Software verifies merits of novel magnetic gear

A novel form of magnetic gear has been proposed by Professor David Howe and Dr Kais Atallah of the Machines and Drives Research Group at the University of Sheffield. Simulations performed using the MagNet software from Infolytica confirm that it has the potential to replace conventional mechanical gearboxes in some applications. This device also showcases the advanced capabilities of Infolytica's transient with motion solver, which is able to simulate multiple moving parts simultaneously.

The operation of the assembly is analogous to a planetary gear, with the inner rotor acting as the sun gear, the outer rotor as the ring gear, and the stationary steel pole pieces acting as planetary gears (it is the magnetic field that spins, not the pole pieces themselves).

As there are 44 magnets in the outer rotor and eight in the inner rotor, the gear ratio of this magnetic gearbox is 5.5:1.

Performance data, as well as field plots and animations illustrating the operation of the device are available, and a prebuilt model may be downloaded by maintained clients.