Electric motor

Abstract

An electric motor comprising a rotor and a stator is disclosed. The rotor is supported on a substantially spherical bearing and is of a substantially spherical design facing the stator, which has a high degree of efficiency. The stator may have a magnetic return-path body which is made of a compressed powder material. The return-path body may be of a substantially spherical design, at least in segments facing the rotor.

1 . An electric motor comprising: 
 a rotor; and    a stator;    wherein the rotor is supported on a substantially spherical bearing and is of a substantially spherical design facing the stator;    wherein the stator has a magnetic return-path body made of a compressed powder material; and    wherein at least segments of the return-path body facing the rotor are of a substantially spherical design facing the rotor.    
   
   
       2 . The electric motor according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the return-path body is a compact body or comprises compact return-path body elements.    
   
   
       3 . The electric motor according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the return-path body is composed of a plurality of return-path body elements.    
   
   
       4 . The electric motor according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 adjacent return-path body elements are connected via a plug connection.    
   
   
       5 . The electric motor according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the return-path body comprises a plurality of segments each having a substantially spherical surface facing the stator.    
   
   
       6 . The electric motor according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 adjacent segments are magnetically separated.    
   
   
       7 . The electric motor according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 a gap is provided between adjacent segments.    
   
   
       8 . The electric motor according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 segments are connected to one another via a return-path area.    
   
   
       9 . The electric motor according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the return-path body surrounds the rotor in a ring shape.    
   
   
       10 . The electric motor according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the powder material comprises iron granules electrically insulated relative to one another.    
   
   
       11 . The electric motor according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the return-path body has at least one coil receiving portion.    
   
   
       12 . The electric motor according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the coil receiving portion is provided with an electric insulation and/or an accommodated coil is provided with an electric insulation towards the coil receiving portion.    
   
   
       13 . The electric motor according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the at least one coil receiving portion is arranged and designed such that accommodated coils do not project beyond a spherical area of the return-path body in the direction of the rotor.    
   
   
       14 . The electric motor according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 an air gap formed between the rotor and a spherical area of the return-path body is free from coils.    
   
   
       15 . The electric motor according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the return-path body has a plurality of recesses as coil receiving portions or for the formation of coil receiving portions.    
   
   
       16 . The electric motor according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 a recess having an area facing the rotor is set back in relation to the spherical surface of the return-path body.    
   
   
       17 . The electric motor according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 a coil is wound onto a coil receiving portion.    
   
   
       18 . A circulation pump comprising: 
 an electric motor, comprising: 
 a rotor; and  
 a stator;  
 wherein the rotor is supported on a spherical bearing and is of a spherical design facing the stator;  
 wherein the stator has a magnetic return-path body made of a compressed powder material; and  
 wherein the return-path body is of a spherical design facing the rotor, at least in segments facing the rotor.  
   
   
   
       19 . Circulation pump according to  claim 18 , wherein: 
 a partition wall is arranged in an air gap between rotor and return-path body.    
   
   
       20 . Circulation pump according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the air gap is dimensioned such that the rotor is not essentially braked by friction in the area between partition wall and rotor.