Abstract: A stator defines multiple stator poles with associated electrical windings. A rotor includes multiple rotor poles. The rotor is movable with respect to the stator and defines, together with the stator, a nominal gap between the stator poles and the rotor poles. The rotor poles includes a magnetically permeable pole material. The rotor also includes a series of frequency programmable flux channels (FPFCs). Each FPFC includes a conductive loop surrounding an associated rotor pole. The stator and the rotor are arranged such that the electrical windings in the stator induce an excitement current within at least one of the FPFCs during start-up.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator when receiving a stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator. A controller is configured to send the stator current through the stator at a current angle measured from the closest one of a pole of the rotor, determine a desired operational output of the electric machine, and determine a desired rotor motion corresponding to the desired operational output of the electric machine. The controller is further configured to calculate a vector control modulation applied to the stator that elicits the desired rotor motion, and adjust the current angle of the stator current based on the vector control modulation to cause the rotor to perform the desired rotor motion and achieve the desired operational output of the electric machine.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for winnowing. In one aspect, a method includes loading an initial material into a winnowing system via a feed member; feeding the material into a fluidically accelerated winnowing cavity, where the initial material impacts at least one plate member to yield chaff material and processed material, and where the processed material and the chaff material circulate in the winnowing cavity; and separating the chaff material and the processed from the winnowing cavity based on density. Other aspects include yielding intermediate material, where the intermediate material reimpacts the at least one plate member until yielding chaff material and processed material, preprocessing the initial material, controlling the flow of initial material into the winnowing cavity with a feed gate, where the chaff material egresses the winnowing cavity via a chaff chute, where the chaff material collects in a collection cavity, and/or more.

Abstract: A multilayered, flexible, and generally flat pouch for transporting and dispensing fruit juice concentrate, including a first elongated, generally rectangular multilayered portion sealed to a second elongated, generally rectangular portion to yield a deformable, generally rectangular, fluid-tight sachet defining an internal volume and separating the internal volume from an external environment, wherein the sachet further defines a top end, and oppositely disposed bottom end, and first and second sides extending therebetween. Fruit juice concentrate is contained within the internal volume. A tear notch is formed through at least one side. The fruit juice concentrate has a water activity of less than 0.60.

Abstract: Systems for dispensing chocolate, in one aspect including an exterior housing with first volume; a vertical support member; a base support member; a dispenser guiding member within the first volume; an extruder connection member extending through the housing and having a first end within the housing and a second end outside of the housing, defining a pivot axis; an extruder member connected to the first end; a lever connected to the second end; at least one extruder guide member within the first volume and connected to the extruder member; and at least one extruder guide rail connected to the housing within the first volume and capable of receiving the at least one extruder guide member; and where manual actuation of the lever pivots the extruder member in cooperation with the at least one extruder guide member.

Abstract: A motor includes: a stator having a plurality of electromagnets and a plurality of rolling elements arranged around the electromagnets; and a rotor having a plurality of rotor traction components arranged to engage the plurality of rolling elements; and a control circuit. The plurality of rolling elements are arranged relative to the plurality of rotor traction components to form a gap between the plurality of rolling elements and the plurality of rotor traction components. The control circuit is configured to activate the plurality of electromagnets to cause the rotor to pivot about a pivot point defined in a spherical bearing and change the gap such that the rotor compresses against the stator and the plurality of rolling elements and the plurality of rotor traction components translate the compression into tangential thrust and rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator when receiving a stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator. A controller is configured to send the stator current through the stator at a current angle measured from the closest one of a pole of the rotor, determine a desired operational output of the electric machine, and determine a desired rotor motion corresponding to the desired operational output of the electric machine. The controller is further configured to calculate a vector control modulation applied to the stator that elicits the desired rotor motion, and adjust the current angle of the stator current based on the vector control modulation to cause the rotor to perform the desired rotor motion and achieve the desired operational output of the electric machine.

Abstract: An electric motor has a stator mechanically coupled to the rotor by a nutating traction interface, such that during nutation of the rotor with respect to the stator a tilt axis of the rotor progresses about the axis of rotation of the output shaft. The rotor and a surface of the stator bound a dynamic gap across which a magnetic field is produced by electrical activation of the motor to generate a force between the rotor and the stator. The traction interface and the gap are arranged such that, in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the output shaft, the traction interface is angled with respect to the stator surface bounding the gap. The rotor is connected to the output shaft by a tiltable connection such as a gimbal.

Abstract: An electric machine having a thermal management system includes a stator having a stator core, and a rotor having a rotor core that is moveable relative to the stator. At least one of the stator and the rotor include one or more windings. One or more coolant cans encapsulate one or more of the windings disposed on the at least one of the stator and the rotor in an interior compartment of the coolant can. The interior compartment of the coolant can defines a coolant flow passage through the one or more windings. The coolant can includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet in fluid connection with the interior compartment of the coolant can. The interior compartment of the one or more coolant cans are fluidically isolated from the stator core and the rotor core.

Abstract: An electric motor has a stator defining multiple stator poles with associated electrical windings, and a rotor having multiple rotor poles. The rotor has flux barriers between adjacent rotor poles, the flux barriers each having a material with an electrical conductivity higher than the rotor pole material. The flux barriers are electrically isolated from one another external to the ferromagnetic material. Eddy currents are induced in the flux barrier to cause destructive interference of an impending magnetic field, such that the flux barrier effectively acts to inhibit magnetic flux during motor operation, which in some cases will result in a repulsive force that will act to increase an induced motive force on the rotor poles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing food products.

Abstract: An electric motor has a stator mechanically coupled to the rotor by a nutating traction interface, such that during nutation of the rotor with respect to the stator a tilt axis of the rotor progresses about the axis of rotation of the output shaft. The rotor and a surface of the stator bound a dynamic gap across which a magnetic field is produced by electrical activation of the motor to generate a force between the rotor and the stator. The traction interface and the gap are arranged such that, in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the output shaft, the traction interface is angled with respect to the stator surface bounding the gap. The rotor is connected to the output shaft by a tiltable connection such as a gimbal.

Abstract: An assembly for rehabilitating alcohol, including a pressure controllable chamber, a cooler in thermal communication with the pressure controllable chamber, a liquid inlet port in fluidic communication with the pressure controllable chamber, a liquid outlet port in fluidic communication with the pressure controllable chamber, and a gas outlet port in fluidic communication with the pressure controllable chamber. The assembly further includes a partial vacuum source in fluidic communication with the gas outlet port for establishing a partial vacuum in the pressure controllable chamber, and a liquid collection vessel in fluidic communication with the liquid outlet port. The residence time from when a liquid is flowed into the pressure controllable chamber until the liquid exits the chamber is no more than sixty seconds. The partial vacuum is insufficient to evaporate an ethanol solution during residence time in the pressure controllable chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing food products. One aspect is a system for processing food products including a base member, a vessel member defining a vessel volume, an opening formed through the vessel member, a vessel lip surrounding the opening; a vessel lid connected to the vessel member to substantially seal the opening; a motor shaft, at least one mixing member connected to the motor shaft and within the vessel volume; a motor connected to the motor shaft; and grinding media within the vessel volume for grinding and mixing food products, where energizing the motor urges the motor shaft and the at least one mixing member to rotate within the vessel volume to agitate the grinding media; and where the grinding media includes first grinding media and second grinding media.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator when receiving a stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator. A controller is configured to send the stator current through the stator at a current angle measured from the closest one of a pole of the rotor, determine a desired operational output of the electric machine, and determine a desired rotor motion corresponding to the desired operational output of the electric machine. The controller is further configured to calculate a vector control modulation applied to the stator that elicits the desired rotor motion, and adjust the current angle of the stator current based on the vector control modulation to cause the rotor to perform the desired rotor motion and achieve the desired operational output of the electric machine.

Abstract: A method for removing one or more congeners from an alcoholic composition, including placing a quantity of an alcoholic composition in a pressure-controllable environment, decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment, removing one or more unwanted congeners from the alcoholic composition to yield a purified alcoholic composition, and removing the purified alcoholic composition from the pressure-controllable environment.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator defining multiple stator poles with associated stator windings configured to receive a stator current. The electric machine also includes a rotor defining multiple fixed rotor poles with associated rotor windings, wherein the rotor defines a field energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator windings when receiving the stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator and wherein the rotor is maintained in synchronicity with the magnetic fields produced by the stator during operation of the electric machine. The electric machine also includes a rectification system configured control against an alternating current being induced in the rotor poles as the field is energized by magnetic fields produced by the stator windings when receiving the stator current.

Abstract: An electric motor has a stator defining multiple stator poles with associated electrical windings, and a rotor having multiple rotor poles. The rotor has flux barriers between adjacent rotor poles, the flux barriers each having a material with an electrical conductivity higher than the rotor pole material. The flux barriers are electrically isolated from one another external to the ferromagnetic material. Eddy currents are induced in the flux barrier to cause destructive interference of an impending magnetic field, such that the flux barrier effectively acts to inhibit magnetic flux during motor operation, which in some cases will result in a repulsive force that will act to increase an induced motive force on the rotor poles.

Abstract: An electric motor is provided, comprising: a first magnetic component, a second magnetic component, and a circuit configured to electromagnetically activate at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component. The electromagnetic activation causes a change in a gap between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component, the change in the gap resulting in rotation of at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.