Abstract: The present invention provides an assembly for mounting to, or forming part of, the stator assembly of a rotating electrical machine. A plurality of component modules are provided at angularly spaced-apart locations around the assembly and contain power electronics components. Electrically conductive toroidal inlet and outlet manifolds are provided to convey coolant fluid (preferably a liquid dielectric such as MIDEL) to and from the component modules. The inlet and outlet manifolds provide a dual function as a coolant circuit for conveying coolant fluid and as busbars.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method and apparatus for converting heat to electric energy. The invention exploits the rapid changes in spontaneous polarization that occur in ferroelectric materials during phase change. The invention permits robust and economical generation of electric energy from thermal energy, and it can be used in many different applications.

Abstract: Electric machines which are excited with permanent magnets are to be improved in terms of their smoothness of operation and their loss properties. For this purpose, an electric machine is proposed comprising a first active part (40) on which one electric magnet (41, 42) and at least one permanent magnet (44) are mounted, and a second active part (43) which has a multiplicity of pole teeth (45, 46) and which interacts magnetically with the first active part (40). The pole teeth (45, 46) are spaced apart from one another in a non-uniform fashion in the direction (3) of the movement of the electric machine and/or have different average widths from one another, with the respective width of a tooth being measured in the direction (3) of movement and being averaged in terms of the extent of the tooth in the transverse direction with respect to the direction of travel. The geometry of the tooth causes the harmonics of the magnetic field to be influenced in a selective fashion.

Abstract: An improved design for maintaining separation between electrodes in tunneling, diode, thermionic, thermophotovoltaic and other devices is disclosed. At least one electrode is made from flexible material. A magnetic field is present to combine with the current flowing in the flexible electrode and generate a force that counterbalances the electrostatic force or other attracting forces between the electrodes. The balancing of forces allows separation and parallelism between the electrodes to be maintained at a very small spacing without requiring the use of multiple control systems, actuators, or other manipulating means, or spacers. The shape of one or both electrodes is designed to maintain a constant separation over the entire overlapping area of the electrodes.

Abstract: A micro-oscillation element includes a base frame, an oscillating portion, and a link portion connecting the base frame and the oscillating portion to each other. The oscillating portion has a movable functional portion, a first driving electrode connected to the movable functional portion, and a weight portion joined to the first driving electrode. The link portion defines an axis of the oscillating motion of the oscillating portion. The second driving electrode, fixed to the base frame, generates driving force for the oscillating motion in cooperation with the first driving electrode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method and apparatus for converting heat to electric energy. The invention exploits the rapid changes in spontaneous polarization that occur in ferroelectric materials during phase change. The invention permits robust and economical generation of electric energy from thermal energy, and it can be used in many different applications.

Abstract: An electrical machine, in particular a rotary current generator for motor vehicles, is proposed which has a housing (13) in which a stator (16) is retained, such that a coolant can flow around the outside of the stator (16) from one of its axial face ends (57) to a circumferential region of the stator (16), defining a flow cross section of the flow course through the stator (16) and the housing (13). The flow course is defined toward the stator by outer stator teeth (62) located on the outer circumference of the stator (16).

Abstract: A method for selectively operating an electric motor in one of a first pole configuration and a second pole configuration is provided. The first pole configuration has a first phase winding structure, a second phase winding structure and a third phase winding structure. The method includes energizing each of the first phase winding structure, the second phase winding structure and the third phase winding structure to operate the electric motor in the first pole configuration. The first phase winding structure is reconfigured to form a first phase, a second phase and a third phase of the second pole configuration. The first phase winding structure is energized and each of the second phase winding structure and the third phase winding structure is de-energized to operate the electric motor in the second pole configuration.

Abstract: A vibration wave driven apparatus which makes it possible to secure a required component accuracy obtained by machining and can increase a power ratio to the size of the apparatus. A plurality of contact parts are formed on one surface of an elastic vibration plate of a vibrator, and are disposed in contact with a friction member of a slider. A piezoelectric element plate is joined to the other surface of the vibration plate. Thinner parts as recessed parts are formed in the vibration plate at locations other than the contact parts, whereby the vibration plate is disposed in contact with the friction member of the slider at the contact parts.

Abstract: An electric fan includes a fan base (10), a bearing (40) and a rotor assembly (20). The fan base forms a central tube (11) receiving the bearing therein. The rotor assembly includes a fan hub (22), and a pivot axle (23) joined to the fan hub. The pivot axle pivotably extends into the bearing. A first and second locking rings (50, 70) are received in the central tube. Each of the first and second locking rings defines a central bore (52) therein. The pivot axle is engaged in the central bores of the first and second locking rings. The first locking ring is located at a top of the bearing and the second locking ring is located at a bottom of the bearing to prevent the rotor assembly from escaping from the bearing when the fan is operated.

Abstract: An electric machine, in particular a motor, includes a winding support assembly and a measuring system, preferably an infrared measuring system, The measuring system has at least one sensor and an evaluation unit, whereby the measuring system is integrated in the winding support assembly. The infrared sensor, which operates without making contact with the winding support assembly, provides almost instantaneously a measurement value that is proportional to the actual temperature of the winding system, thereby significantly improving motor protection. The sensor can be embedded and sealed in the winding support assembly.

Abstract: A turbomachine having a longitudinal axis, the turbomachine comprising an annular rotor centered on the longitudinal axis of the turbomachine, an annular stator disposed coaxially around the rotor, at least one ball bearing disposed on the rotor and rotatably supporting said stator, the inside of the rotor defining part of an oil enclosure for cooling and lubricating the balls of the bearing, an electricity generator having a secondary magnetic circuit secured to the stator and a primary magnetic circuit constrained to rotate with the rotor, and a detector device for automatically detecting ferromagnetic particles in the oil enclosure, said detector device being powered electrically by electromagnetic induction.

Abstract: A motor includes a stator and a rotor rotated due to the interaction between the rotor and the stator. Since overhangs are protruded only from the circumference of a rotor core of the rotor facing the stator in the axial direction, manufacturing costs for improving performance and core loss of the stator are minimized. Additionally, since the rotor core is manufactured by iron powder metallurgy, the rotor core is conveniently designed.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a system, which can comprise a radial magnetic bearing static portion. The radial magnetic bearing static portion can comprise a plurality of electromagnets. The radial magnetic bearing static portion can comprise a plurality of pulse width modulated amplifiers, each of which can be adapted to provide electrical energy to a corresponding electromagnet of the plurality of electromagnets.

Abstract: An acyclic homopolar electromechanical power converter that uses superconducting series connected rotor elements for series summation of magnetomotive and electromotive force. The novel rotor assembly comprises a plurality of conductor elements connected in series by superconducting series connections. The behavior of the superconducting series connections provides a form of flux isolation and series summation of forces that has heretofore been impossible in electromechanical power converters. The superconducting series connections further modify the rotor impedance of an acyclic homopolar electromechanical power converter to provide long needed improvements to acyclic homopolar electromechanical power converter designs.

Abstract: In a vibration wave linear motor, a coupled driving contacting parts are respectively provided on the top and the bottom of a vibrator unit, and 2 upper and lower guide shafts which contact concave parts of the coupled driving contacting parts are supported by erecting parts of a supporting part. The lower guide shaft is pressed upward by spiral springs, so that the two guide shafts press and sandwich the vibrator. Alternating current voltages having different phases are applied to the vibrator unit, whereby the vibrator unit generates a vibration wave to generate elliptical rotation vibrations in the driving contacting parts. As a result, the vibrator, and the two guide shafts and the supporting part make a relative move in the shaft direction. Either the guide shafts or the vibrator is fixed, and the other is linked to an object to be driven.

Abstract: An armature for use in a motor has a plurality of teeth, a plurality of slots and coils of three kinds of phases. A plurality of the slots is formed between the coadjacent teeth. The coils of three phases are wound around the teeth. The armature has a coil structure, according to which radial force acting on a specific tooth is greater than radial force acting on another tooth. A peak value of the radial force acting on the specific tooth is approximated to a peak value of the radial force acting on another tooth in such a manner that a flux path in and/or adjacent to the specific tooth is made narrower than a flux path in and/or adjacent to another tooth.

Abstract: An alternator for use in an automobile is driven by an internal combustion engine. The alternator includes a pulley that is coupled to a rotating shaft of the engine via a driving belt such as a poly-V belt. Plural pulley grooves to be engaged with the driving belt are formed on the pulley between a front flange and a rear flange. A projected surface of a front frame is located around the outer periphery of the rear flange, so that the driving belt is correctly positioned between the front and the rear flanges, guided by the projected surface. Two overlaps in the axial direction between the pulley and the front frame are formed to reduce an amount of water entering into the alternator through a gap between the pulley and the front frame.

Abstract: A rotor of a BLDC motor includes: a rotor divided into a north pole and a south pole on the basis of a magnetic pole separating line; and a stator at which the rotor is disposed with an air gap, the stator having a first pole shoe, a second pole shoe and a pair of detent grooves at its inner surface, wherein an air gap forming portion for enlarging an air gap between the rotor and the detent grooves is formed at both end portions of the rotor where the magnetic pole separating line passes, so that the rotor can maintain the motor performance and reduce resonance noise by reducing only higher degree of cogging torque from cogging torque generated when the motor is driven.

Abstract: Reinforcing body retainers are formed on an inner peripheral surface near a tip and near a root of first and second claw-shaped magnetic poles. Reinforcing bodies have a trapezoidal base portion and a pair of wing portions formed on two sides of the base portion, and slits are formed completely across a width direction of the base portion at a central portion in a height direction of the trapezoidal shape of the base portion so as to be offset toward a base of the trapezoidal shape. The reinforcing bodies are disposed so as to contact the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second claw-shaped magnetic poles with a magnet housed and supported in each of the wing portions, and a D ring is fitted into the slits of the reinforcing bodies.