A variable-reluctance stator system for use with a radial-flux rotor of a permanent-magnet generator incorporates radially-oriented stator teeth uniformly circumferentially distributed around a central axis, and at least one moveable magnetically-permeable element in magnetic communication with at least one pair of adjacent stator teeth. Radially-inboard edges of the stator teeth are located outside a cylindrical boundary centered about the central axis and configured to receive the radial-flux rotor. Each moveable magnetically-permeable element is axially positionable relative to the stator teeth along an associated positioning axis substantially parallel to the central axis, so as to provide for linking magnetic flux between the pair of adjacent stator teeth via the moveable magnetically-permeable element. A series magnetic reluctance of the pair of adjacent stator teeth in series with the moveable magnetically-permeable element is responsive to an axial position of the moveable magnetically-permeable element relative to the pair of adjacent stator teeth.

A motor includes a number of individual electric coils arranged in the shape of a toroid around a ferromagnetic core, and configured so that, upon the application of electric current through the plurality of individual coils, the stator generates a rotating magnetic field within the ferromagnetic core. The motor also includes a magnetic rotor having a number of individual magnets positioned on the rotor such that adjacent magnets alternate in magnetic orientation, and are configured to direct magnetic flux lines through the stator. Further, the motor includes a controller configured for controlling the distribution of electric current to said plurality of individual electric coils. A generator may be similarly constructed, where the rotor is mechanically rotated to induce an electric current through the individual electric coils.

An electric power supply system configured to supply electric power to an electrical load device in accordance with a current requirement. The electric power supply system includes an engine configured to output rotational power, a generator configured to receive the rotational power and to supply a current to the electrical load device. The generator includes a rotor, and a stator including a winding and a stator core with the winding wound thereon, a magnetic circuit for the winding passing through the stator core, and a supply current adjustment device configured to adjust magnetic resistance of the magnetic circuit for the winding, to thereby change an inductance of the winding to adjust the supplied current. The electric power supply system further includes a control device configured to control the engine to adjust the output rotational power and to control the supply current adjustment device to adjust the inductance of the winding.

A vehicle includes a vehicle body, an electromotive driving unit mounted on the vehicle body, an engine operable with a liquid fuel, a generator that generates electric power, and a control device including a power generation control unit and an electric power output unit. The power generation control unit outputs a signal for controlling the engine and the generator, the electric power output unit outputting electric power generated by the generator to the electromotive driving unit. The control device in combination with the engine and the generator constitutes a physically integrated unit that is mountable to and dismountable from the vehicle body. The control device is configured to output a store visit promotion signal to an informing device while the physically integrated unit is mounted on the vehicle body, to prompt a visit to a store where the physically integrated unit is replaceable.

A permanent magnet motor includes a rotor configured to rotate about a stator axis and having N pairs of permanent bar magnets each arranged therein and in a V-angle configuration defining a V-angle (?) therebetween and corresponding to one of N rotor poles, wherein N is greater than one. An adjustment system is configured to adjust the V-angle between each pair of the N pairs of permanent bar magnets between at least a first V-angle (?.sub.1) and a different second V-angle (?.sub.2). A controller is configured to control the permanent magnet motor and the adjustment system to (i) mitigate noise, vibration, and/or harshness (NVH) of the permanent magnet motor and (ii) improve efficiency of the permanent magnet motor at high speed operating regions or improve torque of the permanent magnet motor at low speed operating regions.

A vehicle including an engine, a generator, a motor, a driving member and a control device. The generator includes a rotor, a stator having a stator core with a winding wound thereon, and an inductance adjustment device that changes an inductance of the winding by changing magnetic resistance of a magnetic circuit for the winding that passes through the stator core. The current adjustment device adjusts a current outputted from the generator to the motor, which drives the driving member. The control device, upon receiving a request for increasing the current to be supplied to the motor, directs the inductance adjustment device to adjust the generator to operate in a state in which the inductance of the winding is low, directs the engine to increase a rotation speed thereof to increase the rotational power, and directs the current adjustment device to increase the output current of the generator.

A permanent magnet electric machine includes a rotor including a plurality permanent magnets arranged around a central shaft and supported in an outer member and a stator surrounding the rotor and arranged to allow the rotor to turn within in inner diameter of it. The rotor includes one or more flux control elements disposed within the output member and moveably attached to the central shaft that move from an initial position when the rotor is rotating at a first rate and to a second position closer to the permanent magnets when the rotor is operating at a second rate, greater than the first rate.

A permanent magnet electric machine (PM machine) includes a rotor with rotatable magnets and a stator defining an air gap with the rotor. An actuator rotates the rotatable magnets at predetermined operating points through an angular distance sufficient for changing magnetic pole orientations of the rotatable magnets, and thus modifies magnetic flux linkage with stator windings across the air gap. Fixed magnets may be arranged around a circumference of the rotor. The actuator may be actively or passively driven. Flux-shunting elements are optionally disposed in the rotor to further modify the flux linkage. A gear set connected to torque transfer elements may be driven by the actuator to rotate the rotatable magnets. A vehicle includes drive wheels, a transmission, and the PM machine. A method controls magnetic flux linkage in the PM machine noted above.

A permanent magnet electric machine (PM machine) for a vehicle or other system includes a rotor assembly, fixed permanent magnets, a stator, an actuator, and one or more repositionable/moveable flux-shunting elements. The flux-shunting element is repositioned to control flux at specific operating points of the PM machine. The rotor assembly has a rotor coaxially surrounding and coupled to a rotor shaft. The permanent magnets are mounted to or in the rotor, and the moveable flux-shunting element is positioned between the rotor shaft and a respective one of the permanent magnets. Inboard and outboard ends of each respective permanent magnet may be oriented toward the rotor shaft and stator, respectively. The actuator selectively positions the moveable flux-shunting element at one or more operating points of the PM machine to vary reluctance in a magnetic circuit formed by the stator and rotor assembly.

A permanent magnet motor is provided that produces variable magnetic flux. The motor may include two different types of permanent magnets with different coercivities. The magnetic state of one of the magnets may be altered during use. In one state, the effective magnetic flux of the motor is greater, and in another state, the effective magnetic flux of the motor is less.