Abstract: A method of fabricating a stator and a stator where the method includes providing a plurality of electromagnet cores, with each electromagnet core having a stack of laminations defining a tooth and a yoke segment. The yoke segment is defined by a stack of laminations having a tongue structure and an opposing groove structure. Representative methods also include providing an insulating bobbin surrounding a portion of the tooth of each lamination, such that each lamination is held against adjacent laminations by the bobbin. The method further includes the step of winding electrically conductive windings around a portion of the bobbin, and assembling the plurality of electromagnets into a stator by mating the tongue structure and the groove structure of each electromagnet with a corresponding tongue structure and a corresponding groove structure of adjacent electromagnets. Additional embodiments includes a stator having the above characteristics.

Abstract: An electric machine including a shaft, a rotor back assembly surrounding a portion of the shaft, and two or more permanent magnets radially positioned around the perimeter of the rotor back assembly. The electric machine also includes a rotor fan with multiple fan blades formed in an exterior surface of the rotor back assembly and one or more ventilation channels extending through the rotor back assembly. Methods of exporting heat from an electric machine, wither from a machine housing or through the shaft is also disclosed. The heat exportation methods feature the circulation of a fluid with the rotor fan through the ventilation channels and into contact with the housing, or exporting heat from the rotor back assembly through the shaft.

Abstract: An electric machine including a shaft, a rotor back assembly surrounding a portion of the shaft, and two or more permanent magnets radially positioned around the perimeter of the rotor back assembly. The electric machine also includes a rotor fan with multiple fan blades formed in an exterior surface of the rotor back assembly and one or more ventilation channels extending through the rotor back assembly. Methods of exporting heat from an electric machine, wither from a machine housing or through the shaft is also disclosed. The heat exportation methods feature the circulation of a fluid with the rotor fan through the ventilation channels and into contact with the housing, or exporting heat from the rotor back assembly through the shaft.

Abstract: An electric machine including a rotor shaft having an inner shaft core with a first composition and an outer shaft portion surrounding at least some of the inner shaft core. The outer shaft portion is fabricated from a material having a different composition than the inner shaft core. For example, the inner shaft core could be fabricated from a material having high thermal conductivity, such as copper, while the outer shaft portion is fabricated from a material with lesser thermal conductivity, but greater strength, for example steel. The two-material shaft with a highly thermally conductive core serves to conduct heat from the interior of the electric machine to the housing, or to an exterior apparatus or structure.

Abstract: An electric machine including a rotor shaft having an inner shaft core with a first composition and an outer shaft portion surrounding at least some of the inner shaft core. The outer shaft portion is fabricated from a material having a different composition than the inner shaft core. For example, the inner shaft core could be fabricated from a material having high thermal conductivity, such as copper, while the outer shaft portion is fabricated from a material with lesser thermal conductivity, but greater strength, for example steel. The two-material shaft with a highly thermally conductive core serves to conduct heat from the interior of the electric machine to the housing, or to an exterior apparatus or structure.

Abstract: An electric machine rotor including a shaft, a rotor back assembly surrounding a portion of the shaft, and a plurality of permanent magnets distributed at equal radial distance from the shaft around the rotor back assembly. The electric machine rotor also includes a gap between two adjacent permanent magnets and a thermally conductive material filing the gap. The thermally conductive material is in contact with the rotor back assembly between the two adjacent permanent magnets. The electric machine rotor also includes a heat transfer structure in thermal communication with the thermally conductive material, extending beyond an outer surface of the thermally conductive material to transfer heat away from the electric machine rotor.

Abstract: A floating heat pump system including a superstructure supporting a wind turbine and at least one electric generator mechanically connected to the wind turbine. Wind-induced rotation of the wind turbine causes the electric generator to generate electricity. The generated electricity may be supplied to a power grid, or a portion of the generated electricity may be used to power a heat pump also supported at least in part by the superstructure to extract heat from the ocean or another large body of water. The heat may be stored in transportable thermal storage medium. Heat stored in the thermal storage media may be used at the system or remotely for regional or district heating and cooling, industrial purposes, or to generate electricity.

Abstract: An electric machine rotor including a shaft, a rotor back assembly surrounding a portion of the shaft, and a plurality of permanent magnets distributed at equal radial distance from the shaft around the rotor back assembly. The electric machine rotor also includes a gap between two adjacent permanent magnets and a thermally conductive material filing the gap. The thermally conductive material is in contact with the rotor back assembly between the two adjacent permanent magnets. The electric machine rotor also includes a heat transfer structure in thermal communication with the thermally conductive material, extending beyond an outer surface of the thermally conductive material to transfer heat away from the electric machine rotor.

Abstract: A stator for an electromagnetic machine having a plurality of electromagnets. Some or all of the electromagnets include a stack of laminations defining a tooth and a yoke segment, and an insulating bobbin surrounding a portion of the tooth of each lamination such that each lamination is held against adjacent laminations by the bobbin. The electromagnets also include electrically conductive windings surrounding a portion of the bobbin and a stator encapsulant fully encapsulating the bobbin and windings of the electromagnets.

Abstract: An electromagnet for an electric machine having a stack of laminations defining a tooth and a yoke segment, and an insulating bobbin surrounding a portion of the tooth of each lamination, such that each lamination is held against adjacent laminations by the bobbin. The disclosed electromagnets also have electrically conductive windings surrounding a portion of the bobbin; and an encapsulant fully encapsulating the bobbin and windings, wherein the encapsulant comprises a dielectric material and an additive to increase the thermal conductivity of the encapsulant.

Abstract: An electric machine rotor including a shaft having a thermally conductive shaft core material having a different composition than a portion of the shaft surrounding the thermally conductive shaft core. The rotor also includes a rotor back assembly surrounding a portion of the shaft; and a plurality of permanent magnets radially positioned around the rotor back assembly.

Abstract: A stator for an electromagnetic machine having a plurality of electromagnets. Some or all of the electromagnets include a stack of laminations defining a tooth and a yoke segment, and an insulating bobbin surrounding a portion of the tooth of each lamination such that each lamination is held against adjacent laminations by the bobbin. The electromagnets also include electrically conductive windings surrounding a portion of the bobbin and a stator encapsulant fully encapsulating the bobbin and windings of the electromagnets.

Abstract: An electromagnet for an electric machine having a stack of laminations defining a tooth and a yoke segment, and an insulating bobbin surrounding a portion of the tooth of each lamination, such that each lamination is held against adjacent laminations by the bobbin. The disclosed electromagnets also have electrically conductive windings surrounding a portion of the bobbin; and an encapsulant fully encapsulating the bobbin and windings, wherein the encapsulant comprises a dielectric material and an additive to increase the thermal conductivity of the encapsulant.

Abstract: An electric machine having a rotor, stator and housing. The rotor includes a radially mounted array of permanent magnets and the stator includes a plurality of electromagnets radially positioned around the rotor. The machine includes a fluid circuit consisting of first and second cavities enclosed by the stator and positioned between the rotor and housing. The fluid circuit also includes an air gap between the stator and rotor and a plurality of ventilation channels extending through the rotor. The air gap and ventilation channels are in fluid communication with the first and second cavities. The rotor also includes an internal fan extending into the first or second cavity. When the rotor is caused to rotate with respect to the stator, the fan causes air or another fluid to circulate through the fluid circuit to cool the rotor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhancing the robustness and stability of an electric machine having a rotor, stator and housing. The rotor includes a radially mounted array of permanent magnets and the stator includes a plurality of electromagnets radially positioned around the rotor. The rotor is stabilized by providing a first thermally conductive dielectric encapsulant in contact with adjacent permanent magnets. The stator is stabilized by providing a second thermally conductive dielectric encapsulant in contact with adjacent electromagnets.

Abstract: An electric machine having a rotor, stator and housing. The rotor includes a radially mounted array of permanent magnets and the stator includes a plurality of electromagnets radially positioned around the rotor. The machine includes a fluid circuit consisting of first and second cavities enclosed by the stator and positioned between the rotor and housing. The fluid circuit also includes an air gap between the stator and rotor and a plurality of ventilation channels extending through the rotor. The air gap and ventilation channels are in fluid communication with the first and second cavities. The rotor also includes an internal fan extending into the first or second cavity. When the rotor is caused to rotate with respect to the stator, the fan causes air or another fluid to circulate through the fluid circuit to cool the rotor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhancing the robustness and stability of an electric machine having a rotor, stator and housing. The rotor includes a radially mounted array of permanent magnets and the stator includes a plurality of electromagnets radially positioned around the rotor. The rotor is stabilized by providing a first thermally conductive dielectric encapsulant in contact with adjacent permanent magnets. The stator is stabilized by providing a second thermally conductive dielectric encapsulant in contact with adjacent electromagnets.

Abstract: An electric machine having a rotor, stator and housing. The rotor includes a radially mounted array of permanent magnets and the stator includes a plurality of electromagnets radially positioned around the rotor. The stator is encapsulated such that the stator encapsulant is in thermal contact with housing structures, for example the housing end plates. In some embodiments, the entire perimeter portion of the housing is in thermal contact with the stator or the stator encapsulant. The stator encapsulant provides for device robustness and thermal transfer from the stator to the housing. The thermal conductivity of the encapsulant may be enhanced by mixing an additive to the encapsulant to increase thermal conductivity.

Abstract: A radial flux permanent magnet AC motor/generator employs a flat circular stator plate having a plurality of separately-formed electromagnets mounted in a ring pattern on a top surface thereof. A circular flux ring fabricated of powdered metal is mounted to the stator plate outside the ring of electromagnets. A plurality of permanent magnets are mounted in a ring pattern on the outer cylindrical surface of a steel rotor. The stator plate and rotor are axially and diametrically aligned such that the ring of permanent magnets rotates in close proximity to and inside the ring of electromagnets. The electromagnets utilize powder metal cores shaped to have rounded corners and flat sides that permit the use of heavier gauge windings and eliminate the air gaps that exist between the core and windings of prior art electromagnets.

Abstract: An underwater treadmill apparatus is made up of a treadmill belt trained over a drive roller and take-up roller, a fluid drive motor and flywheel coupled to a common drive shaft in direct driving relation to the drive roller, and an isolated power source outside of the body of water includes an electric motor-driven hydraulic pump to direct hydraulic fluid under pressure to the hydraulic drive motor. The upper course of the treadmill belt advances over a rigid deck having an upper cushion layer with raised straddle portions on each side, and the take-up roller is resiliently mounted at one end of the deck. A bonding grid break and sacrificial anodes are provided to inhibit corrosion, and the treadmill frame can be placed in compressible padding and be leveled from a point above the surface of the water, for example, when placed in a swimming pool.