Abstract: An electrically and mechanically robust microelectromechanical transducer is formed of a pleated dielectric sheet having patterned electrical conductors on the opposing faces thereof. The pleats define a plurality of spaced apart walls, with each wall including an electrically conductive portion at one side thereof. Positive and negative voltages, applied to opposite faces of the pleated sheet, cause the walls to move towards one another by electrostatic attraction. The walls can also move away from one another by electrostatic repulsion upon application of appropriate voltages. The microelectromechanical transducer may be fabricated by fabricating a sheet with integral pleats or by forming a "self-pleating" flat sheet which forms pleats after conductor fabrication thereon.

Abstract: A laminated core for a motor includes a plurality of core members made of magnetic material and which are laminated to form laminated core members; insulating layers formed on the surfaces of the laminated core members, and a wire wound on the insulating layer of the laminated core members, wherein the insulating layers are respectively formed on the core members located on the upper and lower sides of the laminated core in the laminate direction.

Abstract: A rotor of a turbogenerator having direct gas cooling of an excitation winding conductor. An insulating strip is provided between a slot base and the excitation winding conductor. A resiliently elastic intermediate layer, which may be in a form of a corrugated spring, is provided between the insulating strip and the excitation winding conductor in order to compensate for seating phenomena of the excitation winding. This corrugated spring extends in a direction of the rotor body center, originating from the body end. In order to fix this corrugated spring axially without the cross section of the keyway being constricted, the corrugated spring has a pair of projections which point downwards and engage in lateral recesses in the insulating strip.

Abstract: A motor assembly includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly having an associated rotor shaft. The rotor shaft is mounted between and supported by endshields both are mounted to the stator assembly. At least the mounting one of the endshields includes a plurality of truss members so configured as to permit the endshield to be made of different materials while retaining substantially the same configuration. The truss members include rails oriented generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor shaft. A web extends between the rails. Knee beam truss members are braced in various configurations. In some embodiments, a venturi cowling is provided to cause air to flow over end turns of the motor.

Abstract: A PM (permanent magnet) motor is described, that uses electromagnetic current to release or pull a PM, which has increased starting torque and a large power output in a small volume. The motor includes phase units (60, FIG. 3 ) each having three electromagnets (46A-46C) and each having two PMs (44A, 44B) of Nd-B-Fe permanent magnet material. At a start position, a PM (44B) of each phase unit is centered between the cores (50B, 50C) of two electromagnets, and there is slight overlap (90, FIG. 6 ) of each of the two core faces (64B, 64C) with the PM face (62A). Each PM face has a longer circumferential length (D) than that (G) of each core face. Each PM face and each core face, has an axial length (E, FIG. 1 ) which is much larger than its circumferential length (D, G). The interface end of each electromagnet coil lies a small distance (K) from the core face.

Abstract: The invention relates to an asynchronous electric machine, wherein a rotor rotating relative to a stator is provided with an electrically conductible coating. An air gap (.delta.) between the rotor and the stator is designed according to the following formula ##EQU1## in which D.sub.r =outer rotor diameter (mm),D.sub.s =inner stator diameter (mm),u=peripheral speed (m/s),.delta.=air gap (mm),A=a constant, whose magnitude .gtoreq.0.3, preferably 0.7-1.5, suitably 1,B=a constant, whose magnitude .ltoreq.150, preferably 50-100, suitably 70,C=a constant whose magnitude .ltoreq.1200, preferably 300-600, suitably 400; quality m/s/.sub.mmThe peripheral speed of the rotor is more than 100 m/s. Furthermore, the rotor is provided on its shaft body with an electrically conductible coating, which is designed to be continuous and to extend over the entire operative surface area of the rotor.

Abstract: An improved armature assembly includes an armature stack mounted coaxially with a rotatable shaft. Conductive windings are disposed in the armature stack in accordance with a preselected winding sequence. The conductive windings include end turns which extend longitudinally beyond the armature stack. End plates are disposed at opposing ends of the armature stack. Each end plate includes an integral banding ring in the form of a retaining flange located radially outwardly of, and in a supporting relation to, the end turns. Each end band further includes a centrally located aperture which is adapted to receive the rotatable shaft and maintain concentricity of between end plate, the armature stack and the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: A varistor disk assembly for mounting to a commutator base comprising a non-conductive retaining ring, a conductive member, and a varistor disk interposed between the commutator base and the distal end of the retaining ring. The retaining ring has an axial bore therethrough providing a friction fit with the motor shaft on which the commutator is mounted. A tolerance absorbing member can be interposed between the varistor disk and the retaining ring. The conductive member conducts current through its thickness from the commutator base to the varistor disk, but does not conduct current between adjacent commutator segments. To orient the varistor disk to the commutator, the proximal end of the retaining ring can have at least one planar side formed in its periphery for alignment with one of the commutator segments, while the distal end of the retaining ring also has formed in its periphery a planar side, and the varistor disk is provided with a complementary planar side in its inner diameter.

Abstract: A magnetic bearing control system for a rotating shaft, for example, includes a plurality of electromagnets disposed around and in close proximity to the surface of the shaft. The control system provides a bias current to the electromagnets to maintain the shaft in a null position. Levitation of the shaft is controlled by a levitation controller, and disturbance rejection is effected by a disturbance rejection controller. Flux sensors, suitably located near the electromagnets, determine the magnitude and polarity of the flux resident in the gap between each electromagnet and the shaft. The controller determines the size of the gap based on the flux and generates a corresponding control signal to maintain the position of the shaft within the bearing.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, in an electric motor of the type having a housing, a non-metallic bobbin upon which is wound a stator coil, a rotor having a rotor shaft fixedly attached thereto and extending therefrom, the rotor being disposed for rotation axially centrally of the bobbin, the improvement including: a bearing structure, the bearing structure being formed integrally with the non-metallic bobbin and having a central opening for the journalling therein of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: A brush holder assembly for an electric machine such as a motor that utilizes a constant force spring positioned within a U-shaped retainer to apply a constant force on a brush positioned against the spring within the retainer. The brush, spring and retainer are positioned within a container mounted on the housing of the electric machine. A removable cap is mounted in the radially outer end of the container to maintain the brush and spring in proper position during operation and allow easy removal and replacement of the brush when needed.

Abstract: A rotor of a synchronous motor, according to the present invention, includes a plurality of permanent magnets 12 radially arranged around a rotating shaft 10, and a plurality of laminated core members 14 arranged around the rotating shaft 10 and holding each permanent magnet 12 therebetween so as to constitute magnetic poles. Each permanent magnet 12 extends, as a continuum, along the substantially axial entire length of the laminated core members 14. Each laminated core member 14 is separated into two parts by a circular-plate member 24 disposed at generally center position of the laminated construction. The circular-plate member 24 is provided with a shaft hole 26 at the center thereof, into which the rotating shaft 10 is fitted, and a plurality of magnet-fastening holes 28 around the shaft hole 26.

Abstract: This invention provides a planar micro-actuator in which power feed to slider electrodes is facilitated, whose reliability is remarkably improved, and by which a sub-system can be reliably realized.In a planar micro-actuator of the type wherein an insulating fluid is sealed between stators so disposed as to oppose each other with a predetermined gap and a slider is movably disposed between the stators, the stators are equipped with power feed paths, the slider is equipped with metal bumps in electrical contact with the power feed paths, and power is fed to the slider through the power feed paths and through the metal bumps. Guide grooves for guiding the metal bumps are preferably formed in the power feed paths, and each power feed path is disposed on the electrode of the stator through an insulating layer to thereby improve the wiring density. By such a structure, the size and weight of the planar micro-actuator can be reduced while preventing undesirable deviation of the slider.

Abstract: A slip ring unit arranged to be force-fitted on to an alternator shaft, especially a motor vehicle alternator shaft, is made by moulding insulating material over electrically conductive elements so as to encapsulate the latter. It has a generally cylindrical body which includes two slip rings at its outer surface, the slip rings being connected to two electrical connecting elements for connecting the slip ring unit to the ends of winding wires of the alternator. The body of the unit has a bore for accommodating the alternator shaft. The insulating material is extended beyond one of the two slip rings, to define a collar at that end of the unit on which the fitting force is to be applied. At least one notch is formed in the extension constituted by the collar, these notches extending through the whole axial thickness of the latter so as to leave one side of the adjacent slip ring exposed. The applied fitting force can then be exerted directly on the slip ring, through the notch.

Abstract: A laminated core for a rotating electric machine comprising a plurality of single sheet cores, each single-sheet core being formed by arranging a plurality of salient poles continuously on a beltlike yoke plate and winding the beltlike yoke plate so as to be cylindrical while joining both ends of the beltlike yoke plate, wherein the laminated core is cylindrical and has a plurality of salient poles confronting a magnet, each salient pole having a winding and the laminated core is formed by laminating a plurality of the single-sheet cores.

Abstract: A device for field weakening in a doubly-salient variable reluctance motor having permanent magnets in the stator. The field weakening increases the constant power range of the motor and is accomplished by controlled movement of steel insets toward and away from the sides of the stator proximate the permanent magnets to provide a controllable by-pass flux path thereabout. Alternatively, the field weakening may be accomplished by a flux by-pass collar which may be angularly positioned around the stator to bridge the permanent magnets of the motor with discrete magnetic sections, thereby providing an alternate by-pass flux path around the permanent magnets in addition to the main air gap flux path. A third alternative means for maintaining a constant power range is accomplished by controlled axial sliding of the permanent magnets themselves into and out from the stator.

Abstract: A high degree of freedom from noise is possible with a simple manufacturing technique for a small commutator motor by virtue of the fact that brush boxes are permanently mounted on parts of a brush plate and lockable by molded locking pins in locking openings of a base mounted on a motor housing with a gap therebetween. Damping sleeves may be premounted into the base edgewise with through openings for locking pins.

Abstract: A homopolar machine for use as a motor or a generator. The machine includes an elongated shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis, a barrier disposed about the shaft, and first and second electrically conductive, magnetic field inducing disks connected to and disposed about the shaft such that the barrier is sandwiched therebetween. The barrier is conductive of a magnetic field and electrically insulated from the disks. The disks are electrically interconnected and generate a magnetic field perpendicular to the barrier with the magnetic field of the first disk in opposition to the magnetic field of the second disk. The machine also includes first and second electrical contacts electrically connected to the centers of the disks. The conductive path defined by the disks includes first and second ends at the centers of the disks and substantially travels the radius of each of the disks such that when used as a generator i.e.

Abstract: A stator coil of a rotary electric machine includes a three-phase Y-form connection circuit including first windings Y1, Y2 and Y3, which are connected in Y-form, and a three-phase delta-form connection circuit including second windings .increment.x3, .increment.y3 and .increment.z3 which are connected in delta-form, wherein the second windings .increment.x3, .increment.y3 and .increment.z3 are sequentially inserted in slots of a stator core to have a phase difference of 120.degree. therebetween, and each of the first windings Y1, Y2 and Y3 is divided into two windings, and the divided first windings are separately inserted in the slots, in which the second windings .increment.x3, .increment.y3 and .increment.z3 have been inserted, so that the resultant composite voltage vector of each pair of the divided first windings is shifted by 30.degree. in phase from the voltage vector of one of the second windings .increment.x3, .increment.y3 and .increment.z3.

Abstract: An armature end protector for protecting rotor windings from the end of a rotor stack, includes a hub and a body portion. The body portion has a plurality of radially extending spokes which cover arms of laminated members of the rotor, at least in the region of the rotor windings. The body portion is fitted to and supported by the hub. A circumferentially extending ridge is formed on the hub to provide a stop against which the body portion abuts to correctly locate the body portion on the hub. The ridge also increases the electrical separation distance between the rotor windings and the rotor stack.