초록 ▼

In some embodiments, an electromagnetic machine includes a rotor element configured for movement relative to a stator. The rotor element includes a support member, a backing member, and a magnetic pole assembly. The support member includes a first coupling portion. The backing member is formed, at l

In some embodiments, an electromagnetic machine includes a rotor element configured for movement relative to a stator. The rotor element includes a support member, a backing member, and a magnetic pole assembly. The support member includes a first coupling portion. The backing member is formed, at least in part, from a ferromagnetic material and the magnetic pole assembly is configured to be coupled to the backing member. The magnetic pole assembly and/or the backing member include a second coupling portion configured to removably couple the backing member and the magnetic pole assembly collectively to the first coupling portion of the support member.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus comprising: a rotor element configured to be disposed for movement relative to a stator, the rotor element including: an annular support member defining a groove in a planar surface of the annular support member; anda backing member formed at least in part of a ferromagnetic material

1. An apparatus comprising: a rotor element configured to be disposed for movement relative to a stator, the rotor element including: an annular support member defining a groove in a planar surface of the annular support member; anda backing member formed at least in part of a ferromagnetic material,a magnetic pole assembly coupled to the backing member, the magnetic pole assembly and the backing member collectively forming a magnetic assembly,the backing member including a protrusion configured to removably couple the magnetic assembly to the annular support member, the protrusion on the backing member being insertable into the groove defined by the annular support member such that at least a portion of the magnetic assembly is located on the planar surface of the support member and the protrusion and the groove define a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the rotor element. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove in the support member is a dovetail shaped groove defined in the support member, the protrusion on the backing member is a dovetail shaped protrusion defined by the backing member configured to be slidably received within the groove. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove in the support member is a T-shaped groove defined in the support member, the protrusion on the backing member is a T-shaped protrusion defined by the backing member configured to be slidably received within the groove. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a coating encapsulating the magnetic pole assembly. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetic pole assembly has a length and a width, the backing member has a length greater than the length of the magnetic pole assembly and a width greater than the width of the magnetic pole assembly. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support member is formed of a nonferromagnetic material. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a retainer member coupled to the magnetic pole assembly and coupled to the backing member, the retainer member configured to maintain the magnetic pole assembly coupled to the backing member. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the backing member has been permanently magnetized. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetic pole assembly is a first magnetic pole assembly, the apparatus further comprising: a plurality of magnetic pole assemblies coupled to the backing member, the plurality of magnetic pole assemblies including the first magnetic pole assembly, the backing member and the plurality of magnetic pole assemblies collectively configured to be removably coupled to the support member. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of magnetic pole assemblies includes a first pole assembly having a first polarity, and a second pole assembly having a second polarity, opposite to the first polarity. 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the support member is a first support member, the plurality of magnetic pole assemblies is a first plurality of magnetic pole assemblies, the apparatus further comprising: a second support member configured to be coupled to the first support member; anda second plurality of magnetic pole assemblies coupled to the second support member such that the second plurality of magnetic pole assemblies is disposed at a non-zero distance from the first plurality of magnetic pole assemblies, each magnetic pole assembly in the first plurality of magnetic pole assemblies having a polarity opposite to that of each corresponding one of the magnetic pole assemblies in the second plurality of magnetic pole assemblies. 12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a coating encapsulating the plurality of magnetic pole assemblies. 13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of magnetic pole assemblies includes a first pole assembly having a first polarity, and a second pole assembly having a second polarity, opposite to the first polarity, the backing member defines a first recess and a second recess, the first magnetic pole assembly disposed at least partially within the first recess, the second magnetic pole assembly disposed at least partially within the second recess. 14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the backing member has a length, a width and a thickness, the length being greater than the width, the thickness being greater at a centerline extending along the length than at a lateral side edge. 15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a retainer member coupled to the plurality of magnetic pole assemblies and coupled to the backing member, the retainer member configured to maintain the plurality of magnetic pole assemblies coupled to the backing member. 16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the backing member has been permanently magnetized. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support member is a first support member, the backing member is a first backing member, the apparatus further comprising: a stator;the rotor element disposed for movement relative to the stator, a first plurality of magnetic pole assemblies coupled to the first backing member, the first plurality of magnetic pole assemblies including the magnetic pole assembly, the first backing member and the first plurality of magnetic pole assemblies collectively configured to be removably coupled to the first support member;a second support member; anda second plurality of magnetic pole assemblies coupled to a second backing member formed of a ferromagnetic material, the second backing member and the second plurality of magnetic pole assemblies collectively configured to be removably coupled to the second support member such that the second plurality of magnetic pole assemblies is disposed at a non-zero distance and facing the first plurality of magnetic pole assemblies,each magnetic pole assembly in the first plurality of magnetic pole assemblies having a polarity opposite to that of each corresponding one of the magnetic pole assemblies in the second plurality of magnetic pole assemblies, the first plurality of magnetic pole assemblies and the second plurality of magnetic pole assemblies collectively define an independent magnetic flux path. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second support member defines a groove and the second backing member includes a protrusion configured to be slidably received within the groove of the second support member to removably couple collectively the second backing member and the second plurality of magnetic pole assemblies to the second support member. 19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: a first coating encapsulating the first plurality of magnetic pole assemblies, anda second coating encapsulating the second plurality of magnetic pole assemblies. 20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: a first retainer member coupled to the first plurality of magnetic pole assemblies and coupled to the first backing member; anda second retainer member coupled to the second plurality of magnetic pole assemblies and coupled to the second backing member. 21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first backing member has been permanently magnetized and the second backing member has been permanently magnetized. 22. An apparatus comprising: a rotor element configured to be disposed for movement relative to a stator, the rotor element including: an annular support member defining a first groove, a second groove and a third groove in a planar surface of the annular support member, the second groove being disposed between the first groove and the third groove;a first magnet assembly, a second magnet assembly, and a third magnet assembly, each of said magnet assemblies including a backing member formed at least in part of a ferromagnetic material and a magnetic pole assembly coupled to the backing member; andthe first magnet assembly including a first protrusion removably coupleable to the first groove of the support member, the second magnet assembly including a second protrusion removably coupleable to the second groove of the support member and the third magnet assembly including a third protrusion removably coupleable to the third groove of the support member such that at least a portion of the first magnet assembly, a portion of the second magnet assembly and a portion of the third magnet assembly are located on the planar surface of the support member,the first groove, the second groove and the third groove each define a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the rotor element, the second magnet assembly being removable from the second groove while the first magnet assembly is coupled to the first groove, and while the third magnet assembly is coupled to the third groove. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first magnet assembly is removably and slidably coupleable to the first groove of the support member, the second magnet assembly is removably and slidably coupleable to the second groove of the support member and the third magnet assembly is removably and slidably coupleable to the third groove of the support member.