System, method and apparatus for modular axial field rotary energy device

Abstract

A system for an axial field rotary energy device can include modules that each are an axial field rotary energy device. The modules can be connected together for a desired power input or output. Each module can include a housing having an axis. The housing can be mechanically coupled to at least one other module. In addition, the housing can be electrically coupled to one other module. Rotors can be rotatably mounted to the housing. Each rotor can include magnets. The housing also can have stators. Each stator can include a printed circuit board (PCB) having PCB layers comprising coils.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a plurality of modules comprising axial field rotary energy devices, the modules are connected together for a desired power input or output, and each module comprises:   a housing having an axis, the housing is mechanically coupled to at least one other module, and the housing is electrically coupled to said at least one other module;   
       rotors rotatably mounted to the housing and each rotor comprises magnets; and
 stators, each comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) having PCB layers comprising coils. 
 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modules are identical to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the modules differ from each other by at least one of: power output, number of rotors, number of magnets, number of stators, number of PCBs, number of PCB layers, number of coils or angular orientation with respect to the axis. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modules are directly coupled to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modules are indirectly coupled to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each module comprises latches that mechanically secure the modules, and the latches are symmetrically arrayed with respect to the axis. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein one of the modules comprises a first module that is axially connected to another module, and the first module differs structurally from said another module. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the modules are coaxial and mounted to keyed shahs that mechanically couple the modules. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising an enclosure, and the modules are mounted and coupled together inside the enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of enclosures, each mechanically coupled to at least one other enclosure, and electrically coupled to said at least one other enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each stator consists of a single electrical phase, and selected ones of the stators are offset from each other at desired electrical phase angles with respect to the axis. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , each stator comprises a plurality of electrical phases. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each module comprises a single electrical phase, and the modules are angularly offset from each other at desired electrical phase angles with respect to the axis. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each module comprises a plurality of electrical phases, and the modules are angularly offset from each other at desired electrical phase angles with respect to the axis. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modules are angularly aligned with each other relative to the axis, such that all respective phase angles of the modules also are angularly aligned. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly, comprising:
 modules comprising axial field rotary energy devices, the modules are mechanically and electrically connected to each other for a desired power input or output, and each module consists of a single electrical phase;   an enclosure inside which the modules are mounted and coupled; and each module comprises:
 a housing having an axis and mechanically coupled to at least one other module, and electrically coupled to said at least one other module; 
 rotors rotatably mounted to the housing and the rotors comprise magnets; and 
 stators, each stator comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) having PCB layers, and each PCB layer comprises coils. 
   
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the modules are identical to each other. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least two of the modules differ from each other by at least one of power output, number of rotors, number of magnets, number of stators, number of PCBs, number of PCB layers, number of coils or angular orientation with respect to the axis. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the modules are directly coupled to each other. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the modules are indirectly coupled to each other. 
     
     
         21 - 30 . (canceled)