Low-voltage electric motors

• US 20050127856A1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BluWav Systems LLC (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WaveCrest Laboratories LLC (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Maslov, Boris A.
• Application Number:
  US10/736,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127856A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/400.210
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/46 with more than three phases
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/18 Reluctance machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/141 consisting of C-shaped cores
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/187 to inner stators
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/05 Rectifiers associated with casings, enclosures or brackets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 16/04 Machines with one rotor and two stators
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 21/22 with magnets rotating around the armatures, e.g. flywheel magnetos
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2213/09 Machines characterised by the presence of elements which are subject to variation, e.g. adjustable bearings, reconfigurable windings, variable pitch ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 29/00 Motors or generators having non-mechanical commutating devices, e.g. discharge tubes or semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/28 Layout of windings or of connections between windings windings for pole-changing H02K17/06, H02K17/14, H02K19/12, H02K19/32
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/183 wherein the turbine is a wind turbine adaptation of a wind turbine to an electric generator F03D9/25
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 23/0077 Characterised by the use of a particular software algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/08 Reluctance motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/06 using dc to ac converters or inverters H02P27/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/34 Modelling or simulation for control purposes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A distributed architecture for electric motors and generators. This distributed architecture motor can deliver high power at low voltage and low phase current. It works by distributing total current across several “phases,” or electromagnetic circuits of the motor. That creates several advantages. These motors can deliver the high power needed by an electric car at 50 volts or less, which is safer for humans. They improve safety by allowing a motor to operate in an emergency even when one or more phases has a fault. Low voltage motors in electric vehicles allow batteries and fuel cells to have fewer cells. The low voltage and distributed current makes heat easier to handle. The distributed architecture lowers cost by allowing cheaper power electronics to be used. The distributed architecture allows smaller, lighter motors to be made with light wiring, switches and connectors. In addition, it opens the path to lower cost battery and fuel cell technologies, simplified battery and fuel cell management, and wider packaging options.

Claims

1. An electric machine comprising an electromagnetic circuit having separate sets of power electronics that are absent any electrical connection with any other set of power electronics.

2. The machine of claim 1 where each electromagnetic circuit of the machine has a separate power source that has no electrical connection with any other power source.

3. An electric motor where the total power of the motor is greater than the square root of three times the voltage of the motor multiplied by the highest current flowing through any individual electromagnetic circuit of the motor.

4. An adaptive electric car or other electric vehicle with an electric propulsion system comprising two or more electric motors driving two or more wheels of the vehicle, wherein the propulsion system provides at least 20 kilowatts peak power, and where the peak current for any electromagnetic circuit of each motor is less than 300 amps.

5. An adaptive electric car or other electric vehicle with an electric propulsion system comprising two or more electric motors driving two or more wheels of the vehicle, wherein the propulsion system provides at least 20 kilowatts peak power, where the system voltage of the propulsion system is 50 volts or less, and wherein the peak current for any electromagnetic circuit of each motor is less than 300 amps.

6. An adaptive electric car or other electric vehicle with an electric propulsion system comprising two or more electric motors driving two or more wheels of the vehicle, wherein the system voltage of the propulsion system is 50 volts or less, and wherein the ratio of the peak power of the propulsion system to the peak per-phase current for each electromagnetic circuit of each motor is greater than 100 watts per amp.