Reluctance Motor with Virtual Rotor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016172928-A1
Application number	US-201414567079-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 11, 2014
Priority date	Dec 11, 2014
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and apparatus for operating a reluctance motor. The apparatus comprises a stator and a plate. The stator includes a plurality of electromagnetic coils having an overlapped configuration. Applying multi-phase current to the plurality of electromagnetic coils generates a magnetic field. The plate forms a virtual pole when a portion of the plate contacts the stator in response to the magnetic field. Rotating the magnetic field about a center axis through the stator rotates the virtual pole about the center axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a stator that includes a plurality of electromagnetic coils having an overlapped configuration, wherein applying multi-phase current to the plurality of electromagnetic coils generates a magnetic field; and a plate that forms a virtual pole when a portion of the plate contacts the stator in response to the magnetic field, wherein rotating the magnetic field about a center axis through the stator rotates the virtual pole about the center axis.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electromagnetic coils comprises:
a first coil; a second coil; and a third coil, wherein the overlapped configuration includes the first coil overlapping the second coil by about 120 degrees, the second coil overlapping the third coil by about 120 degrees, and the third coil overlapping the first coil by about 120 degrees.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electromagnetic coils comprises at least three electromagnetic coils.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each of the at least three electromagnetic coils is subtended over about 240 degrees with respect to a stator plane corresponding to the stator.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stator further comprises:
a core comprised of a ferromagnetic material.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the core and the plurality of electromagnetic coils form at least three pole pairs.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multi-phase current comprises three-phase current.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a housing, wherein the stator and the plate are located within the housing.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a fulcrum element having a curved end portion, wherein the plate is configured to tilt about the curved end portion.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises:
a first gear; and a second gear.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the stator comprises:
a stator housing; and a stator gear associated with the stator housing, wherein the first gear is configured to at least partially engage the first gear.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:
an output element; and
an output gear associated with the output element, wherein the second gear is configured to at least partially engage the output gear.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plate has a surface with a conical shape such that the virtual pole is formed by a line interface between the surface and the stator.

14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the virtual pole is formed by a line interface between the plate and the stator.

15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stator and the plate form a reluctance motor that produces a force that moves a drive element.

16 . A reluctance motor comprising:
a housing; a stator located in the housing and having at least three pole pairs; and a plate located in the housing and comprised at least partially of a magnetic material, wherein the plate forms a virtual pole when a portion of the plate interfaces with the stator and wherein rotating a magnetic field generated by the stator about a center axis through the stator torques the virtual pole.

17 . The reluctance motor of claim 16 further comprising:
a fulcrum element having a curved end portion that mates with a holding area of the plate, wherein the plate is tiltable about the curved end portion.

18 . A method for operating a reluctance motor, the method comprising:
applying multi-phase current to a plurality of electromagnetic coils of a stator of the reluctance motor to produce a magnetic field, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic coils have an overlapped configuration; and rotating the magnetic field about a center axis through the stator using the multi-phase current to torque a virtual pole formed by a plate positioned relative to the stator and tilted towards the stator in response to an axial force created by the magnetic field.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein applying the multi-phase current comprises:
applying a first phase current to a first coil; applying a second phase current to a second coil; and applying a third phase current to a third coil.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein rotating the magnetic field comprises:
adjusting at least one of the first phase current, the second phase current, or the third phase current.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Atmur Robert J

Classifications

• H02K1/146

  consisting of a generally annular yoke with salient poles · CPC title

• H02K19/10

  for multi-phase current · CPC title

• H02K41/065 Primary

  Nutating motors · CPC title

• H02K3/28

  Layout of windings or of connections between windings (windings for pole-changing H02K17/06, H02K17/14, H02K19/12, H02K19/32) · CPC title

• H02K7/116

  with gears · CPC title