Variable reluctance start permanent magnet motor

A single-phase permanent magnet motor comprising:

• a stator assembly including a stator having a central bore and a number of salient stator poles extending into the bore and associated stator windings;
• a rotor positioned within said bore and rotatable relative to the stator;
• and,
• magnet means installed on the rotor for positioning the rotor in a stable detent position to facilitate starting the motor and including a ring magnet formed on the rotor.

A single-phase permanent magnet motor comprising:

• a stator having a plurality of stator poles and associated stator windings;
• a rotor movable relative to the stator;
• and,
• means assisting starting of the motor using a variable reluctance torque, said means including a plurality of recessed sections formed in said rotor and spaced about the periphery thereof, said recessed sections minimizing magnetic material in those portions of the rotor where the recessed sections are formed for a sufficient variable reluctance torque to be available for motor start-up, while having a minimal effect on the operation of the motor when the motor is running, each recessed section being a stepped recess having a first recessed portion having a width corresponding to the width of an indentation in a stator pole, and a second recessed portion having a width corresponding to the width of the space between adjacent stator poles.