A controller of a drive system is configured to, when a power switch is changed from an on state to an off state in a situation in which it has been diagnosed that an abnormality is occurring in a motor generator, execute a starting check process of checking a drive circuit and an engine starting process of starting an engine. The starting check process includes a voltage reduction process of driving a DC-DC converter until a capacitor voltage becomes lower than or equal to a prescribed voltage. The controller is configured to, on condition that the controller determines through a voltage reduction determination process that the capacitor voltage is reduced as compared to the capacitor voltage at an end of the voltage reduction process, execute the engine starting process.

A magnetically de-coupled, separately controlled, electric machine assembly including a radial and one or more axial electric machines, each with rotors mechanically coupled to and arranged to directly drive a single shaft. Each of the electric machines are independently, but cooperatively, controlled by an inverter unit that includes one or more inverters. The axial and radial electric machines are contained in a single housing.

A step of inserting an insulating paper into a slot of a stator core (second step) is performed, a step of placing a jig at a position that is on a side opposite to a side from which a segment coil is inserted into the slot of the stator core and that overlaps with a protrusion when viewed in an inserting direction of the segment coil (third step) is performed, and then a step of inserting the segment coil into the slot (fourth step) is performed. Therefore, even when the insulating paper is dragged by the segment coil in the process of inserting the segment coil into the slot, the insulating paper abuts the jig and the movement of the insulating paper is restricted, thereby suppressing displacement of the insulating paper from the slot.

The rotating electrical machine includes a rotor that has a rotor core, a key portion formed protruding in a radial direction from an inner peripheral face of the rotor core, a stress relaxing groove, which is provided at both ends of the key portion and is formed recessed farther to a radial direction outer side than the inner peripheral face of the rotor core, and a multiple of balancing holes provided one each between each pair of a multiple of magnetic poles of the rotor core, wherein lengths from a center of the rotor core to a center of each of the multiple of balancing holes are such that a length of a first straight line that passes through a center of the key portion is less than a length of an nth straight line that intersects with the first straight line vertically.

In a method for operating an electric vehicle, including a first energy storage device (e.g., a rechargeable battery storage device), a second energy storage device (e.g., a double-layer capacitor device), an energy supply unit which provides energy, for charging the first and/or second energy storage device, and a first electrical consumer connected to the second energy storage device via an intermediate circuit, the first energy storage device is connected to the energy supply unit via a bidirectional converter unit, the second energy storage device is connected to the energy supply unit, a first power flows from the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device if an intermediate circuit voltage falls below a definable voltage, and a second power flow from the second to the first energy storage device is prevented.

The bus bar includes the motor connection member electrically connected to the coil provided in the motor, and the terminal member that is formed of a separate member from the motor connection member and is electrically connected to the external terminal. The motor connection member includes the body portion electrically connected to the coil, and the bent portion that is bent at the first end portion of the body portion in a direction intersecting with the body portion. The terminal member is connected to the bent portion.

An object of this invention is to efficiently warm up a catalyst and keep its temperature. Provided is a drive system, including: an internal combustion engine; a catalytic unit configured to purify an exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine; a motor used for at least one of drive or regeneration; and a flow path formed so as to allow an oil-based medium for lubricating the motor to flow in the vicinity of the catalytic unit. The oil-based medium is heated in the motor and exchanges heat in the catalytic unit to heat the catalytic unit.

Modified magnetic levitation system for flying vehicle Modified magnetic levitation system for flying vehicle includes a propeller system (11, 12, 13), an axial levitation system (101, 102), radial levitation system (part of 201), rotary propulsion system (part of 201) and passive magnetic bearing system (301). An axial levitation system includes plurality of halbach array pairs connected on rotor and special short circuited coil windings connected on stator. A propulsion mechanism (part of 201) is provided for rotating rotor along the centre axis. Radial levitation and propulsion system (201) includes halbach arrays (53) located at outer circumference of rotor and interweaved active and passive coil windings (43) located at inner circumference of stator. Passive magnetic bearing system (301) includes parts of rotor and stator around centre axis of the system. Passive magnetic bearing (PMB) is utilized to levitate rotor at rest, below lift-off speed, and start and end condition of rotations.

A method for operating an electric vehicle has the steps of: determining if at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a speed of an electric motor of the vehicle is zero; in response to the at least one of the speed being zero, determining if a reverse actuator is actuated; in response to the reverse actuator being actuated, starting a timer, then determining if the reverse actuator has been actuated without interruption for a predetermined amount of time; in response to the reverse actuator having been actuated without interruption for the predetermined amount of time, changing an operation mode of the electric motor from one of a forward mode and a reverse mode to another of the forward mode and the reverse mode. An electric snowmobile and other methods for operating an electric vehicle are disclosed.

The present invention provides a rare earth sintered magnet which contains R (R represents one or more rare earth elements essentially including Nd), T (T represents one or more iron group elements essentially including Fe), B, M.sup.1 (M.sup.1 represents one or more elements selected from among Al, Si, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Mo, Sn, W, Pb and Bi) and M.sup.2 (M.sup.2 represents one or more elements selected from among Ti, V, Zr, Nb, Hf and Ta), while comprising an R.sub.2T.sub.14B phase as the main phase. This rare earth sintered magnet is characterized in that: the M.sup.1 is in an amount of from 0.5% by atom to 2% by atom; if (R), (T), (M.sup.2) and (B) are the respective atomic percentages of the above-described R, T, M.sup.2 and B, the relational expression (1) ((T)/14)+(M.sup.2)≤(B)≤((R)/2)+((M.sup.2)/2) is satisfied; and from 0.1% by volume to 10% by volume of all grain boundary phases in the magnet is composed of an R.sub.6T.sub.13M.sup.1 phase. This rare earth sintered magnet is able to achieve excellent magnetic characteristics including a good balance between high Br and high H.sub.cJ.