Abstract: A switched reluctance starter/generator is presented which has a stator mounted within a housing having an outer periphery and a plurality of salient poles defining an inner periphery, the salient poles further defining slots therebetween. A stator cooling sleeve is press fit on the outer periphery of the stator and defines a plurality of cooling channels between the outer periphery of the stator cooling sleeve and the housing. A plurality of phase windings are wound on the plurality of salient stator poles, and phase winding retainers are positioned within the slots for securing the phase windings on the salient stator poles. The winding retainers comprise a triangular base separator, a quasi-dove-tailed retaining member, and two opposing wedge shaped expanders. A rotor assembly is rotatably positioned within the stator, and comprises a hollow shaft assembly and a rotor core having a plurality of salient poles press fit on the outer periphery of the shaft.

Abstract: An electric power generating system comprises a switched reluctance machine, an inverter having a dc input/output coupled to a dc bus, switches responsive to switching control signals for coupling each of the machine's phase windings to the dc bus, and diodes for cross-coupling each of the phase windings to the dc bus. A controller having a number of control inputs and outputs coupled to the inverter monitors the current flowing in the phase windings and the voltage level on the dc bus, and calculates a maximum and a minimum phase current control signal. The controller modulates the switching control signals to regulate the phase current within a range defined by these control signals to maintain the voltage level at a desired level. Upon calculating a positive phase current control signal, the controller generates switching control signals to enable switches at a fixed angle prior to alignment, and generates switching control signals to disable the switches at a fixed angle after alignment.

Abstract: A switched reluctance starter/generator is presented which has a stator mounted within a housing having an outer periphery and a plurality of salient poles defining an inner periphery, the salient poles further defining slots therebetween. A stator cooling sleeve is press fit on the outer periphery of the stator and defines a plurality of cooling channels between the outer periphery of the stator cooling sleeve and the housing. A plurality of phase windings are wound on the plurality of salient stator poles, and phase winding retainers are positioned within the slots for securing the phase windings on the salient stator poles. The winding retainers comprise a triangular base separator, a quasi-dove-tailed retaining member, and two opposing wedge shaped expanders. A rotor assembly is rotatably positioned within the stator, and comprises a hollow shaft assembly and a rotor core having a plurality of salient poles press fit on the outer periphery of the shaft.

Abstract: A permanent magnet coupling including a rotatable inner member 32, and outer member 12 rotatable about the same axis 14 as the inner member 32, a plurality of magnets 36 each having a nominally trapezoidal cross section, and a plurality of interpole members 34 each having a nominally trapezoidal cross section. The interpole members 34 are disposed circumferentially between adjacent magnets 36. The major bases 38 of the magnets 36 are located on the sleeve-like cylindrically-shaped iron core 16 of the inner member 32. In operation, the side surfaces 48,50 of the permanent magnets 36 wedge between the side surfaces 42 of the interpole members 34 by centrifugal force. This, in turn, prevents the magnets 36 from moving under static or dynamic conditions. Thus, the interpole members 34 restrain the magnets 36 in a similar fashion as the containment ring 30 generally without requiring a containment ring 30.

Abstract: In order to optimize the electrical performance in motors in terms of improved efficiency, power factor, and reduced current, a position detecting apparatus utilizes a first magnetic sensing device for accurately determining the angular position of a rotor and a second magnetic sensing device for absolutely determining the angular position of the rotor. The first magnetic sensing device includes a first target operatively associated with the rotor so as to rotate therewith and also includes a first sensor disposed at a fixed distance from the first target independent of the absolute angular position of the rotor to define a first air gap therebetween and a first magnet is disposed in proximity to the first target and the first sensor to create a first magnetic field in the first air gap. With this arrangement, the first sensor cooperates with the first target to accurately determine the angular position of the rotor by detecting incremental variations in the first magnetic field in the first air gap.