초록 ▼

A compact, rugged, variable reluctance, variable speed, electric motor capable of producing high torque at high electrical energy conversion efficiencies is provided. The present invention provides for a multi-stage motor design having a number of discreet rotor and stator elements on a common shaft

A compact, rugged, variable reluctance, variable speed, electric motor capable of producing high torque at high electrical energy conversion efficiencies is provided. The present invention provides for a multi-stage motor design having a number of discreet rotor and stator elements on a common shaft. This configuration provides for the simplest of magnetic structures and produces a powerful magnetic flux modelling design technique that is used to further optimize the motor design and subsequent control logic. Thermal mapping of the magnetic mass provides for advanced cooling techniques that are used to ensure long in-service life in the most extreme of industrial applications. The electric motor inherently provides low vibration thereby greatly reducing noise; low turn to turn voltage potentials thereby eliminating costly phase to phase shorting potential; efficient motor operation through the reduction in switching and copper losses in both the machine and its control system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A multi-stage, variable reluctance device comprising: (a) a shaft having an axis of rotation;(b) a plurality of spaced stages disposed about said axis of rotation; each of said plurality of spaced stages having an equal number of stator and rotor poles defining stator and rotor pole pairs, symmet

1. A multi-stage, variable reluctance device comprising: (a) a shaft having an axis of rotation;(b) a plurality of spaced stages disposed about said axis of rotation; each of said plurality of spaced stages having an equal number of stator and rotor poles defining stator and rotor pole pairs, symmetrically disposed about said axis of rotation, and having an airspace therebetween;(c) means for energizing all stator poles of one of said plurality of stages at the same time for a selected time interval, and(d) means for sequentially and repeatedly energizing all stator poles of the other of said plurality of stages, where each stator and rotor pole pair in a stage has substantially the same physical, magnetic and electrical characteristic. 2. A multi-stage, variable reluctance device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stator and rotor poles are housed in a casing. 3. A multi-stage, variable reluctance device as claimed in claim 1 wherein adjacent rotor poles on adjacent stages are offset from each other. 4. A multi-stage, variable reluctance device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each rotor pole in a stage is skewed in relation to each other. 5. A multi-stage, variable reluctance device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device is a motor. 6. A multi-stage, variable reluctance device as claimed in claim 1 wherein stators on adjacent stages are offset from each other. 7. A multi-stage, variable reluctance device as described in claim 1 wherein said device is a generator. 8. A multi-stage variable reluctance device as described in claim 1 wherein each stator of a stage is skewed in relation to each other. 9. A multi-stage variable reluctance device as claimed in claim 5 further comprising internal bearings operable to support a casing. 10. A multi-stage, variable reluctance device as described in claim 9 wherein the casing is operable to support the stator stages. 11. A multi-stage, variable reluctance device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a cooling system. 12. A multi-stage, variable reluctance device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: (a) a cooling shroud affixed to the outer periphery of the casing;(b) external cooling fins mounted on the casing but beneath the shroud defining a plurality of internal spaces; and(c) a fan operable to circulate air into the internal spaces. 13. A multi-stage, variable reluctance device as described in claim 11 further comprising: (a) a liquid cooling agent;(b) a casing with a plurality of internal cooling passages running along the outer periphery of the case operable to transport the liquid cooling agent;(c) a liquid recirculation pump; and(d) an air to liquid heat exchanger;(e) an inline thermostat operable to regulate temperature. 14. A multi-stage, variable reluctance device as described in claim 13 further comprising: (a) a plurality of spray nozzles operable to inject the liquid coolant; and(b) a sump operable to collect the liquid coolant. 15. A multi-stage variable reluctance device as claimed in claim 1 having at least two electric conductors for engaging said stator poles. 16. A method for enabling the selective production of multi-stage variable reluctance motor/generators having a plurality of spaced stages about an axis of rotation, where each stage has an equal number of stator and rotor poles, defining stator and rotor pole pairs symmetrically disposed about the axis of rotation and having an air space therebetween, comprising: (a) selecting a single stator and rotor pair for each stage,(b) determining for said single stator and rotor pair criteria selected from the group of physical, magnetic and electrical characteristics for said single stator and rotor pair in such stage, and(c) producing all of said stator and rotor poles in such stage from said criteria from said single stator and rotor pair. 17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said group comprises the diameter of a rotor, stator winding ampere turns, volume of airgap, length of rotor poles, length of stator poles, angular displacement of said stator and rotor pole pairs, thickness of stator back iron, depth of rotor root, and diameter of shaft. 18. A system for optimizing physical, magnetic and electrical characteristics of a multi-stage variable reluctance motor/generator having a plurality of spaced stages about an axis of rotation where each stage has an equal number of stator and rotor pairs defining stator and rotor pole pairs symmetrically disposed about said axis of rotation, and having an airspace there between comprising: (a) storing in memory a representation of a single stator and rotor pair for each stage;(b) computing for said single stator and rotor pair criteria selected from the group of physical, magnetic and electrical characteristics for said single stator and rotor pair; and(c) determining all of the stator and rotor poles in said stage from said computing step. 19. A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said physical characteristics are selected from the group of the diameter of the rotor, stator winding ampere turns, volume of airgap, length of rotor poles, length of stator poles, angular displacement of said stator and rotor pole pairs, thickness of stator back iron, depth of rotor root and diameter of shaft. 20. A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said magnetic and electrical characteristics comprise magnetic flux forces and current generated when varying amounts of electrical energy are applied to stator windings. 21. A multi-stage variable reluctance device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for energizing comprises applying electrical energy to stator pole windings in either parallel or series.