Foil coil structures and methods for winding the same for axial-based electrodynamic machines

Abstract

Disclosed are foil coil structures and methods for winding the same for stators in electrodynamic machines, as well as electrodynamic machines that implement such coil structures. In one embodiment, a foil coil structure is configured for implementation with a field pole member having pole faces that confront, for example, conical magnets.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A stator for electrodynamic machines comprising:
 a coil structure configured to generate ampere-turn (“AT”) flux, the coil structure comprising:
 a foil conductor including:
 an offset portion of the foil conductor configured to offset portions of the foil conductor; and 
 
   a field pole member having multiple regions at which the portions of the foil conductor are disposed on the field pole member, the field pole member comprising:
 a first region and a second region, a first portion of the foil conductor disposed at the first region and a second portion of the foil conductor at the second region, the offset portion of the foil conductor coupling the first portion of the foil conductor to the second portion of the foil conductor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The stator of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a subset of field pole members comprising two field pole members that include the field pole member and another field pole member that are coupled together. 
 
     
     
         3 . The stator of  claim 2  wherein the first portion of the foil conductor is configured to couple the two field pole member together, the first portion of the foil conductor comprising:
 a monolithic foil conductor. 
 
     
     
         4 . The stator of  claim 1  wherein the second portion of the foil conductor comprises:
 a foil-based lead. 
 
     
     
         5 . The stator of  claim 1  wherein the foil conductor comprises:
 a monolithic foil conductor having a variable width. 
 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A stator for electrodynamic machines comprising:
 a plurality of subsets of field pole members configured to use multiple coil regions, the subsets of the field pole members constituting phases; and   a plurality of foil conductors arranged in interleaved patterns, at least one subset of the plurality of foil conductors being configured to pass though an exterior region of the stator, and further configured to couple at least one subset of the field pole members to at least two of the multiple coil regions.   
     
     
         17 . The stator of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of the foil conductors include portions of the foil conductors configured to couple field pole members together, at least two of the portions of the foil conductors having different lengths. 
     
     
         18 . The stator of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of the foil conductors comprises:
 a plurality of transitions regions, at least one of which is disposed substantially between field pole members. 
 
     
     
         19 . A stator for electrodynamic machines comprising:
 a field pole member including coil regions; and   a foil conductor comprising:
 foil conductor portions, at least two of which are wound about the field pole member at two or more of the coil regions, and 
 an offset portion of the foil conductor configured to offset a first portion of the foil conductor from a second portion of the foil conductor. 
   
     
     
         20 . The stator of  claim 19  wherein the field pole member further including pole faces, the field pole member configured to provide a substantially straight flux path between the pole faces. 
     
     
         21 . The stator of  claim 19  wherein the first portion of the foil conductor is configured to couple to another field pole member. 
     
     
         22 . A rotor-stator structure for electrodynamic machines comprising:
 a rotor comprising conical magnets; and   a stator comprising:
 conductors including:
 a first conductor passing through an exterior boundary region of the stator, 
 a second conductor passing through an interior region of the stator, and 
 offset portions configured to offset portions of the conductors; and 
 
   field pole members having pole faces configured to confront the surfaces of the conical magnets, the field pole members having multiple regions at which to wind portions of the conductors.   
     
     
         23 . The stator of  claim 22  wherein the conductors comprise:
 planar conductors including leads with a plurality of folded portions that are fold upon each other.