Homopolar linear synchronous machine

Abstract

A moving member of a machine can include a cold plate that serves as a primary structural member for the moving member. The cold plate can have one or more cooling channels formed within the cold plate. A plurality of armature windings can be fixed to the cold plate. One or more field windings can be fixed to the cold plate. A plurality of ferromagnetic cores can be fixed to the cold plate, each ferromagnetic core positioned within a loop of at least one of the plurality of armature windings. Other embodiments are described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A machine having a moving member, the moving member comprising:
 a cold plate having one or more cooling channels formed within the cold plate;   a plurality of armature windings, fixed to the cold plate;   one or more field windings, fixed to the cold plate; and   a plurality of ferromagnetic cores fixed to the cold plate, each ferromagnetic core positioned within a loop of at least one of the plurality of armature windings.   
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more field windings is fixed to the cold plate at an outer perimeter of the cold plate. 
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of armature windings and the plurality of ferromagnetic cores are fixed to the cold plate within the outer perimeter of the cold plate, within boundary formed by the one or more field windings. 
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the cold plate is formed from a top plate and a base plate, the one or more cooling channels being formed in the base plate. 
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the cold plate includes one or more of the following: aluminum, magnesium, stainless steel, titanium. 
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the cold plate is formed from 304 stainless steel. 
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising slots formed through the cold plate. 
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more cooling channels form a loop around at least three sides of each of the slots. 
     
     
         9 . The machine of  claim 8 , wherein a respective slit cuts through the cold plate from each of the slots to an edge of the cold plate, forming a paddle portion between each of the slots and the edge of the cold plate. 
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more cooling channels loop through each paddle portion from one of the slots to an adjacent slot. 
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling ribbon having a cooling channel for circulating coolant, along a length of the field winding. 
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of armature coils and the one or more field windings each have at least one flat section that is in contact with the cold plate. 
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the cold plate has sufficient stiffness and strength to maintain the positions and orientations of the plurality of armature windings, the one or more field windings, and the plurality of ferromagnetic cores, when the moving member is propelled by magnetic force generated by the plurality of armature windings and the one or more field windings. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein no additional structural members, other than the cold plate, are connected between the plurality of armature windings, the plurality of ferromagnetic cores, and the one or more field windings. 
     
     
         15 . An article of manufacture having a moving member, the moving member comprising:
 a cold plate having one or more cooling channels formed within the cold plate;   a plurality of armature windings, fixed to the cold plate;   one or more field windings, fixed to the cold plate; and   a plurality of ferromagnetic cores fixed to the cold plate, each ferromagnetic core positioned within a loop of at least one of the plurality of armature windings.   
     
     
         16 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more field windings is fixed to the cold plate at an outer perimeter of the cold plate. 
     
     
         17 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of armature windings and the plurality of ferromagnetic cores are fixed to the cold plate within the outer perimeter of the cold plate, within boundary formed by the one or more field windings. 
     
     
         18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the cold plate is formed from a top plate and a base plate, the one or more cooling channels being formed in the base plate. 
     
     
         19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the cold plate maintains the positions and orientations of the plurality of armature windings, the one or more field windings, and the plurality of ferromagnetic cores under force. 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a stator having a plurality of c-channel segments that include ferromagnetic material;   a mover having
 a cold plate having one or more cooling channels formed within the cold plate; 
 a plurality of armature windings, fixed to the cold plate; 
 one or more field windings, fixed to the cold plate; and 
 a plurality of ferromagnetic cores fixed to the cold plate, each ferromagnetic core positioned within a loop of at least one of the plurality of armature windings, 
 wherein the cold plate maintains the positions and orientations of the plurality of armature windings, the one or more field windings, and the plurality of ferromagnetic cores, when the mover is propelled through the c-channel segments by magnetic force generated by the armature windings and the one or more field windings.