Electrical generator or motor structure – Dynamoelectric – Rotary
Reexamination Certificate
2003-10-06
2004-10-26
Mullins, Burton (Department: 2834)
Electrical generator or motor structure
Dynamoelectric
Rotary
C310S06700R, C440S006000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06809444
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated motor propulsor comprising a free rotating duct assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a free rotating duct assembly incorporating a stator and outboard blades to provide counter-torque rotation about a plurality of rotor blades.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
The Integrated Motor Propulsor (IMP) is a propulsor design concept which integrates an electric motor with the moving parts of a ducted propeller. With reference to
FIG. 1
, there is illustrated a cross sectional rendering of the basic concept of an IMP
10
. The centerline of an underwater vehicle is identified as
12
and the mouth of the ducted propeller is identified as
14
. The rotor blades
16
of the propulsor act as the rotors of the motor while the stator
18
is housed in a duct assembly
20
encapsulating and encircling the rotor blades
16
about center line
12
. In the IMP design of
FIG. 1
, permanent magnets
21
are positioned on the outside of rotor blades
16
.
This propulsor design is ideal for isolating the propulsor
10
from the main vehicle body
22
and can provide high efficiency. The IMP
10
requires large physical duct supports
24
tying the duct assembly
20
to the vehicle body
22
. Electrical current is provided from the vehicle to the stator
18
via an electrical connection
26
extending through support
24
. These physical duct supports
24
on the IMP
10
are required to hold the duct assembly
20
stationary while large torques are applied to the rotor blades
16
as they spin about center line
12
under a load.
Although it is possible to engineer suitably large physical duct supports
24
to properly constrain the duct assembly
20
, the hydroacoustic impact of having large struts upstream or downstream of the propulsor
10
can be significant. Blade rate tonals are produced when the disturbances from the rotor blades
16
periodically impact the duct supports
24
.
What is therefore needed is an IMP design concept that eliminates the duct supports.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a free rotating duct assembly incorporating a stator and outboard blades to provide counter-torque rotation about a plurality of rotor blades.
In accordance with the present invention, an integrated motor propulsor includes a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades adapted to rotate about a center axis. Each of the plurality of rotor blades radially extends in a direction from the center axis to a terminus. A circular outer ring is in contact with the terminus of one of the rotor blades. A duct assembly is circumferentially disposed about the circular outer ring and in low friction contact with the circular outer ring. The duct assembly has a plurality of stators encircling the outer ring, and a plurality of outboard blades extending radially from the duct assembly. Each outboard blade is attached to a pitch control apparatus located in the duct.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3143972 (1964-08-01), Smith et al.
patent: 4648345 (1987-03-01), Wham et al.
patent: 4831297 (1989-05-01), Taylor et al.
patent: 5078628 (1992-01-01), Garis, Jr.
patent: 5289068 (1994-02-01), Veronesi et al.
patent: 5408155 (1995-04-01), Dickinson et al.
patent: 5607329 (1997-03-01), Cho et al.
patent: 5702273 (1997-12-01), Cho et al.
patent: 5941744 (1999-08-01), Levedahl
patent: 6015272 (2000-01-01), Antaki et al.
Kasischke James M.
Mullins Burton
Nasser Jean-Paul A.
Oglo Michael F.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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