Abstract: In one aspect, axial flux rotor, for use in an axial flux motor prepared by a process, provided. The process includes the steps of stamping a plurality of laminations and overlying one of the external planar faces of one of the plurality of laminations over one of the external planar faces of another of the plurality of laminations. The process also includes the steps of providing a plurality of rotor poles, providing a plurality of magnetizable permanent magnets, and overmolding rotor poles with a moldable material.

Abstract: An axial flux motor includes a housing and a rotor assembly rotatably secured to the housing. The rotor assembly includes a body having first and second opposed faces and defining an axis of rotation and plurality of rotor poles including a first rotor pole and a second rotor pole. The first rotor pole and the second rotor pole cooperatively define an axially extending pocket circumferentially therebetween. The rotor assembly further includes a plurality of spaced apart magnets extending from the first face, a first magnet of the plurality of magnets being positioned within the axially extending pocket. The axial flux motor further includes a coreless stator assembly fixedly secured to the housing, the coreless stator assembly including a supporting platform and a plurality of coils attached on the supporting platform.

Abstract: An interior permanent magnet machine is described. The machine includes a rotor rotatable about a central machine axis. The rotor includes a plurality of permanent magnet openings and a plurality of permanent magnets disposed therein. The permanent magnet openings are separated by rotor webs configured to facilitate reducing leakage flux through the rotor webs. The machine also includes a stator disposed coaxially with the rotor and separated from the rotor by a circumferential air gap. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth that define a plurality of stator slots therebetween. The stator teeth include a stator tooth tip configured to facilitate reducing cogging torque and torque ripple.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a permanent magnet rotor is provided. The permanent magnet rotor includes at least one permanent magnet and a substantially cylindrical rotor core including an outer edge and an inner edge defining a central opening. The rotor core includes a radius R, at least one pole, and at least one radial aperture extending radially though the rotor core from the outer edge to a predetermined depth less than the radius. The at least one radial aperture is configured to receive the at least one permanent magnet. The rotor further includes at least one protrusion extending into the at least one radial aperture, the at least one protrusion positioned substantially along a bottom of the at least one radial aperture and configured to facilitate retention of the at least one permanent magnet within the at least one radial aperture.

Abstract: In one aspect, a three-phase axial flux stator is provided. The stator includes a plurality of stator modules oriented in an axial direction, and each of the stator modules includes a pair of teeth connected by a yoke section. The stator also includes a plurality of windings, each of the windings wound around one of the stator modules. The stator modules and the windings produce a three-phase flux in an axial direction.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an axial flux motor includes providing a stator; providing a rotor having a first external face and a second external face opposed and parallel the first external face; rotatably securing the rotor to the stator about a rotor center of rotation; providing a permanent magnet having a longitudinal axis thereof; fixedly securing the magnet to the rotor with the longitudinal axis positioned in a radial direction relative to the rotor center of rotation and so defining radially inward surface and an opposed radially outward surface, the magnet having a first face adjacent the first external face of the rotor and having a second face adjacent the second external face of the rotor; partially magnetizing the magnet by positioning a first magnetizing device adjacent the first face of the magnet; and magnetizing the magnet by positioning a second magnetizing device adjacent the second face of the magnet.

Abstract: An axial flux rotor for use in a motor with a stator is provided. The rotor includes a body including an outer periphery defined by outside radius OR. The body further has a central opening defined by inner radius IR and a plurality N of rotor poles defining an axis of rotation of the body. The body has first and second opposed faces. The rotor also includes a plurality of spaced apart axially imbedded magnets extending from the first face. At least one of the axially imbedded magnets has a minimum depth defined by defined by the equation D min = ? * ( OR + IR ) 2 * N * BrA * BrS , wherein BrS is the Remanent Flux Density of Surface Mounted Magnet, wherein OR is the outside radius of the body, wherein IR is the inner radius of the body, wherein N is the number of rotor poles, and wherein BrA is the Remanent Flux Density of Axially Imbedded Magnet.

Abstract: A stator assembly for an electric motor assembly is provided. The stator assembly includes an annular body extending about a central axis. The annular body includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The annular body has a first thickness defined between the inner surface and the outer surface. The stator assembly also includes at least one stator tooth extending radially from the annular body. The at least one stator tooth includes a first tip spaced radially from the annular body. The at least one stator tooth has a second thickness. A ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness is at least about 1.1.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a permanent magnet rotor is provided. The permanent magnet rotor includes at least one permanent magnet and a substantially cylindrical rotor core including an outer edge and an inner edge defining a central opening. The rotor core includes a radius R, at least one pole, and at least one radial aperture extending radially though the rotor core from the outer edge to a predetermined depth less than the radius. The at least one radial aperture is configured to receive the at least one permanent magnet. The rotor further includes at least one protrusion extending into the at least one radial aperture, the at least one protrusion positioned substantially along a bottom of the at least one radial aperture and configured to facilitate retention of the at least one permanent magnet within the at least one radial aperture.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a permanent magnet rotor is provided. The permanent magnet rotor includes at least one permanent magnet and a substantially cylindrical rotor core including an outer edge and an inner edge defining a central opening. The rotor core includes a radius R, at least one pole, and at least one radial aperture extending radially though the rotor core from the outer edge to a predetermined depth less than the radius. The at least one radial aperture is configured to receive the at least one permanent magnet. The rotor further includes at least one protrusion extending into the at least one radial aperture, the at least one protrusion positioned substantially along a bottom of the at least one radial aperture and configured to facilitate retention of the at least one permanent magnet within the at least one radial aperture.

Abstract: An interior permanent magnet machine is described. The machine includes a rotor rotatable about a central machine axis. The rotor includes a plurality of permanent magnet openings and a plurality of permanent magnets disposed therein. The permanent magnet openings are separated by rotor webs configured to facilitate reducing leakage flux through the rotor webs. The machine also includes a stator disposed coaxially with the rotor and separated from the rotor by a circumferential air gap. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth that define a plurality of stator slots therebetween. The stator teeth include a stator tooth tip configured to facilitate reducing cogging torque and torque ripple.

Abstract: In one aspect, a three-phase axial flux stator is provided. The stator includes a plurality of stator modules oriented in an axial direction, and each of the stator modules includes a pair of teeth connected by a yoke section. The stator also includes a plurality of windings, each of the windings wound around one of the stator modules. The stator modules and the windings produce a three-phase flux in an axial direction.

Abstract: An axial flux rotor for use in a motor with a stator is provided. The rotor includes a body including an outer periphery defined by outside radius OR. The body further has a central opening defined by inner radius IR and a plurality N of rotor poles defining an axis of rotation of the body. The body has first and second opposed faces. The rotor also includes a plurality of spaced apart axially imbedded magnets extending from the first face. At least one of the axially imbedded magnets has a minimum depth defined by defined by the equation D min = ? * ( OR + IR ) 2 * N * BrA * BrS , wherein BrS is the Remanent Flux Density of Surface Mounted Magnet, wherein OR is the outside radius of the body, wherein IR is the inner radius of the body, wherein N is the number of rotor poles, and wherein BrA is the Remanent Flux Density of Axially Imbedded Magnet.

Abstract: An interior permanent magnet machine is described. The machine includes a rotor rotatable about a central machine axis. The rotor includes a plurality of permanent magnet openings and a plurality of permanent magnets disposed therein. The permanent magnet openings are separated by rotor webs configured to facilitate reducing leakage flux through the rotor webs. The machine also includes a stator disposed coaxially with the rotor and separated from the rotor by a circumferential air gap. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth that define a plurality of stator slots therebetween. The stator teeth include a stator tooth tip configured to facilitate reducing cogging torque and torque ripple.

Abstract: A stator assembly includes an annular body extending about a central axis and a first stator tooth extending radially from the annular body. The first stator tooth includes a first tip spaced radially from the annular body. The stator assembly also includes a second stator tooth extending radially from the annular body and spaced circumferentially from the first stator tooth. The second stator tooth includes a second tip spaced radially from the annular body. The stator assembly further includes a stiffener positioned between the first stator tooth and the second stator tooth. The stiffener is configured to resist deformation of the stator assembly.

Abstract: An electric motor assembly includes a rotor assembly configured to rotate about a central axis and a stator assembly configured to extend about the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes at least one of the following: a plurality of spokes and at least one neodymium iron boron magnet. The stator assembly includes an annular body including an inner surface and an outer surface. A first thickness is defined between the inner surface and the outer surface. The stator assembly also includes a plurality of stator teeth extending radially from the annular body and spaced circumferentially about the annular body. Each stator tooth has a second thickness. A ratio of the second thickness to the first thickness is in a range of about 0.5 to about 1. The stator assembly includes no more than 24 slots defined by the plurality of stator teeth.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a permanent magnet rotor is provided. The permanent magnet rotor includes at least one permanent magnet and a substantially cylindrical rotor core including an outer edge and an inner edge defining a central opening. The rotor core includes a radius R, at least one pole, and at least one radial aperture extending radially though the rotor core from the outer edge to a predetermined depth less than the radius. The at least one radial aperture is configured to receive the at least one permanent magnet. The rotor further includes at least one protrusion extending into the at least one radial aperture, the at least one protrusion positioned substantially along a bottom of the at least one radial aperture and configured to facilitate retention of the at least one permanent magnet within the at least one radial aperture.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a permanent magnet rotor is provided. The permanent magnet rotor includes at least one permanent magnet and a substantially cylindrical rotor core including an outer edge and an inner edge defining a central opening. The rotor core includes a radius R, at least one pole, and at least one radial aperture extending radially though the rotor core from the outer edge to a predetermined depth less than the radius. The at least one radial aperture is configured to receive the at least one permanent magnet. The rotor further includes at least one protrusion extending into the at least one radial aperture, the at least one protrusion positioned substantially along a bottom of the at least one radial aperture and configured to facilitate retention of the at least one permanent magnet within the at least one radial aperture.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a permanent magnet rotor is provided. The permanent magnet rotor includes a shaft comprising an outer diameter, a first hub coupled about the shaft outer diameter, and a first plurality of pole pieces positioned radially about the hub. The rotor further includes a plurality of permanent magnets positioned radially about the hub. The plurality of pole pieces and the plurality of permanent magnets define a rotor outer diameter, and the rotor outer diameter is magnetically isolated from shaft.

Abstract: A rotor for connection to a rotating member for use in an electric machine is provided. The rotor includes a first member connected to the rotating member and generally positioned perpendicularly thereto and a second member connected to one of the rotating member and the first member.