Variable reluctance electric motor

摘要

A variable reluctance electric motor includes a stator having a plurality of axially extending inner teeth and a rotor assembly rotatably supported therein. The rotor assembly includes a shaft having a plurality of rotor pole sub-assemblies provided thereon. Each of the rotor pole sub-assemblies includes a hub secured to the shaft, a pair of annular rotor packs secured to the ends of the hub, and an electromagnetic coil disposed loosely about the hub between the two rotor packs. Each of the rotor packs has a plurality of axially extending outer teeth formed thereabout which are disposed adjacent to the inner stator teeth. The rotor pack teeth of each of the rotor pole sub-assemblies are angularly offset from one another, preferably by equal amounts. The electromagnetic coils are engaged by the stator such that the rotor assembly is free to rotate relative thereto. The electromagnetic coils are sequentially energized and de-energized so as to create sequential magnetic circuits between each of the rotor pole sub-assemblies and the stator. These magnetic circuits sequentially cause the angularly offset teeth of the rotor packs to be attracted to the teeth of the stator, resulting in rotation of the rotor assembly relative to the stator.