Abstract of the Offer
Cleaner World Technologies is a limited company based in Lancashire, UK and consists of Simon Lewis (Director/Inventor), assisted by Sarah Lewis (Business/Marketing). Their Magnetic Gear Transmission technology is a non-contact alternative to mechanical gears.
It has been suggested that the gear could be used for satellite refuelling and other space applications as it requires no lubrication. The company ideally seeks to license the technology but is also receptive to alternative proposals.
Description
Cleaner World Technologies innovative magnetic gear addresses many problems traditionally associated with mechanical gears.
It is a non-contact, frictionless gear which could be developed to replace planetary gears, spur gears and potentially other types of gear including linear to rotary. There are two versions of the basic gear. One where magnets are interlocked (higher torque) and another non-interlocked version where magnets ‘pass’ each other (higher speed). Speeds of up to 8000 RPM have been achieved with ease.
A simple prototype consists of one larger rotor/wheel (typically 8 magnets) and a smaller rotor/wheel (typically 4 magnets) with the small rotor driving the larger rotor. The company has various designs including a compact version where the smaller rotor is located on top of the larger rotor, instead of adjacent.
It has been identified that the system could assist with re-fuelling of satellites and other potential applications for space. A number of academics have reviewed the technology and cited aerospace as an ideal sector as the gear does not require lubrication.
Advantages and Innovations
Key benefits of this ’non-contact’ system include:
- Less wear and tear, therefore less maintenance and cost savings.
- No lubrication required therefore lower carbon footprint / suitability for space.
- Less friction—less loss of power and lower running costs.
- Self regulating—will simply ‘slip’ when experiencing excess loads.
- Less heat, noise and vibration.
The magnets on this gear system are configured differently to other magnetic gears on the market. On the simple prototype design there are two magnets (20mm x 23mm) stacked on top of each other so the force is in the middle. The gears can operate forwards, backwards, upside down, indeed any angle at all without any reduction or interference with performance. The gear is very smooth and harmonious at high speeds and has been 100% reliable during in-house testing.
Due to the simple design of the gear system, it has also been praised for its potential low cost by Professor Chris Gerada (Professor of Electrical Machines) at Nottingham University.