Abstract A homopolar electrical machine having a plurality of rotor conductors and having brushes cooperating with the rotor conductors and interconnected by stationary conductors to form two parallel circuits between the terminals of the machine. The two circuits including series-connected rotor conductors from sections of the rotor lying on opposite sides of a diameter of the rotor and the circuits being maintained continuously as the rotor conductors engage and disengage successive brushes, wherein for the purpose of reducing forces on the stator windings stationary compensating conductors are connected between the machine terminals and the brushes. In the case of a disc rotor with radial rotor conductors the compensating conductors can be two in number and follow arcuate paths of equal radius coaxial with and in a plane parallel to the rotor.
Inventors
👤 Anthony Derek Appleton
👤 Robert B Macnab
👤 Joseph Merelie Elliott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-26 18:46
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K31/00; H02K31/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
In a homopolar electrical machine comprising a stator winding for generating a magnetic field, a rotor having mutually insulated rotor conductors which are cut by the magnetic field as the rotor rotates, first and second rings of mutually insulated contact segments located at opposite ends of the rotor conductors each rotor conductor being connected to a segment of one ring and a corresponding segment of the other ring, two sets of brushes, one set cooperating with each ring of contact segments, rotor current terminals, stationary conductors connecting the brushes whereby two parallel current paths are set up through seriesconnected rotor conductors lying in sections of the rotor disposed on opposite sides of a diameter of the rotor the series connection being effected alternately as the rotor rotates between a first set of rotor conductors and a second set of rotor conductors lying between conductors of the first set in the direction of rotation, the improvement which comprises at least one compensating conductor positioned in relation to the magnetic field cutting the rotor to produce forces on the stator winding as a result of current flow in the said compensating conductor and its interaction with the field which substantially counterbalance the forces exerted on the said winding as a result of currents flowing in the said stationary conductors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
In a homopolar electrical machine comprising a stator winding for generating a magnetic field, a rotor having mutually insulated rotor conductors which are cut by the magnetic field as the rotor rotates, first and second rings of mutually insulated contact segments located at opposite ends of the rotor conductors each rotor conductor being connected to a segment of one ring and a corresponding segment of the other ring, two sets of brushes, one set cooperating with each ring of contact segments, rotor current terminals, stationary conductors connecting the brushes whereby two parallel current paths are set up through seriesconnected rotor conductors lying in sections of the rotor disposed on opposite sides of a diameter of the rotor the series connection being effected alternately as the rotor rotates between a first set of rotor conductors and a second set of rotor conductors lying between conductors of the first set in the direction of rotation, the improvement which comprises at least one compensating conductor positioned in relation to the magnetic field cutting the rotor to produce forces on the stator winding as a result of current flow in the said compensating conductor and its interaction with the field which substantially counterbalance the forces exerted on the said winding as a result of currents flowing in the said stationary conductors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rotor is of the disc-type with radially disposed rotor conductors and stationary conductors extending in a generally radial direction but at an angle to the rotor conductors characterized in that the compensating conductor follows an arcuate path over the surface of the disc in a plane parallel to the plane of the disc but spaced therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A machine as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that there are two compensating conductors disposed along matching arcuate paths on opposite sides of a diameter of the rotor at substantially the same radius.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A machine as claimed in claim 3 having two disc-type rotors mounted back-to-back characterized in that the compensating conductors associated with one disc are connecTed to a machine terminal at a position diametrically opposite to the connections of the compensating conductors of the other disc to a machine terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the rotor is of the drum-type with axially disposed rotor conductors and stationary conductors extending in a generally axial direction but following paths at an angle to the rotor conductors in which the machine or each compensating conductor follows a helical path over the rotor surface but in spaced relation thereto.