Abstract: A rotary direct current electric motor in which rotor and stator members are each configured as annular rings, concentric with respect to each other, about an axis of rotation. Either of the rotor or stator members is formed of groups of electromagnet pole pairs, the groups substantially equidistantly distributed along the angular extent of the annular ring, each of the groups comprising magnetic material magnetically isolated and separated from the other groups. The other member includes a plurality of permanent magnet poles substantially equidistantly distributed with alternating magnetic polarity along the angular extent of the radial air gap formed between the members, the permanent magnet poles having a discontinuous magnetic return path, thereby dividing the member into magnetically isolated groups of permanent magnet poles.

Abstract: A rotary electric motor in which a stator comprises a first number of permanent magnet poles substantially similar to each other in configuration and spaced substantially equidistantly with alternating polarity along a radial air gap, and a rotor that comprises a second number of salient poles distributed along the radial air gap, the salient poles divided in groups that have magnetic circuits isolated from each other. The radial distance between rotor salient poles of each group and the radial difference between the stator permanent magnet poles are substantially the same.