Abstract: A brushless electric machine includes a housing, a stator assembly, a rotor assembly, a rotary transformer, and a rectifier. The stator assembly is arranged within the housing and includes a stator winding provided on a stator core. The rotor assembly is also positioned within the housing with an airgap separating the rotor assembly from the stator assembly. The rotor assembly includes a rotor shaft, a rotor winding, and a balance ring. The rotary transformer is positioned within the housing and includes a primary coil and a secondary coil. The rectifier includes a plurality of diodes positioned on the balance ring. The rectifier is electrically connected between the secondary coil and the rotor winding.

Abstract: A stator for an electric machine includes a core and a multi-phase winding arrangement positioned on the core. Each phase of the winding arrangement includes a plurality of parallel paths defining a plurality of poles for the electric machine. Each parallel path includes a plurality of coils positioned on the core, each coil defined by coil legs and end turns. The coil legs include left legs and right legs extending through the slots of the core. The left legs and right legs of each coil are connected by first end turns at one end of the core and second end turns at an opposite end of the core. Each pole of the electric machine is associated with a pole slot set comprised of multiple slots on the stator core. For each pole slot set, legs for each parallel path extend through one of the slots of said pole slot set.

Abstract: A method and arrangement is disclosed herein for making a stator with 3D printed end turns. The stator includes a stator lamination stack with semi-closed slots. Straight I-pin wire segments are housed in the slots of the stator lam stack and form the in-slot segments of a stator winding arrangement. The end turns of the winding arrangement are provided by a conductive material that is 3D printed material at both axial ends of the straight I-pins. The end turns result in a winding arrangement with diamond coils that are inter-locked. The 3D printing of the end turns makes the winding arrangement possible, as the winding arrangement is configured such that it cannot be inserted into the lamination stack in a radial direction (i.e., via any slot openings at the inner diameter or outer diameter).

Abstract: An electric machine including a rotor comprising metal and plastic portions, the plastic portions being exclusively of thermoplastic material. An electric machine including a rotor, the rotor including a shaft, a coil disposed adjacent the shaft, a first thermoplastic material disposed on the rotor and having a first melting point, a second thermoplastic material disposed on the rotor and having a second melting point at least 20 degrees C. higher than the first melting point. A method for making a recyclable electric machine including assembling a rotor consisting of a plurality of metallic components, and a plurality of plastic portions, the plastic portions consisting of thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A rotor includes a shaft having an outer surface including a first diameter and a flange extending from the outer surface. A first plurality of laminations is arranged about the shaft. The first plurality of laminations includes an outer annular surface and an inner surface defining an opening including a second diameter that is substantially equal to the first diameter. A second plurality of laminations is arranged about the shaft and coupled to the first plurality of laminations. The second plurality of laminations include an outer annular surface portion and an inner surface portion defining a third diameter that is greater than the first diameter.

Abstract: A stator for an electric machine includes a core and a multi-phase winding arrangement positioned on the core. Each phase of the winding arrangement includes a plurality of parallel paths defining a plurality of poles for the electric machine. Each parallel path includes a plurality of coils positioned on the core, each coil defined by coil legs and end turns. The coil legs include left legs and right legs extending through the slots of the core. The left legs and right legs of each coil are connected by first end turns at one end of the core and second end turns at an opposite end of the core. Each pole of the electric machine is associated with a pole slot set comprised of multiple slots on the stator core. For each pole slot set, legs for each parallel path extend through one of the slots of said pole slot set.

Abstract: A method and arrangement is disclosed herein for making a stator with 3D printed end turns. The stator includes a stator lamination stack with semi-closed slots. Straight I-pin wire segments are housed in the slots of the stator lam stack and form the in-slot segments of a stator winding arrangement. The end turns of the winding arrangement are provided by a conductive material that is 3D printed material at both axial ends of the straight I-pins. The end turns result in a winding arrangement with diamond coils that are inter-locked. The 3D printing of the end turns makes the winding arrangement possible, as the winding arrangement is configured such that it cannot be inserted into the lamination stack in a radial direction (i.e., via any slot openings at the inner diameter or outer diameter).

Abstract: A rotor includes a shaft having an outer surface including a first diameter and a flange extending from the outer surface. A first plurality of laminations is arranged about the shaft. The first plurality of laminations includes an outer annular surface and an inner surface defining an opening including a second diameter that is substantially equal to the first diameter. A second plurality of laminations is arranged about the shaft and coupled to the first plurality of laminations. The second plurality of laminations include an outer annular surface portion and an inner surface portion defining a third diameter that is greater than the first diameter.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a starter machine control system including an electronic control unit. The control system can include a starter machine that is in communication with the electronic control unit. The starter machine can comprise a solenoid assembly that includes at least one biasing members and a coil winding. The starter machine can also include a motor that is coupled to a pinion. The motor can include a field assembly and an armature assembly. The field assembly can include a support body and permanent magnets that are supported within the support body. A plurality of flux members can be disposed between the permanent magnets. A plurality of windings can be disposed around the flux members and can be coupled to a control circuit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a starter machine including a housing. A motor can be positioned within the housing and coupled to a gear train, which can be coupled to a shaft. A switched reluctance solenoid assembly can be positioned within the housing and capable of being coupled to inverters that communicate with an electronic control unit. The switched reluctance solenoid assembly includes at least two switched reluctance stator assemblies and a rotor that is coupled to the shaft. The rotor can also include an integral pinion and is movably positioned within the switched reluctance stator assemblies. The rotor is capable of linear and rotational movement.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module including a housing. In some embodiments, the housing can include a sleeve member coupled to at least one end cap. The housing can include an inner wall at least partially defining a machine cavity, a coolant sump, and at least one coolant channel positioned between the inner wall and an outer wall of the housing. In some embodiments, the coolant channel can be in fluid communication with the coolant sump. In some embodiments, an electric machine can be positioned in the machine cavity. The electric machine can comprise a stator assembly including stator end turns and a rotor assembly. In some embodiments, a coolant jacket can be at least partially defined by the housing and can be positioned so that to at least partially circumscribe a portion of the stator assembly.

Abstract: A method for controlling a specific electric machine includes receiving with a controller a back electromotive force (BEMF) coefficient for the specific electric machine. The controller is configured to control operation of an inverter coupled to the electric machine where the inverter is configured to provide or receive multi-phase electricity to or from the electric machine in motor mode or generator mode, respectively. The method further includes receiving with the controller an input related to a selected torque to be applied by or a selected power to be removed from the electric machine. The method further includes determining a first electrical parameter the inverter is to apply to in motor mode or a second electrical parameter the inverter is to convert power to in generator mode using the BEMF coefficient, and applying the first electrical parameter to the electric machine or converting the received power to the second electrical parameter.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module. The module can include a housing that can define a machine cavity. The housing can include a coolant jacket that contains a first coolant. A coolant sump can be in fluid communication with the machine cavity and can contain a second coolant that is different than the first coolant. The coolant sump can be in thermal communication with the coolant jacket. An electric machine can be positioned within the machine cavity. The electric machine can include a stator assembly, a rotor assembly, and a shaft. The module can also include at least one coolant channel, at least one shaft channel, and at least one rotor channel.

Abstract: A method for controlling a specific electric machine includes receiving with a controller a back electromotive force (BEMF) coefficient for the specific electric machine. The controller is configured to control operation of an inverter coupled to the electric machine where the inverter is configured to provide or receive multi-phase electricity to or from the electric machine in motor mode or generator mode, respectively. The method further includes receiving with the controller an input related to a selected torque to be applied by or a selected power to be removed from the electric machine. The method further includes determining a first electrical parameter the inverter is to apply to in motor mode or a second electrical parameter the inverter is to convert power to in generator mode using the BEMF coefficient, and applying the first electrical parameter to the electric machine or converting the received power to the second electrical parameter.

Abstract: A method of operating an electric machine includes flowing a coolant into an interior portion of a housing of the electric machine, and sensing a level of coolant in a coolant collection area within the interior portion with a coolant level sensor arranged at the housing.

Abstract: An electric machine including a housing, a stator mounted within the housing, a rotor rotatably mounted within the housing relative to the stator, and a vibration sensor arranged within the housing. The vibration sensor includes a sensing member configured and disposed to detect vibrations of the electric machine.

Abstract: An electric machine including a housing, a stator mounted within the housing, a rotor rotatably mounted within the housing relative to the stator, and a coolant system fluidly connected to the housing. The coolant system delivers a flow of coolant through the housing. A coolant temperature sensor is arranged within the housing and exposed to the flow of coolant. The coolant temperature sensor configured and disposed to detect a temperature of the coolant in the housing.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing having a coolant collection area, a stator mounted within the housing, a rotor assembly rotatably mounted within the housing relative to the stator, and a coolant level sensor arranged at the coolant collection area. The coolant level sensor includes a sensing surface configured and disposed to detect a level of coolant collected in the coolant collection area.

Abstract: An electric machine including a housing and a stator arranged within the housing. The stator includes a plurality of stator windings that define a number of phases. A switch module is mounted at the housing. The switch module includes a plurality of switch members that are operatively connected to the plurality of stator windings. The plurality of switch members are configured and disposed to selectively establish one of a first electrical connection configuration and a second electrical connection configuration of the plurality of stator windings.

Abstract: A connector for securing a horizontally extending member of a sloped roof at a selected angle relative to an upright member of the sloped roof includes a first portion adapted for secure engagement with the upright member and a second portion adapted for secure engagement with the horizontally extending member. An angular measurement section extending from the first portion and having multiple visible features thereon is usable to secure the connector to the upright member at a selected angle by aligning a selected visible feature with a portion of the upright member. Each visible feature corresponds to a selected angular relationship, such that a desired angle between the horizontally extending member and the upright member can be provided through selective alignment of a corresponding visible feature of the connector with the upright member.