US4757224A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Full flux reversal variable reluctance machine
Assignee: LEXINGTON CAPITAL PARTNERS & Co Inc
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Filing: 1986-09-24
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Granted: 1988-07-12
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Expires: 2006-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A full flux reversal variable reluctance machine is disclosed. The stator includes a plurality of poles and electrical windings surrounding a portion of the stator. The rotor comprises main and shunt components that have alternate sections of high and low magnetic permeability. The shunt and main components are magnetically isolated, and the sections of high and low magnetic permeability for one component are complementary to the sections on the other component. Variations in flux magnitude and direction are induced in the stator without reversing the flux direction in the rotor.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel W. McGee
- 👤 Frederick B. Reiter
- 👤 Vamaraju S. R. Murthy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:40
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K21/00; H02K19/00; H02K19/16; H02K19/22; H02K19/24; H02K21/38; H02K21/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
A full flux reversal variable reluctance brushless machine comprising an annular, magnetically permeable stator having a plurality of fixed poles faces that define an annular stator surface and a central axis; at least one electrical winding surrounding at least one portion of the stator; a magnetically permeable rotor including a shaft mounted for rotation about the central axis and in magnetic circuit with certain of the pole faces of the stator, the rotor comprising a main component defining alternate sections of high and low magnetic permeability for varying the magnetic permeability between a first set of non-adjacent stator poles during rotation of the rotor, and a shunt component magnetically isolated from the main component, the shunt component defining alternate sections of high and low magnetic permeability that are circumferentially complementary to the sections of high and low magnetic permeability of the main cylindrical component for varying the magnetic permeability between a second set of non-adjacent stator poles to form a magnetic circuit from the first set of stator poles and the main component; and magnetic means for generating a radially oriented magnetic flux with respect to the rotor shaft, the magnetic means being annularly shaped having poles radially aligned with poles of one polarity in magnetic circuit with the rotor main component and poles of the other polarity in magnetic circuit with the rotor shunt component, and being disposed between the main and shunt rotor components, and such that rotation of the rotor induces variations in flux magnitude and flux direction in the stator without reversing flux direction in the rotor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
261 words
A full flux reversal variable reluctance brushless machine comprising an annular, magnetically permeable stator having a plurality of fixed poles faces that define an annular stator surface and a central axis; at least one electrical winding surrounding at least one portion of the stator; a magnetically permeable rotor including a shaft mounted for rotation about the central axis and in magnetic circuit with certain of the pole faces of the stator, the rotor comprising a main component defining alternate sections of high and low magnetic permeability for varying the magnetic permeability between a first set of non-adjacent stator poles during rotation of the rotor, and a shunt component magnetically isolated from the main component, the shunt component defining alternate sections of high and low magnetic permeability that are circumferentially complementary to the sections of high and low magnetic permeability of the main cylindrical component for varying the magnetic permeability between a second set of non-adjacent stator poles to form a magnetic circuit from the first set of stator poles and the main component; and magnetic means for generating a radially oriented magnetic flux with respect to the rotor shaft, the magnetic means being annularly shaped having poles radially aligned with poles of one polarity in magnetic circuit with the rotor main component and poles of the other polarity in magnetic circuit with the rotor shunt component, and being disposed between the main and shunt rotor components, and such that rotation of the rotor induces variations in flux magnitude and flux direction in the stator without reversing flux direction in the rotor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the stator comprises a plurality of radially inwardly extending poles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the stator comprises a plurality of poles with each pole being in magnetic circuit with each other pole.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the stator comprises pole faces defining a cylindrical stator surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the rotor is generally cylindrically shaped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the rotor is free of electrical windings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the rotor is free of laminations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the rotor is in magnetic circuit with certain of the pole faces of the stator via an air gap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the main rotor component has a generally cylindrical configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the main rotor component and shunt rotor component are fixed out of phase with respect to each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the main rotor component comprises a cylinder of highly permeable material mounted coaxially with the central axis, the cylinder defining apertures therethrough at predetermined locations, so that the highly permeable material comprises the sections of high permeability and the sections of low permeability are defined by the apertures.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the shunt rotor component comprises a shaft of highly permeable material that is coaxial with the central axis, the shaft including a predetermined number of integral, radially extending shunt segments of highly permeable material, so that the shaft segments of highly permeable material comprise the sections of high magnetic permeability and the sections of low magnetic permeability are between the shunt segments.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The machine of claim 12 wherein the shunt segments include an outer surface defining a segment of a cylinder having an axis that is coaxial with the central axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the main rotor component comprises a cylinder of highly permeable material that is coaxial with the central axis, the cylinder defining apertures therethrough at predetermined locations, and wherein the shunt rotor component comprises a shaft of highly permeable material that is coaxial with the central axis, the shaft including a predetermined number of shunt segments of highly permeable material that extend radially through the main rotor component apertures.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The machine of claim 14 wherein the shunt segments include an outer surface defining a segment of a cylinder that substantially coincides with the outer surface of the main rotor component cylinder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the magnetic means comprises permanent magnets.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the magnetic means comprises electromagnets.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the magnetic means comprises electromagnets and permanent magnets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the magnetic means is in magnetic circuit with the main rotor component via an air gap.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the magnetic means is in magnetic circuit with the shunt rotor component via an air gap.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the magnetic means is in contact with the rotor and rotates therewith.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the magnetic means is stationary.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the magnetic means comprises a plurality of means for generating a magnetic flux.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the electrical windings are stationary.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein all magnetically permeable elements are in the magnetic circuit at substantially all times.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the stator and rotor are free of perforations.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the magnetic means comprises means for generating a generally linear, radial flux path segment extending throught the magnetic means and adjacent air gaps to the respecive surfaces of the main and shunt rotor components.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
228 words
A full flux reversal variable reluctance brushless machine comprising an annular, magnetically permeable stator having a plurality of fixed poles having pole faces that define a cylindrical stator surface and a central axis; at least one electrical winding surrounding at least one portion of the stator; a magnetically permeable rotor including a shaft for rotation about the central axis and in magnetic circuit with certain of the pole faces of the stator, the rotor comprising a main cylindrical component defining alternate sections of high and low magnetic permeability for varying the magnetic permeability between a first pair of non-adjacent stator poles during rotation of the rotor, a shunt component magnetically isolated from the main component and fixed out of phase with respect thereto, the shunt component defining alternate sections of high and low magnetic permeability that are circumferentially complementary to the sections of high and low magnetic permeability of the main cylindrical component for varying the magnetic permeability between a second pair of non-adjacent stator poles to form a magnetic circuit with the first pair of stator poles and the main component; and magnetic means for generating a magnetic flux, the magnetic means in magnetic circuit with the main and shunt rotor components, and such that rotation of the rotor induces variations in flux magnitude and flux direction in the stator without reversing flux direction in the rotor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
228 words
A full flux reversal variable reluctance brushless machine comprising an annular, magnetically permeable stator having a plurality of fixed poles having pole faces that define a cylindrical stator surface and a central axis; at least one electrical winding surrounding at least one portion of the stator; a magnetically permeable rotor including a shaft for rotation about the central axis and in magnetic circuit with certain of the pole faces of the stator, the rotor comprising a main cylindrical component defining alternate sections of high and low magnetic permeability for varying the magnetic permeability between a first pair of non-adjacent stator poles during rotation of the rotor, a shunt component magnetically isolated from the main component and fixed out of phase with respect thereto, the shunt component defining alternate sections of high and low magnetic permeability that are circumferentially complementary to the sections of high and low magnetic permeability of the main cylindrical component for varying the magnetic permeability between a second pair of non-adjacent stator poles to form a magnetic circuit with the first pair of stator poles and the main component; and magnetic means for generating a magnetic flux, the magnetic means in magnetic circuit with the main and shunt rotor components, and such that rotation of the rotor induces variations in flux magnitude and flux direction in the stator without reversing flux direction in the rotor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
50 words
The machine of claim 28 where in the stator comprises a plurality of radially outwardly extending fixed poles, and wherein the rotor is generally cylindrically shaped with the inner surface of the rotor being in magnetic circuit with certain of the pole faces of the stator via an air gap.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
77 words
The machine of claim 28 wherein the main rotor component comprises longitudinally extending cylindrical arm sections of highly permeable magnetic material mounted coaxial to the central axis, the arm sections defining longitudinally extending slots at predetermined locations, and wherein the shunt rotor component comprises magnetically isolated saddle shaped elements of highly permeable magnetic material having a longitudinal axis coaxial with the central axis and a distal portion extending into a slot defined by the main rotor component.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
44 words
The machine of claim 28 wherein the main rotor component comprises a pair of coaxial cylinders of equal diameter defining a zone therebetween, and wherein the magnetic means is disposed in the zone and is magnetically linked only with the pair of coaxial cylinders.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
The machine of claim 28 wherein the magnetic means is annularly shaped having poles axially aligned, with one pole in magnetic circuit with one of the rotor components and the other pole in magnetic circuit with the other of the rotor components.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 28 wherein the magnetic means is stationary and magnetically linked to each of the two rotor components via air gaps.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-07-12 | 1992-01-11 | 1992-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-12 | 1996-01-11 | 1996-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-12 | 2000-01-11 | 2000-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |