Although not specifically shown
24 in FIG. 5, dia~etrically opposite conductors on substrate
150 are electrically coupled together.) After a conductor
26 on substrate 150 is charged, it is thereafter discharged
-17-
', ' ' ~ '
, .
~ ~ 3
1 upon encounterin9 brush 178B or brush 182B. ~s the substrate
2 150 cortinues to rotate, that conductor encounters either
3 b-rush 178A or 182A where it receives a charge opposite that
4 to which it was previously charged.
Although only four conductors are shown for the substrate
6 154 an~ twe]vc conductors shown for substrate 150, it should
7 be understood that many more conductors would typically be
8 provided to enable placement of the conductors on one substrate
9 in close proximity with those of the other substrate. The
conducto-cs shown in FIG. 5 are embedded within the corr~sponding
11 substrate but near either the inner periphery of substrate
12 150 or the outer periphery of substrate 154. With this
13 configuration, the substrate itself serves both to carry the
14 conductors and also as a dielectric to prev~nt arcing between
conductors. Some type of lubricant such as conventional
16 machine oil could be placed between substrates 150 and 154
17 to reduce friction and facilitate rotation of substrate 150.
18 FIGS. 6~ and 6B show a further embodiment of the invention
19 to include a plurality of rods 204, about which are helically
wound conductors 20~. The rods 204 are arranged in a closely
21 packed configuration consisting of one movable rod for every
22 two stationary rods. The movable rods are shown with cross
23 hatching in FIG. 6~ and, as there indicated, each movable
24 rod is surrounded by six nonmovable rods in a type of
hexagonal configuration.
26
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~ o
1 Th~ conductor windings on the rods are schematically
2 illustrated by symbols drawn on the tops ther~of and these
3 ¦ symbols can be understood by referring to FIG. 6B. Thus,
4 ¦ for example, the leftmost rod 204a indicates that the conductor
5 ¦ 2~a begins on the top, l~ft side of the rod and is wound
6 clockwise into the page. The conductor 208b for rod 204b
7 begins on the top, right side o~ the rod an~ is also wound
8 clockwise into the page. 204c, which is a movable rod, is
9 wound with a I~Iurality of conductors which are spaced apart
along the lenqth of the rod, with each conductor being wound
11 counterclockwise into the page. As can be seen in FIG. 6A,
12 the conductors on each pair of adjacent nonmovable rods
13 which are spaced about a movable rod are wound in opposite
14 directions.
The helix angles of the conductors wound about the
i6 nonmovable rods are about twice the helix angles of the
17 conductors wound about the movable rods, as best seen in
18 FIG. 6B. That is, the conductors on the nonmovable rods
19 make two revolutions for every one revolution of the conductors
on the movable rocls.
21 In operation, the conductors on each of the nonmovable
22 rods are charged with a certain charge polarity, such as
23 negative, and the conductors on the movable rods are charged
24 with a "moving pattern" of charges of the opposite polarity.
That is, one or more conductors on the movable rods is first
26 charged positively and then discharged, with the next adjacent
--19--
' '
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' . , .'
S.2~37660
1 conductor or con~uctoLs then bein~ ch~rg~d positively and
2 discharged, etc., so that a pattern of positively charged
3 conductors is caused to move lengthwise along the movable
4 rods. This may be accomplished, for example, by contact
brushes 212 and 216 which are coupled to a switch 220 which,
6 in turn, is coupled to a positive voltage source 224, negative
7 voltage source 22~, and a neutral or ground voltage source
8 232. One o~ the contact brushes would be supplied with a
9 positive voltage to energize conductors in contact therewith
10 ¦ whereas the other brush would be connected to neutral or
11 j groun~ potentia] 232 to discharge previously charged conductors.
12 ! Upon supplying a positive charge to the conductors by one of
13 ¦ the brushes, tllose conductors are attracted to the negatively
14 charged conductors wound on the nonmovable rods to cause the
movable rod to mov~ linearly. As the positively charged
16 conductors on the movable rod approach the negatively charged
17 conductors on the nonmovable rods, the positively charged
18 conductors would be discharged and successive adjacent
19 conductors would be charged positively to continue the
attrac~ing process o~ the conductors. When the movable rods
reach the fartherest excursion of linear movement, the
22 switch 220 would reverse the sequence of charging and discharging
23 of conductors to Ca-15e the movable rods to be moved in the
24 reverse direction.
It will be understood that rather than simply discharqing
2~ ¦ ¦ t he pos i t i Iy cl~s r~e d cond u c to rs on t he mo vs o le rods,
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1 1 negative charges may be applied thereto to provide both an
2 ¦ attraction mode and a repelling mode of operation in the
3 FI~S. 6A and 6B assembly. That is, alternate ones of the
4 conductors on the movable rods may be charged negatively so
as to repel from the negatively charged conductors of the
6 nor,movable rods. Such repelling force would serv~ to move
7 the movable rods in the same Eashion tl1at the attraction8 force of the positive charged conductors do.
9 In the manner described, movement of the movable rods
is achievc-d with a fairly simple anfl compact assembly o~
11 ¦helically wound rods. Of course, the nonmovable rods would
12 ¦be joined together and held in place, for example at their
13 lends, and the movable rods could be likewise joined together
14 to help maintain the spaced relationship therebetween. It
can be demonstrated that for hexagonal arrays, such as shown
16 in FIG. 6A, the rods can be helically wound and charged so
17 that the movable rods can be held in place, out of contact
18 with the six surrounding rods simply by the ~orces of the
19 electric fields. Also, some of the interior nonmovable rods
could also be held in place in the same fashion. Also, as
21 with the other embodiments, the entire assembly could be
22 immersed in some type of dielectric oil which included
23 polymeric dipoles or multipoles. The rods 204 would advan-
24 tageously be constructed of a nonconducting material such as
silicone.
26
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1 Although four specific embodiments of the present
2 invention ha ~ been shown and described, it should be understood
3 that the shape and configuration of the substrates and
4 charge holding elements carried thereby could take a variety
of forms. The common feature of all of these embodiments is
6 the utili~ation of a plurality of small scale charge carrying
7 element.s interleaved in close proximity to one another. The
8 elements either carry a charge or are periodically charged
g and discharged to produce electric force fields which interact
to cause movement of some of the elements relative to the
11 others. Because of the small scale, the elements can be
12 placed in close proximity to utilize the increased electric
13 field forces resulting from the close proximity.
14 It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements
are only illustrative of the application of the principles
16 of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative
17 arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art
18 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
19 invention and the appended claims are intended to cover such
modifications and aLLange1nents.
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