Homopolar motor-generators

1. A homopolar motor-generator comprising:

a core assembly includes a motor-generator stator with a plurality of stator rings arranged about a central axis;

a field coil interposed between adjacent stator rings encircles the central axis;

armature coils interengage aligned peripheral slots of the stator rings and do not encircle the central axis;

a motor-generator rotor including a plurality of rotor segments, each rotor segment supported by a non-magnetic support and extending toward the central axis; and,

the rotor includes plural rotor segments arranged along its length and plural rotor segments arranged circumferentially;

wherein each rotor segment provides a staggered magnetic path for completing a magnetic circuit interconnecting adjacent stator rings.

2. The homopolar motor-generator of claim 1 wherein

stacks of lamellae form each rotor segment;

first and second rotor segment pole portions are joined by a rotor segment central portion;

a central portion side that faces the stator exposes lamellae edges that are about perpendicular to the rotor axis;

a first pole portion side that faces the stator exposes lamellae edges that are about parallel to the rotor axis; and,

a second pole portion side that faces the stator exposes lamellae edges that are about parallel to the rotor axis.

3. The homopolar motor-generator of claim 1 wherein

stacks of lamellae form each rotor segment;

first and second rotor segment pole portions are joined by a rotor segment central portion; and,

complete rotor poles are formed by adjacent pole portions of rotor segment pairs.

4. The Homopolar motor-generator of claim 1 wherein each rotor segment is supported by a cylindrical non-magnetic flywheel mass.

5. The homopolar motor-generator of claim 1 wherein each rotor segment has a substantially constant radial thickness.

6. The homopolar motor-generator of claim 1 wherein given a first rotor segment, no second rotor segment is joined thereto by a magnetic material back iron.

7. The homopolar motor-generator of claim 1 wherein

stacks of lamellae form each rotor segment;

first and second rotor segment pole portions are joined by a rotor segment central portion;

a central portion side that faces the rotor exposes lamellae edges that are about perpendicular to the rotor axis;

a first pole portion side that faces the rotor exposes lamellae edges that are about parallel to the rotor axis; and,

a second pole portion side that faces the rotor exposes lamellae edges that are about parallel to the rotor axis.

8. A homopolar motor-generator method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality “Z” shaped rotor segments;

locating a multi-ring stator within a cylinder like assembly of the rotor segments; and,

completing a staggered magnetic path between adjacent stator rings with the rotor segments.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of assembling each rotor segment using a stack of lamellae.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of forming the “Z” shape by bending the lamellae.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein there are three or more stator rings and the magnetic path completions utilize a plurality of longitudinally located rotor segments and a plurality of circumferentially located rotor segments.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein there are four or more stator rings and the rotor segments are arranged to form a plurality of longitudinally located openings and a plurality of circumferentially located openings.

13. The method claim 8 wherein the rotor segments are arranged to frame openings which separate circumferentially adjacent rotor poles.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein a complete rotor pole is formed by pole portions of adjacent rotor segments.

15. The homopolar motor-generator method of claim 8 further comprising the step of avoiding a magnetic material back iron linkage between plural rotor segments.

16. The homopolar motor-generator method of claim 8 further comprising the step of supporting each rotor segment using a cylindrical non-magnetic flywheel mass.

17. The homopolar motor-generator method of claim 8 further comprising the step of fabricating the rotor segments such that each rotor segment has a substantially constant radial thickness.

18. A homopolar motor-generator comprising:

a core assembly includes a motor-generator stator with a plurality of stator rings arranged about a central axis;

a field coil interposed between adjacent stator rings encircles the central axis;

armature coils interengage aligned peripheral slots of the stator rings and do not encircle the central axis;

a motor-generator rotor in the form of an elongated cylinder encircles and is coaxial with the stator; and,

the rotor includes plural rotor segments arranged along its length and plural rotor segments arranged circumferentially;

wherein each rotor segment provides a staggered magnetic path for completing a magnetic circuit interconnecting adjacent stator rings.