Segmented magnet homopolar dynamoelectric machines having fluid cooled liquid metal current collecting zones

Claim 2

A homopolar dynamoelectric machine comprising: a generally cylindrical shell of ferromagnetic material; a generally cylindrical core of ferromagnetic material concentric with said shell, said core and said shell mounted for relative rotation therebetween; a plurality of electrical conductors supported by said shell and spaced at intervals about the circumference thereof, said conductors being arranged in a plurality of axially displaced sets, said conductors being separated by insulation from said shell; excitation coils located in said core to form a plurality of magnetic poles, on such magnetic pole adjacent each of said sets of conductors; current collecting projecting rings electrically connected to the ends of said conductors; and, means for collecting current from said current collecting projecting rings.

Claim 3

A dynamoelectric machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said shell is positioned inside of said core; and said conductors are located in shell slots formed in the outer portion of said shell.

Claim 4

A dynamoelectric machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein a plurality of said conductors are stacked in each of said shell slots.

Claim 5

A dynamoelectric machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein: p1 said core is stationary; and said shell is rotated.

Claim 6

A dynamoelectric machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein: core slots are formed in said core; said excitation coils are positioned in said core slots; and said means for collecting current comprises a plurality of current collecting annular members positioned in said core slots, said annular members having grooves mating with respective ones of said projecting rings and conductively related therewith by liquid metal in said grooves.

Claim 7

A dynamoelectric machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said core is shaped to match the pattern of magnetic flux in said core.

Claim 8

A dynamoelectric machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said excitation coils are formed into a plurality of excitation windings axially spaced along said core; and adjacent ones of said excitation windings have opposite directions of current flow therein.

Claim 9

A dynamoelectric machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein: each of a plurality of groups of said conductors is connected to a current collecting projecting ring common to that group; and said means for collecting current comprises a plurality of members corresponding in number to said current collecting projecting rings and said collecting members are electrically interconnected to cause the voltage generated said groups of conductors to be serially related.

Claim 10

A dynamoelectric machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said shell is positioned inside of said core and mounted for rotation with respect thereto; said conductors are located in shell slots formed in the outer portion of said shell; said core is stationarily mounted and shaped to match the flux pattern therein; core slots are formed in the inner portion of said core; said excitation coils and said current collecting annular members are positioned in said core slots; said conductors are connected in groups to said current collecting projecting rings, each of said groups of conductors being connected to a current collecting projecting ring common to that group; and said means for collecting current comprises a plurality of members corresponding in number to said current collecting projecting rings and said collecting members are electrically interconnected to cause the voltages generated in said groups of conductors to be serially related.

Claim 11

A dynamoelectric machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein: ducts are located in said current collecting annular members to convey cooling fluid therethrough.

Claim 12

A dynamoelectric machine comprising: a conductor carrying member having a plurality of conductive lengths supported by and insulated from said member; a magnetic field producing structure, said conductor carrying member and said magnetic field structure mounted for relative motion therebetween; current collecting projecting rings electrically connected to the ends of said conductive lengths; current collecting annular members having grooves formed therein, said current collecting annular members mounted to have said current collecting projecting rings mate with said grooves; liquid metal located in said grooves to provide an electrically conductive connection between said current collecting projecting rings and said current collecting annular members; and ducts located in said current collecting annular members to convey cooling fluid therethrough.

Claim 13

A dynamoelectric machine comprising: a conductor carrying member having a plurality of conductive lengths supported by and insulated from said member; a magnetic field producing structure, said conductor carrying member and said magnetic field structure mounted for relative motion therebetween; current collecting projecting rings electrically connected to the ends of said conductive lengths; current collecting annular members having grooves formed therein, said current collecting annular members mounted to have said current collecting projecting rings mate with said grooves; liquid metal located in said grooves to provide an electrically conductive connection between said current collecting projecting rings and said current collecting annular members; and ducts located in said current collecting annular members to convey cooling fluid therethrough.

Claim 14

A dynamoelectric machine in accordance with claim 11, wherein: said plurality of conductive lengths comprise a plurality of axially spaced groups, each of said groups including individual conductive lengths circumferentially spaced about on said carrying member; said circumferentially spaced conductive lengths of one of said groups being connected by said projecting rings at each of the ends thereof into distinct sets; said current collecting annular members being arranged for conductively relating each of said annular members with a respective one of said projecting rings; and means for interconnecting said annular members to form a circuit with said sets of conductive length in series for voltage addition.