Abstract: Various apparatuses are provided for planetary rotor machines including a plurality of helical rotors and a corresponding manifold. In one example, the manifold includes a head plate to which each of the rotors is rotatably mounted. The head plate includes a fluid flow opening having a center coaxial with a central axis of the machine. The fluid flow opening comprises a plurality of ports that each correspond to one of the rotors. Each of the ports comprises an inwardly curving inner side extending between a starting point and an ending point, a first lateral arcuate side that forms with the inner side a first pointed notch in the head plate, and a second lateral arcuate side that forms with the inner side a second pointed notch in the head plate. The second lateral arcuate side is a mirror image of the first lateral arcuate side. The manifold substantially prevents fluid from bypassing a cavity created by the rotors of the machine.

Abstract: Various examples of planetary rotor machines and synchronizing mechanisms are provided. In one example, a planetary rotor machine comprises a plurality of helical rotors for compressing or expanding a fluid. Each of the helical rotors is configured to rotate about a rotor rotational axis, and each of the rotor rotational axes is equally spaced from a central axis of the planetary rotor machine. A rotor shaft is fixedly coupled to each of the helical rotors and extends axially along the rotor rotational axis. A rotor crank is coupled to each of the rotor shafts and comprises a rotor crank arm that extends away from the rotor rotational axis. Each rotor crank arm comprises a rotor crankpin at a distal end that is laterally spaced from the rotor rotational axis. A synchronizing plate is rotatably coupled to each of the rotor crankpins for non-rotative epicyclic oscillation with respect to the plurality of rotor shafts and the helical rotors.

Abstract: Various apparatuses are provided for planetary rotor machines including a plurality of helical rotors and a corresponding manifold. In one example, the manifold includes a head plate to which each of the rotors is rotatably mounted. The head plate includes a fluid flow opening having a center coaxial with a central axis of the machine. The fluid flow opening comprises a plurality of ports that each correspond to one of the rotors. Each of the ports comprises an inwardly curving inner side extending between a starting point and an ending point, a first lateral arcuate side that forms with the inner side a first pointed notch in the head plate, and a second lateral arcuate side that forms with the inner side a second pointed notch in the head plate. The second lateral arcuate side is a mirror image of the first lateral arcuate side. The manifold substantially prevents fluid from bypassing a cavity created by the rotors of the machine.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings described herein, a DC homopolar machine is provided. The DC homopolar machine may include a stator having a stator magnetic core and a permanent magnet, a rotor magnetic core supported within the stator to rotate relative to the stator, and non-magnetic material within a gap between the rotor magnetic core and the stator magnetic core. The stator, rotor and non-magnetic material form a magnetic circuit having a total reluctance, the total reluctance of the magnetic circuit being provided by a first reluctance of the permanent magnet and a second reluctance of the gap of non-magnetic material, with the first reluctance being substantially equal to the second reluctance.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings described herein, a DC homopolar machine is provided. The DC homopolar machine may include a stator having a stator magnetic core and a permanent magnet, a rotor magnetic core supported within the stator to rotate relative to the stator, and non-magnetic material within a gap between the rotor magnetic core and the stator magnetic core. The stator, rotor and non-magnetic material form a magnetic circuit having a total reluctance, the total reluctance of the magnetic circuit being provided by a first reluctance of the permanent magnet and a second reluctance of the gap of non-magnetic material, with the first reluctance being substantially equal to the second reluctance.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings herein, systems and methods are described for providing electrical contact with a rotating element of a machine. In one example system, a nozzle may be used to emit a stream of a molten metal material, the nozzle being configured to transmit electric current from a power source to the stream of molten metal material. The rotating element may be supported within the machine to rotate relative to the nozzle, and may include a current collector ring. The nozzle may be operable to emit the stream of molten metal material onto a localized portion of the current collector ring to transfer the electric current from the power source to the current collector ring, the localized portion of the current collector ring being a portion of the current collector ring that is less than an entire circumference of the current collector ring.

Abstract: A slip ring assembly for transferring electrical current to an electrical device is disclosed. The slip ring assembly has a housing that is attachable to the electrical device. Disposed within the housing is a rotatable slip ring and a flexible conductor. The flexible conductor is configured to conform to the shape of the slip ring and conduct an electric current. A fluid is contained within the housing. The fluid forms a conductive film between the slip ring and the conductor when the slip ring rotates through hydrodynamic forces. The conductive film is operative to transfer electrical current between the slip ring and the conductor while also preventing wear of the slip ring and conductor.

Abstract: A toroidal motor having a generally circular rotor surrounded by an annular stator is disclosed. The rotor has a plurality of poles disposed about a circumference thereof. A shaft extends axially away from the poles and is attached to the rotor. The stator is generally annular and includes an annular winding surrounding the circumference thereof. Disposed about the winding are a plurality of stator poles. The number of stator poles is generally equal to the number of rotor poles. When the winding and hence the stator is excited, a magnetic field is produced between the stator and rotor poles that creates torque upon the shaft.

Abstract: There is provided an electric motor having a flat form factor. The electric motor has a rotor with a shaft attached thereto. The rotor further includes a plurality of teeth disposed thereon. The motor further includes a stator having an axial length. A plurality of teeth are disposed on the stator such that a gap is defined between the teeth of the stator and the teeth of the rotor. The motor further includes a plurality of copper windings disposed around each of the teeth of stator. Each of the windings has a length of end copper equal to about twice the axial length of the stator. In this regard, the end of the wire is greater than the width of the stator such that the form factor of the motor can be flattened.

Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated machine balancer including a plurality of peripherally placed magnetic circuits and a power driver which selectively interrupts the magnetic flux through the circuits, thereby moving unbalanced rotors in a desired manner to compensate for machine unbalance.

Abstract: An electromagnetically actuate machine balancer including a plurality of peripherally placed magnetic circuits and a power driver which selectively interrupts the magnetic flux through the circuits, thereby moving unbalanced rotors in a desired manner to compensate for machine unbalance.