An apparatus includes a first inverter circuit and a second inverter circuit. The first invertor circuit is configured to couple an alternator and a load device to deliver a driving signal from the alternator to the load device. The second invertor circuit is configured to couple the alternator to the load device to deliver a driving signal from the alternator to the load device and configured to couple a battery to the alternator to deliver a charging signal from the alternator the battery

A claw pole synchronous machine includes a housing and a rotor being rotatable relative to the housing and having a plurality of first claw poles circumferentially alternating with a plurality of second claw poles. The plurality of first claw poles are axially overlapping with the plurality of second claw poles. At least two DC excitation coils are fixed relative to the housing and configured to provide a magnetic field to the rotor. A stator is fixed to the housing.

A claw pole synchronous machine includes a housing and a rotor being rotatable relative to the housing and having a plurality of first claw poles circumferentially alternating with a plurality of second claw poles. The plurality of first claw poles are axially overlapping with the plurality of second claw poles. At least two DC excitation coils are fixed relative to the housing and configured to provide a magnetic field to the rotor. A stator is fixed to the housing.

A rotating electric machine comprises a field winding provided on a rotor iron core and a neutral ring supported independently of the field winding, wherein: the field winding and the neutral ring are electrically connected to each other through a connecting wire; the neutral ring is disposed spaced with respect to the rotor iron core; and the connecting wire absorbs the stress difference between the field winding and the neutral ring when a centrifugal stress is applied.

A rotating electric machine comprises a field winding provided on a rotor iron core and a neutral ring supported independently of the field winding, wherein: the field winding and the neutral ring are electrically connected to each other through a connecting wire; the neutral ring is disposed spaced with respect to the rotor iron core; and the connecting wire absorbs the stress difference between the field winding and the neutral ring when a centrifugal stress is applied.

A main field circuit of an electrical generator and associated system and method are disclosed. The main field circuit comprises a main field winding configured to conduct a main field current, and a counter-field winding arranged proximate to the main field winding. The main field circuit further comprises a switch element configured to selectively couple at least a portion of the main field current into the counter-field winding to reduce a magnitude of the main field current. Coupling at least a portion of the main field current into the counter-field winding may be performed responsive to one or predefined conditions, such as a predefined load fault condition and enabling a predefined field weakening operation.

A generator comprises a pair of coaxially aligned rotors including an inner rotor disposed within an outer rotor that combine to form a magnetic field and armature pair. First and second prime movers rotate the rotors in opposite relative directions such that electricity is produced from relative rotation of the magnetic field and armature. First and second flywheels are connected to or integral with the rotors to rotate therewith. Each flywheel has a magnetic circumference. One or more magnetic supports are arranged relative to the circumference to cause at least one vertically acting magnetic force to be exerted on the circumference to support the flywheel's weight. A pair of magnetic stabilisers are arranged on respective opposed lateral sides of each flywheel. The stabilisers cause opposed horizontally acting magnetic forces to be exerted on the flywheel's circumference to impede lateral movement of the flywheel to stabilise the flywheel.

A generator comprises a pair of coaxially aligned rotors including an inner rotor disposed within an outer rotor that combine to form a magnetic field and armature pair. First and second prime movers rotate the rotors in opposite relative directions such that electricity is produced from relative rotation of the magnetic field and armature. First and second flywheels are connected to or integral with the rotors to rotate therewith. Each flywheel has a magnetic circumference. One or more magnetic supports are arranged relative to the circumference to cause at least one vertically acting magnetic force to be exerted on the circumference to support the flywheel's weight. A pair of magnetic stabilisers are arranged on respective opposed lateral sides of each flywheel. The stabilisers cause opposed horizontally acting magnetic forces to be exerted on the flywheel's circumference to impede lateral movement of the flywheel to stabilise the flywheel.

A vehicle brushless alternator assembly that includes a claw pole rotor assembly having a pair of opposing pole pieces. The rotor defining an axis of rotation, each of the pole pieces having multiple circumferentially spaced pole fingers extending axially. The pole fingers of the rotor alternating between north and south magnetic polarities upon energization of a field coil. The assembly including a cylindrical stator including armature enveloping the magnetic claw poles, the stator arranged coaxially relative to the drive shaft. The field coil positioned relative to said rotor to generate magnetic flux and the field coil including a first field winding electrically connected with a second field winding by a switch such that: in a first operable configuration the switch operates to electrically connect the field windings in series during energization and in a second operable configuration the switch operates to electrically connect the field windings in parallel during energization.

An externally excited electric synchronous machine may include a machine rotor, a machine stator, and a signal transmission device for contactless transmission of an operating signal corresponding to a DC voltage to the machine stator. The machine rotor may include a rotor shaft and a machine rotor coil. The machine rotor coil may be supplied with DC voltage and may provide a magnetic rotor field. The machine stator may include a machine stator coil that is fixed relative to the machine stator. The machine stator coil may provide a magnetic stator field, which may interact with the magnetic rotor field such that the machine rotor rotates. The signal transmission device may include (i) on the machine rotor, a signal coil connected in series with the machine rotor coil and (ii) on the machine stator, a magnetic field sensor that detects a magnetic field provided via the signal coil.