Patent Number: 054406005
Section: claims

1. A stator core comprising a plurality of elements laminated together in a circumferential array, each of said elements being arranged between a pair of adjacent elements and having first and second planar radial surfaces which lie in respective radial planes intersecting a centerline axis of said stator core, said first planar radial surface of each one of said elements being in contact and opposing said first planar radial surface of an adjacent one of said elements, and said second planar radial surface of each one of said elements being in contact and opposing said second planar radial surface of an adjacent one of said elements, said first and second planar radial surfaces being disposed at an acute angle relative to each other, each of said elements having a key-shaped profile with a generally square back and an elongated shank, said square back being radially inward of said elongated shank, each of said elements further comprising: 2. A core according to claim 6 wherein: said perimeter extends completely around said element along both said inner and outer edges; and  adjacent ones of said elements are disposed in back-to-back pairs with each pair being in abutting contact completely around said perimeter thereof, and next adjacent elements being in abutting contact completely along said elevations thereof. 3. A core according to claim 2 wherein each of said elements is a sheet metal component having a depression, said depression forming said central recess on said first side and said central elevation on said second side. 4. A stator core comprising a plurality of elements laminated together in a circumferential array, each of said elements being sandwiched between a pair of adjacent elements and having first and second planar radial surfaces which lie in respective radial planes intersecting a centerline axis of said stator core, said first planar radial surface of each one of said elements being in contact and opposing said second planar radial surface of an adjacent one of said elements, said first and second planar radial surfaces being disposed at an acute angle relative to each other, each of said elements being a solid wedge with no gaps in the volume between said first and second planar radial surfaces. 5. The stator core as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said elements has a radially inner edge and a radially outer edge, said radially inner edges forming an radially inner bore of said stator core and said radially outer edges forming a radially outer circumference of said stator core. 6. The stator core as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said elements has a key-shaped profile with a generally square back and an elongated shank, said square back being radially inward of said elongated shank. 7. The stator core as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said elements is a plate having a tapered thickness, said thickness increasing linearly in a radial direction. 8. The stator core as defined in claim 7, wherein each of said plates is made of iron. 9. The stator core as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said elements is a plate of constant thickness with a depression formed therein, said first planar radial surface comprising a planar surface on the perimeter of a recess formed on one side of said respective element by said depression and said second planar radial surface comprising a planar surface on a projection formed on the other side of said respective element by said depression. 10. A linear flow electromagnetic induction pump comprising an inner stator and an outer stator for impelling liquid metal through an annular flow channel therebetween, each of said inner and outer stators comprising a multiplicity of alternately stacked stator cores and stator coils, wherein each stator core of said inner stator comprises a plurality of elements laminated together in a circumferential array, each of said elements being sandwiched between a pair of adjacent elements and having first and second planar radial surfaces which lie in respective radial planes intersecting a centerline axis of said stator core, said first planar radial surface of each one of said elements being in contact and opposing said second planar radial surface of an adjacent one of said elements, said first and second planar radial surfaces being disposed at an acute angle relative to each other. 11. The linear flow electromagnetic induction pump as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said elements has a radially inner edge and a radially outer edge, said radially inner edges forming an radially inner bore of said stator core and said radially outer edges forming a radially outer circumference of said stator core. 12. The linear flow electromagnetic induction pump as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said elements has a key-shaped profile with a generally square back and an elongated shank, said square back being radially inward of said elongated shank. 13. The linear flow electromagnetic induction pump as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said elements is a plate having a tapered thickness, said thickness increasing linearly in a radial direction. 14. The linear flow electromagnetic induction pump as defined in claim 13, wherein each of said plates is made of iron. 15. The linear flow electromagnetic induction pump as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said elements is a plate of constant thickness with a depression formed therein, said first planar radial surface comprising a planar surface on the perimeter of a recess formed on one side of said respective element by said depression and said second planar radial surface comprising a planar surface on a projection formed on the other side of said respective element by said depression.