Investigations into the roller electrical motor

The roller electrical motor (REM) consists of non-magnetic stainless steel cylinders rolling on parallel stainless steel rails of the same diameter wi th an electrical current passing from rail to rail through the rolling cyli nders. The REM is found to be capable of carrying heavy loads, the electric al driving force increasing as the current and loading are raised. When the REM carries a 50 kg load the driving force increases at the rate of 80 mN A(-1). At 30 A the REM is capable of driving external frictional loads of 1 .7 and 2.2 N while carrying loads of 50 and 100 kg respectively. This paper describes the characteristics of the REM and discusses the origin of the d riving force. A thermal expansion theory is developed to explain the experi mental results.