A drive system in the form of a torque motor, comprising a stator (1), a rotor (3) and exciter coils (2) on the stator and permanent magnets (4) on the rotor (3), the magnets being located radially opposite one another across an air gap such that electrical excitation of the exciter coils (2) creates magnetic fields extending across the gap and rotating the rotor (3) relative to the stator (1), characterized in that, with the drive system arranged/oriented for normal operation and with the rotor (3) located on the inside, a lower half of the stator (1) has a smaller number of exciter coils than an upper half and, with the stator (1) located on the inside, the upper half of the stator (1) has a smaller number of exciter coils than the upper half.

Systems, methods, and apparatus related to a homing mechanism within a drive mechanism of a lacing engine for an automated footwear platform are described. In an example, the homing apparatus can include an indexing wheel, a plurality of Geneva teeth and a stop tooth. The plurality of Geneva teeth can be distributed around a portion of a perimeter of the indexing wheel. Each Geneva tooth of the plurality of Geneva teeth can include side profiles conforming to a first side profile that generates a first force when engaged by an index tooth on a portion of the drive mechanism. The stop tooth can be located along the perimeter of the indexing wheel between two Geneva teeth. Additionally, the stop tooth can include side profiles conforming to a second side profile that generates a second force when engaged by the index tooth.

A brushless motor includes a rotor and a stator having four slots into which electrical coils are placed. The stator may include a means for limiting cogging. The brushless motor having a high torque constant, low coil resistance, low coil inductance, and high thermal conductivity is provided.

A drive system for a high torque mechanical load includes a power supply, a controller, and a high torque electric motor. The electric motor includes a rotor that is oriented eccentrically relative to a stator. In one form, the electric motor has a crankshaft that transmit the torque to the mechanical load. In other variations, the electric motor includes at least two electric motor lobes with opposite stroke positions to provide a smoother output at higher speeds. During operation, the rotor is magnetically attracted to the energized electromagnet. With the rotor attracted to the electromagnet in the stator, the rotor contacts or comes in close proximity to the stator at a contact area. The close proximity between the rotor and stator at the contact area allows very large magnetic forces to be utilized to produce torque without increasing the size or weight of the electric motor.

A drive system for a high torque mechanical load includes a power supply, a controller, and a high torque electric motor. The electric motor includes a rotor that is oriented eccentrically relative to a stator. In one form, the electric motor has a crankshaft that transmit the torque to the mechanical load. In other variations, the electric motor includes at least two electric motor lobes with opposite stroke positions to provide a smoother output at higher speeds. During operation, the rotor is magnetically attracted to the energized electromagnet. With the rotor attracted to the electromagnet in the stator, the rotor contacts or comes in close proximity to the stator at a contact area. The close proximity between the rotor and stator at the contact area allows very large magnetic forces to be utilized to produce torque without increasing the size or weight of the electric motor.

An electrical machine (1) operating by switching of magnetic flux comprises a first magnetic structure (10), a second magnetic structure (20) and a winding (30). The first and second magnetic structures are arranged movable relative to each other along a predetermined motion path (4) and have respective sections (12,22) interleaved with each other via more than 4 air gaps. The first magnetic structure presents at each air gap a variable magnetic permeability. The second magnetic structure presents at each air gap a variable magnetic permeability and/or permanent magnet poles. Magnetic periodicities of the first and second magnetic structures are equal. For each of the air gaps, most of the magnetic flux passes at each instant in the same direction. The winding has a respective loop (32) provided either around respective section in the direction of the predetermined motion path, or along respective section along an entire closed predetermined motion path.

Geared motor including a brushless electric motor, a planetary reduction gear and an output shaft with a longitudinal axis, fixed in rotation to the planetary reduction gear, the electric motor including a stator, a rotor housed in a housing in the stator and surrounded by a lateral surface of the housing, at least two coils attached to the stator and facing a portion of an outer lateral surface of the rotor. The stator and the rotor define at least one first zone with a first air gap and one second zone with a second air gap between them, the first air gap being less than the second air gap, the first zone including the coils, such that the attraction force exerted by the stator on the rotor is lower in the second zone than in the first zone.

There is provided an apparatus comprising a torque motor comprising a spring, armature, flapper assembly (“SAFA”), a body, wherein the spring, armature, flapper assembly is mounted onto the body, and a cap enclosing the spring, armature, flapper assembly. One or more cooling passages are provided within the body and are configured to receive cooling air and direct the cooling air onto the spring, armature, flapper assembly of the torque motor.

There is provided an apparatus comprising a torque motor comprising a spring, armature, flapper assembly (“SAFA”), a body, wherein the spring, armature, flapper assembly is mounted onto the body, and a cap enclosing the spring, armature, flapper assembly. One or more cooling passages are provided within the body and are configured to receive cooling air and direct the cooling air onto the spring, armature, flapper assembly of the torque motor.

A hybrid spherical motor includes a first gear box, a second gear box, a yoke arm, a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor, a spherical stator, and a spherical armature. The split armature, in response to the spherical stator being energized, rotates about a first rotational axis, thereby causing the first gear box input connection and the second gear box input connection to rotate about the first rotational axis, and the yoke arm rotates about the first rotational axis in response to the first gear box input connection and the second gear box input connection being rotated about the first rotational axis, whereby the BLDC motor rotates about the first rotational axis.