Patent ID: 6046518
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: B60K,B60L,H02K,Y02T

Abstract:
An axial gap electric machine comprising in combination:a coil assembly defining a first side and a second side;a first magnet assembly located adjacent the first side of the coil assembly and comprising a plurality of permanent first magnets generating a plurality of first magnetic fields passing through at least part of the coil assembly, said first magnet assembly defining a first group of magnetic poles adjacent the first side of the coil assembly and a second group of magnetic poles located axially farther away from the coil assembly than the first group of magnetic poles;a first magnet assembly carrier mechanically coupled to said first magnet assembly and comprising a first magnetic field coupler located at least in part adjacent the second group of magnetic poles and coupling a magnetic field from a first magnetic pole in the second group of magnetic poles with a magnetic field from a second magnetic pole in the second group of magnetic poles;a second magnet assembly located adjacent the second side of the coil assembly and comprising a plurality of permanent second magnets generating a plurality of second magnetic fields passing through at least part of the coil assembly, said second magnet assembly defining a third group of magnetic poles adjacent the second side of the coil assembly and a fourth group of magnetic poles located farther away from the coil assembly than the third group of magnetic poles;a second magnet assembly carrier mechanically coupled to said second magnet assembly and comprising a second magnetic field coupler located at least in part adjacent the fourth group of magnetic poles and coupling a magnetic field from a first magnetic pole in the fourth group of magnetic poles with a magnetic field from a second magnetic pole in the fourth group of magnetic poles;a mechanical coupler coupling the first magnet assembly and the second magnet assembly; anda bearing assembly enabling the coil assembly to move with respect to the first magnet assembly and the second magnet assembly around an axis of rotation.