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US 10,770,940 B2Granted
Modular rotors for axial flux electric machines
AssigneeRegal Beloit Australia Pty Ltd
InventorsMark Thiele, Greg Heins, Matthew J. Turner, Dean James Patterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotor module for an axial flux electric machine includes a back iron segment configured for attachment to a rotor base and a plurality of permanent magnets attached to the back iron segment. The back iron segment has a length less than a circumference of the rotor base. Each permanent magnet attached to the back iron segment has an opposite magnetic pole orientation from each adjacent permanent magnet attached to the back iron segment. A plurality of rotor modules is coupled to the rotor base to form a rotor for the axial flux electric machine.
Claims20
A rotor module for an axial flux electric machine, said rotor module comprising:
- a back iron segment configured for attachment to a rotor base, said back iron segment having a length less than a circumference of said rotor base, said back iron segment having a tab;
- a plurality of permanent magnets attached to said back iron segment, each permanent magnet of said plurality of permanent magnets having a face surface, wherein said each permanent magnet has an opposite magnetic pole orientation from each adjacent permanent magnet of said plurality of permanent magnets attached to said back iron segment;
- and
- a magnet retainer attached to said back iron segment, said magnet retainer including a plurality of slots aligned with said plurality of permanent magnets such that said face surfaces of said plurality of permanent magnets are not covered by said magnet retainer, said plurality of slots configured to receive said plurality of permanent magnets and position said plurality of permanent magnets on said back iron segment, said magnet retainer having a length less than the circumference of said rotor base, said magnet retainer defining an opening configured to receive said tab of an adjacent back iron segment.
1 more element
A rotor for an axial flux electric machine, said rotor comprising:
- a rotor base having a face surface and a circumference around said face surface;
- and
- at least one rotor module attached to said rotor base, said at least one rotor module comprising:
- a back iron segment attached to said face surface of said rotor base, said back iron segment having a length less than a circumference of said rotor base;
- a plurality of permanent magnets attached to said back iron segment, each permanent magnet of said plurality of permanent magnets having a face surface, wherein said each permanent magnet has an opposite magnetic pole from each adjacent permanent magnet of said plurality of permanent magnets attached to said back iron segment;
- and
- a magnet retainer attached directly to said back iron segment and said rotor base, said magnet retainer including a plurality of slots aligned with said plurality of permanent magnets such that said face surfaces of said plurality of permanent magnets are not covered by said magnet retainer, said plurality of slots configured to receive said plurality of permanent magnets and position said plurality of permanent magnets on said back iron segment, said magnet retainer having a length less than the circumference of said rotor base.
4 more elements
An axial flux electric machine comprising:
- a stator;
- and
- a rotor positioned adjacent said stator, said rotor comprising:
- a rotor base having a face surface and a circumference around said face surface;
- and
- at least one rotor module attached to said rotor base, said at least one rotor module comprising:
- a back iron segment attached to said face surface of said rotor base, said back iron segment having a length less than a circumference of said rotor base;
- a plurality of permanent magnets attached to said back iron segment, each permanent magnet of said plurality of permanent magnets having a face surface, wherein said each permanent magnet has an opposite magnetic pole from each adjacent permanent magnet of said plurality of permanent magnets attached to said back iron segment;
- and
- a magnet retainer attached directly to said back iron segment and said rotor base, said magnet retainer including a plurality of slots aligned with said plurality of permanent magnets such that said face surfaces of said plurality of permanent magnets are not covered by said magnet retainer, said plurality of slots configured to receive said plurality of permanent magnets and position said plurality of permanent magnets on said back iron segment, said magnet retainer having a length less than the circumference of said rotor base.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.