Segmented magnet dynamoelectric machine with series connected rotor conductors

A dynamoelectric machine comprising:

• a stator member having a cylindrical internal surface and a cylindrical rotor member supported for rotation coaxially of the stator member, said stator member having a circumferentially segmented field winding electrically connected in a manner to produce radially-directed magnetic fields in the spaces between said segmented field winding, the magnetic fields alternating in polarity around the machine except that a pair of north poles are adjacent, and a pair of south poles are adjacent each other on the opposite side of the machine from said pair of north poles, a plurality of rotor conductors extending longitudinally of the rotor member, current-collecting means at at least one end of the machine for making electrical contact with said rotor conductors, and means for electrically connecting the current-collecting means to form a complete electrical circuit;
• said radial magnetic fields being limited to active zones separated by inactive zones which are substantially free of radial magnetic flux, and said current-collecting means being disposed to make contact only with the rotor conductors passing through said active zones;
• said rotor conductors being selectively inter-connected at their ends to form a plurality of series current paths therethrough corresponding to the location of a plurality of stator active zones.