Rotary electric motor having separate control modules for respective stator electromagnets
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A rotary electric motor comprising:
- a permanent magnet rotor having a plurality of permanent magnets disposed in an annular ring configuration;
a stator comprising a plurality of separate, ferromaguetically isolated electromagnets in an annular ring configuration, windings of the electromagnets selectively energized to form magnetic poles of alternating polarity along a radial air gap that separates the stator from the rotor; and
a plurality of separate power modules, each of said modules corresponding to a respective stator electromagnet for providing energization current thereto; and
wherein the plurality of separate power modules are contained within the stator radially inward of the stator electromagnets.
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Abstract
A rotary brushless electric motor is formed within a cylindrical rotor housing structure that surrounds an annular stator ring. The stator is formed of a plurality of individual power modules and corresponding core segments, each module including electrical control and drive elements supplied by a power source incorporated within the stator. Such parallel architecture provides relatively independently controlled functionality for each module. Each module and stator core segment can be individually installed and removed without disturbing the other units. Should a particular module or stator core segment fail, it can be easily removed for repair or replacement and reinstallation.
69 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A rotary electric motor comprising:
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a permanent magnet rotor having a plurality of permanent magnets disposed in an annular ring configuration;
a stator comprising a plurality of separate, ferromaguetically isolated electromagnets in an annular ring configuration, windings of the electromagnets selectively energized to form magnetic poles of alternating polarity along a radial air gap that separates the stator from the rotor; and
a plurality of separate power modules, each of said modules corresponding to a respective stator electromagnet for providing energization current thereto; and
wherein the plurality of separate power modules are contained within the stator radially inward of the stator electromagnets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A rotary electric motor comprising:
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a permanent magnet rotor having a plurality of permanent magnets disposed in an annular ring configuration; and
a stator coaxial with the rotor and separated therefrom by a radial air gap;
wherein the stator comprises a plurality of independent stator units, each of the units comprising a ferromagnetically isolated core having a winding formed thereon and a separate power supply therefor.
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16. A rotary electric motor comprising:
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a permanent magnet rotor having a plurality of permanent magnets disposed in an annular ring configuration; and
a stator coaxial with the rotor and separated therefrom by a radial air gap;
wherein the stator comprises a plurality of independent stator units, each of the units comprising a ferromagnetically isolated core having a winding formed thereon, circuitry for controlling energization of the winding, a rotor position sensor, and a separate power supply therefor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An electric motor comprising:
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a rotor member comprising a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in an annular ring configuration;
a stator member comprising a plurality of separate stator core segments arranged in an annular ring configuration, wherein a conductive winding is wound in a coil around a portion of each core segment;
wherein said stator member and said rotor member are separated from each other by an air gap; and
wherein at least one circuit board is in electrical communication with the conductive winding of at least one stator core segment, the circuit board located internal to said motor and adjacent to said stator core segment. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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42. The motor as recited in 38, wherein said support structure comprises:
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a generally circumferential sleeve portion; and
a plurality of radial members extending outwardly in a radial direction from said sleeve portion, wherein each radial member is integrally formed at a first end with said sleeve portion and not supported at a second end.
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Specification