A brushless disk
DC motor that exhibits
high power density and light weight and is capable of power regeneration and reverse operation employs a flat circular non-
ferrous stator plate having a plurality of electromagnets mounted in a
ring pattern on an inner face thereof. Permanent magnets are mounted in equal numbers in inner and outer ring patterns on the outer and inner cylindrical surfaces, respectively, of a pair of steel rotors of different
diameter that rotate in concert. The
stator plate and the pair of rotors are axially aligned such that the inner and outer rings of permanent magnets rotate adjacent to and inside and outside, respectively, the ring of electromagnets. The electromagnets utilize tape-wound
amorphous metal cores to minimize eddy currents and
resultant iron losses and to permit the use of heavier gauge
copper windings to minimize resistive power losses. A greater number of poles in the form of permanent magnets can be accommodated, the number being limited only by the
diameter of the rotor, thus providing increased power and torque over prior art brushless DC motors having a limited number of poles. The present motor exhibits up to 200% more starting torque, thus eliminating the need for a gear box or
clutch in
electric vehicle applications.