Rotor assembly including tapered magnets within a retaining sleeve and a method for assembling the same
AssigneeArcher Aviation Inc.
InventorsScott Graves, Diego Silva
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotor assembly has a sleeve, a rotor hub, a lamination core, and a plurality of tapered magnets disposed circumferentially around an inner diameter of the sleeve. The plurality of tapered magnets are configured to abut on one another. The plurality of tapered magnets includes a first set of tapered magnets and a second set of tapered magnets. Insertion of the first set of tapered magnets axially relative to the second set of tapered magnets is configured to increase a diameter of the sleeve. The rotor hub is configured to retain at least one of the lamination core, the plurality of tapered magnets, or the sleeve.
Claims18
A rotor assembly comprising:
- a sleeve;
- a rotor hub;
- a lamination core;
- and
- a plurality of tapered magnets disposed circumferentially around an inner diameter of the sleeve, each tapered magnet of the plurality of tapered magnets being configured to abut another tapered magnet of the plurality of tapered magnets,
- wherein the plurality of tapered magnets includes a first set of tapered magnets inserted axially into the sleeve and a second set of tapered magnets inserted axially into the sleeve,
- wherein insertion of the first set of tapered magnets axially relative to the second set of tapered magnets is configured to increase a diameter of the sleeve, and
- wherein the rotor hub is configured to retain the lamination core, the plurality of tapered magnets, and the sleeve.
An electric propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft the electric propulsion system comprising:
- at least one electrical engine mechanically connected directly or indirectly to a fuselage of the VTOL aircraft, the electrical engine comprising:
- a gearbox assembly comprising:
- a sun gear;
- and
- an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor assembly;
- the rotor assembly comprising:
- a sleeve;
- a rotor hub;
- a lamination core;
- and
- a plurality of tapered magnets disposed circumferentially around an inner diameter of the sleeve, each tapered magnet of the plurality of tapered magnets being configured to abut another tapered magnet of the plurality of tapered magnets,
- wherein the plurality of tapered magnets includes a first set of tapered magnets inserted axially into the sleeve and a second set of tapered magnets inserted axially into the sleeve,
- wherein insertion of the first set of tapered magnets axially relative to the second set of tapered magnets is configured to increase a diameter of the sleeve,
- wherein the rotor hub is configured to retain the lamination core, the plurality of tapered magnets, and the sleeve, and
- wherein the sun gear is attached to the rotor hub.
A method of assembling a rotor assembly, comprising:
- inserting a first plurality of tapered magnets and a second plurality of tapered magnets into a stretchable sleeve from opposing axial directions such the each of the second plurality of tapered magnets is positioned between adjacent pairs of the first plurality of magnets, the first and second plurality of magnets being arranged to abut an inner surface of the stretchable sleeve;
- inserting a lamination core, wherein an outer diameter of the lamination core abuts at least some of the first and second plurality of tapered magnets;
- and
- attaching at least one rotor hub to the lamination core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.