Ball bearing motor

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A ball bearing motor is an unusual electric motor that consists of two ball-bearing races on a common conductive shaft, with the outer ring of each race being connected to a high current, low voltage power supply. An alternative construction fits the ballraces inside a metal tube mounted on a shaft with a non-conductive section (e.g. two sleeves on an insulating rod). This method has the advantage that the tube will act as a flywheel. The direction of rotation is determined by the initial spin which is usually required to get it going.

S. Marinov suggests that the device produces motion from electricity without magnetism being involved, operating purely by thermal means.^[1] The same explanation is given by Watson, Patel and Sedcole for rotating cylinders (instead of balls).^[2] However, H. Gruenberg has given a thorough theoretical explanation based on pure electromagnetism (and neglecting the thermal effects completely).^[3] Also, P. Hatzikonstantinou and P. G. Moyssides claim to have found an excellent agreement between the results from the electromagnetic theory and the experiments measuring the total power and efficiency of the motor.^[4]

[edit] Possible uses

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There have been few proposed uses for ball bearing motors:

Ball bearing motors could be used to provide for Hydraulics that require short, powerful bursts of force, such as those in robotic arms.

Groups of ball bearing motors could be used to quickly open or close large blast doors if properly cooled.

[edit] References

^ Mike Harrison. The Ball-Bearing electric motor. Retrieved on October 8, 2006.
^ D. B. Watson, S. M. Patel, N. P. Sedcole. Ball-bearing motor effect with rolling cylinders. IEE Proc.-Sci. M eas. Technol., Vol. 146, No. 2, March 1999.[1]
^ H. Gruenberg. The ball bearing as a motor. American Journal of Physics, Dec. 1978, Vol. 46, Issue 12, pp. 1213-1219.[2]
^ P. Hatzikonstantinou, P. G. Moyssides. Explanation of the ball bearing motor and exact solutions of the related Maxwell equations. Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General, Volume 23, Issue 14, pp. 3183-3197 (1990).[3][4]