An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator when receiving a stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator. A controller is configured to send the stator current through the stator at a current angle measured from the closest one of a pole of the rotor, determine a desired operational output of the electric machine, and determine a desired rotor motion corresponding to the desired operational output of the electric machine. The controller is further configured to calculate a vector control modulation applied to the stator that elicits the desired rotor motion, and adjust the current angle of the stator current based on the vector control modulation to cause the rotor to perform the desired rotor motion and achieve the desired operational output of the electric machine.

An electric machine includes a stator defining multiple stator poles with associated stator windings configured to receive a stator current. The electric machine also includes a rotor defining multiple fixed rotor poles with associated rotor windings, wherein the rotor defines a field energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator windings when receiving the stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator and wherein the rotor is maintained in synchronicity with the magnetic fields produced by the stator during operation of the electric machine. The electric machine also includes a rectification system configured control against an alternating current being induced in the rotor poles as the field is energized by magnetic fields produced by the stator windings when receiving the stator current.

An electric machine includes a stator defining multiple stator poles with associated stator windings configured to receive a stator current. The electric machine also includes a rotor defining multiple fixed rotor poles with associated rotor windings, wherein the rotor defines a field energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator windings when receiving the stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator and wherein the rotor is maintained in synchronicity with the magnetic fields produced by the stator during operation of the electric machine. The electric machine also includes a rectification system configured control against an alternating current being induced in the rotor poles as the field is energized by magnetic fields produced by the stator windings when receiving the stator current.

A hybrid electrical machine containing surface mounted magnets which includes a magnetically permeable cylindrically shaped stator assembly having at least one stator winding formed about a plurality of stator teeth, a rotor assembly concentrically disposed within the stator assembly, including a magnetically permeable rotor backiron, a rotational drive mechanism coupled to the rotor backiron, and a plurality of protruding rotor poles, each including a magnetically permeable pole support assembly, a winding provided around the pole support assembly, and a radially magnetized permanent magnet assembly disposed about the pole support assembly.

A generator includes a stator that has permanent magnets that complete a magnetic circuit across a series of gaps and through a generator coil. The rotor also includes permanent magnets that complete a magnetic circuit across a gap and through a rotor coil. When the rotor poles align with the stator poles, the stator and rotor magnetic circuits are broken, and new magnetic circuits are completed between the stator and rotor permanent magnets that cross the gap between the stator and rotor poles. A rotor coil can be used to boost the attraction/repulsion between to rotor and stator magnets. Alternating between these magnetic circuits as the prime mover rotates the rotor generates electricity.

An electric motor assembly includes a rotor assembly includes a magnet coupled to a rotatable member and a stator assembly including a conductor winding configured to be actuated to cause the rotor to rotate based on an amount of magnetic flux in the rotor assembly. The assembly also includes a controllable magnetic device coupled to the rotatable member and configured to rotate with the rotatable member and a controller assembly configured to apply electric current to the controllable magnetic device to adjust the magnetic flux in the rotor assembly.

An actuator assembly includes an electric motor including a rotor assembly and a stator assembly configured to be actuated to cause the rotor assembly to rotate based on an amount of magnetic flux in the rotor assembly is disclosed. The assembly also includes a controllable magnetic device coupled to the rotor assembly, an actuator coupled to the rotor assembly; and a controller configured to apply electric current to the controllable magnetic device to adjust an amount of torque provided by the electric motor by adjusting the magnetic flux in the rotor assembly.

A rotor includes a rotor core formed by laminating steel sheets, first and second plate members respectively arranged on first and second axial sides of the rotor core, first short-circuiting pins held by the first plate member and having been inserted in respective pin-receiving holes of the rotor core from the first axial side, and second short-circuiting pins held by the second plate member and having been inserted in respective pin-receiving holes of the rotor core from the second axial side. One of the first short-circuiting pins and one of the second short-circuiting pins respectively function as first and second positioning pins. For at least one of first and second positioning pin-receiving holes in which the first and second positioning pins are respectively received, each of the steel sheets forming the rotor core has a chamfered or curved corner around the positioning pin-receiving hole on a positioning pin insertion side.

An electric machine includes a rotor having a magnetic field generating device for generating a magnetic flux. A flux changing apparatus of the electric machine includes an axially displaceable body that is disposed axially outside the magnetic field generating device for changing a magnetic flux within a gap between the rotor and a stator in dependence upon an axial position of the body relative to the rotor. The flux changing apparatus includes an adjusting device for axially adjusting the axial position of the body relative to the rotor. The adjusting device includes an actuator and an adjusting element. The actuator acts on the body via the adjusting element. The adjusting element engages the body and/or the actuator in such a manner that a rotational movement of the body can be decoupled from the adjusting element, a housing of the electric machine, the rotor and/or the actuator.

Embodiments of the invention provide a starter that includes a motor with an armature that is coupled to a pinion. In some embodiments, the starter can include a main field coil that can be configured and arranged to produce a main magnetic field flux. Some embodiments include at least one auxiliary flux assembly arranged in close proximity with the main field coil and electrically disconnected from it. In some embodiments, a control system can operatively power the main field coil to produce a magnetic field flux. In some embodiments, the at least one auxiliary flux assembly can provide a supplementary field flux adding to the main magnetic field flux that interacts with the armature.