Patent ID: 8330316

Claim:
A rotor-stator structure for an electrodynamic machine comprising: a stator assembly comprising: field pole members arranged about an axis of rotation and including pole faces at the ends of the field pole members, the field pole members comprising: a first subset of the pole faces disposed within a boundary of a first conically-shaped space having an apex disposed on the axis of rotation, and a second subset of the pole faces disposed within a boundary of a second conically-shaped space having an apex disposed on the axis of rotation, the first conically-shaped space oriented to enclose the apex of the second conically-shaped space and the second conically-shaped space oriented to enclose the apex of the first conically-shaped space; a first rotor assembly comprising: a first interior region in which the first subset of the pole faces are disposed, the first interior region having surfaces external to the boundary of the first conically-shaped space; a first subset of magnetically permeable structures positioned radially about the axis of rotation, each of the magnetically permeable structures comprising: a first subset of confronting surfaces oriented at an non-orthogonal angle to the axis of rotation to form air gaps with the first subset of the pole faces, and a first subset of non-confronting surfaces; a first subset of magnets interleaved circumferentially with the first subset of the magnetically permeable structures; a first subset of boost magnets disposed adjacent the first subset of non-confronting surfaces; and a first flux conductor shield disposed adjacent to the first subset of boost magnets, the first flux conductor shield configured to provide a first subset of return flux paths; and a second rotor assembly comprising: a second interior region in which the second subset of the pole faces are disposed, the second interior region having surfaces external to the boundary of the second conically-shaped space; a second subset of magnetically permeable structures positioned radially about the axis of rotation, each of the magnetically permeable structures comprising: a second subset of confronting surfaces oriented at the non-orthogonal angle to the axis of rotation to form air gaps with the second subset of the pole faces, and a second subset of non-confronting surfaces; and a second subset of magnets interleaved circumferentially with the second subset of the magnetically permeable structures; a second subset of boost magnets disposed adjacent the second subset of non-confronting surfaces; and a second flux conductor shield disposed adjacent to the second subset of boost magnets, the second flux conductor shield configured to provide a second subset of return flux paths.