Realizations of folded magnet AC motors

A rotor assembly for an internal permanent magnet rotor comprising:

• a plurality of interior laminations stacked to form a substantially continuous internal core having a predetermined circumferential configuration defining a plurality of substantially planar land areas;
• a plurality of permanent magnets positioned on the land areas of the internal core, the magnets being arranged in preselected groups for establishing a corresponding preselected number of magnetic poles, each of the preselected groups comprising a plurality of angularly-oriented magnets forming at least one substantially W-shaped arrangement;
• a plurality of external laminations stacked to form a substantially continuous external core surrounding the internal core having a plurality of internal land areas for mating with external surfaces of each of the magnets when the external core is assembled onto the internal core and magnets;
• and
• a circumferential band encompassing the external core for holding the external core in its assembled position on the internal core and magnets.

A rotor assembly for an internal permanent magnet rotor comprising;

• a plurality of interior laminations stacked to form a substantially continuous internal core having a predetermined circumferential configuration defining a plurality of substantially planar land area;
• a plurality of permanent magnets positioned on the land areas of the internal core, the magnets being arranged in preselected groups for establishing a corresponding preselected number of magnetic poles, each of the preselected groups comprising a plurality of angularly-oriented magnets forming at least one substantially W-shaped arrangement;
• a plurality of external laminations stacked to form a substantially continuous external core surrounding the internal core having a plurality of internal land areas for mating with external surfaces of each of the magnets when the external core is assembled onto the internal core and magnets;
• and
• a plurality of lamination ligaments extending from each interior lamination to a corresponding one of the external laminations for coupling the internal core to the external core, the ligaments extending through circumferential spaces between adjacent ones of the magnets.

A rotor assembly for an internal permanent magnet rotor comprising:

• a plurality of interior laminations stacked to form a substantially continuous internal core having a predetermined configuration defining a plurality of substantially planar land areas;
• a plurality of permanent magnets positioned on the land areas of the internal core, the magnets being arranged in preselected groups for establishing a corresponding preselected number of magnetic poles, each of the preselected groups comprising a plurality of angularly-oriented magnets forming at least one substantially W-shaped arrangement;
• a plurality of external laminations stacked to form a substantially continuous external core surrounding the internal core having a plurality of internal land areas for mating with external surfaces of each of the magnets when the external core is assembled onto the internal core and magnets;
• a plurality of apertures formed radially through the external core and aligned with spaces between adjacent ones of the magnets;
• a plurality of apertures formed in the internal core and terminating at a preselected inner radius in a threaded portion, the apertures in the internal core being aligned with the apertures in the external core;
• and
• a plurality of bolts extending through the internal core apertures and threadedly engaging the threaded portion in the internal core for holding the external core in its assembled position in the internal core with the magnets therebetween.