Variable magnetic gears

摘要

A magnetic gear comprising: a first movable member having a first set of magnetic poles, a second movable member having a second set of magnetic poles, and a third movable member having a set of pole pieces; wherein the first and second members have magnetic poles at different spacings and the pole pieces are arranged to modulate the magnetic field acting between the magnetic poles, and control means arranged to control rotation of one of the members so as to vary the gear ratio between the other two members.

主权项

1. A power train system comprising an engine, an output member, a magnetic gear connecting the engine to the output member, an energy storage system, the power train system arranged to control the flow of power from the engine to the energy storage system or from the energy storage system to the output member if a required power at the output member is different from a power at the engine, wherein the magnetic gear comprises a first rotor having a first set of magnetic poles, a second rotor having a second set of magnetic poles, and a third rotor having a set of pole pieces, the first and second rotors have different numbers of magnetic poles, the pole pieces are arranged to modulate the magnetic field acting between the other two rotors, and the rotation of one of the rotors is controlled so as to vary the gear ratio between the other two rotors, the system further comprising a gear control motor generator operable in a first mode in which it is arranged to take power from the energy storage system to control the gear ratio, and a second mode in which it is arranged to control power transmitted from the engine to the energy storage system to control the gear ratio.