Correlated
Magnetics Research (CMR) has been awarded a Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR) grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to design
and develop high-torque magnetic gears and couplings utilizing CMR’s
Polymagnet technology. The two-year contract is valued at $747,995 and
is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Navy, CMR and MagnaDrive,
Inc., of Woodinville, Wash.

CMR
will design and develop Polymagnet-enabled magnetic couplings to
produce quiet, maintenance free, power-transfer linkages for Naval
systems, DoD, and industrial applications. The effort is a follow-on to
ONR’s Phase I research project performed by CMR and directly addresses
the Navy’s requirements for noise and maintenance reduction for on-board
pumps, electric-drive machines and propulsion systems for naval
vessels.

Traditional
mechanical couplings and gears require lubrication, generate heat, emit
vibrations and sound, suffer from structural wear and require
significant maintenance. Interlocking magnetic fields on the other hand,
require no physical contact and thus no lubrication. They also supress
vibration, eliminate structural wear and virtually eliminate maintenance
requirements. CMR’s proprietary multi-pole magnetic structures overcome
the shortcomings of current magnetic couplings: low torque transfer
performance, strong tensile (non-torque producing) forces between the
magnets and large, heavy rotating mass.

Referring
to the potential for maintenance-free operation, ONR’s Dr. Scott Coombe
said, “This alone is reason to pursue development of magnetic gearing
for propulsion, power generation and actuation.”

The
Phase II project includes magnetization research, creation of
industrial-scale complex magnetization capability, prototype development
and full-scale magnetic coupling development. CMR and MagnaDrive will
commercialize the coupling technologies following completion of the
effort.

Source: Correlated Magnetics Research