Abstract: Systems and methods for improved generators are described. One embodiment includes an assembly for an axial flux generator, the assembly comprising an arc-shaped rotor section that includes a rotor support configured to rotate around an axis of a generator, and an at least one rotor element for power generation that is connected to the rotor support; an arc-shaped stator section comprising a stator support and an at least one stator element for power generation connected to the stator support; wherein the rotor section and the stator section are configured to provide an axial air gap between the at least one rotor element and the at least one stator element, and wherein the at least one rotor element and the at least one stator element are positioned to be at substantially the same radial distance from the axis of the generator.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system includes three conductors, each conductor being on a separate layer such that the layers are parallel to one another and stacked. Each conductor has a winding portion and a terminal portion. The conductors are configured such that at least one electrical interconnect electrically couples two adjacent conductors within the winding portion but the third conductor is electrically isolated from the other two conductors within the winding portion. Within the terminal portion all three conductors are electrically coupled.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described herein for providing a cooling system for an electromagnetic machine. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a structure for an electromagnetic machine including a first outer support member that is configured to support a conductive winding or a magnet and a second support member that is disposed at a non-zero distance from the first support member. An elongate structural member has a first end coupled to the first support member and a second end coupled to the second support member and extends between the first support member and the second support member. The elongate structural member defines an interior channel that extends between the first end and the second end of the elongate structural member. The channel is configured to convey a cooling medium therethrough to cool at least a portion of the electromagnetic machine.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system includes multiple coils of a multi-phase machine in which the coils are each associated with a different phase. Associated with each coil is a protective element such that each protective element is associated with a different coil. When its associated protective element is in a first configuration, a coil is part of an electrical circuit, and its associated protective element allows a first amount of current to flow through the coil. Its associated protective element allows a second amount of current to flow through the coil when its associated protective element is in a second configuration. When in the second configuration, the coil's associated protective element does not obstruct current flow through other coils that are not associated with the protective element.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion of an electrical conductor. Each portion is electrically coupled to the other two portions. The first, second, and third portions are configured such that substantially no current induced in and/or supplied to the first portion is conducted to the third portion of the electrical conductor. The third portion of the electrical conductor is also thermally coupled to the first and second portions of the electrical conductor. The third portion of the electrical conductor is configured to transfer thermal energy from the first portion of the electrical conductor to an edge portion of the laminated composite assembly.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system includes multiple coils of a multi-phase machine in which the coils are each associated with a different phase. Associated with each coil is a protective element such that each protective element is associated with a different coil. When its associated protective element is in a first configuration, a coil is part of an electrical circuit, and its associated protective element allows a first amount of current to flow through the coil. Its associated protective element allows a second amount of current to flow through the coil when its associated protective element is in a second configuration. When in the second configuration, the coil's associated protective element does not obstruct current flow through other coils that are not associated with the protective element.

Abstract: An axial rotary energy device including a segmented stator assembly having a plurality of segments arranged in an annular array. Each stator segment is constructed by stacking a plurality of PCB power conductor layers and a plurality of PCB series layers. Each layer having radial conductors extending from an inner via to an outer via. The vias electrically connect selected radial conductors of the series conductor layer and power conductor layer. Each power conductor layer includes a pair of positive and negative terminal vias for one phase of the electric current connected to selected outer vias. A daughter PCB layer electrically connects two adjacent segments together by having a first portion electrically connected to a negative terminal via located in one segment and a second portion electrically connected to a positive terminal via located in an adjacent segment together with a current conductor electrically connecting the two terminal vias together.

Abstract: A laminated composite assembly includes a layer having a first conductor with a first side and a second side. A first electric insulator is disposed between the first side of the first conductor and a second conductor such that a difference between a voltage associated with the first conductor and a voltage associated with the second conductor defines a voltage stress therebetween. The first electric insulator providing a first degree of electrical isolation based on the voltage stress. A second electric insulator is disposed between the second side of the first conductor and a third conductor such that a difference between the voltage associated with the first conductor and a voltage associated with the third conductor defines a second voltage stress therebetween. The second electric insulator providing a second degree of electrical isolation based on the second voltage stress.

Abstract: An axial rotary energy device including a segmented stator assembly having a plurality of segments arranged in an annular array. Each stator segment is constructed by stacking a plurality of PCB power conductor layers and a plurality of PCB series layers. Each layer having radial conductors extending from an inner via to an outer via. The vias electrically connect selected radial conductors of the series conductor layer and power conductor layer. Each power conductor layer includes a pair of positive and negative terminal vias for one phase of the electric current connected to selected outer vias. A daughter PCB layer electrically connects two adjacent segments together by having a first portion electrically connected to a negative terminal via located in one segment and a second portion electrically connected to a positive terminal via located in an adjacent segment together with a current conductor electrically connecting the two terminal vias together.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electromagnetic machine includes a rotor element configured for movement relative to a stator. The rotor element includes a magnetic support, a magnetic pole assembly, and a retainer. The magnetic support is formed, at least in part, from a ferromagnetic material and is configured to be coupled to the magnetic support. The retainer is coupled to both the magnetic support and the magnetic pole assembly. The retainer is further configured to be in a first state during a first time period and a second state during a second time period, after the first time period, such that during the second time period, the coupling of the magnetic pole assembly to the magnetic support is maintained.

Abstract: A first winding portion from a set of winding portions has a set of coils. Each coil of the first winding portion is associated with a different electrical phase from a set of electrical phases. Each coil of the first winding portion circumscribes a different area from a set of areas circumscribed by the set of coils of the first winding portion. A second winding portion has a set of coils associated with the set of electrical phases and a third winding portion has a set of coils associated with the set of electrical phases. The first winding portion at least partially overlaps the second winding portion and the third winding portion such that each area from the set of area is substantially circumscribed by a coil associated with each electrical phase from the set of electrical phases.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system includes a conductor on a first layer of a laminated composite assembly. The laminated composite assembly has an input, an output, a first electrical interconnect which couples the conductor on the first layer of the laminated composite assembly with a second conductor on a second layer of the laminated composite assembly, and a second electrical interconnect which electrically couples the first conductor with the second conductor. A width of the second electrical interconnect is greater than a width of the first electrical interconnect. A resistance of the laminated composite assembly as measured between the electrical input and the electrical output is less than the resistance of the laminated composite assembly as measured between the electrical input and the electrical output if the width of the first electrical interconnect were substantially equal to the width of the second electrical interconnect.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electromagnetic machine includes a rotor element configured for movement relative to a stator. The rotor element includes a support member, a backing member, and a magnetic pole assembly. The support member includes a first coupling portion. The backing member is formed, at least in part, from a ferromagnetic material and the magnetic pole assembly is configured to be coupled to the backing member. The magnetic pole assembly and/or the backing member include a second coupling portion configured to removably couple the backing member and the magnetic pole assembly collectively to the first coupling portion of the support member.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electromagnetic machine includes a rotor element configured for movement relative to a stator. The rotor element includes a support member, a backing member, and a magnetic pole assembly. The support member includes a first coupling portion. The backing member is formed, at least in part, from a ferromagnetic material and the magnetic pole assembly is configured to be coupled to the backing member. The magnetic pole assembly and/or the backing member include a second coupling portion configured to removably couple the backing member and the magnetic pole assembly collectively to the first coupling portion of the support member.

Abstract: A structure of an electromagnetic machine includes an outer support member configured to support a conductive winding or a magnet. The structure further includes an inner support member, a first elongate compression member, a second elongate compression member, and an elongate tension member. The first elongate compression member and the second elongate compression member each include a first end portion coupled to the outer support member and a second end portion coupled to the inner support member to resist radial and axial deflection of the outer support member relative inner support member. The elongate tension member includes a first end portion coupled to the first compression member and a second end portion coupled to one of the inner support or the second elongate compression member to resist rotational deflection of the outer support member relative to the inner support member.

Abstract: Numerous arrangements for permanent magnets are disclosed that can focus the flux produced by the magnets. Depending on the particular application in which the disclosed designs and techniques are used, efficiency and reliability may be increased by minimizing flux leakage, increasing peak flux density, and shaping the flux fields to improve the effective coercivity of the flux focusing permanent magnet arrangement when loaded, and to achieve customized voltage and current waveforms. The disclosed magnet assemblies may be incorporated into a machine, such as a motor/generator, having windings and may be disposed for movement relative to the windings. The magnet assembly may be mounted on a support formed of one or more ferromagnetic materials, such as a back iron. The disclosed flux focusing magnet assemblies may be formed using a variety of manufacturing methods.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first member that supports a magnetic flux carrying member and a second member that supports a magnetic flux generating member disposed for movement relative to the first member. An air gap control system is coupled to at least one of the first member or the second member and includes an air gap control device that is separate from a primary magnetic flux circuit formed between the first member and the second member. The air gap control device is configured to exert a force on one of the first and second members in response to movement of the other of the first and second members in a direction that reduces a distance between the first and second members to maintain a minimum distance between the first and second members and/or substantially center the one of the first and second members within the other.

Abstract: Numerous arrangements for permanent magnets are disclosed that can focus the flux produced by the magnets. Depending on the particular application in which the disclosed designs and techniques are used, efficiency and reliability may be increased by minimizing flux leakage, increasing peak flux density, and shaping the flux fields to improve the effective coercivity of the flux focusing permanent magnet arrangement when loaded, and to achieve customized voltage and current waveforms. The disclosed magnet assemblies may be incorporated into a machine, such as a motor/generator, having windings and may be disposed for movement relative to the windings. The magnet assembly may be mounted on a support formed of one or more ferromagnetic materials, such as a back iron The disclosed flux focusing magnet assemblies may be formed using a variety of manufacturing methods.

Abstract: Numerous arrangements for permanent magnets are disclosed that can focus the flux produced by the magnets. Depending on the particular application in which the disclosed designs and techniques are used, efficiency and reliability may be increased by minimizing flux leakage, increasing peak flux density, and shaping the flux fields to improve the effective coercivity of the flux focusing permanent magnet arrangement when loaded, and to achieve customized voltage and current waveforms. The disclosed magnet assemblies may be incorporated into a machine, such as a motor/generator, having windings and may be disposed for movement relative to the windings. The magnet assembly may be mounted on a support formed of one or more ferromagnetic materials, such as a back iron. The disclosed flux focusing magnet assemblies may be formed using a variety of manufacturing methods.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first member that supports a magnetic flux carrying member and a second member that supports a magnetic flux generating member disposed for movement relative to the first member. An air gap control system is coupled to at least one of the first member or the second member and includes an air gap control device that is separate from a primary magnetic flux circuit formed between the first member and the second member. The air gap control device is configured to exert a force on one of the first and second members in response to movement of the other of the first and second members in a direction that reduces a distance between the first and second members to maintain a minimum distance between the first and second members and/or substantially center the one of the first and second members within the other.