Flywheel magneto generator

Abstract

The invention relates to a flywheel magneto generator having a rotor assembly and a stator assembly. The rotor assembly includes a non-ferromagnetic flywheel and a plurality of magnetic poles that are positioned in spaced relationship around the circumference of the flywheel. The stator assembly includes an E-shaped core with a single magnet mounted on the center leg and coils associated with at least the outer legs. The poles and core may be formed of a bonded iron material. The poles may be joined to the flywheel by press fitting or integral molding, among other methods.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A flywheel magneto generator for an engine comprising: 
 a rotor mounted for axial rotation to an engine output shaft, the rotor having a non-ferromagnetic inner portion and at least one magnetically conductive outer portion, said rotor having a periphery defined by a path of rotation of the outer portion;    a stator core disposed adjacent to the periphery of the rotor and operatively associated therewith;    a magnet operatively coupled to the stator core; and    at least one coil associated with the stator core.    
     
     
         2 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 1 , wherein the stator core is E-shaped having two outer legs and a center leg, the magnet is connected to the center leg of the core, and the at least one coil is associated with an outer leg of the core.  
     
     
         3 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outer portion is a pole and a plurality of poles are provided.  
     
     
         4 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 3 , wherein the stator core has a width that extends substantially between three poles.  
     
     
         5 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of poles are spaced relative to one another to define a gap between each pole.  
     
     
         6 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 5 , wherein each gap between the plurality of poles is substantially equal in size.  
     
     
         7 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of poles are magnetically isolated from one another.  
     
     
         8 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 5 , wherein the magnet has a width that is substantially equivalent to the width of the gap between the poles.  
     
     
         9 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor rotates at a selected speed and an output from the stator core is voltage, and the relationship between output voltage and the selected speed is linear so that voltage increases at a substantially constant rate as the selected speed increases.  
     
     
         10 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor rotates at a selected speed and an output from the stator core is voltage, and the voltage as a function of time, at a constant selected speed, is substantially sinusoidal.  
     
     
         11 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor includes a connection point for attachment to an engine output shaft.  
     
     
         12 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 1 , wherein two coils are provided and the stator core has at least two legs, and each coil is associated with one of the legs of the stator core.  
     
     
         13 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 12 , wherein the rotor rotates at a selected speed and, during rotation, the two coils are continuously coupled to the magnet of the stator core.  
     
     
         14 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outer portion and the stator core are made of bonded iron.  
     
     
         15 . A flywheel magneto generator comprising: 
 a rotor including: 
 a flywheel center portion having a circumference; and  
 a plurality of poles positioned around the circumference of the flywheel center portion, with each pole having a width,  
 wherein a gap is provided between each of the plurality of poles; and  
   a stator operatively coupled to the rotor, said stator including: 
 an E-shaped core having two outer legs and a center leg, with a distance provided between the two outer legs; and  
 a magnet having a width positioned at the end of the center leg,  
   wherein the gap between the poles is substantially equivalent to the width of the magnet, and the width of each pole is substantially equivalent to the distance between the two outer legs of the core.    
     
     
         16 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 15 , wherein the rotor is rotatable and the stator is substantially fixed in position relative to a periphery of the rotor, and the ends of the outer legs of the E-shaped core and the magnet are in close proximity to the periphery of the rotor.  
     
     
         17 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 16 , wherein the ends of the legs of the E-shaped core are configured and dimensioned to substantially align with the periphery of the rotor.  
     
     
         18 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 17 , wherein a clearance in the amount of about 1 millimeter is provided between the ends of the legs and the magnet from the periphery of the rotor.  
     
     
         19 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one coil is operatively coupled to a portion of the E-shaped core.  
     
     
         20 . The flywheel magneto generator of  claim 19 , wherein two coils are provided and one coil is operatively coupled to one of the outer legs of the E-shaped core and the other coil is operatively coupled to the other outer leg of the E-shaped core.  
     
     
         21 . A rotor for a flywheel magneto generator comprising: 
 a substantially disc-shaped, non-ferromagnetic flywheel having an outer circumference; and    a plurality of poles positioned around the outer circumference of the flywheel and extending therefrom, said poles being spaced relative to one another,    wherein the flywheel and poles together form a single substantial disc-shape.    
     
     
         22 . The rotor of  claim 21 , wherein the poles are magnetically conductive and are evenly spaced about the circumference of the flywheel.  
     
     
         23 . The rotor of  claim 21 , wherein a gap is provided between each pole of the plurality of poles.  
     
     
         24 . The rotor of  claim 21 , wherein eight poles are provided and the poles are made of bonded iron.  
     
     
         25 . The rotor of  claim 21 , wherein the flywheel and poles are press-fit together to form the rotor.  
     
     
         26 . The rotor of  claim 21 , wherein the flywheel and poles are integrally molded together to form the rotor.  
     
     
         27 . The rotor of  claim 21 , wherein the flywheel and poles are glued together to form the rotor.  
     
     
         28 . The rotor of  claim 21 , wherein the poles are magnetically isolated relative to one another.  
     
     
         29 . A method of generating electrical energy in an engine having an output shaft with a flywheel magneto generator associated with the output shaft, comprising: 
 providing a non-ferromagnetic flywheel having a circumference with a plurality of magnetically conductive poles spaced at equal intervals around the circumference of the flywheel;    providing a stator assembly with one magnet and at least one coil operatively coupled to the assembly, wherein the stator assembly is in close association with the flywheel;    rotating the flywheel to generate energy through the at least one coil.    
     
     
         30 . The method of generating electric energy of  claim 29 , wherein the stator assembly is E-shaped, having two outer legs and a center leg, with one coil wrapped around one of the outer legs, another coil wrapped around the other outer leg, and a magnet positioned at the end of the center leg.  
     
     
         31 . The method of generating electric energy of claim  30 , further comprising: 
 controlling the flow of generated energy to supply power to charge a battery when the engine is operated above a preselected speed.