Linear electrodynamic system and method

Abstract

An exemplary description provided for patent searches includes a linear electrodynamic system for conversion of mechanical motion into electrical power or conversion of electrical power into mechanical motion involving advantageous use of magnetic material positioned on a mover. Bore surfaces of the magnetic material is shape complementary to bore surfaces of stator poles. Some implementations utilize non-annularly shaped bore surfaces while others utilize annularly shaped bore surfaces.

1 . A system comprising: 
 a housing;    a longitudinal shaft movably coupled to the housing to longitudinally and linearly reciprocate relative to the housing in the longitudinal direction of the shaft;    a stator rigidly coupled to the housing, the stator shaped to define an inner space to receive a portion of the longitudinal shaft, the stator having stator poles extending inwardly with bore surfaces facing toward that portion of the longitudinal shaft received by the stator;    windings wound around the stator poles;    a mover affixed to the shaft, the mover; and    magnetic material affixed to the mover, the magnetic material having bore surfaces facing outward in correspondence with the bore surfaces of the stator poles to define a gaseous gap between each of the correspondingly positioned ones of the bore surfaces of the magnetic material and the stator poles, portions of the bore surfaces of the stator poles being closer to the shaft than portions of the bore surfaces of the magnetic material.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the stator poles each have at least one stator pole void.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the bore surface of at least a portion of the magnetic material affixed to the mover comprises an arc shape.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the bore surface of at least a portion of the magnetic material affixed to the mover comprises a V shape.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the bore surface of at least a portion of the magnetic material affixed to the mover comprises a convex shape.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the bore surface of at least a portion of the magnetic material affixed to the mover comprises a parabolic shape.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the bore surface of at least a portion of the magnetic material affixed to the mover comprises a convex shape.  
   
   
       8 . A system comprising: 
 a longitudinal shaft mounted for longitudinal and linear reciprocal movement;    a stator shaped to define an inner space to receive a portion of the longitudinal shaft, the stator having stator poles extending inwardly with bore surfaces facing toward that portion of the longitudinal shaft received by the stator;    windings wound around the stator poles;    a mover affixed to the shaft; and    magnetic material affixed to the mover, the magnetic material having bore surfaces facing outward in correspondence with the bore surfaces of the stator poles to define a gaseous gap between each of the correspondingly positioned ones of the bore surfaces of the magnetic material and the stator poles, portions of the bore surfaces of the stator poles being substantially the same distance from the shaft as portions of the bore surfaces of the magnetic material.    
   
   
       9 . A system comprising: 
 a stator defining an inner space, the stator having stator poles with bore surfaces extending inwardly within the inner space;    a mover positioned within the inner space for longitudinal and linear reciprocal movement therein;    windings wound around the stator poles; and    magnetic material affixed to the mover and having outwardly facing surfaces positioned in correspondence with the bore surfaces of the stator poles to define a gaseous gap between each of the correspondingly positioned ones of the outwardly facing surfaces of the magnetic material and the inwardly facing surface portions of the mover, the magnetic material positioned on the mover within the inner space to permit uninhibited longitudinal and linear reciprocal movement of the mover within the inner space while limiting rotational movement of the mover more than the distance of the gaseous gap existing between the correspondingly positioned ones of the inwardly facing bore surfaces of the stator and the outwardly facing surface portions of the magnetic material.    
   
   
       10 . A system comprising: 
 a stator with inwardly extending stator poles, the stator defining an inner space with the stator poles having bore surfaces defining a portion of the inner space;    windings wound around the stator poles;    a mover positioned within the inner space for longitudinal and linear reciprocal movement therein; and    magnetic material affixed to the mover, the magnetic material having bore surfaces facing outward in correspondence with the bore surfaces of the stator poles to define a gaseous gap between each of the correspondingly positioned ones of the bore surfaces of the magnetic material and the bore surfaces of the stator poles, the bore surfaces of the magnetic material and the bore surfaces of the stator poles having mating non-annular shapes.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the bore surface of each of the stator poles has a convex shape.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the bore surface of each of the stator poles has an arc shape.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the bore surface of each of one of the stator poles has a V shape.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the bore surface of each of the stator poles has a convex shape.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the bore surface of each of the stator poles has a parabolic shape.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the bore surface of each of the stator poles has a convex shape.