Patents by Inventor Andrew Hirzel

Andrew Hirzel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20070170810
    Abstract: A dynamoelectric, rotating electric machine includes a stator assembly that includes stacked stator coil windings. The machine is preferably a polyphase, axial airgap device. Improved slot filling results from the stacked stator coil configuration. Device performance capability is thereby increased. The stator assembly of the electric device has a magnetic core made from low loss, high frequency material. A high pole count permits the electrical device to operate at high commutating frequencies, with high efficiency, high power density and improved performance characteristics. Low-loss materials incorporated by the device include amorphous metals, nanocrystalline metals, optimized Si—Fe alloys, grain-oriented Fe-based materials or non-grain-oriented Fe-based materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventor: Andrew Hirzel
  • Publication number: 20070145856
    Abstract: A high intensity lighting system comprises a plurality of high intensity discharge lamps electrically connected to a polyphase alternator and a prime mover mechanically connected to the alternator. An inherent impedance characteristic of the alternator permits the lamps to be reliably started and energized without any separate ballast or comparable impedance element. The alternator comprises a stator having teeth extending from a backiron. The teeth consist of the alternator phases, and the coils encircle the respective teeth of each pair and are wound in opposite sense and connected in series. The machine is preferably an axial airgap device wherein the stator assembly has a magnetic core made from low loss, high frequency material. A high pole count permits the electrical device to operate at high commutating frequencies, with high efficiency, high power density and improved performance characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Andrew Hirzel, David Crecelius
  • Publication number: 20070024147
    Abstract: An axial gap dynamoelectric machine comprises first and second stators disposed coaxially with an intermediate rotor. The stators are selectively aligned with an axial offset between the positions of their respective teeth and slots. The stators comprise toroidal cores having laminated layers composed of a material selected from the group consisting of amorphous and nanocrystalline metals and optimized Fe-based alloy. Optionally, the machine further comprises misalignment means for adjusting the offset of the stators. Adaptive adjustment permits the machine to be operated to in a mode that reduces the back EMF of the motor, allowing constant voltage to be maintained as speed is increased. Reducing back EMF also allows a wider range of operating speed, especially in combination with use of high pole counts. Alternatively, the machine can be operated, e.g. at lower speed, in a constant torque mode. The machine may exploit the high pole count achievable by use of improved soft magnetic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventor: Andrew Hirzel
  • Patent number: 7148782
    Abstract: An energizable magnetic core for use in an inductor or a transformer includes a plurality of legs extending from the back yoke. The back yoke is formed in a loop arranged to provide a magnetic circuit. Each of the plurality of legs have a first end adjacent to the back yoke and a second end extending away from the back yoke. With the legs positioned upon the back yoke, a cover yoke is positioned adjacent to the second end of each of the plurality of legs. The cover yoke is also formed in a loop such that the cover loop is arranged to provide a magnetic circuit. Coils are positioned upon the legs of the energizable magnetic core. In one embodiment, amorphous metal may be used to construct the energizable magnetic core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Light Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Hirzel
  • Publication number: 20060208606
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to an electric device, such as an electric motor, a generator, or a regenerative motor, having a wound stator core made from advanced low-loss material. In preferred embodiments, the electric device is an axial airgap-type configuration. The invention provides an electric device having a high pole count that operates at high commutating frequencies, with high efficiency and high torque and power densities. Advanced low-loss materials exploited by the present invention include amorphous metals, nanocrystalline metals, and optimized Fe-based alloys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventor: Andrew Hirzel
  • Publication number: 20060131978
    Abstract: A high intensity lighting system comprises a plurality of high intensity discharge lamps electrically connected to a polyphase alternator and a prime mover mechanically connected to the alternator. An inherent impedance characteristic of the alternator permits the lamps to be reliably started and energized without any separate ballast or comparable impedance element. The alternator comprises a stator having teeth extending from a backiron. The teeth consist of the alternator phases, and the coils encircle the respective teeth of each pair and are wound in opposite sense and connected in series. The machine is preferably an axial airgap device wherein the stator assembly has a magnetic core made from low loss, high frequency material. A high pole count permits the electrical device to operate at high commutating frequencies, with high efficiency, high power density and improved performance characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2004
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Andrew Hirzel, David Crecelius
  • Publication number: 20050258705
    Abstract: An electromagnetic component is formed from a pre-form comprising layers of soft magnetic metal ribbon. Adhesive is applied to permeate the pre-form and is then cured. The bonded pre-form is placed within a milling assembly that supports and constrains the ribbon layers during a milling operation used to process the pre-form into an electromagnetic component shape. Optionally, the shape is thermally processed. The resulting electromechanical component has attractive soft magnetic properties, including low core loss, that render it useful as a component in electric motors and generators and static inductive devices operable at high excitation frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Berwald, Kendall Page, Andrew Hirzel
  • Publication number: 20050237146
    Abstract: An energizable magnetic core for use in an inductor or a transformer includes a plurality of legs extending from the back yoke. The back yoke is formed in a loop arranged to provide a magnetic circuit. Each of the plurality of legs have a first end adjacent to the back yoke and a second end extending away from the back yoke. With the legs positioned upon the back yoke, a cover yoke is positioned adjacent to the second end of each of the plurality of legs. The cover yoke is also formed in a loop such that the cover loop is arranged to provide a magnetic circuit. Coils are positioned upon the legs of the energizable magnetic core. In one embodiment, amorphous metal may be used to construct the energizable magnetic core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: Light Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Hirzel
  • Publication number: 20050093393
    Abstract: A dynamoelectric, rotating electric machine includes a stator assembly that includes stacked stator coil windings. The machine is preferably a polyphase, axial airgap device. Improved slot filling results from the stacked stator coil configuration. Device performance capability is thereby increased. The stator assembly of the electric device has a magnetic core made from low loss, high frequency material. A high pole count permits the electrical device to operate at high commutating frequencies, with high efficiency, high power density and improved performance characteristics. Low-loss materials incorporated by the device include amorphous metals, nanocrystalline metals, optimized Si—Fe alloys, grain-oriented Fe-based materials or non-grain-oriented Fe-based materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventor: Andrew Hirzel
  • Publication number: 20050073212
    Abstract: A rotating, dynamoelectric machine, such as an electric motor, a generator, or a regenerative motor, comprises a stator assembly that includes a backiron section, a plurality of stator tooth sections, and a frontiron. The dynamoelectric machine has an axial airgap-type configuration. In addition, the electric machine has a high pole count that operates at high commutating frequencies, with high efficiency, high power density and reduced heating in the rotor. Low-loss materials employed in the dynamoelectric machine include amorphous metals, nanocrystalline metals, optimized Fe-based alloys, and optimized grain-oriented Fe-based materials or non-grain-oriented Fe-based materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Inventors: Burley Semones, Andrew Hirzel
  • Publication number: 20050040728
    Abstract: An axial gap dynamoelectric machine comprises first and second stators disposed coaxially with an intermediate rotor. The stators are selectively aligned with an axial offset between the positions of their respective teeth and slots. The stators comprise toroidal cores having laminated layers composed of a material selected from the group consisting of amorphous and nanocrystalline metals and optimized Fe-based alloy. Optionally, the machine further comprises misalignment means for adjusting the offset of the stators. Adaptive adjustment permits the machine to be operated to in a mode that reduces the back EMF of the motor, allowing constant voltage to be maintained as speed is increased. Reducing back EMF also allows a wider range of operating speed, especially in combination with use of high pole counts. Alternatively, the machine can be operated, e.g. at lower speed, in a constant torque mode. The machine may exploit the high pole count achievable by use of improved soft magnetic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventor: Andrew Hirzel