Abstract:
An electric machine stator includes a soft magnetic yoke having a cylindrical yoke body extending along a central axis, with an outer surface and an inner periphery defining a central opening about the central axis, and a plurality of soft magnetic stator teeth. Each stator tooth defines a first set of air pockets, and a second set of air pockets. An electric machine rotor and permanent magnet material with air pockets are also provided.
Abstract:
A power inductor includes a housing and a magnetic core disposed in the housing. The core includes a first segment and a second segment spaced apart from each other to define a gap. The first and second segments are supported in the housing such that the they are movable relative to each other to increase and decrease the size of the gap. A fluid having a positive thermal expansion coefficient is disposed in the housing such that expansion and contraction of the fluid due to change in temperature increases and decreases the gap, respectively.
Abstract:
A core for an electrical apparatus includes a plurality of electrical steel sheets having a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic coating applied to both sides of the electrical steel sheets. The electrical steel sheets are arranged in a stack to form a laminated stack. The ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic coating is applied to both sides of the electrical steel sheets. The coating may comprise MnZn ferrites, NiZn ferrites, MgMnZn ferrites, CoNiZn ferrites, Co ferrites, Ni ferrites, Yttrium iron garnets (Y3Fe5O12) or other ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic coating materials.
Abstract:
Methods for forming a motor core having separately processed stator and rotor laminations are disclosed. The stator and rotor laminations may be formed from a single electrical steel source, such as a sheet or coil. The methods may include forming and heat treating a first portion of the steel source to form stator laminations having a first microstructure (e.g., mean grain size) and magnetic and mechanical properties (e.g., core loss). They may further include forming and heat treating a second portion of the steel source to form rotor laminations having a second microstructure that is different from the first and magnetic and mechanical properties that are different from the stator laminations. The stator laminations may have improved core loss and permeability performance and the rotor laminations may have improved mechanical properties. By separating the processing, each core may have properties tailored to conditions that they will experience in operation.
Abstract:
A power inductor includes a housing and a magnetic core disposed in the housing. The core includes a first segment and a second segment spaced apart from each other to define a gap. The first and second segments are supported in the housing such that they are movable relative to each other to increase and decrease the size of the gap. A passive actuator is disposed in the housing and is configured to move the second segment relative to the first segment to increase and decrease the size of the gap. The passive actuator includes a shape-memory alloy configured to expand as temperature of the inductor increases to urge the first and second segments apart to increase the gap and to contract as the temperature decreases so that the first and second segments move towards each other to decrease the gap.
Abstract:
A method of forming a rotor lamination includes, with a laser, fabricating a first region of a lamination layer with a first powdered metal having a first composition. The first region at least partially defines a magnet pocket. The method further includes, with a laser, fabricating a second region of the lamination layer with a second powdered metal having a second composition different than the first composition. The second region is disposed immediately adjacent the first region.
Abstract:
A rotor includes a rotor core lamination. The rotor core lamination includes a first metal alloy that at least partially defines adjacent magnet pockets proximate an outer periphery of the rotor core lamination. The rotor core lamination further includes a second metal alloy different than the first metal alloy that forms at least a portion of a bridge that extends between the magnet pockets. The rotor core lamination further includes permanent magnets disposed in the magnet pockets at opposing sides of the second metal alloy.
Abstract:
An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor. The stator has a yoke fitted over a ring that has a plurality of teeth with gaps therebetween for fitting metal windings. The ring of teeth has an inner circumference that is closed and to connect the teeth, and an outer circumference with open gaps or slots between the teeth. The metal windings are fitted through the open outer circumference. Regions of the closed inner circumference between the teeth are treated such that the region's magnetic permeability is reduced relative to the remainder of the stator. The reduction in magnetic permeability provides a magnetic flux barrier between the teeth.
Abstract:
Methods for tuning properties of electric machines are disclosed. A method for reducing core loss in an electric machine includes punching a plurality of laminations from one or more electrical steel sheets that results in one or more cut edges. The method further includes assembling the laminations into a core such that an outer perimeter surface of the core is defined by the cut edges. The method further includes peening the outer perimeter surface to remove residual stresses.
Abstract:
An electric machine includes a stack of interlocked rotor core laminations, individual rotor core laminations of the interlocked rotor core laminations including a mortise extending therein and an integrally-formed tenon extending therefrom, wherein the tenons interface with the mortises to interlock adjacent rotor core laminations.