Abstract: An electrical machine is provided. The machine includes at least one rotor mounted for rotation about a central axis and at least two stator sections mounted axially adjacent to and on opposite sides of the rotor. The rotor includes two circumferentially arrayed rows of alternating segments of permanent magnet and ferromagnetic pole pieces. One of the rows is spaced radially inwardly from the other row. The permanent magnet and ferromagnetic pole pieces are separated by a non-ferromagnetic material. The pole pieces are arranged so that the permanent magnet segments in the first row are radially adjacent to ferromagnetic segments in the second row so that the N-S magnetic fields of the permanent magnet segments are aligned axially. Each stator section includes a ferromagnetic stator frame, at least a first AC winding wound in circumferential slots in the stator frame, and a DC field winding wound on the stator frame.

Abstract: An axial-flux electric machine includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor may be rotatable about a rotor rotation axis, and at least a portion of the stator may face at least a portion of the rotor at an axial interface between the stator and the rotor. The rotor may include a rotor body and a permanent-magnet cluster that includes a plurality of permanent magnets mounted to the rotor body. The permanent-magnet cluster may cause magnetic flux to flow across the axial interface between the permanent-magnet cluster and the stator. The plurality of permanent magnets of the permanent-magnet cluster may include one or more permanent magnets forming a first axial permanent-magnet layer and one or more permanent magnets forming a second axial permanent-magnet layer disposed between the first axial permanent-magnet layer and the axial interface.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes a rotor core constructed of magnetically-permeable material. The rotor core may include a first cavity having a first curved end portion and a second cavity having a first curved end portion disposed adjacent the first curved end portion of the first cavity. The rotor may also include a permanent-magnet cluster. The permanent-magnet cluster may include a permanent-magnet layer that substantially magnetically isolates a portion of the rotor core disposed inside the permanent-magnet cluster from portions of the rotor core disposed outside the permanent-magnet cluster. The permanent-magnet layer may include one or more permanent-magnet pieces disposed in the first cavity and one or more permanent-magnet pieces disposed in the second cavity.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor disposed adjacent the stator. The rotor may be rotatable around a rotor rotation axis. The rotor may include a rotor core and a plurality of permanent magnets. The plurality of permanent magnets may include a permanent-magnet cluster disposed at least partially within the rotor core. The permanent-magnet cluster may be configured to create a magnetic pole of the rotor. Additionally, the permanent-magnet cluster may include multiple radial permanent-magnet layers. The rotor may also include one or more axially-extending channels located in a portion of the rotor core disposed between adjacent radial permanent-magnet layers.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes a rotor core constructed of magnetically-permeable material and a permanent-magnet cluster that creates a magnetic pole of the rotor. The permanent-magnet cluster may be composed of permanent magnets mounted to the rotor core, including a first permanent magnet, a second permanent magnet, a third permanent magnet, and a fourth permanent magnet. The second permanent magnet may have a first end disposed adjacent a first end of the first permanent magnet, with a first portion of the rotor core disposed therebetween. Additionally, the third permanent magnet may have a first end disposed adjacent a second end of the first permanent magnet, with a second portion of the rotor core disposed therebetween. The fourth permanent magnet may form at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the rotor core and may be disposed radially outward of at least a portion of at least one of the first permanent magnet, the second permanent magnet, and the third permanent magnet.

Abstract: An axial-flux electric machine includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor may be rotatable about a rotor rotation axis, and at least a portion of the stator may face at least a portion of the rotor at an axial interface between the stator and the rotor. The rotor may include a rotor body and a permanent-magnet cluster that includes a plurality of permanent magnets mounted to the rotor body. The permanent-magnet cluster may cause magnetic flux to flow across the axial interface between the permanent-magnet cluster and the stator. The plurality of permanent magnets of the permanent-magnet cluster may include one or more permanent magnets forming a first axial permanent-magnet layer and one or more permanent magnets forming a second axial permanent-magnet layer disposed between the first axial permanent-magnet layer and the axial interface.

Abstract: A power system includes an axial-flux motor/generator. The axial-flux motor/generator may include a housing, a first rotor supported at least partially from the housing, and a second rotor supported at least partially from the housing. The second rotor may be mechanically decoupled from the first rotor. The power system may also include a mechanical power source drivingly connected to the first rotor. Additionally, the power system may include power-system controls. The power-system controls may be operable to selectively cause the mechanical power source to drive the first rotor while the axial-flux motor/generator generates electricity with mechanical power the first rotor receives from the mechanical power source. The power-system controls may also be operable to selectively cause the axial-flux motor/generator to operate as an electric motor to rotate the second rotor. Additionally, the power-system controls may be operable to control torque on the first rotor and torque on the second rotor independently.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes a rotor core constructed of magnetically-permeable material and a permanent-magnet cluster that creates a magnetic pole of the rotor. The permanent-magnet cluster may be composed of permanent magnets mounted to the rotor core, including a first permanent magnet, a second permanent magnet, a third permanent magnet, and a fourth permanent magnet. The second permanent magnet may have a first end disposed adjacent a first end of the first permanent magnet, with a first portion of the rotor core disposed therebetween. Additionally, the third permanent magnet may have a first end disposed adjacent a second end of the first permanent magnet, with a second portion of the rotor core disposed therebetween. The fourth permanent magnet may form at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the rotor core and may be disposed radially outward of at least a portion of at least one of the first permanent magnet, the second permanent magnet, and the third permanent magnet.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor disposed adjacent the stator. The rotor may be rotatable around a rotor rotation axis. The rotor may include a rotor core and a plurality of permanent magnets. The plurality of permanent magnets may include a permanent-magnet cluster disposed at least partially within the rotor core. The permanent-magnet cluster may be configured to create a magnetic pole of the rotor. Additionally, the permanent-magnet cluster may include multiple radial permanent-magnet layers. The rotor may also include one or more axially-extending channels located in a portion of the rotor core disposed between adjacent radial permanent-magnet layers.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes a rotor core constructed of magnetically-permeable material. The rotor core may include a first cavity having a first curved end portion and a second cavity having a first curved end portion disposed adjacent the first curved end portion of the first cavity. The rotor may also include a permanent-magnet cluster. The permanent-magnet cluster may include a permanent-magnet layer that substantially magnetically isolates a portion of the rotor core disposed inside the permanent-magnet cluster from portions of the rotor core disposed outside the permanent-magnet cluster. The permanent-magnet layer may include one or more permanent-magnet pieces disposed in the first cavity and one or more permanent-magnet pieces disposed in the second cavity.

Abstract: An electrical machine is provided. The machine includes at least one rotor mounted for rotation about a central axis and at least two stator sections mounted axially adjacent to and on opposite sides of the rotor. The rotor includes two circumferentially arrayed rows of alternating segments of permanent magnet and ferromagnetic pole pieces. One of the rows is spaced radially inwardly from the other row. The permanent magnet and ferromagnetic pole pieces are separated by a non-ferromagnetic material. The pole pieces are arranged so that the permanent magnet segments in the first row are radially adjacent to ferromagnetic segments in the second row so that the N-S magnetic fields of the permanent magnet segments are aligned axially. Each stator section includes a ferromagnetic stator frame, at least a first AC winding wound in circumferential slots in the stator frame, and a DC field winding wound on the stator frame.