After studying and analyzing the Harmonic Drive system, I have come to the conclusion the possibilities are endless with such a system in the research and development of Homopolar Generators and motors.
Please watch this demonstration on the inner workings of the Harmonic Drive system, http://www.harmonicdrive.de/german/funktionsprinzip/funktionsprinzip-film.html Below is an attached image taken from the above video I want to draw your attention to. In the video you will notice the teeth makes contact radially in and out. There is no angular speed between the flex spline and the circular spline when contact is made between the two! When the teeth are making contact, then it acts as a switch to allow current to flow from the rotating disc to the stationary external circuit, instead of having huge losses associated with conventional brushes.
When some teeth are engaging, other teeth are dis-engaging. This will simulate a rotating field on the disc. This may allow a system to be created without the counter torque in order to achieve OU.
You could also easily test out a hpm connected to a hpg. The generator provides current to the motor and the motor provides torque to the generator. The output and input shafts are coaxial. (I have a design based around this concept also). There are a lot of opportunities with this drive system.
In the near future, I will post detailed drawings of what could be accomplished using the Harmonic Drive systems and HPG/HPM. I need time to create these drawings, so this will give you time to study the Harmonic Drive systems in the meantime.
Please help me to kick this idea around. Thanks
Additional References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonic_drive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1v7a0jsp1I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwkp4pKit7A
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/80731612
http://www.waltmusser.org/HD.htm
GB
would BEMF be directed towards the direction of the axle as opposed to the opposite direction in which the wheel is rotating?
but then i guess if that were the case it would be interpreted by the axle itself?
i dont know, thats my first couple thoughts
that does bring up interesting questions... good find