Electric motor with Halbach arrays
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorMark A. Cleveland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Electric motor configurations are provided with Halbach arrays. In one example, an electric motor includes a first plurality of magnets arranged in a first Halbach array. The first plurality of magnets is configured to provide a first magnetic field that substantially exhibits a first Halbach flux distribution. A first plurality of electromagnets comprising a first plurality of coils are arranged in a second Halbach array. A controller is adapted to selectively direct current through the first plurality of coils to induce a second magnetic field to interact with the first magnetic field. The second magnetic field substantially exhibits a second Halbach flux distribution.
Claims11
An electric motor comprising:
- a first plurality of magnets arranged in a first Halbach array, wherein the first plurality of magnets is configured to provide a first magnetic field that substantially exhibits a first Halbach flux distribution;
- a first plurality of electromagnets comprising a first plurality of coils arranged in a second Halbach array;
- and
- a controller adapted to selectively direct current through the first plurality of coils to induce a second magnetic field to interact with the first magnetic field, wherein the second magnetic field substantially exhibits a second Halbach flux distribution.
An electric motor comprising:
- a rotor;
- means for providing a first magnetic field directed from a first side of the rotor, wherein the first magnetic field substantially exhibits a first Halbach flux distribution;
- and
- means for selectively inducing a second magnetic field directed toward the first side of the rotor to interact with the first magnetic field, wherein the second magnetic field substantially exhibits a second Halbach flux distribution, wherein the rotor is adapted to rotate in response to interaction between the first and second magnetic fields.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.