Abstract: A rotating electrical machine includes a two-phase rotor having two non-rotating solenoid-wound rotor coil assemblies and two interleaved pole assemblies. Each pole assembly is magnetically coupled to its respective coil assembly and rotates together with the machine shaft. Each pole assembly has four or more elongated pole pieces, two of which couple with one pole of a coil assembly and two of which couple with the other pole of that coil assembly. An exciter circuit independently controls the power variables provided to the rotor with respect to the stator to provide a variable-speed, variable-frequency (VSVF) motor system or VSVF generator system. The exciter energizes the solenoid-wound rotor coils with biphase AC electrical excitation, to produce a radial, rotating magnetic field at the pole pieces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encapsulating a payload in a shroud and mounting the resulting assembly on a launch vehicle. An encapsulation cell is provided for containing a payload to be encapsulated in a shroud. That cell is maintained at a "clean room" level of cleanliness. A shroud having a cleaned and sealed interior is placed on the roof in a vertical orientation. A seal arrangement seals between the shroud near its lower end and the roof, creating an airlock. The roof panels below the shroud are opened and the payload is lifted into the shroud through the opening and secured in the shroud. The opening is then closed, the seal retracted and the assembly of payload and shroud moved to a bay where it is mated to a space launch vehicle. This cell and encapsulation system eliminates the need to clean the shroud exterior and any need for a very large clean room cell to house the payload, shroud and lifting device.