Patent ID: 8040012

Claim:
An alternating current machine of the type which generates electricity or is driven by an electric current, comprising: a stator positioned about a first axis; and a rotor positioned to turn about the axis of rotation with respect to the stator, the stator including a plurality of coil rows with each coil row in the plurality centered about the first axis in a sequence, each coil row in the plurality comprising a conductive coil formed with a continuous series of turns spiraling about the first axis, wherein: the stator comprises at least first, second and third sets of the coil rows positioned about the axis in a concentric-like configuration, each set including at least a first pair of the conductive coils wired in series, with first and second members of the first pair configured to generate axial fields in opposite directions, wherein the first member of the first pair of coils is positioned a first distance from the first axis and the second member of the first pair of coils is positioned a second distance from the first axis and wherein for each first pair of coils one member coil is positioned a different distance from the first axis than the other member coil in the same pair and the coils of the first, second and third sets are arranged in a sequence with respect to the first axis such that a first member of the pair of the second set of coils is positioned between the first and second members of the pair of the first set of coils so that the distance between the first axis and the first coil of the second pair of coils is intermediate the first and second distances.