Field of the Invention
Electromagnetic motors are of the alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) types; they develop mechanical force through the interaction of magnetic fields that are generated with high electric current at low voltage, as Michael Faraday demonstrated in 1821. Electrostatic motors are similar in principle to the motor invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1748. These motors develop mechanical force through electrostatic forces between electric charges that are generated by relatively low direct current (DC) at high voltage.
Description of the Related Art
Benjamin Franklin left no drawing of his motor; he did describe it to a friend in a letter. Working models have been reconstructed; useful mechanical forces have been low. He was the first person who designed and built electrostatic motors of appreciable power, about o.1 watt.
Electrostatic motors are based on the force of mutual attraction between unlike charges and the mutual repulsion of like charges. Electrostatic motors have been operated from voltage in excess of 105 volts. They have been operated by using currents smaller than 10−9 ampere. In nature the electrostatic forces are much stronger than the magnetic ones. Finally, an important property of the electrostatic motor is that they can operate from a much greater variety of sources than the electromagnetic motors. Interesting sources of electricity for electrostatic motors are the ordinary capacitor and the electric field of the earth.
The classification of electrostatic motors is in general by the method by which charge is either stored in the motor or transferred to the rotor. There are the contact motors, spark motors, corona motors, induction motors, electret motors, liquid- or gas-immersed motors, dielectric motors, and conduction-plates or capacitor motors. The corona type of electrostatic motor requires no brushes or commutators. However, a limiting factor of the corona motor is its required minimum potential of 2,000 volts. Nevertheless, this one is considered the best.
The basic nature of the science of electrostatic is the study of electric charges at rest relative to one another; not in motion, as in electric currents. Electrostatic motors are extremely simple in design and require no expensive materials. Having only a few metal parts they possess a very good power-to-weight ratio. They can attain very high speeds; they have been built with speeds from 1000 rpm to 6000 rpm. However, these motors bearings have to be a very low friction. They have reached an appreciable amount of power; one was six watts.
This ELECTROSTATIC REPULSION MOTOR will go far beyond other electrostatic motors in performances. Electrostatic energy in a concentrated amount is the second most powerful type of energy, nuclear energy being first. An example would be lightning caused by electrostatic energy built up between the many large positive and negative charges inside clouds.
An appropriate starting point in the science of electrostatics is Coulomb's law. See
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The electron is considered to be the smallest fundamental particle and the only one that has a negative charge. Its value is very, very tiny in the Coulomb unit. A proton has a mass that is 1837 times the electron. However, the proton has a positive charge that is the same value as the electron. The electron is very mobile; it can move from place to place.
Where the radius of curvature of a conductor is very small, very high electric field intensity is possible in a small region. A high field strength gives rise to a discharge called corona. Corona is common when pointed conductors or fine wires are used as electrodes. A sharp-pointed conductor which is maintained at high negative potentials (excess electrons) will give rise to a corona discharge.
Either positive charges or negative charges can be used in this ELECTROSTATIC REPULSION MOTOR. However, negative charges—excess electrons—would be more advantageous judging from certain electrostatic properties.
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A main charging line 40 is connected to a rotor charging line 40A and a stator charging line 40B; they are in electrical parallel. There is a discharging line 50 also. The center line 80 is for alignment purposes. The rotor 20 and stator 30 should be made from a material that is strong, tough, and with good electrical insulation properties.
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When a pointed metallic prong 70 of the rotor 20 is in alignment with the horizontal center line 80, and opposite the pointed metallic prong 40C of the stator 30, and both charged with like charges simultaneously—a repulsive force—this will cause rotation 200 on the rotor 20.
When the pointed metallic prong 70 reaches the lower line 90 it will discharge. The continuous repeating of the above sequence for each prong 70 around the rim of the rotor 20, produces continuous rotation 200 of the rotor 20. The many pointed metallic prongs 70 passes through the v-shape groove 30C centered in the stator 30. The v-shape groove 30C intersect the round hole 30A.
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For charging, the charges travel from the upper fine wires 50A to the lower fine wires 60A and its metallic cylindrical base 60 then to the prong 70. For discharging, the charges travel in a reverse path from the prong 70.
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For the proper operation of the motor, the important dimensions A and B and important angles X and Y, are needed to show the correct configurations the stator 30 needs. The exact dimensions A and B vary with the size of the stator 30, but the angles X and Y can remain the same. The two lines 100 and 150 are parallel.
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Why is most motors the electromagnetic type (called the electric motor by many), and using “inferior” magnetic forces? There are two main reasons. First, any useful concentrations of electrostatic charges can cause an electric breakdown in the medium surrounding or supporting the charges. Second, very, very high voltages are needed for electrostatic motors. The “problems” for the need of better insulating materials and techniques have vanished, along with the economical and convenient shortcomings.
The future looks very, very good for the electrostatic motor. Direct currents at very, very high voltages are transported more efficiently than alternating currents. The electromagnetic motor—known mostly as the electric motor—will always remain very important too.