Patent ID: 7642684

Claim:
A nested permanent magnet drive system comprising: a central element comprising: an annular body extending from a first end to a second end, the annular body comprising: a central bore having a central axis; a jog positioned between the first end and the second end; a first armature portion extending from the first end to the jog; and a second armature portion extending from the jog to the second end and displaced axially from the first armature portion by the jog; a first outward facing magnetic drive element connected to the first armature portion to form a first stator; and a first inward facing magnetic drive element connected to the second armature portion to form a second stator; wherein the jog positions the first armature portion radially inward of the second armature portion such that the first outward facing magnetic drive element co-axially aligns with the second armature portion, and the first inward facing magnetic drive element co-axially aligns with the first armature portion; a first rotor comprising: a cylindrical body extending across the first armature portion, the jog and the second armature portion of the annular body to concentrically surround the annular body; a second inward facing magnetic drive element connected to an inner surface of the cylindrical rotor body and for electromagnetically interacting with the first outward facing magnetic drive element; and a first actuator for axially displacing the second inward facing magnetic drive element so as to be positioned, at least partially, between the cylindrical body and the second armature portion of the central element; and a second rotor comprising: a shaft extending through the central bore and extending across the first armature portion, the jog and the second armature portion; a second outward facing magnetic drive element connected to an outer surface of the shaft and for electromagnetically interacting with the first inward facing magnetic drive element; and a second actuator for axially displacing the second outward facing magnetic drive element so as to be positioned, at least partially, between the shaft and the first armature portion of the central element.