Patent ID: 7960888

Claim:
A variable speed and torque axial flux electric motor comprising: a rotor having a plurality of magnets mounted thereto about an axis; a stator axially adjacent said rotor having a plurality of slots defined therein, the slots defining raised teeth, the slots further wound with electrical wiring to generate a magnetic field when the wiring is energized with current; and a field weakening device comprising a highly magnetically permeable material and a comparatively lower magnetically permeable material, the device disposed axially between the rotor and the stator and is selectively adjustable about said axis between a first position to axially align the highly magnetically permeable material between the teeth of the stator and the magnets of the rotor for high-torque low-speed operation, and a second position to axially align the comparatively lower magnetically permeable material between the teeth of the stator and the magnets of the rotor for low-torque high-speed operation.