Hybrid stepper motor utilizing axial coils for adjusting the magnetic field of the rotor
AssigneeGHSP, Inc.
InventorsLarry Duane Ridge, John Thomas Bagley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bi-polar hybrid stepper motor includes a stator having a primary winding. The stator and the primary winding are positioned within a housing. A rotor has a magnetic component. The rotor is rotationally operable relative to the stator. An axial coil assembly is positioned within the housing and located proximate ends of the rotor and having a secondary winding. At least a portion of the magnetic component of the rotor is produced by the axial coil assembly in an energized state. The energized state produces an electromagnetic communication between the rotor and the stator.
Claims20
An electric motor assembly comprising:
- a stator having a primary winding that is energized by a primary electrical current;
- a rotor that is rotationally operable relative to the stator, the stator extending around the rotor to define an interior cavity within which the rotor operates;
- and
- an axial coil assembly positioned proximate ends of the rotor and between a drive shaft of the rotor and an outer edge of the rotor, the axial coil assembly having a secondary winding that is selectively energized by a secondary electrical current, the axial coil assembly being stationary with respect to the stator, wherein:
- at least when the secondary winding is energized, the rotor is in electromagnetic communication with the stator, and
- when the primary winding and the secondary winding are energized, the rotor is in electromagnetic communication with the stator via an electromotive force that rotationally operates the rotor relative to the stator.
A bi-polar hybrid stepper motor comprising:
- a stator having a primary winding that is energized by a primary electrical current, wherein the stator and the primary winding are positioned within a housing, wherein the stator defines an interior cavity;
- a rotor having a magnetic component, wherein the rotor is rotationally operable relative to the stator and within the interior cavity;
- and
- an axial coil assembly positioned in a fixed position within the housing and located proximate opposing end surfaces of the rotor and having a secondary winding, wherein the secondary winding of the axial coil assembly is selectively energized by a secondary electrical current that is separate from the primary electrical current, wherein at least a portion of the magnetic component of the rotor is produced by the axial coil assembly in an energized state, wherein the energized state produces an electromagnetic communication between the rotor and the stator.
A method for operating a bi-polar hybrid stepper motor comprising:
- energizing a winding for a stator with a primary electrical current, wherein a rotor rotationally operates relative to the stator;
- producing a first magnetic component of the rotor via an axial coil assembly, wherein the axial coil assembly is energized using a secondary electrical current that is different than the primary electrical current,
- operating the rotor using a first electromotive force that is produced by the energized winding of the stator and the first magnetic component of the rotor;
- modifying the secondary electrical current to the axial coil assembly, wherein the axial coil assembly is stationary with respect to the rotor;
- producing a second magnetic component of the rotor via the modified secondary electrical current of the axial coil assembly, wherein the first magnetic component is different than the second magnetic component;
- and
- operating the rotor using a second electromotive force that is produced by the energized winding of the stator and the second magnetic component of the rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.