Electric Machine

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an electric machine comprising a first part having one or more coils, wherein each coil is wound around a respective virtual axis that lies in a plane. The electric machine also comprises a second part including one or more pairs of spaced magnetic elements. Of each pair, the magnetic elements are mounted in fixed relation to each other and are mounted symmetrically on either side of the plane and face each other with like poles. The second part is arranged to move relative to the first part in a movement direction parallel to the plane. Each virtual axis is generally parallel to the movement direction. Further, each pair is configured to produce a time-varying magnetic flux through each coil when the pair of magnetic elements in question passes by the coil in question. For each pair of magnetic elements, a distance between the magnetic elements varies along the direction of the intended relative movement.