# US 2017/0282138 A1 · Axial flux stator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282138 A1 - Document ID: US20170282138A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/087,712 - Filed: 2016-03-31 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Ashraf Said Atalla; Klaus Gebauer; James Pellegrino Alexander; David Allan Torrey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282138A1 ## CPC - B01F 33/453: using supported or suspended stirring elements - H02K 11/21: Devices for sensing speed or position, or actuated thereby (specially adapted for machines having non-mechanical commutating devices H02K29/06, H02K29/14) - H02K 11/33: Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics (H02K11/38 takes precedence) - H02K 21/12: with stationary armatures and rotating magnets - H02K 21/24: with magnets axially facing the armatures, e.g. hub-type cycle dynamos - C12M 27/02: {Stirrer or mobile mixing elements} - H02K 11/24: Devices for sensing torque, or actuated thereby (H02K11/27 takes precedence) - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} ## Abstract The system and method of the invention pertains to an axial flux stator is implemented to replace the drive-end magnets and the drive motor. The axial flux stator comprises a control circuit to control the voltage and current provided to the stator, to measure the torque and speed of rotation, and to measure the magnetic flux and magnetic flux density produced by the axial flux stator and impeller magnets, individually or in combination. The axial flux stator comprises a plurality of current carrying elements to produce magnetic flux in an axial direction and drive the impeller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mixing system comprising: a stator comprising a plurality of current carrying elements to produce a magnetic flux in an axial direction; and an impeller capable of rotating around an axis of the axial flux stator; wherein the magnetic flux drives the impeller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mixing system of claim 1, where the stator is an axial flux stator having a core to affix the current carrying elements, the core including stator teeth. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The mixing system of claim 2, wherein the core is magnetic. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mixing system of claim 1, wherein the impeller comprises a plurality of magnets, a back plate to enhance the magnetic coupling, a plurality of current carrying elements, one or more mixing blades, and a fixture to support the impeller from misalignment, alone or in combination. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The mixing system of claim 2, wherein the stator teeth include one or more conic shaped teeth. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The mixing system of claim 5, wherein the conic shaped teeth are in a configuration around the axis of rotation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The mixing system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of current currying elements have a conic arrangement around the conic shaped teeth. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The mixing system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of magnets are in a conic arrangement around the axis of rotation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The mixing system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of current carrying elements in the stator control any one of impeller speed, impeller torque, and impeller power, alone or in combination. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The mixing system of claim 2, wherein a flow of current through the current carrying elements in the stator forms a magnetic field that flows through the stator teeth, across an air gap between the stator and the impeller and back. ### Claim 11 An axial flux stator comprising: a plurality of current carrying elements to produce a magnetic flux in an axial direction, a core to affix the current carrying elements, such that the core includes a plurality of stationary segments, each segment having height and a width with modulation slots there between, the segments integrated on a plate with a central hollow axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The axial flux stator of claim 11, wherein the core is magnetic. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The axial flux stator of claim 12, wherein the plurality of stationary segments are stator teeth and the current carrying elements are conductive windings wound around the stator teeth. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The axial flux stator of claim 13, wherein the conductive windings are divided into phases. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The axial flux stator of claim 14, wherein each phase of the individual windings alternates such that application of current to the winding creates a magnetic field that is directed vertically upward in one tooth and vertically downward in another tooth. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The axial flux stator of claim 13, wherein the stator teeth are conic shaped teeth. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The axial flux stator of claim 11, wherein the plurality of current carrying elements control any one of impeller speed, impeller torque, and impeller power, alone or in combination. ### Claim 18 A system utilized as bioreactor mixer, the system comprising: a rotating drive; a fixed shaft; an impeller capable of rotating around the fixed shaft; and a plurality of magnets positioned in one or more array formats, a first set of magnets in a first array format positioned at a drive end adjacent the rotating drive and a second set of magnets in a second array format positioned at the impeller; wherein the rotating drive is a drive stator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the drive stator is an axial flux stator positioned on an underside of the plurality of magnets. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the axial flux stator comprises a control circuit to control the voltage and current, individually or in combination, provided to the stator. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the axial flux stator comprises a control circuit to measure the torque and speed of rotation. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the axial flux stator comprises a control circuit to measure the magnetic flux and magnetic flux density produced by the axial flux stator and impeller magnets. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the axial flux stator comprises a plurality of current carrying elements to produce magnetic flux in an axial direction and drive the impeller. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The system in claim 19, wherein the axial flux stator comprises a core to fix the current carrying elements on. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the core is magnetic or non-magnetic.