Propeller driven from terrestrial magnetic field - uses paired permanent magnets and flux diverters

摘要

The object of the construction is to employ the earth's magnetic field to drive a propeller or turbine runner by mutual repulsion or attraction. The blades to be driven comprise pieces or strips of permanent magnetic material with one pair of like poles facing each other but separated by a magnetically insulating holder. The other pair of like poles face outwards. One half of the propeller is shielded from the earth's field at any one time by a diverter, typically of mumetal. Thus the terrestrial field acts in an unbalanced manner producing a torque which drives the propeller which can then us used to do useful work in driving, for example, an aircraft.