I think I have figured out the gist of the Steorn motor from inferences derived from the voluminous postings on the Steorn forum. It's as if Steorn wants to get the information out, but in such a way that it doesn't invalidate any patents they are seeking.
In any case I expect the full details to be released in less than 8 months. I sure hope it works. ( http://www.steorn.net http://www.steornwatch.com http://www.steornpower.com ) ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steorn ) ( http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=WO2006035419&QPN=WO2006035419 ) I will describe several versions of how I think a fuelless engine could work for the record. These are constant torque motors, so, ironically, in their simplest embodiment, they would self destruct without a load. The highest power to weight ratio would therefore be a high RPM version. Steorn claims to have a 550 hp motor running. I'm not proficient in mechanical CAD programs, so, I'll give brief descriptions in English (I've got a copy of Alibre design and emachineshop.com; what do you think of those? What program do you use? ). Variation 1: Similar to a permanent magnet alternator, except there are two rows of 4-6 neodymium-iron-boron magnets on both the stator and rotor offset such that the magnets are rotationally staggered from one row to the other. In between the rotor and stator is a soft iron pipe with 1/4" thick walls that is the width of one magnet row. Here's the tricky part for a mechanical engineer. It must slide up and down alternating between the two rows, alternately shielding the magnetic fields from one row, then the other. I originally envisioned an alternating screw cam following a left and right helix machined into the rotor (similar to the way a fishing reel guides the line onto the spool ( Is there a name for that mechanism? ). Because of axial vibration, I think one would have two of these motors on the same axis 180o out of phase to cancel the inertial forces. This is well beyond my capability to design and build :-( . Variation 2: Reference Steorn's patent ( http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=WO2006035419&QPN=WO2006035419 ) Each stator magnet has it's own shield that moves axially with the appropriate timing. These Ne-Fe-Bo magnets are incredibly strong. In spite of all my care with the 1 cubic inch magnets, I'm often trying to unstick the tools on my workbench from them as they tend to get sucked in. When one gets stuck to my vice, it's quite a problem. I can pull it off with pliers, but then it's stuck to the pliers :-(. Given these forces measured in tons, I think a car alternator sized motor could produce ~50HP. Does anyone want to build this? Hoyt Stearns Scottsdale, Arizona US http://HoytStearns.com
