Abstract: A motor suited for use in a direct drive laundry machine. The described motor has a stator core including an annular ring with an inner diameter between 120 mm and 250 mm, a radial width between 5 mm and 15 mm, and 24 or 27 stator poles projecting outward from the annular ring a distance of between 15 mm and 40 mm. Each stator pole is associated with one of three phase windings. A rotor for the motor has inwardly facing permanent magnet poles whereby the ratio of rotor poles to stator poles is 4:3.

Abstract: A BLDC motor for driving a cross flow fan in an air-conditioning application has an external rotor and an internal stator. The stator is a salient pole stator with insulated pole teeth and conductor coils. The inner diameter of the stator supports a single bearing. An electronic PCBA for control of the BLDC motor is optionally attached to the stator, all of which is encapsulated in a thermoset resin. The rotor comprises permanent magnet component(s) and a rotor frame. The rotor frame includes a stub axle that engages with the bearing element and features to provide torsional or rotational compliance between the rotor magnets and the fan. A level of compliance is provided between the bearing element and the stator to allow for angular misalignment between the rotational axis of the fan and the stator.

Abstract: A rotor for a motor comprising a frame having a hub for connecting the rotor to a shaft and a perimeter portion for interacting with a stator of the motor to cause the rotor to rotate about an axis of rotation. The frame comprises legs extending from an outer portion of the frame towards the hub, each leg having an inner end at the hub and an outer end at the outer portion of the frame, the inner ends of a first plurality of legs being spaced from the inner ends of a second plurality of legs in a direction along the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A motor suited for use in a direct drive laundry machine. The described motor has a stator core including an annular ring with an inner diameter between 120 mm and 250 mm, a radial width between 5 mm and 15 mm, and 24 or 27 stator poles projecting outward from the annular ring a distance of between 15 mm and 40 mm. Each stator pole is associated with one of three phase windings. A rotor for the motor has inwardly facing permanent magnet poles whereby the ratio of rotor poles to stator poles is 4:3.

Abstract: A motor suited for use in a direct drive laundry machine. The described motor has a stator core including an annular ring with an inner diameter between 120 mm and 250 mm, a radial width between 5 mm and 15 mm, and 24 or 27 stator poles projecting outward from the annular ring a distance of between 15 mm and 40 mm. Each stator pole is associated with one of three phase windings. A rotor for the motor has inwardly facing permanent magnet poles whereby the ratio of rotor poles to stator poles is 4:3.

Abstract: A rotor for a motor comprising a frame having a hub for connecting the rotor to a shaft and a perimeter portion for interacting with a stator of the motor to cause the rotor to rotate about an axis of rotation. The frame comprises legs extending from an outer portion of the frame towards the hub, each leg having an inner end at the hub and an outer end at the outer portion of the frame, the inner ends of a first plurality of legs being spaced from the inner ends of a second plurality of legs in a direction along the axis of rotation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine (7) and pump (8) for a washing machine (7). The pump is driven by a brushless DC motor (38). The pump can be controlled to improve the operation of the washing machine. In one aspect the invention comprises a washing machine (7) with a variable speed pump (8) for pumping out wastewater, a controller (50) for controlling the speed of the pump and a sensor (10) for determining the flow-rate of water being pumped from the washing machine, wherein the controller (50) controls the speed of the pump to maintain the flow-rate at a desirable level.

Abstract: A rotor for a motor comprising a frame having a hub for connecting the rotor to a shaft and a perimeter portion for interacting with a stator of the motor to cause the rotor to rotate about an axis of rotation. The frame comprises legs extending from an outer portion of the frame towards the hub, each leg having an inner end at the hub and an outer end at the outer portion of the frame, the inner ends of a first plurality of legs being spaced from the inner ends of a second plurality of legs in a direction along the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A BLDC motor for driving a cross flow fan in an air-conditioning application has an external rotor and an internal stator. The stator is a salient pole stator with insulated pole teeth and conductor coils. The inner diameter of the stator supports a single bearing. An electronic PCBA for control of the BLDC motor is optionally attached to the stator, all of which is encapsulated in a thermoset resin. The rotor comprises permanent magnet component(s) and a rotor frame. The rotor frame includes a stub axle that engages with the bearing element and features to provide torsional or rotational compliance between the rotor magnets and the fan. A level of compliance is provided between the bearing element and the stator to allow for angular misalignment between the rotational axis of the fan and the stator.

Abstract: A BLDC motor for driving a cross flow fan in an air-conditioning application has an external rotor and an internal stator. The stator is a salient pole stator with insulated pole teeth and conductor coils. The inner diameter of the stator supports a single bearing. An electronic PCBA for control of the BLDC motor is optionally attached to the stator, all of which is encapsulated in a thermoset resin. The rotor comprises permanent magnet component(s) and a rotor frame. The rotor frame includes a stub axle that engages with the bearing element and features to provide torsional or rotational compliance between the rotor magnets and the fan. A level of compliance is provided between the bearing element and the stator to allow for angular misalignment between the rotational axis of the fan and the stator.

Abstract: A magnet element (37) and a method of its manufacture for assembly into a rotor (38), the magnet element (37) having magnetic domains aligned anisotropically to form a domain alignment pattern (42), wherein the magnetic domain alignment pattern (42) in the magnet element (37) has an orientation that varies substantially continuously across at least part of the magnet element (37) between its lateral edges from at least partially radial to at least partially tangential.

Abstract: A rotor for a motor comprising a frame having a hub for connecting the rotor to a shaft and a perimeter portion for interacting with a stator of the motor to cause the rotor to rotate about an axis of rotation. The frame comprises legs extending from an outer portion of the frame towards the hub, each leg having an inner end at the hub and an outer end at the outer portion of the frame, the inner ends of a first plurality of legs being spaced from the inner ends of a second plurality of legs in a direction along the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A rotor for a motor comprising a frame having a hub for connecting the rotor to a shaft and a perimeter portion for interacting with a stator of the motor to cause the rotor to rotate about an axis of rotation. The frame comprises legs extending from an outer portion of the frame towards the hub, each leg having an inner end at the hub and an outer end at the outer portion of the frame, the inner ends of a first plurality of legs being spaced from the inner ends of a second plurality of legs in a direction along the axis of rotation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine (7) and pump (8) for a washing machine (7). The pump is driven by a brushless DC motor (38). The pump can be controlled to improve the operation of the washing machine. In one aspect the invention comprises a washing machine (7) with a variable speed pump (8) for pumping out wastewater, a controller (50) for controlling the speed of the pump and a sensor (10) for determining the flow-rate of water being pumped from the washing machine, wherein the controller (50) controls the speed of the pump to maintain the flow-rate at a desirable level.

Abstract: A pump for pumping water from a bowl of a washing machine is provided. The pump includes a housing coupled to the bowl and a cover with an aperture. The housing and the cover define an interior in fluid communication with the bowl interior via the aperture. A filter filters water entering the interior via the aperture. The filter has a profiled wall defining a volute around the aperture, and a hood disposed above the wall. The profile of the hood perimeter substantially corresponding to the profiled wall to define a profiled space between the perimeter and the profiled wall. The profiled space allows water to enter the volute but substantially prevents elongated objects entering the volute.

Abstract: A motor suited for use in a direct drive laundry machine. The described motor has 27 poles projecting outward from an annular ring. Each pole is associated with one of three phase windings. A rotor for the motor has 36 inwardly facing permanent magnet poles.

Abstract: A BLDC motor for driving a cross flow fan in an air-conditioning application has an external rotor and an internal stator. The stator is a salient pole stator with insulated pole teeth and conductor coils. The inner diameter of the stator supports a single bearing. An electronic PCBA for control of the BLDC motor is optionally attached to the stator, all of which is encapsulated in a thermoset resin. The rotor comprises permanent magnet component(s) and a rotor frame. The rotor frame includes a stub axle that engages with the bearing element and features to provide torsional or rotational compliance between the rotor magnets and the fan. A level of compliance is provided between the bearing element and the stator to allow for angular misalignment between the rotational axis of the fan and the stator.

Abstract: A magnet element (37) and a method of its manufacture for assembly into a rotor (38), the magnet element (37) having magnetic domains aligned anisotropically to form a domain alignment pattern (42), wherein the magnetic domain alignment pattern (42) in the magnet element (37) has an orientation that varies substantially continuously across at least part of the magnet element (37) between its lateral edges from at least partially radial to at least partially tangential.

Abstract: A rotor for a motor comprising a frame having a hub for connecting the rotor to a shaft and a perimeter portion for interacting with a stator of the motor to cause the rotor to rotate about an axis of rotation. The frame comprises legs extending from an outer portion of the frame towards the hub, each leg having an inner end at the hub and an outer end at the outer portion of the frame, the inner ends of a first plurality of legs being spaced from the inner ends of a second plurality of legs in a direction along the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A magnet element (37) and a method of its manufacture for assembly into a rotor (38), the magnet element (37) having magnetic domains aligned anisotropically to form a domain alignment pattern (42), wherein the magnetic domain alignment pattern (42) in the magnet element (37) has an orientation that varies substantially continuously across at least part of the magnet element (37) between its lateral edges from at least partially radial to at least partially tangential.