Electric motor with laminated sheet windings

Abstract

An electric machine employs laminated sheets windings (LSWs) and permanent magnets which rotate about the LSWs. An axial embodiment uses axially magnetized magnets with LSWs laid radially in the plane of the motor. The magnets may be arranged as Halbach arrays. Magnets and LSWs are arranged concentrically with an air gap therebetween; the motor may employ “Large Air Gap Electric Ring” (LAGER) technology. The laminated sheets form a continuous stack of series-connected concentric metal layers; dielectric layers insulate each metal layer from its adjacent layers. Cuts arranged periodically around each LSW run parallel to the rotation axis and extend through all of the metal layers, with adjacent cuts originating on opposite sides of the LSW such that they form a serpentine path for current to flow as it flows around the winding.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An electric machine having a corresponding rotation axis, comprising:
 a first array of magnets which are magnetized axially; and   a first set of laminated sheet windings (LSWs) which are laid radially in the plane of said machine such that said magnets produce a magnetic field in the perpendicular axis aligned with said rotation axis, said magnets and LSWs arranged concentrically with an air gap therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The electric machine of  claim 1 , wherein said first array of magnets is on one side of said first set of windings, further comprising a ferromagnetic disk on the other side of said windings. 
     
     
         3 . The electric machine of  claim 1 , wherein said first array of magnets is on one side of said first set of windings, further comprising a second array of magnets on the other side of said first set of windings. 
     
     
         4 . The electric machine of  claim 3 , further comprising ferromagnetic disks backing each of said first and second arrays of magnets. 
     
     
         5 . The electric machine of  claim 3 , wherein said first array of magnets and said second array of magnets are each arranged as a Halbach array. 
     
     
         6 . The electric machine of  claim 5 , wherein said magnets are in the shape of prism-shaped wedges. 
     
     
         7 . The electric machine of  claim 1 , wherein said first set of windings are formed into a serpentine shape. 
     
     
         8 . The electric machine of  claim 1 , wherein said windings are stationary and said magnets rotate on said rotation axis about said windings. 
     
     
         9 . The electric machine of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent ones of said magnets are joined together using a non-conductive adhesive at their interface. 
     
     
         10 . The electric machine of  claim 1 , further comprising additional sets of LSWs, each of which are laid radially in the plane of said machine, said first and said additional sets of LSWs comprising multi-phase LSWs which provide respective winding phases for said machine. 
     
     
         11 . The electric machine of  claim 10 , wherein said first and said additional sets of LSWs comprise first, second and third sets of LSWs. 
     
     
         12 . The electric machine of  claim 10 , wherein said multi-phase LSWs are stationary and said magnets rotate on said rotation axis about said windings. 
     
     
         13 . An electric motor having a corresponding rotation axis, comprising:
 a first array of magnets which are magnetized axially; and   a first set of laminated sheet windings (LSWs) which are laid radially in the plane of said motor such that said magnets produce a magnetic field in the perpendicular axis aligned with said rotation axis, said magnets and LSWs arranged concentrically with an air gap therebetween;   said first set of LSWs comprising:
 laminated metal sheets laid radially in the plane of said motor to form a continuous stack of series-connected concentric metal layers; and 
 dielectric insulator layers which electrically insulate each metal layer from its adjacent metal layers. 
   
     
     
         14 . The motor of  claim 13 , wherein said first set of LSWs is laid radially in the plane of said motor such that it follows a serpentine path. 
     
     
         15 . The motor of  claim 13 , further comprising additional sets of LSWs, each comprising:
 laminated metal sheets laid radially in the plane of said motor to form a continuous stack of concentric series-connected metal layers; and   dielectric insulator layers which electrically insulate each metal layer from its adjacent metal layers;   said first and said additional sets of LSWs providing respective winding phases for said motor.   
     
     
         16 . The electric machine motor of  claim 15 , wherein said first and said additional sets of LSWs comprise first, second and third sets of LSWs. 
     
     
         17 . The motor of  claim 15 , wherein said first and said additional sets of LSWs are offset with respect to each other. 
     
     
         18 . The motor of  claim 15 , wherein said first array of magnets is on one side of said first and said additional sets of LSWs, further comprising a second array of magnets on the other side of said first and said additional sets of LSWs. 
     
     
         19 . The motor of  claim 18 , wherein said first and said additional sets of LSWs are laid radially in the plane of said motor such that each follows a serpentine path. 
     
     
         20 . The motor of  claim 13 , wherein said LSWs are stationary and said magnets rotate on said rotation axis about said windings.