Abstract:
A transverse flux machine has at least three phases, each provided by a stator core and phase windings. Each of the at least three phases is captured within a common housing. Parallel lines extend from the at least three phases, and a current source converter is created on each of the parallel lines by inductors, a switching network, and communicating capacitors, which are received within the common housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application relates to a transverse flux machine, which may operate as a motor or a generator, and wherein a solid state current source power converter is incorporated into a compact package. 
         [0002]    Transverse flux machines are known, and essentially are a multi-pole electrical machine. The stator consists of a single cylindrical coil for phase, with salient ferromagnetic poles. The rotor consists of permanent magnets. In a transverse flux machine, an electromagnetic force vector between the rotor and stator is perpendicular to the plane of magnetic flux lines. In standard flux machines, the electromagnetic force vector is parallel to the plane of the magnetic flux line. The transverse flux machine has a number of benefits over such standard machines, as are known. 
         [0003]    Typically, a transverse flux machine has been provided with an inverter that is voltage sourced, and provided by a large capacitor. Packaging for a machine using a voltage source inverter would prove challenging. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A transverse flux machine has at least three phases each provided by a stator core and phase windings. Each of the at least three phases is captured within a common housing. Parallel lines extend from the at least three phases, and a current source converter is provided and received within the common housing. 
         [0005]    These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic of a first embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows an electrical schematic power module. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows the  FIG. 1  schematic reconfigured in view of the  FIG. 2  module. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view through a  FIG. 2  module. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows one phase of a machine. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows three phases of a machine. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7A  shows a construction of one of the phases. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7B  shows an outer view of the  FIG. 7A  embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7C  is a cross-sectional view through the  FIG. 7A  embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  shows a fully assembled machine. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  shows a second embodiment schematic. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  shows an electrical schematic of a module as incorporated into the  FIG. 9  embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  shows the  FIG. 9  schematic redrawn utilizing the module of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0019]    A schematic for a transverse flux motor drive  20  for a transverse flux machine  24  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . A DC power source  22  is connected to parallel lines  23 , each passing through an inductor  26 . The inductors  26 , a switching network having solid state switches  28 , diodes  29 , and commutating capacitors  32 , together form a current source converter. The switching network including solid state switches  28 , diodes  29 , and Wye-connected capacitors  32  provide a power module. The solid state switches  28  may be transistors. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows the combination made as a single power module  40  which can be utilized to create the circuit of the transverse flux motor drive  20 . Motor windings  34  are positioned downstream of the module  40 , and are operable to drive a rotor  46 , shown schematically in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows the circuitry of transverse flux machine drive  20  reconfigured utilizing  6  of the modules  40  of  FIG. 2 , with three modules (identified as  41 ) providing a lower leg and the modules  40  providing an upper leg. 
         [0022]    The modules  40 ,  41  allow for convenient packaging as will be explained below. As shown in  FIG. 4 , each of the modules  40  (or  41 ) may include a plastic outer housing  42 , silicone gel or thermoplastic insulating resin  44 , a bonding wire  146  connecting each switch  28  to each diode  29 . Notably, the switch  28  may be a silicon carbide bipolar junction transistor (SiCBJT), SiCMOSFET, or SiCJFET. The diode  29  may be a silicon carbide Schottky diode. The module  40  may also incorporate aluminum silicon carbide baseplate  200 , Al N insulating substrate  202 , and AlSiC pads  204 . Notably, embodiments of modules  40  or  41  can extend to any number of other type components and materials. The above are given as examples only. Output lines  45  extend from each module and are connected as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows the integration of a single phase of a transverse flux machine  24  to incorporate the power modules  40  and  41 , where the transverse flux machine  24  may be driven by transverse flux machine drive  20  of  FIGS. 1 and 3 . As shown, the modules  40  and  41  are placed circumferentially between adjacent stator core pole pieces  50 . Stator coil  52  is positioned to extend as a cylindrical coil between all of the stator core pole pieces  50 . 
         [0024]    An inductor  26  can be seen to be positioned into the plane of the page of this paper. The rotor  46  has a plurality of permanent magnets  48 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , three such combined phases can be placed to form three phases  60 ,  61 , and  62 . The inductors  26  are positioned between the phases  60 ,  61 , and  62 . The cylindrical spacer  64  secures the inductor  26  in the housing. In this manner, not only can the power modules  40  and  41  be packaged within the overall envelope of the housing, but so can the relatively large inductors  26 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 7A  shows a single one of the phases  60  having the core pole piece  50  surrounded by a nonferromagnetic disk  70 . The nonferromagnetic disks  70  are used to keep all stator cores  50  and coils  52  together. An outer housing outline  72  is also shown. As can be appreciated from  FIG. 7B , the modules  40  and  41  will be positioned within this same housing.  FIG. 7C  shows the location of the stator coil  52  as provided by a ring-shaped coil. 
         [0027]      FIG. 8  shows the overall assembly. As shown, an outer housing shell  80  which may be cylindrical in shape surrounds the three phases  60 ,  61 , and  62 , the intermediate captured inductors  26  and spacers  64 . Bell housings  82  provide two end housing plates to secure all of the components together in a housing provided by shell  80  and end plates  82 . While the power modules  40  and  41  are not illustrated in this cross-section, it should be understood that they would be spaced into the plane of the paper, and as previously disclosed. 
         [0028]    The machine as described to this point would be operable as a motor. However, similar machines can be provided which can operate as a generator. The arrangement of the switches  28  and diodes  29  in the power module  40 ,  41  must be changed such that they now look like those shown in  FIG. 9 . A driven rotor  115  is driven by a prime mover to rotate adjacent to the generator windings  114 . The generator windings  114  generate current which is passed back upstream to a load  102 . A housing  104 , inductors  106 , switches  110 , and diodes  108 , along with capacitors  112  are provided as an earlier embodiment. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , the power module  116  is reconfigured such that the arrangement of the switch  110  and diode  108  is changed from the earlier embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 . Similarly, the circuit  100  in  FIG. 11  which incorporates the modules  116  look somewhat different than that in the earlier embodiment of  FIG. 3 . As in  FIG. 3 , the circuit  100  of  FIG. 11  includes three modules (identified as  118 ) providing a lower leg and the modules  116  providing an upper leg. However, for packaging purposes, the power modules  116  and  118  and the inductors  106  can be packaged as within the earlier embodiment. 
         [0030]    A worker of ordinary skill in the art would recognize how to connect the various components as set forth in the housing diagram figures of  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  8 , for example. The schematics of  FIG. 1 ,  3 ,  9  or  11  will teach all that is needed to this worker to properly connect the various components in the arrangement as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  8 . 
         [0031]    Although embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.