MULTIPLE WINDINGS ELECTRICAL MACHINES

Abstract: Class of electrical machines for converting between electrical energy and mechanical energy and vice versa. Each machine has an integral number of repeatable sections and is comprised of a magnetic stator (1), a magnetic armature (28), multiple open-circuit armature windings (46-45, 48-47, 50-49, 52-51, 54-53) overlapping within each repeatable section, a commutator (30), multiple brushes (16, 25) bearing on the entire commutator, a stator magnetic field of various configurations, and appropriate connections and couplings to electrical and mechanical energy sources and loads. Also disclosed are means for disposing of armature winding energy as a part of the armature windings commutation by dissipating the energy in various locations and dissipators or by recovering the energy for reuse.

Description: MULTIPLE WINDINGS ELECTRICAL MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates ' to electrical machines which have a commutator with two or more brushes per stator pole pair and multiple armature windings per stator pole pair and how these machineεε are con igured to be electric motors or electric generators. Also, this invention con¬ cerns linear and rotary electrical machines. In addition, this invention concerns the disposal, by dissipation or recovery, of electrical energy from the commutated armature windings of electrical machines to increase efficiency and performance. The gains expected with this invention are believed suitable for all applications of commutator brush motors. This invention began as an approach to achieving re¬ dundancy in electrical motor windings and other improveme¬ nts in motor performance and efficiency. The concept that motor efficiency could be improved was put forth by B. M. Oliver in a letter titled "Servo Motor Response", publish- ed in the Proceedings of the IEEE, Volume 53, No. 2 (Feb. 196 ) ι pp. 201-202. The use of brushes and a commutator was selected for the present invention because it simpli¬ fied the invention and design of a motor to being only a generator of torque, rather than an electrical transformer and a generator of torque as is required for an AC motor. In an AC motor the output shaft power has to be coupled to the armature by transformer action, whereas in a DC motor the output shaft power is coupled through brushes to the commutator and thus to the armature. The universal motor, DC or AG powered, is a notable exception and is considered part of the class of the present invention. It is noted that conventional electric motors do not directly generate force and torque comparable to the force generated by a lifting electromagnet or a pressurized fluid hydraulic cylinder of comparable size. While the present invention has not yet been tested to determine how it com¬ pares in these matters, it is believed to be capable of greater torque, as a motor, than conventional commutator brush electric motors of comparable size. Torque is devel- OMPI ,,. WIPO « oped in a DC motor by the change in total- magnetic energy per unit rotation. Thus, the torque can be increased in two ways: (1) by increasing the change in magnetic energy for the same unit rotation, and (2) by decreasing the uni rotation for the same magnetic energy change. The first way is considered to be well exploited since the magnetic change is limited by the characteristics of the magnetic materials and the volume of the magnetic circuit. The present invention uses the magnetic materials to the prac tical flux densities and discloses how to convert a fixed amount of energy with a reduced per unit rotation. Some practical limitations of the present invention are the size of brushes commonly available for use with the com¬ mutator; the thickness of one brush is about the minimum circumferential distance that can be used for the per uni rotation or movement. Another practical limitation on pe unit rotation is the minimum armature tooth width; these teeth define the sides of armature windings slots and must be wide enough to be sturdy when made in thin armature laminations. One of the design limitations on power output from conventional commutator brush motors is that the current. density in the brushes must be held low to achieve a rea¬ sonable brush life, ' Maximum brush current densities vary ...- *• -• from 55 to 150 amperes per square inch (8.7 to 23 amperes per square centimeter) depending on the brush materials and the application. This present inventionallows greater useful brush cross—sectional area on the commutator to couple more energy to and from the armature than a co pa- rable conventional commutator brush motor. Thus, this present invention allows reduced brush current density for a given armature current compared to a conventional com¬ mutator brush motor, or the same brush current density as a conventional commutator brush motor and greater total armature current. Operating the brushes with reduced cur¬ rent density reduces the brush heating and prolongs the brush life, given the other factors of brush life are properly controlled. The availability of more brushcross sectional area on the commutator corresponds to the need OM for " additional electrical power to the armature to gener¬ ate greater mechanical power than the conventional, similarly sized commutator brush motor. The sparking or arcing on the commutator at the brushes of conventional commutator brush motors causes wear of brushes and commutator and energy losses and radio interference. Thus, sparking has been a continual problem with these motors which is sought to be avoided or mini- ' mized. The present invention proposes to reduce or limit sparking in a unique way. As the current in an armature winding-to-be-commutated is interrupted, the magnetic field due to that current will collapse, and the collaps¬ ing magnetic field will generate an inductive kick volt¬ age, which is in reverse polarity to the previously applied voltage. This inductive kick voltage can be dis¬ sipated directly or it can be used to establish a voltage sensitive, energy disposal method by dissipation or energy recovery. In this manner commutator brush sparking is eliminated or reduced, and the armature windings are not short-circuited during commutation. In considering the form that an electrical machine should have, the inactive end-crossings of each winding are only marginal contributors to the magnetic field energy but are full contributors to the resistive losses; thus, winding end-crossings should be minimized. The present invention was conceived with minimum winding end-crossings as a goal. The present invention allows the stator and armature windings pitch to be reduced to reduce end- crossings. It is theorized that the L/R electrical time con¬ stant of this invention will be lower and the response time faster than a conventional commutator brush electrical machine of comparable size; thus, this invention should be more suitable for servomechanism and control motor appli- cations than conventional DC motors. The reason for lower L/R time constant is the windings are individual, parallel windings of a smaller wire size with higher resistance and smaller inductance. The present invention allows reduced magnetic path OMPI lengths and- thereby approaches the- agnetic structure of high frequency AC motors, such as 400 hertz motors. It has been noted that high frequency AC motors are smaller in size than comparable output-rated 60 hert z or DC motor It is believed that the present invention allows magnetic paths lengths that are comparable with high frequency AC motor magnetic path lengths and thereby allows gains in horsepower-to-weight ratios over conventional DC motors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a series-field representation of an electrical machine in accordance with the present inven¬ tion. Figure 2 shows an electrical storage battery used a an electrical energy source for some configurations of th multiple windings electrical machine as a motor. Figure 3 shows a resistive load used to load the multiple windings electrical machine as a generator. Figure is a side view of a two-pole, series-field, rotary, electrical machine in accordance with the present invention and which shows the locations of the cross- sections shown in Figures 7 and 8. Figure 5 is an end view of a two-pole, series-field, rotary electrical machine in accordance with the present invention and also shown in side view in Figure 4. Figur 5 shows the location of a cross-section taken along the armature axis, which is the mechanical energy coupling means axis, and shown in Figure 6. Figure 6 is a cross-section view taken along the armature axis, which is the mechanical energy coupling means axis, of an electrical machine in accordance with the present invention. Figure 7 is a cross-section view of an electrical machine in accordance with the present invention, which view is located by Figure 4 and is taken through the stator and armature magnetic elements including the wind¬ ings. Figure 8 is a cross-section view of an electrical machine in accordance with the present invention, which OMPI WIPO view is located by Figure 4 and is taken through the commutator and brushes. Figure 9 shows some means to be added to Figure 1 to achieve energy recovery from an interrupted armature winding with one direction of armature movement. Figure 10 shows means to be added to Figure 1 to achieve energy recovery from an interrupted armature wind¬ ing for two directions of armature movement. Figure 11 represents an interrupted armature winding energy recovery circuit in which the preferred brush interrupts the armature winding current. Figure 12 represents an interrupted armature winding energy recovery circuit which is down-graded to an energy dissipation circuit because the non-preferred brush inter- rupts the armature winding current. Figure 13 represents an interrupted armature winding energy recovery circuit which is insensitive to which brush interrupts the armature winding current. Figure 14 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 8 with the addition of energy disposal brush means shown in Figure 10. Figure 15 is a series-field representation of a multiple windings electrical machine with two brushes per stator pole pair plus energy disposal brushes means in accordance with Figure 10. Figure 16 is a cross-section view similar to Figure 8 but showing a two-pole electrical machine in accordance with Figure 15. Figures 17 through 17f are a sequential represen- tation of armature winding commutation and the energy disposal brushes operation. Figure 18 is a shunt-field representation of an electrical machine in accordance with the present inven¬ tion. Figure 19 is a representation of a long-shunt com¬ pound field electrical machine in accordance with the present invention. Figure 20 is a representation of a short-shunt compound field electrical machine in accordance with ^ ^^^r^ OMPI Λ, WIPO . present invention. Figure 21 is a representation of a reversible, series-field, electric motor in accordance with the present invention. Figure 22 is a representation of a permanent-magnet field electrical machine in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The multiple windings electrical machine, an elec¬ trical machine in accordance with the present invention, will be first described by referring to Figure 1. The machine comprises a stator and an armature, which are con strained with respect to each other by bearings means to bidirectional movement of the armature along only one axi which in Figure 1 is to the left and to the right, in the plane of the Figure 1. The stator comprises a stator magnetic yoke means 1, stator magnetic poles means 2 and ' structural support means 4, a key means 5 interlocking wi the stator magnetic yoke means 1, multiple stator winding shown in Figure 1 as five windings with ends 6 and 7 » 8 and 9, 10 and 11, 12 and 13-, and 14 and 15 which are wound around pole 2, spring-loaded brushes 16 through 25, and electrical terminals 26 and 27. Not shown in Figure is a brushholder means which is considered part of the stator; the brushholder means positions the brushes and spring-loads them against the commutator and insulates the brushes from each other. The armature comprises a mag¬ netic armature 28 with teeth, one of which is 29 » regularl spaced at the armature winding pitch, a commutator 30 with conducting commutator segments 31 through 42, multiple overlapping open-circuit armature windings per pole pair attached to and electrically insulated from the magnetic armature 28 and each other and with active edges of each winding spaced one stator pole pitch apart in the direc¬ tion of allowable movement and the overlapping in the direction of allowable movement confined to each stator pole pair and shown in Figure 1 as six windings with ends 43 and 44, 45 and 46, 47 and 48, 49 and 50, 51 and 52, 53 and 5 * » which are wound in slots between the teeth, a mechanical energy coupling means 5 t and a key means interlocking with the magnetic armature 28. The armature is constrained by bearings means, not shown in Figure 1, which are mounted between the structural support means 4 and the mechanical energy coupling means 55, so that when the armature moves there is an air gap separating the armature from the stator, and particularly separating the magnetic armature means 28 and the stator magnetic poles means 2 and 3. The stator and armature windings are firmly attached to the stator magnetic yoke means 1 and the magnetic armature means 28 respectively, and are insulated from the stator and armature and each other except as described herein. The armature and stator windings are preferred to have roughly equivalent magnetic energy, which is the magnetomotive force times the flux density times the volume, to more effectively interact with each other. The number of multiple armature windings is chosen for smooth- ness of operation, practicality, and convenience. The . armature surface is equally divided among the multiple armature windings. The stator poles are made as wide in the direction of movement as two armature winding pitches to reduce cogging. The remaining stator winding space between the stator poles is equally divided among the multiple stator windings for that configuration. There are more armature windings than stator windings shown in Figure 1 because one armature winding is being commutated. It is recognized that an electrical machine in accordance with the present invention could be configured to have more armature windings than stator windings or more stator windings than armature windings or that there could be no stator windings, as in a permanent-magnet field machine. The commutator 30 has uniformly sized and spaced conduct- ing, commutator segments 31 through 42, which are insu¬ lated from the armature mounting and each other. It is preferred that one end of each armature winding be elec¬ trically connected to one and only one commutator segment; however, it is recognized that there could be additional commutator segments not connected to any armature winding, and that there could be more than one commutator segment electrically connected to one armature winding end. It is preferred that the number of commutator segments be equal to the number of armature windings ends, and that also equals the number of armature teeth or winding slots or winding positions; it is also preferred that the armature winding ends be connected electrically to the closest com mutator segment. To simplify Figure 1 and represent the multiple windings electrical machine in one view, the commutator 30 with commutator segments 31 through 42 and brushes 16 through 25 and connecting circuits are shown in an enlarge air gap between the stator magnetic poles means 2 and 3 and the magnetic armature means 28. The preferred and practical electrical machine construction in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figures 4, 5 » 6, 7 » and 8, wherein the commutator 30 with commutator segments 31 through 42 and brushes 16 through 25 and connecting circuits and brushholder means are shown adjacent to the stator magnetic poles means 2 and 3 and the magnetic arma¬ ture means 28. Figure 1 shows only one stator pole pair, whereas an electrical machine- in accordance with the present inven- tion may be constructed of any practical number of such pole pairs, which are also called repeatable sections; the double-dashed lines in Figure 1 mark the boundaries of thi one-pole-pair machine. The repeatable sections are inter¬ connected at the stator magnetic yoke means 1, the struc- tural support means 4, the mechanical energy coupling means 55 » the magnetic armature means 28, the commutator means 30, and at the electrical energy connections means, terminals 26 and 27. Also, Figure 1 is a linear representation of an electrical machine in accordance with the present inven¬ tion, which can be, and is more usually, constructed in a circular, concentric cylindrical fashion as a rotary machine. This type of rotary machine is shown in Figures 4, 5 » 6, 7, and 8 with the magnetic armature 28 attached to and concentric with a mechanical energy coupling means shaft 55, the commutator means 30 attached to and concen¬ tric with the mechanical energy coupling means shaft 55, a two-pole magnetic stator concentric around the armature, the stator magnetic yoke means 1 attached to the outer- cylindrical structural support means 4 by key means 5, and the shaft 55 supported and constrained by bearings means attached to the structural support means 4, and the brush¬ holder means concentric around the commutator means 30 and mechanically attached to the structural support means 4. In operation, the electrical machine in accordance with the present invention utilizes external energy to establish a magnetic field and magnetic flux which links the stator magnetic yoke means 1, stator magnetic poles means 2 and 3, magnetic armature means 28, air gap means, and armature windings means. When connected as a motor, the external energy is supplied by an electrical energy source means such as shown in Figure 2 as a unidirectional voltage source means 57, a battery; the electrical energy source means may also be an alternating current source when the electrical machine in accordance with the present invention is a universal type motor; some of the external energy may be supplied by a permanent magnet when a perma¬ nent magnet is used to replace each stator magnetic pole* When connected as a generator, the external energy is supplied by a mechanical energy source means connected to the echnical energy coupling means 55 and an electrical load means, such as shown in Figure 3 as a resistor 58, is connected to terminals 26 and 27. The mechanical energy source means is usually considered as supplying a continuous, single-direction force and velocity. The Figure ' 1 also shows vacancies in the brush means between brushes 20 and 21, and between brush 25-and brush 16, for a one pole pair machine, or the first brush in a repeatable section connected at the right of Figure 1, for a two-or-more pole pair machine. These vacancies are used to avoid shorting between positive and negative voltages by a brush bridging two commutator segments, and to inter¬ rupt the armature current and initiate the energy disposal 1 from an armature winding-to-be-commutated. The brush vacancies divide the brushes into two. groups called first brush group means: the brushes 16 through 20, and second brush group means: the brushes 21 through 25. 5 The Figure 1 electrical machine in accordance with the present invention operates as a series-field electric motor as follows. When terminal 26 is made positive and terminal 27 is made negative, such as occurs by connectin to a battery 57 shown in Figure 2, current flows in serie 10 from terminal 26 through brush 21, commutator segment 37, winding 43-44 from end 44 to end 43, commutator segment 31 brush 16, and winding 7-6 from end 7 to end 6 and back to terminal 27. In this manner the windings 44-43 and 7-6 are a force generating set in the position-time instant 15 represented by Figure 1 which tend to move the magnetic armature 28 to the left in Figure 1. In a similar manner stator windings 9-8, 11-10, 13-12, and 15-1* will form same-directed force generating sets with armature windings 46-45, 48-47, 50-49 and 52-51 respectively in the positio 20 . time instant represented by Figure 1. As the magnetic armature 28 moves to the left due to the force generated by these sets, stator winding 7-6 will form force gener¬ ating sets with armature windings 46-45, 48-47, 50-49, 52-51, and 5 -53 in sequence. The other stator windings 25 will be similarly and simultaneously forming force gener¬ ating sets with the armature windings in shifted sequences After stator winding 7-6 and armature winding 5*^-53 are a force generating set, winding 7-6 next forms a same- directed force generating set with winding 44-43 again. 30 The reason that the force generated is in the same direc¬ tion for the second pairing of these two windings after one pole pitch of movement of the magnetic armature 28 is that the direction of current flow in winding 44-43 is now reversed, being from end 43 to end 44, and the positio 5 of winding 44-43 now straddles the next stator pole which is of the opposite magnetic field polarity. The reversal of the winding current and the opposite polarity of the magnetic field cause the force generated to be in the same direction. The first mentioned pairing of windings 44-43 and 7-6 is with brush 21 contacting commutator segment 37 making winding end 44 positive with respect to winding end 43, while winding 44-43 straddles stator pole 2; this combination generates a force forcing the magnetic arma- ture to the left in Figure 1. The second mentioned pairing of windings 44-43 and 7-6 is with brush 16 con¬ tacting commutator segment 37 making winding end 44 negative with respect to winding end 43, while winding 44-43 straddles stator pole 3, or a stator pole adjacent to stator pole 2, which is constructed to be of opposite magnetic polarity with reference to stator pole 2. In a similar manner, all the stator windings simultaneously form same-directed force generating sets with all the armature windings, less one being commutated, in shifted sequences using both the first and second mentioned pair¬ ing relationships. The stator and armature windings of each force generating set are positioned with respect to each other so that the total magnetic field energy of the motor will incrementally increase when the energized armature wind¬ ings move incrementally to the left in Figure 1. This tendency to increase the magnetic field energy causes force to the left to be generated. The magnitude of the force is proportional to the change in the motor magnetic.. field energy per unit armature movement; in a rotary motor such as shown in Figure 2, the force generated is trans¬ lated into torque, and the torque generated is propor¬ tional to the change in motor magnetic field energy per rotational increment. The commutation of the armature windings is designed to maintain the actions of the stator and armature windings described above, by continuously re-establishing these positional relationships, approxi¬ mately, in spite of magnetic armature 28 movement, and thereby cause a continuous generation of force or torque. The electrical machine in accordance with the present invention represented in Figure 1 operates as a series- field generator as follows. The magnetic armature 28 is mechanically driven to the right in Figure 1 by an external mechanical energy source connected to the mechanical energy coupling means 55- An electrical load such as the resisto 58 of Figure 3 is connected.between terminals 26 and 27. The residual magnetomotive force from the stator magnetic poles means causes magnetic flux to flow across the air gap to the magnetic armature 28 and inductively links the driven armature windings thereby causing the initial volt¬ age to be generated in the armature windings 44-43, 46-45, 48-47, 50-49, 52-51, and 54-53. When the initial voltage causes electrical currents to flow through the series stator windings 7-6,.9-8, 11-10, 13-12, and 5-14, the magnetomotive force residual of the stator magnetic poles is increased, and the magnetic flux is thereby increased, and the generated voltage is also increased. After the generator completes the voltage-current transient buildup ό t described, the generated armature windings voltages, the stator windings currents, and the output voltages between terminals 26 and 27 follow the values to corres¬ pond to the generated voltage versus load current charact¬ eristics of a series generator. When driven at a constant speed, a series-field generator has a generated voltage versus load current characteristic curve that is humped; that is, at low load current the voltage is low, and as the load current is increased the generated voltage incr¬ eases to a peak, and then as the load current is further increased, the generated voltage decreases to zero. The first and second pairings of the generator arma¬ ture windings with stator windings operate as was describe for the same-directed force generation of the series-field electric motor to cause the generated voltage from the series-field multiple windings electric "generator to be of the same polarity for one direction of mechanical drive. A particular series-field, multiple windings electric generator current path in the position-time instant repre¬ sented by Figure 1 is with winding end 43 negative and starting at that end 43, to commutator segment 31, to brush 16, to stator winding end 7, through stator winding 7-6 to winding end 6, to terminal 27, through an electrica load, such as resistor 58 of Figure 3, attached between terminals 27 and 26, to terminal 26, to brush 21, to __ O commutator segment 37, to winding end 44 which is positive, and through winding 44-43 to end 43. The electromotive force driving this current is the voltage generated in the armature winding 44-43. In a similar manner the other armature and stator windings form generating sets and con¬ tribute voltage and current to the electrical load con¬ nected across terminals 27 and 26. As the magnetic armature 28 of a multiple windings electric generator of Figure 1 is driven to the right, armature winding 44-43 forms a voltage generating set with stator windings 7-6, 9-8, 11-10, and 13-12 in sequence. Then the armature winding 44-43 has its current interrupted by the brush vacancy means and the interrupted armature winding energy disposal takes place; this energy disposal will be described below. Then the armature winding 44-43 is idle, not connected to any stator winding, in the position occupied by winding y 2 ^^ i Figure 1. After the idle period, winding 44-43 next forms a same-polarity voltage generating set with stator winding 7-6 for a second pairing. The reason the voltage is of the same polarity for the second pairing of these two windings after one stator pole pitch of armature movement is that the armature winding ends are reversed, end 43 connected to commutator segment 31 now contacts brush 21 and end 44. connected to commutator segment 37 now contacts brush 16, and the position of winding 44-43 now straddles the next stator pole, which is opposite in magnetic field polarity to stator pole -2. The reversal of the winding ends and the opposite polarity of the magnetic field cause the voltage applied to terminals 26 and 27 to remain the same polarity as for the first pairing. The movement of the magnetic armature 28 and commu¬ tator 3 causes the brushes to overlap and contact two commutator segmentseach for a portion of the operating time. When this occurs all the armature windings and all the stator windings are each paralleled by interconnections through the brushes and commutator segments; however, the winding inductances and brush voltage drops tend to main¬ tain the same current through each winding that existed ■ i -m -m Cϊ .?I V prior to -the paralleling. Also, because of this over¬ lapping contact the current through the armature windings is not interrupted until armature winding commutation begins after each stator-pole-pitch of armature movement. The electric current in an individual armature winding is reversed twice during an armature movement as described under two stator poles. As the first step in the current reversal, the current is interrupted. The aggregate mechanisms for causing these current interrup- tions are called armature windings connections interrup¬ tions means; in Figure 1 these means are the absence of brushes over commutator segments 36 and 42, which are more properly called brush vacancy means, since there is a space in the regular placement of brushes between brushes 20 and 21 and between brush 25 and the first brush in the next repeatable section, or brush 16 in a single repeatable section machine. When the armature winding current is interrupted, the stored magnetic energy associated with the interrupted armature winding and the current in that winding causes an inductive kick voltage to be generated, which appears at the ends of the inter¬ rupted armature winding, and is of opposite polarity to the voltage that caused the current flow in that winding. The energy in the interrupted armature winding can be disposed of by dissipating it or by recovering it for re-use. The energy can be dissipated in the armature, in the stator, or external to the multiple windings electrica machine by making a suitable selection of dissipating devices and electrical connections. The various types of energy dissipating devices considered are: resistors, back-to-back zener diodes, back-to-back selenium clipper diodes, varistors, and series resistor-capacitor combina¬ tions. To dissipate the interrupted armature winding energy in the armature, add an energy dissipating device from one end of the armature winding to the other end, which is from one commutator segment to another; connect one such energy dissipating device across every armature winding. If back-to-back zener diodes are used with zener voltages greater than the electrical energy source voltage ,- c • - • -*---* / ' OMPI ,/ - ~~WIPO or the generated voltage, there will be no dissipation in the back-to-back zener diodes attached across every arma¬ ture winding during normal operations; energy dissipation will only occur when the armature winding voltage exceeds the normal voltage because of the inductive kick voltage generated when the current is interrupted. To dissipate the interrupted armature winding energy in the stator, add an energy disposal brush in each brush vacancy means. This added energy disposal brush per brush vacancy means should be narrower than one-half a commutator segment width in the direction of allowable movement, and the energy disposal brush should be of set in the direction of allowable movement within the brush vacancy means. The offset from brush vacancy means center should be opposite to the direction of commutator movement, which is toward the approaching commutator segment. One energy disposal brush means per brush vacancy means will function for one direction of commutator movement; for two directions of commutator movement, add two such energy disposal brushes with opposite offsets within each brush vacancy means. Between each adjacent, correspondingly offset, energy disposal brush, including the adjacent energy disposal brushes in adjaeent pole-pair, repeatable sections, con¬ nect an energy dissipating device. To dissipate the interrupted armature windings energy external to the multiple windings electrical machine use a modification of the dissipation-in-the-stator means by adding electrical connections from the energy disposal brushes to externally located energy dissipating devices. The recovery of energy from interrupted armature windings is believed to be a new concept, and one which will improve the efficiency of electrical machines. The Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 help to explain this concept as it is achieved with the present invention. To recover the interrupted armature windings energy for re-use, place energy disposal brushes means in the brush vacancy means as previously described, connect energy recovery diodes between each energy disposal brush and the positive and negative terminals of a unidirectional voltage source, and make"provisions for directing the- * energy available from the interrupted armature windings to a desired usage or storage, rather than allowing the energy to be dissi¬ pated. The provisions for recovering energy are: (1) establish the positions of the brushes adjacent to the brush vacancy means to know by design which brush of the two brushes making electrical connections at opposite ends of the armature winding-to-be-commutated will inter¬ rupt that armature winding current, or use a split series field configuration such as shown in Figure 13, which recovers energy regardless of which brush interrupts the armature winding current, (2) place an inductance such as series-field stator windings means between the last electrical brush connection, of the two brush connections capable of interrupting the current, and the positive or negative unidirectional voltage source means terminals, and (3) make the recovery of energy occur in the brief time available before the armature winding is energized with a reversed current. Figure 9 is a representation of additions and modi¬ fications to Figure 1 to accomplish energy recovery from an interrupted armature winding for commutator 30 movement to the left in Figure 1; spark reduction on the commutato 30 surface will also be accomplished hereby. The Figure- additions shown in Figure 9 are energy disposal brushes 5 and 60 and energy recovery diodes 61, 62, 63, and 64. The Figure 1 modifications shown in Figure 9 are reductions i the size of the brushes 16, 20, 21 and 25, andrepositionin of brushes 16 and 21; these brushes are all adjacent to th brush vacancy means. The brushes 16, 20, 21, and 25 and energy disposal brushes 59 and 60 are reduced in thickness in the direction of commutator 30 movement, to prevent shorting from brush 20 to a commutator segment to energy disposal brush 59 to another commutator segment to brush 21, and from brush 25 to a commutator segment to energy disposal brush 60 to another commutator segment to brush ' 16, regardless of the commutator 30 position. The re¬ positioning of brushes 16 and 21 is to make brush 21 inter rupt the armature winding current rather than brush 16. Λ, " ~WIP The brush 21 interrupting the armature winding current is represented in Figure 11. By having brush 21 interrupt the armature winding current, the energy recovery circuit is from the brush 59, through diode 61 to terminal 27, from terminal 27 there are two parallel circuits: (1) through the unidirectional voltage source or resistive load connected across terminals 27 and 26 to terminal 26, then through diode 64, and returning to brushes 60 and 16, or (2) through stator winding 6-7 to brushes 60 and 16. Because of the transient nature of the energy recovery inductive kick voltage from the interrupted armature wind¬ ing, it is expected that the current circuit through the unidirectional voltage source or resistive load would get most of the energy. The energy disposal brushes, the brushes adjacent to the brush vacancy means in both directions, and the gaps between them are configured to recover energy and to pre¬ vent shorting between the brushes on opposite sides of the brush vacancy means for leftward movement of the commutator 30. Each of the energy disposal brushes has two energy recovery diodes electrically connected to it, and these energy recovery diodes are designated 61, 62, 63* » and 64 in Figure 9. For the sake of the following explanation, consider Figure 9 as a portion of a two-pole, rotary, electric motor in accordance with the present invention and as shown in Figures 4 through 7-j so that, when commutator segment 31 moves to the left with the commutator 30 and the magnetic armature 28 due to motor torque, it next con¬ tacts energy disposal brush 60, and similarly, as commu- tator segment 37 moves to the left, it next contacts energy disposal brush 59. Figure 9 shows only two portions of the commutator 30 of Figure 1. The commutator 30 portions shown in Figure 9 include commutator segments at the ends of an armature winding which is being commutated. The two commutator 30 portions are shown in Figure 9 in two levels, one above the other. The commutator segments, the energy disposal brushes, the brushes adjacent to the " energy dis¬ posal brushes, and the spaces between all these are also configured so that commutator segments 3 and 37 are con- tacting energy disposal brushes 60 and 59 respectively prior to losing contact with- brushes 21 and16 respectivel This contact with the energy disposal brushes simultaneou with contact with both brushes 21 and 16 has no effect on the electrical machine operation because the energy recovery diodes 61, 62, 63, and 64 are back-biased by the voltage at terminals 26 and 27 so each energy recovery diode is a very high impedance. It is when the commutato segments 3 and 37 move farther to the left and lose con¬ tact with brush 21 or brush 16 or both that " the energy recovery diodes may be forward-biased. These three possi ble conditions of losing contact will be described as the relate to the sequence of interrupting the armature windi current and energy recovery operation. These three condi tions might be individually established by design or occu due to manufacturing tolerances or operating wear. The preferred condition of interrupting armature winding current to achieve energy recovery for the series field motor of Figure 1 is to have brush 21 lose contact with commutator segment 37 prior to brush 16 losing conta with commutator segment 31. This condition is shown in Figure 11. The brush 21 loss of contact with commutator segment 37 interrupts the current flowing in armature winding 43-44-; this ' current interruption ' induces a large inductive kick voltage in armature winding 43-44, which voltage is of opposite polarity to the voltage which caus the armature winding current flow; this opposite polarity voltage makes commutator segment 37 and energy disposal brush 59 negative with respect to both terminals 26 and 27 which forward biases energy recovery diode 61, thereby supplying to terminal 27 negative polarity energy until the stored magnetic energy of armature winding 43-44 can no longer maintain a negative potential at energy disposal brush 59 with respect to terminal 27. The non-preferred condition of interrupting armature winding current to achieve energy recovery for the series- field motor of Figure 1 is to have brush 16 lose contact with commutator segment 31 prior to brush 21 losing contac with commutator segment 37- This condition is shown in - Figure 12. If this occurred in the series-field motor of Figure 1 with the energy recovery additions and modifica¬ tions of Figure 9 » there would be no energy recovery, but only energy dissipation. These conditions would cause the inductive kick voltage to be induced in the opposite polarity to the voltage which caused the armature winding current flow; this inductive kick voltage makes commutator segment 31 positive with respect to commutator segment 37-» which is still connected, at this instant, to brush 21. Energy disposal brush 60 is thus positive with respect to both terminals 26 and 27, which forward biases energy recovery diode 64, thereby completing a short-circuit of the armature winding 43-44, and causing the magnetic energy to be dissipated in the resistance of the short-circuit. An unlikely, preferred condition of interrupting armature winding current to achieve energy recovery for the series-field motor of Figure 1 is for brushes 16 and 21 to simultaneously lose contact with commutator segments 31 and 37- These losses of contact will interrupt the current flowing in armature winding 43-44; this current interrup¬ tion will induce a large inductive kick voltage in armature - winding 43-44, which is of the opposite polarity to the voltage which caused the current flow; this opposite polarity voltage makes commutator segment 37 and energy disposal brush 59 negative and commutator segment 31 and ' energy disposal brush 60 positive; thus, energy disposal brush 59 will be more negative than terminal 27 and forward bias energy recovery diode 6 , and energy disposal brush 60 will be more positive than terminal 26 and forward bias energy recovery diode 64. These forward-biased energy recovery diodes 61 and 64 will establish a low-impedance circuit for returning the magnetic energy of armature winding 43-44 to terminals 26 and 27 for re-use or storage, and the diodes 61 and 64 will remain forward-biased until the magnetic energy of the armature winding 43-44 can no longer maintain the forward-biasing inductive kick voltage. Note that the preferred and non-preferred energy recovery conditions could change into this unlikely-preferred condi¬ tion by having the remaining commutator segment contact with the brushes 16 or 21 also interrupted. Figure 10 is a representation of additions and modifications to Figure 1 to accomplish energy recovery from an interrupted armature winding for commutator 30 movement to the right or to the left in Figure 1. Figure 10 shows only the two portions of the commutator 30 which relate to the commutator segments connected to the ends of an armature winding-to-be-commutated. The two commu¬ tator 30 portions are shown in two levels, one above the other. Figure 10 is similar to Figure 9; Figure 10 has the following additional elements over Figure 9; two more energy disposal brushes 67 and 70 in each brush vacancy means and energy recovery diodes 65* 66, 68 and 69. Thes elements operate as has been described for Figure 9, exce these additional elements add the ability to recover ener for commutator 30 movement to the right. Also, note the added energy disposal brushes 67 and 7 are offset to the other side of the brush vacancy means from brushes 59 and 60, to perform their function for right-ward movement of the commutator 30. The energy recovery diodes 62, 63* 66., and 68 perfo an energy recovery function similar to energy recovery diodes 61, 64, 65 and 69 and provide spark reduction when the -interrupted armature winding voltage oscillates becaus of a self-resonant circuit or because of brush bounce afte the armature winding current is first interrupted. The Figure 13 represents a multiple windings elec¬ trical machine configuration with split, series-fields connected on the positive and negative sides of the arma- ture windings to allow energy recovery regardless of whether brush 21 or 16 interrupts the armature winding current. This split series-fields connection, o stator windings prevents short-circuiting the interrupted armatur winding, and thus prevents the energy dissipation asso- ciated with such short-circuiting. Figure 14 is a cross-section view through the brushe and commutator of a two-pole, rotary electrical machine in accordance with the present invention and similar to Figure 8, except with energy disposal brushes means in accordance with Figure 10. Figure 15 is a series-field representation of an electrical machine in accordance with the present inven¬ tion and with two brushes per pole pair plus energy dis- posal brush means in accordance with Figure 10. The same figure simplifications of showing the commutator, brushes, and electrical connections in an enlarged air gap are used in Figure 15 as in Figure 1. Also, the simplication of showing one pole-pair repeatable section to represent any practical number of such repeatable sections is used; the double-dashed lines mark the ends of one repeatable sec¬ tion. The Figure 15 two-brush configuration is considered useful for multiple pole-pair repeatable section machines with very small stator pole pitch dimensions. In such cases using the Figure 1 configuration, the practical widths of the brushes become the limiting factors. Also, the Figure 15 configuration is considered a simplication of the machine of Figure 1, by reducing the number of brushes and stator windings. Figure 15 bas only one stator winding 71-72 per stator pole pair. Brush 73 takes the place of brushes 16 through 20 of Figure 1, which are the first brush group means, and brush ^ takes the place of brushes 21 through 25 of Figure 1, which are the second brush group means. Figure 16 is a cross-section view through the brushes and commutator of a two-pole, rotary, electrical machine in accordance with the present invention and similar to Figure 14, except with two brushes, 73 and 7-* per pole pair plus energy disposal brushes in accordance with Figure 15. When this configuration is made with multiple pole-pair repeat¬ able sections, the brushes 73 and 7*4* will have less cusp pointing than shown in Figure 16, because the brush width in the direction of commutator movement will be a smaller fraction of the commutator diameter. Thus, the brushes for a multiple repeatable section configuration will be more rugged. The series of Figures 17a through 7f represent the action of energy disposal brushes 59 and 67 and brushes 20 and 21 against the commutator 30 and commutator segments OMPI ° 35, 36, and 37 to avoid"short-circuits between brushes 20 and 21 during armature movement of one armature windin pitch. These Figures 17a through 17f represent actions a one end of armature winding 43-44; the actions at the oth end of armature winding 43-44 are similar. Through this sequence of figures it is possible to see that the energy disposal brushes 59 and 67 assume the potentials of both the first brush group brushes and the second brush group brushes at various position-times but never simultaneousl thus they do not allow shorting between first and second brush group brush potentials, and that at the position- time of interruption of current through armature winding 43-44 between Figures 17e and 17f• » only the energy dispos brush 59 is in contact with the commutator segment 37 * I Figures 17a through 17c the commutator segment 37 is con¬ nected to the positive connected brush 21 only. In Figur 17d and 17e the commutator segment 37 is contacted by the brush 21 and energy disposal brush 59. In Figure 17f the commutator segment 37 is contacted only by-the energy dis posal brush 59. In Figures 17b, 17<i, and 17f, the commu¬ tator segment 36 is energized negative, then positive, th negative; if these energizations were not separated by th non-energized intervals shown in Figures 17c and ' 17e, it might be possible to short-circuit between brushes 20 and 21, but the brushes 20, 21, 59, and 67 configurations do not allow short-circuiting between brushes 20 and 21. Figure 17a is the same as Figure 17f except the com mutator segments and commutator are all shifted to the le by one armature winding pitch. By inference then, co mu- tator segment 37 in Figure 17f can be considered to be in the position occupied by commutator segment 36 in Figure 17a, and thus the subsequent voltages applied to commutat segment 37 can be deduced. Several methods are described for providing the stator magnetomotive force by using different stator wind ing connections and permanent magnets. The stator windin connections described are: (1) series, (2) split series, (3) series for energy recovery, (4) shunt, (5)compound long-shunt, (6) compound short-shunt, (7) compound long- OMP WIP shunt for energy recovery, (8) compound short-shunt for energy recovery, (9) reversible split series, (10) split compound long-shunt, (11) split compound short-shunt. The Figures 1 and 15 show the series connection. Figures 18, 19, and 20 are representations of shunt- field, long-shunt compound field, and short-shunt compound field electrical machines in accordance with the present invention and using the same assumptions and simplifica¬ tions as stated for Figure 1, plus the further simplifi- cations for drawing purposes from Figure 1 of showing only one of five of the stator windings, one of six of the armature windings, the associated commutator segments and brushes, and the stator magnetic yoke means 1, the stator magnetic poles means 2 and 3 » and magnetic armature means 28. The series connections of multiple overlapping stator windings means with the armature windings means through the armature windings electrical connections means are made by sequentially connecting multiple overlapping stator windings means ends of a first winding polarity to individual brushes of the first brushes group means in the placement sequence of the multiple overlapping stator wind¬ ings means between the stator poles, connecting multiple overlapping stator windings means ends of a second winding polarity to the electrical connections means first terminal 27i and connecting all brushes of the second brushes group means to the electrical connections means second terminal 26. The series connections of single stator windings with the armature windings means through the armature windings electrical connections means are made by connecting the single stator winding means end of the first winding polar¬ ity to all brushes of the first brushes group means which are in the same stator pole pair repeatable section as the stator pole encircled by said single stator winding and connecting the single stator winding means end of a second winding polarity to the first terminal of the electrical energy connecting means and connecting all brushes of the second brushes group means and the second terminal of the O.MPI electrical energy-connections means. The split series connections of multiple stator win ings with the armature windings means through the armatur windings electrical connections means can be made when th multiple stator windings means are comprised of windings with first and second portions. The split series connec¬ tions are made by sequentially connecting first portion multiple overlapping stator windings means ends of a firs winding polarity to individual brushes of the first brush group means in the placement sequence of multiple over¬ lapping stator windings means between stator poles and connecting first portion multiple overlapping stator wind ings means ends of a second winding polarity to the posi- tive terminal of the electrical energy connections means and connecting in the same sequence the second portion multiple overlapping stator windings means ends of the second winding polarity to individual brushes of the seco brushes group means in the same placement sequence and co necting the second portion multiple overlapping stator windings means ends of the first winding polarity to the negative terminal of the electrical energy connections means. The split series connections of single stator wind¬ ings with the armature windings means through the armatur windings electrical connections means are made by having each single stator winding means comprised of windings wi first and second portions. The split series connections are made by connecting the first portion single stator winding means ends of a first winding polarity to all the brushes of the first brushes group means which are in the same stator pole pair repeatable section as the stator po encircled by said single stator winding means and connect ing the first portion single stator winding means end of second winding polarity to the positive terminal of the electrical energy connections means, and connecting the second portion single stator winding means end of the second winding polarity to all the brushes of the second brushes group means which are in the same stator pole repeatable section as the stator pole encircled by said ' single stator winding means and connecting the second portion single stator winding means end of the first wind¬ ing polarity to the negative terminal of the electrical energy connections means. The series connections of multiple stator windings means and single stator winding means for energy recovery from the interrupted armature windings means requires that the stator windings be connected between a particular polarity electrical energy connection terminal and a particular brush group means to fulfill the requirements of energy recovery stated above. These are called series connections for energy recovery. The shunt connections of multiple overlapping stator windings means and single stator winding means around the armature windings means are made by connecting the multiple overlapping stator windings means ends or single stator winding means ends of a first winding polarity to the first terminal of the electrical energy connections means, and connecting the multiple overlapping stator windings means ends or single stator winding means ends of a second wind¬ ing polarity to the second terminal of the electrical energy connections means; connections must also be made between the armature windings electrical connections means and the first and second terminals of the electrical energy connections means. The compound long-shunt connections of multiple over¬ lapping stator windings means with the armature windings electrical connections means can be made when the multiple stator windings means are comprised of windings with first and second portions. The compound long-shunt connections of multiple overlapping stator windings means are made by sequentially connecting first portion multiple overlapping stator windings means ends of a first winding polarity to individual brushes of the first brushes group means in the same sequence which sequence is the placement sequence of multiple overlapping stator windings means between stator poles and connecting the first portion multiple overlapping stator windings means ends of a second winding polarity to the positive terminal of the electrical energy connections means and connecting the second portion multiple overlap¬ ping stator windings means ends of the second winding polarity to the positive terminal of the electrical energ connections means and connecting second portion multiple overlapping stator windings means ends of the first windi polarity to the negative terminal of the electrical energ connections means and connecting between the individual brushes of the second brushes group means and the negativ terminal of the electrical energy connections means and connecting between the individual brushes of the second brushes group means and the negative terminal of the elec trical energy connections means. The compound short-shunt connections of multiple overlapping stator windings means with the armature wind- ings electrical connections means can be made when the multiple stator windings means are comprised of windings with first and second portions, The compound short-shunt connections are made by sequentially connecting first por tion multiple overlapping stator windings means ends of a first winding polarity and the same sequence connecting second portion multiple overlapping windings means ends o a second winding polarity to individual brushes of the . first brushes group means in the same sequence which sequence is the placement sequence of multiple overlappin stator winding means between stator poles and connecting second portion multiple overlapping stator windings means ends of the first winding polarity to the negative termin of the electrical energy connections means and connecting between the individual brushes of the second brushes grou means and the negative terminal of the electrical energy connections means and connecting the first portion multip overlapping stator windings means ends of the second wind ing,polarity to the positive terminal of the electrical energy connections means. -P-h compound long-shunt connections of single stato winding means with the armature windings electrical con¬ nections means can be made when the single stator winding means are comprised of windings with first and second portions. The compound long-shunt connections of single stator winding means are made by connecting the first por¬ tion single stator winding means end of a first winding polarity to all the brushes of the first brushes group means which are in the same stator pole pair repeatable section as the stator pole encircled by said single stator winding and connecting the first and second portions sing¬ le stator winding means ends of a second winding polarity to the positive terminal of the electrical energy connect¬ ions means and connecting the second portion single stator winding means end of the first winding polarity to the negative terminal of the electrical energy connections means and connecting between all the second brushes group means brushes and the negative terminal of the electrical energy connections means. The compound short-shunt connections of single stator winding means with the armature windings electrical connec¬ tions means can be made when the single stator winding means are comprised of windings with first and second por¬ tions. The compound short-shunt connections of single stator winding means are made by connecting the first por- ' tion single stator winding means end of a first winding polarity to all the brushes of the first brushes group means which are in the same stator pole pair repeatable section as the stator pole encircled by said single stator, winding and connecting the first portion single stator winding means end of a second winding polarity to the positive terminal of the electrical energy connections means and connecting the second portion single stator winding means end of the second winding polarity to all the brushes of the first brushes group means which are in the same stator pole pair repeatable section as the stator pole encircled by said single stator winding and connect¬ ing all the brushes of the second brushes group means and the negative terminal of the electrical energy connections means. The compound connections of multiple stator windings means and single stator winding means for energy recovery from the interrupted armature windings means requires that the first portion stator windings means be connected be- tween a particular polarity electrical energy connection terminal and a particular brush group means to fulfill th requirements of energy recovery stated above. These are called compound connections for energy recovery, and the connections can be compound long-shunt or compound short- shunt. The split compound connections of the multiple wind¬ ings electrical machines are similar to the split series connections with the addition of a third portion stator windings means, which third portion means are connected i the long-shunt connection between terminals of the elect¬ rical energy connections means and connected, in the short shunt connection between the first brushes group means brushes and the second brushes group means brushes. Figure 21 is a representation of a reversible, serie field electrical motor in accordance with the present inv ention and the Figure 1 assumptions and simplifications, plus the further simplifications for drawing purposes fro Figure 1 of showing only one of five of the stator wind- ings which is made in two portions, one of six of the arm ature windings, the associated commutator segments and brushes, the stator magnetic yoke means 1, stator housing means 4, stator magnetic poles means 2 and 3 » magnetic armature means 28, mechanical energy coupling means 55j and electrical energy connections means 26 and 27- The single pole double throw switch 75 controls the direction of motor armature torque or force generation by connect¬ ing terminal 27 to stator winding end 6 or stator winding end 6' . The reversible series connections of multiple stator windings with the armature windings means through the arm ature windings electrical connections means can be made when the multiple stator windings means are comprised of windings with first and second portions and the multiple stator windings energization means includes a single pole double throw switch means with three terminals: common, position 1, and position 2 and the following connections. The reversible series connections are made by connecting between the common terminal of the single pole double OM - throw switch means and the positive terminal of the elect¬ rical energy connections means and connecting the first portion multiple overlapping stator windings means ends of a first winding polarity to the position 1 terminal of the single pole double throw switch means and connecting the second portion multiple overlapping stator windings means ends of a second winding polarity to the position 2 term¬ inal of the single pole double throw switch means and connecting in sequence the first portion multiple overlap- ping stator windings means ends of the second winding pol¬ arity and the second portion multiple overlapping stator windings means ends of the first winding polarity and ind¬ ividual brushes of the first brushes group means in the same sequence which sequence is the placement sequence of multiple overlapping stator windings means between stator poles and connecting between all the brushes of the second brushes group means and the negative terminal of the elect¬ rical energy connections means. The reversible series connections of single stator winding means with the armature windings means through the armature windings electrical connections means can be made when the single stator winding means are comprised of win¬ dings with first and second portions and the single stator winding energization means includes a single pole double throw switch means with three terminals: common, position 1, and position 2 and the following connections. The rev¬ ersible series connections are made by connecting between the common terminal of the single pole double throw switch means and the positive terminal of the electrical energy connections means and connecting the first portion single stator winding means ends of a first winding polarity to the position 1 terminal of the single pole double throw switch means and connecting the second portion single stator winding means ends of a second winding polarity to " the position 2 terminal of the single pole double throw switch means and connecting the first portion single stator winding means ends of the second winding polarity and the second portion single stator winding means ends of the first winding polarity to all the brushes of the first brushes group means which are in the same stator pole ^: p.airJT /# ' * IPO O4 rυ ro NJl vπ o o V 1 o both as to its details and as to the organization of such details may be made without, departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, the split series, compound short-shunt connections may be varied by connecting the third portion stator windings means between one brushes group brushes means and the most remote electrical energy connections means terminal. Accordingly, it is intended that the foregoing disclosure and the showings made in the drawings will be considered only as illustrative of the principles of the invention and not construed in a limiting sense.

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS (Received by the Intemational Bureau on 3 November 1980 (03.11.80) (Amended) 1. An improved multiple windings electrical machine for converting between electrical and mechanical energy wherein said machine comprises an armature adapted for movement within the machine, a stator disposed adjacent the armature, said stator comprising a stator yoke and an integral number of pole pairs coupled to said stator yoke, the poles arranged in a side-by-side fashion, the poles energized such that adjacent poles provide magnetic flux of opposite polarity, the pole pairs being located adjacent the armature defining thereby an air gap therebetween, a plurality of open circuit armature windings disposed along the armature, a commutator located on the armature comprising a plurality of segments arranged in pairs, each segment of a pair coupled to a corresponding open end of a respective one ' ~of the open circuit armature windings, a plurality of brushes arranged in. pairs, a first brush group containing one or more brushes, a second brush group containing one or more brushes , each brush in the first brush group having a corresponding brush in the second brush group to form a brush pair, each brush of a pair for contacting a respective segment of said commutator segment pair as the armature moves relative to the stator, and wherein, during said movement of the armature, certain ones of said commutator segments come out of contact with said brushes whereby respective ones of the open circuit armature windings become electrically isolated from said brushes, electrical terminal means coupled to said machine and adapted for receiving electrical energy for the machine and for delivering electrical energy from the machine, said machine including means for causing electrical current to flow in respective ones of the open circuit armature windings whose respective commutator segments come in.contact with said brushes and wherein said current flow in other ones of the open circuit armature windings is interrupted as their respective commutator segments move out of contact with said brushes and producing thereby an induced voltage between commutator segments connected to said interrupted open circuit armature windings, the improvement comprising: a plurality of energy disposal Brushes comprising an integral number of energy disposal brush pairs, a disposal brush of a pair located between adjacent groups of brushes and adapted for contacting a commutator segment simultaneously with one of said brushes of a group for at least a portion of the movement of the segment as said segment moves between said adjacent groups of brushes, the other disposal brush of a pair adapted for contacting the other segment of the respective commutator segment pair, and a bridge circuit coupled between said energy disposal brushes and the electrical terminal means, said bridge comprising a plurality of diodes arranged to be back- biased during such time that a brush in a group and a disposal brush are in common contact with a commutator segment, said bridge being forward-biased due to the induced voltage produced as said brush in the group and said disposal brush comes out of common contact with such commutator segment and whereby energy contained in the interrupted ones of open circuit armature windings is thereby recovered and delivered to the electrical terminal means. , WI k - £ (Amended) 2. The improved machine of claim 1 wherein the brushes in each group are coupled together and are arranged in sequence between first and second group ends, and wherein a corresponding brush pair define the first ends of corresponding groups and wherein the brush at the first end of the first group is advanced in position relative to the brush at the first end of the second group whereby as the armature moves the current flow in .the armature windings coupled to such brush pair is first interrupted at the brush at the first end of the first group. (Amended) 3. The improved machine of claim 2 wherein each energy disposal brush comprises first and second disposal brushes arranged in spaced-apart relation whereby the first disposal brush is adapted for contacting a first commutator segment simultaneously witH the brush at the first end of the first group for at least a portion of the movement of the first commutator segment as such segment moves between adjacent groups of brushes and whereby the second disposal brush is adapted for contacting a second commutator segment simultaneously with the brush at the second end of the second group for at least a portion of the movement of the second commutator segment as such segment moves between adjacent groups of brushes. (Amended) 4. The improved machine of claim 3 comprising a plurality of bridge circuits coupled between said first and second disposal brushes and the source of electrical energy, each bridge comprising a plurality of diodes arranged so that respective bridge diodes are back-biased during such time that the first energy disposal brush and the brush at the first end of the first group are in common contact with the first commutator segment and during such time that the second energy disposal brush and the brush at the second end of the second group are in common contact with a second commutator segment, said respective bridges being forward-biased due to the induced voltage produced as the current flow in the corresponding armature windings is interrupted whereby energy contained in the interrupted ones of open circuit armature windings is thereby recovered and delivered to the electrical terminal means. (Amended) 5. The improved machine of claim 1 wherein said electrical terminal means includes positive and negative terminals, the improved machine further comprising: a plurality of pole energizing stator windings arranged in an integral number of stator winding pairs; a first stator winding of a pair coupled between a brush and the positive terminal and the second stator winding of such stator winding pair coupled between the other brush of a brush pair and the negative terminal whereby a portion of the energy contained in the interrupted ones of the open circuit armature windings is delivered to at least one of the first and second stator windings for aiding energization of said poles. (Amended) 6. The improved machine of claim 5 wherein each energy disposal brush comprises first and second disposal brushes arranged in spaced-apart relation whereby the first disposal brush is adapted for contacting a first commutator segment simultaneously with the brush at the first end of the first group for at least a portion of the movement of the first commutator segment as such segment moves between adjacent groups of brushes and whereby the second disposal brush is adapted for contacting a second commutator segment simultaneously with the brush at the second end of the second group for at least a portion of the movement of the second commutator segment as such segment moves between adjacent groups of brushes. (Amended) 7. The improved machine of claim 2 comprising a plurality of stator windings coupled between respective brushes in the first group of brushes and only one terminal of the electrical terminal means. (Amended) 8. The improved machine of claim 7 wherein each energy disposal brush comprises first and second disposal brushes arranged in spaced apart relation whereby the first disposal brush is adapted for contacting a first commutator segment simultaneously with the brush at the first end of the first group for at least a portion of the movement of the first ■ commutator segment as such segment moves between adjacent groups of brushes and whereby the second disposal brush is adapted for contacting a second commutator segment simultaneously with the brush at the second end of the second group for at least a . portion of the movement of the second commutator segment as such segment moves between adjacent groups of brushes. Claims 9 to 267 cancelled.

Inventors: WILSON J
Applicants: WILSON J
Application year: 1980
Main classification: H02K3
IPC codes: H02K13, H02K23