Patent ID: 6097124
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: H02K

Abstract:
An electrical power producing device comprising;first and second portions, the portions being arranged so as to have a common long axis and so one portion is moving with respect to the other portion;wherein the first portion includes:(a) a stator having stator windings, and(b) a modulating field winding that generates a magnetic field responsive to a DC current passing therethrough;wherein the second portion includes:(a) a support member having a mounting surface at a predetermined distance from the common long axis,(b) a plurality of permanent magnets disposed on the mounting surface,(c) a plurality of steel poles disposed on the mounting surface, and(d) wherein the permanent magnets and steel poles are arranged on the mounting surface so as to form an alternation of steel and permanent magnet poles;wherein the first and second portions and the support member are configured and arranged:(a) so a surface of each permanent magnet and each steel pole oppose a surface of the stator;(b) so permanent magnetic flux flows between each permanent magnet, the stator and an adjacent steel pole, adjacent to said each permanent magnet; and(c) so the magnetic flux generated by the modulating field winding emerges from each steel pole so as to selectively increase or decrease the permanent magnet flux that is flowing through said each steel pole; andwherein the first and second portions and components thereof are arranged structurally and magnetically so the permanent magnetic flux flows primarily circumferentially between each permanent magnet and the adjacent steel pole and so the flux path for the magnetic flux generated by the modulating field winding is primarily axial.