"RICK'S PIPE DREAM" Magnetic Motor-Generator

[rickoff]

Reply to Bren:

Rick, great-stuff. Just caught up with your 'pipedream' a couple of days ago. just about up to date with your postings now. Fascinating.
You have got my full attention.

Best regards, Bren.

Hi Bren, glad you are enjoying this thread. Are you contemplating a replication? I hope you will join the project effort.

Best wishes,

Rick

[rickoff]

Re: Stator movement

I've tried moving my mostat to a neutral position in the middle of a magnet group as you suggested, but I'm finding it difficult

If you do find movement of the stator difficult, while it is positioned over a rotor magnet group, then this can only mean that the stator to rotor air gap is too narrow. You may need to go even higher than the 1+3/4" gap that I find easy movement at, since your rotor magnets are stronger. When you find the widest gap that still allows the front end of a magnet group to be drawn in by the stator, that should be the right height. When you find that optimal height, you will see that movement at any time is nearly effortless. I am thinking now that I just may time my track to slowly move all the way through the group so that I will have maximum repulsion effect at the tail end. The result of this may very well pay off because it would reduce track curvature to a bare minimum, thus avoiding nearly all frictional resistance at the tracking carriage rollers. I am also thinking that if I do it this way, perhaps I should first try moving the stator in a direct horizontal plane rather than pivoting it. My slider block and rail setup is very lightweight, stable, and super slick, so I am leaning toward utilizing the slider block as the single moving part, with the tracking carriage and stator mount being a single piece that attaches to the slider block. I still like the idea of a pivoting stator, and may still try that out later, but it does seem to make sense that if I only have one moving assembly (tracking carriage/stator mount combo) instead of two (pivoting stator with linkage arm to tracking carriage) then it will require less effort from the rotor to achieve necessary movement. I'll just have to experiment with the track layout of one group to see if I can get to the point where it is possible to self-start at the front end and move the stator fully, or near fully, by the time it encounters the last magnet of the rotor group. If so, I will have gained the maximum acceleration effect possible at both ends of the group, and that would be a bonanza. In curving the track only after the tail end of a group passes the stator, there would still be advantageous repulsion, but not anything near the maximum effect that is possible in direct alignment at the critical repulsion margin.

Best regards,

Rick

[rickoff]

Rotor Magnet Space Maintainers

Hi folks,

Here is a picture that shows how the rotor magnet space maintainers look when applied to a group of rotor magnets.



This was just a temporary check, and the spacers are actually going on the new wheel. I made these spacers from 1/4" thick x 3/4" wide polyethelene bar stock. This is McMaster-Carr part # 8702K62, and comes in 5 ft lengths. McMaster-Carr

I made up a simple jig for cutting these to exact size, and will post those details soon. These are cut 5/8"wide at the outside of the rim, and 9/16" wide at the inside, and they must be perfect so that the magnets all align properly. This is tough material, and is harder to saw than oak. Each cut leaves a burred edge at the bottom, and its just about impossible to sand or file this burr off. I came up with a great solution, though. Cuticle scissors quickly cut the burrs off. It's almost like cutting fingernails, and goes very quickly with these. In case you don't know what these are, just ask your wife or girlfriend, as she probably has a pair of these scissors for nail grooming. And trimming these won't ruin them - they'll be just as sharp as ever.

Heading off to bed now, and will be assembling the magnets, spacers, and clear polycarbonate track base ring on the new wheel when I wake up. All of that is cut out and ready for assembly.

Best to all,

Rick

[Tishatang]

Hi Rick

I wish I were in a position to do my own build of your design. I can only root for you from the sidelines. I do want to offer the following idea to your project. this is based on my own PPM motor idea of different design than yours. I never got a chance to build mine. I think your idea is better than mine as a self runner. Mine might be good as a pulse motor?

I hope you succeed with one moving stator. But, if you don't, then use three moving stators. The reason is that the geometry of four rotor groups and three stators will be that as one rotor group is entering the sticky spot, two of the other rotor groups will have already been through the "gate". Their combined acceleration will help propel the sticky one through the tracking mechanism. In other words, you will have two rotor segments helping you through any one sticky spot.

You may have to hand start it. But, if your idea works it should run better and stronger with three moving stators and four rotor segments.

You may have to draw this out to see what I mean on paper.

I am posting this now instead of later, because I am having more and more trouble accessing sites from China. I hope this helps.

Tishatang

[rickoff]

Reply to Tish:

Hi Rick

I wish I were in a position to do my own build of your design. I can only root for you from the sidelines. I do want to offer the following idea to your project. this is based on my own PPM motor idea of different design than yours. I never got a chance to build mine. I think your idea is better than mine as a self runner. Mine might be good as a pulse motor?

I hope you succeed with one moving stator. But, if you don't, then use three moving stators. The reason is that the geometry of four rotor groups and three stators will be that as one rotor group is entering the sticky spot, two of the other rotor groups will have already been through the "gate". Their combined acceleration will help propel the sticky one through the tracking mechanism. In other words, you will have two rotor segments helping you through any one sticky spot.

You may have to hand start it. But, if your idea works it should run better and stronger with three moving stators and four rotor segments.

You may have to draw this out to see what I mean on paper.

I am posting this now instead of later, because I am having more and more trouble accessing sites from China. I hope this helps.

Tishatang

Hi Tish,

I know exactly what you mean, and this is an aspect that I talked about in post #163, and other previous postings. While a single stator must first be "tuned in" for best possible results, additional stators will then be added to provide additive attraction and repulsion accelerations that will assist rotation with timing offsets that provide for continued acceleration by one or more stators while one or more other stators are in an equilibrium state which does not provide motive force. The use of a timing track is the simplest method for implementing additional stators, because any location around the circular track will already be set for perfect timing, and the only consideration will be the amount of timing offset used in relation to the other stators which are deployed. If at least 2 stators are providing rotational acceleration while 1 is in equilibrium, then there is no question that this will provide a boost in rotational speed. Probably the most advantageous setup, if using 3 stators, is to position the first stator at the attraction acceleration point (lead end) of a magnet group, the second stator at midpoint through a group, and the third stator at the high repulsion margin (tail end of group). This way, there are always two active propulsive accelerative forces and only one non-productive element, which is the stator in equilibrium as it passes through a group.

Best 2 U,

Rick

[Mark]

Hello Rick

Just wanted to check in with you to see how things are going, haven't seen any updates in the last few days and wanted to make sure your not being harassed.


Mark

[rickoff]

Reply to Mark:

Hello Rick

Just wanted to check in with you to see how things are going, haven't seen any updates in the last few days and wanted to make sure your not being harassed.

Mark

Hi Mark,

I haven't been harrassed yet, and it probably won't happen unless I do succeed with a self-runner. Things are proceeding, and I hope to be able to post a video update tonight or tomorrow showing what's new. Progress has been a bit slower than I, and probably everyone else, would like to see, but it is the result of trying to thoroughly document every step that I take. It makes everything a lot more difficult and time consuming for me, but I figure that it is well worth the extra effort since it will make replications by others so much easier for them.

I have removed the bent and rusted bike wheel with the bad bearings, and replaced it with the new rear wheel with 3/8" axle. It's nice to see the rotor running true now. The polyethelene magnet spacers, and the clear polycarbonate track base are mounted to the new wheel, and I am now working on the tracking carriage/stator mount assembly, which must be completed before I can start laying the track.

It's quite possible that someone may implement all of these ideas before I am able to piece them all together, and really I hope that will be the case. If the project succeeds then I will feel that I have succeeded, and already there is some degree of success in that many people have taken an interest and joined the effort. There is only so much that I can accomplish working alone, as I can only explore one possibility at a time, and within the time that I can allocate for this work. But with many people concentrating their efforts on additional possibilities, the chance for success is elevated while the time frame for achieving it is greatly reduced. While most people will view this project from the perspective of what they see in this thread, or what they see in the videos, there is really a great deal more that occurs behind the scenes. For example, documenting each step of the construction process, preparing the 100 page builder's document file, setting up the Pipe Dream website, and corresponding with the many people who make inquiries each day. My main concern currently is establishing a searchable database wherein experimenters can share information and data concerning ideas and methods which have been proposed and/or tested. The idea is to standardize a test procedure, and have all experimenters fill out a standardized data form to report all the relevant factors. It is very important to initiate this as quickly as possible, so that experimenters will have full access to the database. So to me this factor is at least as important as, and probably even more important than, the progress of my own build. I know that everyone is eager to see the results of the completed tracking/timing system, and I am forging ahead on that each day. I just want folks to understand why that is taking more time than they might expect.

Well, enough for now. I'd better get back to work now.

Best regards to all,

Rick

[Jbignes5]

@Rickoff

In all my readings and forays into the forums of these subjects Yours has to be the most organized, responsive and informative post I have ever read on any subject besides professor based papers. You are doing fine and something this important to you cannot be rushed for sure. We wait patiently for more from you. As I see it you have suceeded already at capturing the most important thing in any experiment and that is documentation of that endevor. You are a role model that we all have sorely needed and I for one am grateful that you decided to bring order to chaos in this area.
Keep up the good work and do it your way! It is the best way to prove, protect and collect the most useful data for your project!

[brenie]

Jbignes5, Not much anyone can add to that.
I'm sure most folks following Ricks site wish they had said it first.

Regards, Bren.

[rickoff]

New Pipe Dream video available

Hi folks,

Just to let you know, video #20 is now available for viewing.
YouTube - Video #20, "Rick's Pipe Dream" Magnetic Motor - Generator Project

This shows the polyurethane magnet spacers and the polycarbonate track base applied to the new wheel. It doesn't show the actual fastening method used, as I ran out of time on this video and couldn't squeeze that part in, so that will have to wait to be shown in the next video. I probably will show a snapshot view here in the forum thread, though, before posting the next video.

Jbig and Bren - thanks for the kind words fellas. It really is a good feeling to see so many people taking a genuine interest in all of this. Each day now I receive mail from people in different countries around the world who want to be a part of this effort, and this is exactly what I was hoping for. Even people in relatively poor countries are wanting to replicate the Pipe Dream apparatus now that there is a way to build such a device affordably.

Well, back to work again - maybe I can get a little more done before heading off to bed. Whatever I can't get done tomorrow will have to wait a few days, as I will be heading off to my cottage Friday to do some more work up there. While this will cause a slight delay in my build, it affords me a chance to do some serious brainstorming in that peaceful and motivational setting.

Best to all,

Rick

[rickoff]

Polycarbonate track base ring attachment

Here's the method I used for attaching the polycarbonate track base to the rim. Again, I don't suggest that this is the best method or material for the track base.


I chose the clear polycarbonate material to afford best visibility in pictures and video, and chose to apply the track base over the rotor magnets, rather than the flywheel, because I want to test the track system both with and without the flywheel attached. If a wood flywheel is used as the track base, it would be best to use a flywheel of 28" minimum diameter, and 28+5/8" would be preferable. Until I can prove that this type of timing track is a viable method for moving the stator, I really don't suggest that anyone start building one. There are several other possible methods of moving the stator, and while I hope that this one proves successful, one of the other methods may prove to work even better. This is an unknown factor at this time, and we need to do comparative testing to find what will really work best. If I can get this somewhat close to actually working, then I'll figure that I'm on the right track, so to speak. If it doesn't come close, after readjustments, then I will abandon the track for another method. As I say, there are several possible methods, and it would probably take me quite a while to experiment with all of them. Hopefully I won't need to do that, as other replicators will embark on differing methods of achieving stator movement. That's the best way to maximize our efforts.

Best regards to all,

Rick

[Spearmaster]

plastic jig

Hi Rick,

I know you're busy, and I know you're trying to discourage us from following your build too closely, but I am at the point of being ready to make some sort of pieces to put between the magnets and would like to get a description of the jig you used to cut your polycarbonate pieces.

I would also like to sneak a magnet question in here if possible. I notice that your neo stator magnet has a steel backing plate. When I touch this backing plate with a wrench, it's not even slightly magnetic. My initial understanding of this is that the backing plate acts as a friendly conduit that contains the magnetic lines of force on that side of the magnet and concentrates them to travel through this smaller tighter shape or space. I did not know that it would not be externally magnetic. (I later noticed that it very slightly attracts a drill bit.)

Is this the same principal as magnetic shielding? My understanding of magnetic shielding is that it's a substance (metal?) that will move or stretch the magnetic field into a non-normal pattern, but that the entire magnetic field (gauss) will still remain available at some point in reference to the magnet. If these two things are not identical, then can anyone explain the difference?


TIA,
Carl

[rickoff]

Reply to Spearmaster:

Hi Spearmaster,

I have some documentary photos that show the making of the jig, and I will post them for you when I return home - probably Sunday evening.

The purpose of the steel backing plate on the HD magnet is to serve as magnetic shielding. You can see that it requires metal of the same thickness as the magnet to serve as good shielding. You may remember that in one of my videos I showed a paper clip tapping against the steel backing plate, and it would not stick. And yet this HD magnet probably has a pull force of at least 200 pounds. So that's pretty decent shielding, and it concentrates the magnetic fields where we want them - interacting with the rotor magnets.

Were you able to find a 1/4" thick HD magnet, or did you configure one in the manner that I suggested? How have your experiments been going?

Best regards to you,

Rick

[Spearmaster]

Hi Rick,

I emailed the seller on eBay that was handling the magnets that looked like yours and he told me that all his magnets are the same so I bought three of them so I would have some spares. They have arrived and they look identical to yours so I'm hoping they work OK. They are much heavier than the ones I was trying to use.

Is the metal of the shielding a special metal or is it just steel?

I just got back from a long trip to South Carolina where I was working on this unit and it is now dismantled. I have to prepare an area for it over here, then it's back at it again. I have several other projects, so I'm hoping I can be patient enough to see how you make out with your current stator attempt before I jump headlong back into it again. Patience is not one of my virtues .

Thanks,
Carl

[rickoff]

Hi Carl,

Glad you were able to get those magnets. The steel is a high permeability alloy. Be very careful how you handle these magnets, Carl. You will quickly learn about the "point of no return" that I talked about earlier, and when you pass that the magnet will keep going towards whatever it is attracted to with tremendous force.

Rick