GB2450307A

GB2450307A - Alternator with a planetary gear set

Info

Publication number: GB2450307A
Application number: GB0624591A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Henry Hudson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-09
Filing date: 2006-12-09
Publication date: 2008-12-24
Also published as: GB0624591D0

Abstract

Two of the three main components of a planetary (epicyclical) gear set (with possibly the third component being held stationary) are connected respectively to the rotor and stator of an alternator. More than one gear set may be used so as to alter the gear ration. The ratio of input to output of the alternator can be increased or decreased without changing the number of teeth in the gears dependent on which component of the gearing is fixed. Contra rotation of the stator and rotor is achieved.

Description

S -1-2450307 Epialternator This invention relates to the increase of

output from an alternator, without a corresponding increase in input.

With the search intensifying for sustainable energy supplies and the cost of domestic power as well as motor fuels increasing exponentially, it's very important that we're able to extract the maximum amount of energy from the devices we employ.

According to the present invention, by connecting our device, i.e. alternator, (but not restricted to only this device), to a planetary gear set, (also known as an epicyclic gear set) in a particular fashion or mode, we will be able to rotate either of the two major components of our device, i.e. the stator or rotor, in an opposing direction, without the application of any additional or separate force to do so.

Epicyclic gearing or planetary gearing is a gear system that consist of one or more outer gears, or planet gears, rotating about a central, or sun gear. Typically, the planet gears are mounted on a movable arm or carrier which itself may rotate relative to the sun gear. Epicyclic gearing systems may also incorporate the use of an outer ring gear or annulus, which meshes with the planet gears. The gear ratio in an epicyclic gearing system is somewhat non-intuitive, particularly because there are several ways in which an input rotation can be converted into an output rotation. The three basic components of the epicycle gear are: (a) Sun; the central gear, (b) Planet carrier; which holds one or more peripheral planet gears, of the same size, meshed with the sun gear. (c) The Annul us; an outer ring with inward-facing teeth that mesh with the planet gear or gears.

In many epicyclic gearing systems, one of these three basic components is held stationary; one of the two remaining components is an input, providing power to the system, while the last component is an output, receiving power from the system. The ratio of input rotation to output rotation is dependent upon the number of teeth in each gear, and upon which component is held stationary.

More planet and sun gear units can be placed in series in the same ring gear housing (where the output shaft of the first stage becomes the input shaft of the next stage) providing a larger (or smaller) gear ratio.

By attaching any one or more of the component parts, i.e. stator or rotor, of our alternator, to any one or more of the component parts of our epicyclic gear set, i.e. sun gear, planet carrier or annulus, while holding one of the three basic components of the epicyclic gear set stationary, possibly through our non-intuitive experimentation, but not restricted to, in some fashion, we shall be able to increase the output of our device, i.e. alternator, without having to increase the input to do so The five main components, three of which are in the epicyclic gear set, and Iwo of which are in the device, known as an alternator, will be further described through drawings figure one and figure two. In this we see that one of the three basic components of figure one, i.e. the sun, planet carrier, or annulus, is held stationary, while one of the two remaining components of figure one is an input to one of the two basic components of figure two, i.e. the stator or rotor, while the other basic component of figure two is an output.

Claims

1. A device that delivers an increase in output from an alternator without an increase in input, by connecting a planetary gear set, (also known as an epicyclic gear set) in a particular fashion

2. A device that delivers an increase in output from an alternator as claimed in claim 1 possibly but not exclusively by rotating either the stator or rotor of the alternator in opposite directions simultaneously without the application of any additional or separate force to do so

3. A device that delivers an increase in output from an alternator as claimed in claim I or claim 2 through the addition of more planetary gear sets placed in series to further increase or decrease the ratio of input to output, but not restricted to * * * **. **** * S **** ** * * S * * *.

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