Patent ID: 10069385

Abstract:
We describe a method of manufacturing a housing for the stator of an axial flux permanent magnet machine, in particular a Yokeless and Segmented Armature motor, the machine having a stator comprising a set of coils wound on respective stator bars and disposed circumferentially at intervals about an axis of the machine, and a rotor bearing a set of permanent magnets and mounted for rotation about said axis, and wherein said rotor and stator are spaced apart along said axis to define a gap therebetween in which magnetic flux in the machine is generally in an axial direction. The method comprises: fabricating a radial wall for said stator housing to be located in said gap between said rotor and said stator by: providing a membrane of fibre-reinforced polymer material; pressing a set of said stator bars into said membrane of fibre-reinforced polymer whilst said polymer is mouldable, wherein said reinforcement inhibits said stator bars from pushing through said membrane; solidifying said polymer to hold said set of stator bars in their respective positions; and manufacturing said housing using said radial wall.