Disc-type variable reluctance rotating machine

Claim 2

A variable reluctance rotating machine, which comprises: a. a frame including a pair of end plates parallel to and spaced from one another; b. a shaft rotatably journaled in said end plates for rotation about its axis; c. a stator disc positioned intermediate said end plates and supported by said frame, said stator disc comprising a stator ring through which said shaft passes, said stator ring being made from a non-magnetic material and having an annular channel therein concentric with the axis of said stator ring, said stator ring also having a plurality of equally-spaced inner openings extending axially therethrough on the radially inward side of said channel and an equal plurality of equally-spaced outer openings extending axially therethrough on the radially outward side of said channel, said outer openings being in radial alignment, respectively, with said inner openings; a helical winding positioned in said annular channel in said stator ring; and inner and outer stator disc inserts, made from magnetic material, positioned in each of said inner and outer openings in said stator rings; and d. a rotor disc positioned between one of said end plates and said stator disc, said rotor disc being attached to said shaft for rotation therewith, said rotor disc comprising a rotor ring, made from a non-magnetic material and having a plurality of equally-spaced radially extending slots therein, and rotor inserts, made from a magnetic material and positioned in each of said slots to permit them alternately to come into and go out of axial alignment with said inner and outer stator disc inserts when said shaft and rotor disc are rotated.

Claim 3

A variable reluctance rotating machine in accordance with claim 1, which further comprises a second rotor disc having a structure as defined in (d) of claim 1, said second rotor disc being attached to said shaft for rotation therewith and being positioned between said stator disc and the other of said end plates.

Claim 4

A variable reluctance rotating machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said stator disc includes a second annular channel therein concentric with the axis of said stator ring and wherein said stator disc further includes a second helical winding positioned in said second annular channel in said stator ring.

Claim 5

A variable reluctance rotating machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein said stator disc further includes a second annular channel in said stator ring concentric with the axis of said stator ring and wherein said stator disc further includes a second helical winding positioned in said second annular channel in said stator ring.

Claim 6

A variable reluctance rotating machine, which comprises: a. a frame including a pair of end plates parallel to and spaced from one another; b. a shaft rotatably journaled in said end plates for rotation about its axis; c. a plurality of stator discs equally-spaced from one another in an axial direction and positioned intermediate said end plates and supported by said frame, each of said stator discs comprising a stator ring through which said shaft passes, said stator ring being made from a non-magnetic material and having an annular channel therein concentric with the axis of said stator ring, said stator ring also having a plurality of equally-spaced inner openings extending axially therethrough on the radially inward side of said channel and an equal plurality of equally-spaced outer openings extending axially therethrough on the radially outward side of said channel, said outer openings being in radial alignment, respectively, with said inner openings; a helical winding positioned in said annular channel in said stator ring; and inner and outer stator disc inserts, made from magnetic material, pOsitioned in each of said inner and outer openings in said stator ring; and d. a plurality of rotor discs, exceeding by one the number of said stator discs, said stator discs being positioned between said rotor discs and said rotor discs being attached to said shaft for rotation therewith, each of said rotor discs comprising a rotor ring, made from a non-magnetic material and having a plurality of equally-spaced radially extending slots therein, and rotor inserts, made from a magnetic material and positioned in each of said slots to permit them alternately to come into and to go out of axial alignment with said inner and outer stator disc inserts when said shaft and rotor disc are rotated.

Claim 7

A variable reluctance rotating machine, which comprises: a. a frame including a pair of end plates parallel to and spaced from one another; b. a shaft rotatably journaled in said end plates for rotation about its axis; c. a plurality of stator discs equally-spaced from one another in an axial direction and positioned intermediate said end plates and supported by said frame, each of said stator discs comprising a stator ring through which said shaft passes, said stator ring being made from a non-magnetic material and having an annular channel therein concentric with the axis of said stator ring, said stator ring also having a plurality of equally-spaced inner openings extending axially therethrough on the radially inward side of said channel and an equal plurality of equally-spaced outer openings extending axially therethrough on the radially outward side of said channel, said outer openings being in radial alignment, respectively, with said inner openings; a helical winding positioned in said annular channel in said stator ring; and inner and outer stator disc inserts, made from magnetic material, pOsitioned in each of said inner and outer openings in said stator ring; and d. a plurality of rotor discs, exceeding by one the number of said stator discs, said stator discs being positioned between said rotor discs and said rotor discs being attached to said shaft for rotation therewith, each of said rotor discs comprising a rotor ring, made from a non-magnetic material and having a plurality of equally-spaced radially extending slots therein, and rotor inserts, made from a magnetic material and positioned in each of said slots to permit them alternately to come into and to go out of axial alignment with said inner and outer stator disc inserts when said shaft and rotor disc are rotated.

Claim 8

A variable reluctance rotating machine in accordance with claim 5, wherein said inner and outer stator disc inserts of at least one of said stator discs are misaligned with respect to such inserts in another of said stator discs.

Claim 9

A variable reluctance rotating machine in accordance with claim 5, wherein at least one of said stator discs further includes a second annular channel in its stator ring, said second annular channel being concentric with the axis of said stator ring, and a second helical winding positioned in said second annular channel in said stator ring.

Claim 10

A variable reluctance motor in accordance with claim 7, wherein said inner and outer stator disc inserts in at least one of said stator discs are misaligned with respect to such inserts in another of said stator discs.

Claim 11

A variable reluctance rotating machine, which comprises: a. a frame including a pair of end plates parallel to and spaced from one another; b. a shaft rotatably journaled in said end plates for rotation about its axis; c. a plurality of stator discs equally-spaced from one another and positioned intermediate said end plates and supported by said frame, each of said stator discs comprising a stator ring through which said shaft passes, said stator ring being made from a non-magnetic material and having an annular channel therein concentric with the axis of said stator ring, said stator ring also having a plurality of equally-spaced inner openings extending axially therethrough on the radially inward side of said channel and an equal plurality of equally-spaced outer openings extending axially therethrough on the radially outward side of said channel, said outer openings being in radial alignment, respectively, with said inner openings; a helical winding positioned in said annular channel in said stator ring; and inner and outer stator disc inserts, made from magnetic material, positioned in each of said inner and outer openings in said stator ring; and d. a rotor assembly, said rotor assembly comprising a pair of rotor support rings attached to said shaft for rotation therewith and a plurality of equally-spaced rotor discs supported by said rotor support rings and exceeding by one the number of said stator discs, said stator discs being positioned between said rotor discs, and each of said rotor discs including a rotor ring, made from a non-magnetic material and having a plurality of equally-spaced radially extending slots therein, and rotor inserts, made from a magnetic material and positioned in each of said slots to permit them alternately to come into and go out of axial alignment with said inner and outer stator disc inserts when said shaft and rotor assembly are rotated.

Claim 12

A variable reluctance rotating machine, which comprises: a. a frame including a pair of end plates parallel to and spaced from one another; b. a shaft rotatably journaled in said end plates for rotation about its axis; c. a plurality of stator discs equally-spaced from one another and positioned intermediate said end plates and supported by said frame, each of said stator discs comprising a stator ring through which said shaft passes, said stator ring being made from a non-magnetic material and having an annular channel therein concentric with the axis of said stator ring, said stator ring also having a plurality of equally-spaced inner openings extending axially therethrough on the radially inward side of said channel and an equal plurality of equally-spaced outer openings extending axially therethrough on the radially outward side of said channel, said outer openings being in radial alignment, respectively, with said inner openings; a helical winding positioned in said annular channel in said stator ring; and inner and outer stator disc inserts, made from magnetic material, positioned in each of said inner and outer openings in said stator ring; and d. a rotor assembly, said rotor assembly comprising a pair of rotor support rings attached to said shaft for rotation therewith and a plurality of equally-spaced rotor discs supported by said rotor support rings and exceeding by one the number of said stator discs, said stator discs being positioned between said rotor discs, and each of said rotor discs including a rotor ring, made from a non-magnetic material and having a plurality of equally-spaced radially extending slots therein, and rotor inserts, made from a magnetic material and positioned in each of said slots to permit them alternately to come into and go out of axial alignment with said inner and outer stator disc inserts when said shaft and rotor assembly are rotated.