Patent ID: 6633106
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: H02K

Abstract:
An axial gap motor-generator of the type coupled to a shaft having an axis of rotation, the motor-generator comprising:a rotor having a rotor body rotatably disposed about the shaft and having an outer region, the rotor including a plurality of openings disposed in the outer region and spaced from one another, each of the openings including an outer edge; a plurality of magnets equal in number to the openings, each of the magnets including an outer edge corresponding to the outer edge of a corresponding one of the openings, the outer edge of the magnets generally being non-conformal to and being slightly smaller than the outer edge of the openings, and each of the magnets being shaped to be inserted into the corresponding one of the openings, the outer edge of each of the openings having a first resting radius when the axial gap motor-generator is at rest, and the outer edge of each of the magnets having a second resting radius when the axial gap motor-generator is at rest, wherein the first resting radius is larger than the second resting radius; and a stator assembly positioned adjacent to the rotor, the stator assembly including windings positioned to be adjacent to the magnets when the rotor is rotated.