Patent ID: 7205694
Filing Date: 2007-04-17
Classification: H02K

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising a switched reluctance machine that includes: a stator having a plurality of circumferentially spaced stator poles of soft magnetic material, said stator poles including a set of first stator poles and a set of second stator poles, wherein each circumferentially adjacent pair of said first stator poles has one of said second stator poles therebetween; a rotor supported for rotation relative to said stator, and having a plurality of rotor segments that are circumferentially spaced, that are each made of a soft magnetic material, and that are magnetically separated, wherein during relative rotation of said rotor and said stator, said rotor segments cause magnetic flux to flow between each said first stator pole and at least one of said second stator poles that is adjacent thereto; and a plurality of coils that are each associated with and extend around a single said stator pole that is a respective one of said first stator poles, each said coil being responsive to a flow of electric current therethrough for generating a magnetic flux in said first stator pole associated therewith.