Various embodiments are described herein for switched reluctance machine configurations. In at least one embodiment, a switched reluctance machine configured according to the teachings herein comprises an axially extending shaft, an axially extending rotor mounted to the shaft, the rotor having a plurality of salient rotor poles, an axially extending stator disposed coaxially and concentrically with the rotor, the stator having a plurality of salient stator poles protruding radially from the stator towards the rotor poles, and a plurality of electrical coils wound about the stator poles to define a plurality of phases of the switched reluctance machine, where a number of rotor poles can be determined according to the following equation and at least one constraint condition:

[00001]$N_r=\frac{\mathrm{LCM}\left(N_s,N_r\right)}{2N_{\mathrm{ph}}}.$

Magnets are disposed between adjacent first claw portions and second claw portions so as to protrude toward a second end in an axial direction from tips of the first claw portions and so as to protrude toward a first end in the axial direction from tips of the second claw portions, magnet holding members include a base portion that covers a radially outer surface of the magnets, and the base portion includes a high magnetic resistance portion that is disposed in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction from the first claw portions toward the second claw portions and parallel to the radially outer surface of the magnets so as to cross a magnetic path from the first claw portions toward the second claw portions in a region between the adjacent first claw portions and second claw portions.

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 generator to generate electrical power from rotational motion and a method of making the generator. The generator includes a rotor including a plurality of magnetic poles; and a stator including a magnetic core comprising a body and teeth extending radially from the body and defining a plurality of slots therebetween. The stator also includes a first three-phase winding and a second three-phase winding, each of the first three-phase winding and the second three phase winding including first, second, and third phase windings comprised of coils individually wound around each of the teeth. At least two coils of each of the first, second, and third phase windings of the first three-phase winding and the second three phase winding are individually wound on teeth positioned next to each other.

A generator to generate electrical power from rotational motion and a method of making the generator. The generator includes a rotor including a plurality of magnetic poles; and a stator including a magnetic core comprising a body and teeth extending radially from the body and defining a plurality of slots therebetween. The stator also includes a first three-phase winding and a second three-phase winding, each of the first three-phase winding and the second three phase winding including first, second, and third phase windings comprised of coils individually wound around each of the teeth. At least two coils of each of the first, second, and third phase windings of the first three-phase winding and the second three phase winding are individually wound on teeth positioned next to each other.

An AC electric machine that includes a dual magnetic phase material ring is disclosed. The AC electric machine includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly positioned within the stator assembly and configured to rotate relative thereto, the rotor assembly comprising a rotor core including a stack of rotor laminations that collectively form the rotor core, the rotor core including a plurality of rotor poles separated by gaps therebetween. The AC electric machine also includes a dual magnetic phase material ring positioned about the stack of rotor laminations, the dual magnetic phase material ring comprising a first ring portion comprising a magnetic portion and a second ring portion comprising a non-magnetic portion.

According to an aspect of the disclosure herein, a generator is provided herein. The generator includes a rotor that further includes a plurality of slots. The generator also includes a three-phase winding configured to produce a first magnetic field and an excitation winding. The excitation winding is a material filling in the plurality of slots and produces a second magnetic field. In turn, a rotation of the generator induces alternating voltage in the stator three-phase winding and the stator excitation winding excites the magnetic flux in the rotor.

According to an aspect of the disclosure herein, a generator is provided herein. The generator includes a rotor that further includes a plurality of slots. The generator also includes a three-phase winding configured to produce a first magnetic field and an excitation winding. The excitation winding is a material filling in the plurality of slots and produces a second magnetic field. In turn, a rotation of the generator induces alternating voltage in the stator three-phase winding and the stator excitation winding excites the magnetic flux in the rotor.

A reluctance motor has salient teeth on both the stator and the rotor. The reluctance motor includes electrical coils that are usable to generate magnetic flux to drive rotation of the rotor. Concentrated coil windings are wound around each stator tooth. The electrical coils are arranged across all the stator teeth of the reluctance motor to enable the reluctance motor to be driven by alternating current. The electrical coils are arranged so that, when excited with alternating current, the number of magnetic half-poles is equal to the number of teeth on the rotor. The reluctance machine can operate using an inverter instead of an asymmetric bridge.