Roger L Andrews

US Patent:

47288710, Mar 1, 1988

Filed:

Nov 1, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/794294

Inventors:

Roger W. Andrews - Eugene OR

International Classification:

H02K 3300

US Classification:

318130

Abstract:

A permanent magnet armature is arranged to be moved initially in spaced proximity to an induction coil connected in an electric circuit across the series arrangement of a source of electric potential and an electronic switch such that when the moving magnetic field of the magnet cuts the coil turns the resulting induced current operates the switch momentarily to connect the source of electric potential across the coil. The resulting current flow through the coil produces a magnetic field which is imposed upon the moving magnet such as to accelerate its movement. An RC time constant circuit is connected across the coil to establish the time period of battery connection across the coil. In one embodiment, the magnet armature is a permanent magnet mounted at the bottom end of a pendulum arm supported at its upper end for oscillation with two degrees of freedom in a random manner produced by arranging an odd number of three or more permanent magnets symmetrically about the vertical axis of the coil and poled to repel the pendulum magnet.

US Patent:

51354250, Aug 4, 1992

Filed:

Jul 19, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/560510

Inventors:

Melvin R. Andrews - Corvallis OR
Roger W. Andrews - Eugene OR

International Classification:

A63H 3326

US Classification:

446133

Abstract:

A magnetic spinner toy includes a plurality of spinner bodies mounted one adjacent another on a support base for independent rotation. A plurality of permanent spinner magnets are mounted on each spinner body at circumferentially spaced positions for rotation closely adjacent the spinner magnets of the adjacent spinner body. The magnetic poles of the confronting surfaces of the spinner magnets of adjacent spinner bodies are either of like polarity, whereby to repel each other, or of unlike polarity, whereby they attract each other. A pair of permanent levitating magnets are mounted one on each spinner body and the other on the support base with the confronting faces of the pair being of the same polarity, whereby to repel each other and thus maintain the spinner body spaced from the support base to eliminate frictional engagement between them. A battery-operated electromagnetic drive mechanism may be associated with at least one spinner body for actuation by movement of the spinner magnets of said spinner body to move said spinner body by magnetic repulsion, whereby to extend the operating time of the magnetic spinner toy.