Axial field electric machine

Abstract

An axial field electric machine having an improved efficiency includes a number of magnetic elements (e.g., as a rotor) as annular disks magnetized to provide multiple sector-shaped poles. Each sector has a polarity opposite that of an adjacent sector, and each sector is polarized through the thickness of the disk. The poles of each disk are aligned with opposite poles of each adjacent magnet. Metal members adjacent the outermost disks contain the flux; The axial field electric machine also includes one or more conductor elements (e.g., as a stator) which include a number of conductor phases that traverse the flux emanating between poles of axially adjacent magnetic elements. The design of the axial field electric machine including the gap spacing between adjacent magnetic elements, the transition width between adjacent poles on each magnetic element, the number of poles, the number and width or conductor phases in the conductor element is based on the physical characteristics of the magnetic elements to increase efficiency.

1 - 5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . An axial field electric machine comprising: 
 a shaft;    a plurality of conductor elements, each conductor element including a number of conductors and at least one pin for selectively coupling a conductor from one of said conductor elements to another of said conductor elements; and    a plurality of magnetic elements capable of being mounted to said shaft, each of said magnetic elements being mounted adjacent to at least one of said conductor elements;    said conductor elements and said magnetic elements are capable of being selectively added to and subtracted from said axial field electric machine.    
   
   
       7 - 19 . (canceled)