The invention refers to a brushless motor.

Brushless motors have very broad uses. They use electromagnets with a two magnetic-pole rectilinear core, one of which facing permanent magnets, on which they emit a magnetic flux that determines the movement of the rotor, while the other is facing the statoric frame that contains them. The magnetic field, produced by a solenoid that surrounds the core, is proportional to the number of turns of the winding. These motor use only one magnetic pole to create the thrust and the attraction on the permanent magnets fixed to the rotor.

Clearly, a system that exploits the totality of the magnetic flux generated by the poles of the electromagnets would allow obtaining a higher efficiency with the same absorbed current.

The main object of the invention is to provide a new brushless motor.

Another object is to provide a brushless motor with a higher efficiency than known motors. Another object is to provide a brushless motor in which the magnetic energy produced by the employed electromagnets is completely used to create the driving force. Another object is to create a brushless motor with high power and torque. Another object is to produce a brushless motor consisting of a very compact rotor, with reduced longitudinal dimensions, with low weight and with the possibility of effectively cooling the statoric component during heavy-use situations, too. Another object is to provide a brushless motor which can be used as an electro-generator and/or efficient motor brake.

A brushless motor and its advantageous variants are defined in the annexed claims, i.e. a brushless stepper motor comprising:

a first and a second stator;

a rotor disc that

is rotatable about a rotation axis;

comprises two faces;

is interposed between the first and second stator, so that each face of the rotor is coplanar and skims the respective stator;

comprises a first circular series of permanent magnets

arranged at constant angular-step along a first circumference, e.g. embedded in the rotor disc's thickness, and permanent magnets having a parallelepiped shape with a longer longitudinal axis arranged along said circumference concentric to the rotation axis, and

with its own greater surfaces parallel to the respective faces of the disc; each permanent magnet being magnetized along said longitudinal axis;

wherein the permanent magnets of the series are arranged with constant angular-step;

wherein said angular step is subdivided into four identical angles, each called reference angle; and the polar expansions of each permanent magnet subtend an angle corresponding to the sum of three said reference angles and each permanent magnet is angularly spaced from the next permanent magnet of the series by one reference angle; and

wherein each stator comprises a first circular series of electromagnets, e.g. C- or U- shaped, that

- are arranged with same said angular step,

- have the same longitudinal dimensions as the permanent magnets,

- have longitudinal axis arranged along a circumference and with polar expansions facing towards, and skimming, the permanent magnets of the rotor disc;

wherein each polar expansion of the electromagnets subtends one said reference angle and the polar expansions are angularly spaced apart by one said reference angle, and are spaced with respect to the polar expansion of a next electromagnet by one said reference angle;

wherein, in a variant, the polar expansions of the electromagnets of one of the two stators are angularly offset around said rotation axis by one said reference angle with respect to the polar expansions of the electromagnets of the other stator, and

the rotation of the rotor takes place with angular steps corresponding to one said reference angle.

The motor executes in a complete round a number of angular steps corresponding to the number of electromagnets that make up a series multiplied by four, and

the mode of power supply and bias of the electromagnets allows, at the end of each step, an attractive alignment, between the poles of the permanent magnets and the poles of the electromagnets, of the linear type (S - N) if the lateral stators are alternately powered and biased or of oblique type (S / N / S) or (N / S / N) if the lateral stators are powered and biased at the same time.

An encoder mask, which may be of the transmissive type, is preferably made on the disc by practicing full- thickness openings in the disc so as to be passed-through by a light signal, emitted by a photo-emitter, received at the other side of the disc by a photo-detector, or of the reflective type in which the mask is printed or inlaid on a face of the disc and is detected by a photo-comparator applied inside one of the stators.

Said angular relative displacement transducers are able to establish at any moment the position of the disc and its permanent magnets with respect to the magnetic poles of the electromagnets.

The transitions of the digital signal coming out from the photo detector or from the photo-comparator can be processed by a suitable electronic circuit that provides a digital number proportional to the dark-light or light-dark transitions of the mask, and therefore proportional to the relative displacement between the source- receiver pair and the mask itself, and consequently can supply the electromagnets of the stators with the correct polarity.

In a variant, (one or more) further circular series of permanent magnets and electromagnets with the same angular step and corresponding radius are respectively incorporated into the rotor disc and applied to the lateral stators.

In a variant, the series of permanent magnets are applied on both opposite faces of the rotor disc. In a further variant, the motor consists of

a first lateral stator,

a first rotor disc,

a central stator comprising series of linear electromagnets, concentric to the circular series of the permanent magnets of said disc, arranged with angular step corresponding to the angular step of the poles of the electromagnets of the first stator,

a second rotor disc, and

a second lateral stator.

In a preferred variant of the motor, the rotor disc is constituted by the wheel rim of a bicycle or a motorcycle.

Features and advantages of the present invention are illustrated by the following description of some embodiments, illustrated with reference to the following figures:

- Figure 1 shows the perspective view of an embodiment of the motor and some of its components;

- Figures 2 to 9 represent schematic views of the motor operation;

- Figures 10 to 11 represent perspective views of an embodiment of the motor;

- Figure 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the rotor of the motor;

- Fig. 13 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the motor;

- Figures 14 to 18 represent schematic views of the operation of the motor;

- Figures 19 to 21 represent perspective views of embodiments of the motor;

- Figures 22 - 25 represent schematic views of the operation of the motor;

- Figure 26 is a perspective view of some embodiments of the motor;

- Fig. 27 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the motor;

- Fig. 28 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the motor;

- Fig. 29 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the motor;

- Fig. 30 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the motor.

In the following, equal numbers will indicate equal or similar parts; and the letters N and S will indicate North and South magnetic poles, respectively. To avoid crowded figures, sometimes some equal elements are not all indicated.

Figure 1 shows a simple embodiment of the motor in which at the top left is a permanent magnet 7 shaped like a parallelepiped characterized by a length G, a width W, a thickness that can vary, and with longitudinal axis X.

Immediately below is shown an electromagnet 2 with a winding 3 wound around the rectilinear segment 4 of a C-shaped core, from which two polar ends 5 extend orthogonally. The total distance measured between the two ends of the polar expansions (or ends) 5 and the width of each polar end 5 is preferably equal respectively to the length G and to the width W of the permanent magnet 7. Below, the core U of the electromagnet 2 is shown in isolation, where it can be seen that the core consists of a straight segment 4 from which the two polar ends 5 develop orthogonally. The core U is characterized by a C or U shape or a horseshoe shape. The straight segment 4 has longitudinal axis Z.

The two poles of the expansions 5 have a longitudinal width d1 and delimit a spacing d2 comprised between the inside part of the polar extensions 5.

In the right part of fig. 1 a perspective view is shown of an embodiment of the motor consisting of a rotor disc 1 , preferably made of compound carbon or non-magnetic metal, rotatable about a rotation axis Y.

The rotor disc 1 incorporates into its structure a series of permanent magnets 7M1 arranged on a circumference, concentric to the rotation axis Y, having radius R1 so as to form a circular series SM1 with constant angular step H.

Each permanent magnet 7M1 is placed equidistant from the Y axis, has the longitudinal axis X parallel to the tangent of a circumference with the center at the axis (and orthogonal to a radius of the rotor 1 ), with greater surfaces parallel to the two faces of the disc and a polar axis arranged along said longitudinal axis (i.e. parallel to a tangent to the aforesaid circumference).

The angular step H is subdivided into four equal angles h, here called reference angle.

Each permanent magnet subtends an angle given by the sum of three identical angles h having a vertex at the center of the rotor 1 (coinciding with the Y axis).

Each permanent magnet 7M1 is angularly spaced from an adjacent permanent magnet by an angle equal to said angle h.

The electromagnets 2 are mounted on two lateral stators (not shown in Fig. 1 ) and arranged to form two circular series SA1 for a left stator and SB1 for a right stator, for this called 2A1 and 2B1 , so as to assume a configuration in which each electromagnet 2A1 , 2B1 can interact with a permanent magnet 7M1.

Said circular series SA1, SA2 of electromagnets have same radius R1 of the circular series SM1 of permanent magnets.

The stators are mounted so that the rotor 1 is in the middle of them.

The distance (d1 + d2 + d1 ) relative to the electromagnets 2 is equal to the length G, i.e. the electromagnets 2 have longitudinal dimensions equal to the permanent magnets 7M1.

The angle subtended by each electromagnet 2 with vertex at the center of the stator subtends an angle equal to the sum of three identical angles h, similar to the permanent magnets 7M1 of the rotor 1. Each electromagnet 2 is angularly spaced from an adjacent one of the series by an angle equal to said angle h. Of the three angles h subtended by an electromagnet 2,

a first angle h is subtended by the longitudinal dimension d1 of one polar expansion 5 of an electromagnet,

a second angle h is subtended by the spacing d2 between the two polar expansions 5 and

a third angle h is subtended by the dimension d1 of the other polar expansion 5 of the same electromagnet.

A mask consisting of a circular series of synchronism openings, which constitute a transmissive encoder, is made near the edge of the rotor disc 1.

The first aperture 10a extends angularly by an angle h and has a width greater than the next ones.

The second 10b extends angularly by an angle h and has an intermediate width.

The third 10c extends angularly by an angle h and has a smaller width.

In the subsequent segment, still extending angularly by an angle h, there is no opening.

By defining as quatrains the succession of these areas, they constitute a circular series with a number of quatrains identical to that of the permanent magnets or electromagnets.

When the rotor disc 1 rotates around the Y axis, a fixed photo-emitter 8 (Fig. 2 and 3) emits a light that from time to time passes through the openings 10. On the opposite side of the rotor 1 is placed, in alignment with the photo-emitter 8, a photo-detector 9 which intercepts the light passed through the openings 10.

Based on the amount of received light, which is proportional to the size of the aperture, the photo-detector 9 transmits a corresponding electrical signal to an external control unit that controls the operation of the motor. In this way it is possible to identify the exact position of the rotor disc 1 with respect to the electromagnets 2. It is however possible to use other systems of angular indexing.

Figure 1 shows four electromagnets 2 whose polar expansions 5 are opposite to each other and adapted for skimming the rotor disc 1 : the electromagnets 2, included in a lateral stator 11 , placed on the left side of the rotor disc 1 are marked with 2A1 , and with 2B1 those positioned on the right with respect to said disc and included in a lateral stator 12. The series SA1 and SB1 of the electromagnets 2A1 and 2B1 lie on circumferences with same radius R1 as the circumference relative to the series SM1 of the permanent magnets 7M1. The longitudinal axis Z of the electromagnets is orthogonal to a radius passing through the rotation axis Y.

The electromagnets 2A1 are arranged so that their polar expansions are angularly and circularly offset by said angle h with respect to the polar expansions of the electromagnets 2B1.

Figure 2 schematically shows the operation of the motor with the four electromagnets 2A1 and 2B1 (seen from above), which skim the disc 1, angularly offset by the angle h from each other.

An external control unit (not shown) supplies and biases the electromagnets 2A1 by direct or pulsed current applied to the terminals TA, tA of the windings 3.

In the middle, between the electromagnets 2A1 , 2B1 , there is shown the rotor disc 1 grazing them and incorporating the permanent magnets 7M1 with dimension G corresponding to the dimension G of the electromagnets 2. The permanent magnets 7M1 are radially spaced apart from each other by said angle h corresponding to the angular offset angle h between the electromagnets 2.

In this example, the disc 1 houses twelve permanent magnets 7M1 and in figures 2 - 5 four thereof are represented. What has been explained here holds for every electromagnet 2A1 in the circular series SA1 up to a number of 12 used here as an example.

At the beginning of the cycle, the photo detector 9 receives, through the aperture 10a, a light signal emitted by the photo-emitter 8. The control unit is then informed about the position of the disc 1 , and supplies and biases the electromagnets of the series SA1 with polarity (- +). As a result, the electromagnets 2A1 develop magnetic poles which attract the opposite ones in the permanent magnets 7M1. The poles of the same sign repel and the rotor disc 1 , starting from the position shown on the left of figure 2, is forced to assume the position shown on the right of Figure 2, in which poles of the opposite sign are aligned because of the mutual attraction.

In this case, and in the following ones up to figure 5, a linear alignment N - S and S - N is obtained between the different magnetic poles.

In the right part of Figure 2 it is seen that the rotor disc 1 has performed an angular rotation s1 (called here step s1) which corresponds to the angle h.

Continuing in the cycle (Fig. 3), the control unit, known the angular position of the disc 1 through the opening 10b, suspends the power supply to the electromagnets 2A1 for powering and biasing (- +) the electromagnets 2B1 , whose magnetic poles determine the new position shown on the right in fig. 3 with the angular rotation s2 (or step s2) always corresponding to one angle h.

In the upper center of figure 2 - 3, Table 21 shows the polarizations of the terminals TA, tA, tB, TB of the two series SA1 and SB1 of the electromagnets.

Continuing the cycle (Fig. 4), the control unit suspends the power supply to the electromagnets of the series SB1 and at the same time biases (+ -) the electromagnets of the series 2A1 , to determine the new position shown on the right following the angular rotation s3 (or step s3). Finally, see Fig. 5, the control unit suspends the power supply to the electromagnets of the series 2A1 and at the same time it supplies and biases (+ -) the electromagnets of the series SB1, to determine the new position shown on the right resulting from the angular rotation s4 (or step s4).

After the aforementioned sequential bias of the electromagnets 2A1 -> 2B1 -> 2A1 -> 2B1, the disc 1 has permanent magnets 7M1 in the same initial positions as they were in Figure 2, and also a same opening 10 is aligned with the photo-emitter 8 and the photo-detector 9. The control unit can then generate another cycle of four bias 2A1 -> 2B1 -> 2A1 -> 2B1 with consequent rotation of further four increments (or steps) s1 , s2, s3, s4 of the disc 1 about the Y axis. By increasing the bias frequency, an increase of the rotation speed of the disc 1 results.

At the center and at the top in figure 4 - 5, table 21 shows that to get the rotation of the disc 1 by four steps, with a linear alignment of the poles, it is necessary to bias alternatively the series SA1 and SB1.

The motor behaves like a stepper motor, because the rotor disc 1 makes four steps per cycle, corresponding to four angles h, with respect to each permanent magnet 7M1. With a disc consisting of twelve permanent magnets, as in this case, a complete revolution is obtained with a sequence of forty-eight (48) steps resulting from forty-eight alternating polarizations.

Considering that to complete a full revolution a motor with twelve permanents magnets must perform forty-eight steps, at each step two magnetic poles of each electromagnet 2 activate, it is obtained that twenty- four (24) x twenty-four (24) poles are activated at each revolution of the series SA1 and as many of the series SB1 , and therefore there are activated ((24 x 24) + (24 x 24)) = 1.152, one thousand one hundred and fifty two magnetic poles per revolution.

Figure 6 shows a schematic view of the motor identical to that shown in figure 1 and described in figures 2 - 5 and for which the same constructive rules are respected.

In Figures 6 - 8 there is described the operation of this motor in different power supply modes; instead of alternatively powering the series SA1 and SB1 in this case are both supplied simultaneously with different bias.

In the right part of figure 6 we see how by power supplying at the same time the two series SA1 with (- +) and SB1 with (+ -) the point of stability of magnetic attraction between the poles is reached no longer with a linear alignment of the S-N type but rather obtained with an oblique alignment S / N / S or N / S / N between the poles of the electromagnets and those of the permanent magnets. Even in this case, the rotor disc makes an angular step s1 (step) corresponding to the angle h. The same occurs in the following steps s2, s3, s4 of figure 7 - 8 - 9 until the four steps cycle is completed to then start again with the disc in position as in figure 6.

In the center and at the top in figure 8-9, table 61 summarizes the bias applied during the various steps. In this case both electromagnets of one or the other lateral stator remain supplied with the same bias for two consecutive steps until two rotation angles h are completed.

In this case, forty-eight (48) magnetic poles are activated at each step, which are multiplied by forty-eight (48) steps to provide (48 x 48) = 2,304 two thousand three hundred and four active magnetic poles by each motor rotation.

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a motor corresponding to the schematic figures 2 - 9. On each statoric support 61, 62 two statoric groups 11 and 12 are mounted, each consisting of a circular series of electromagnets SA1 and SB1. Each series consists of twelve electromagnets 2A1 and twelve electromagnets 2B1 lying on a circumference of radius R1 and angularly spaced from each other by said angle h (as in figure

1).

The polar expansion 5 of the electromagnets 2 are inserted in - and fixed to - pass-through windows of the statoric support 61 , 62 (visible in the support 62 on the right). Thus the polar expansions 5 can cross the thickness of the stator and appear on the internal surface of the respective support for skimming the rotor disc 1 and therefore the permanent magnets 7M1 incorporated therein.

At the center of the motor there is the rotor disc 1 incorporating a circular series SM1 consisting of twelve permanent magnets 7M1 angularly spaced apart from each other by the angle h. As before, on the periphery of the disc 1 there are the synchronism openings 10 which follow each other angularly by said angle h.

The electromagnets 2 of the circular series SB1 are axially offset by the angle h with respect to the electromagnets 2 of the circular series SA1.

For convenience of illustration the two statoric supports 61 , 62 appear spaced from the disc 1 in order to highlight the various components, but constructively both are closed in to skim it.

Figure 1 1 shows an embodiment of the motor in which, for graphic needs, the statoric supports are not highlighted but only the electromagnetic components and a disc 1 11 are. In particular, in the center a disc 111 is represented with the synchronism openings 10 and a first circular series SM1 consisting of twelve permanent magnets 7M1 which are incorporated in the disc 11 1 , lying on a circumference with radius R1 and circularly spaced from each other by the angle h.

More internally there is a second circular series SM2 consisting of twelve permanent magnets 7M2 lying on a circumference with radius R2 and angularly spaced by the angle h.

The permanent magnets 7M2 are smaller in size than the permanent magnets 7M1 proportionally to the ratio between the radius R2 and the radius R1. In the example, the permanent magnets 7M2 have dimensions 20% smaller than the permanent magnets 7M1 , being in this case the radius R2 20% less than radius R1.

The permanent magnets 7M1 , for assembly needs and use of available space, are angularly displaced with respect to the permanent magnets 7M2 by two angles h.

On the left in fig. 11 a first statoric component is shown consisting of a circular series SA1 of twelve electromagnets 2A1, with winding 3 and pole expansions 5, arranged on a circumference of radius R1 and therefore circularly corresponding to the position of the permanent magnets 7M1 relative to the Y axis.

More internally there is a second circular series SA2 consisting of twelve electromagnets 2A2 of identical shape and structure with respect to the electromagnets 2A1 but smaller in size. The electromagnets 2A2 have dimensions proportional to the radius R2 which draws the circumference on which they are positioned, and therefore have, again in this case, dimensions 20% smaller than the electromagnets 2A1. The electromagnets 2A2 are circularly corresponding, compared to the Y axis, to the permanent magnets 7M2.

Also the electromagnets 2A2 like the permanent magnets 7M2 are, for constructive simplicity, angularly offset with respect to the electromagnets 2A1 by twice the angle h.

On the right in fig. 11 a second statoric component is shown consisting of one circular series SB1 consisting of twelve electromagnets 2B1, with winding 3 and polar expansions 5, arranged on the same circumference of radius R1 and therefore circularly corresponding to the permanent magnets 7M1 relative to the Y axis.

More internally there is a second circular series SB2 consisting of twelve electromagnets 2B2, with winding 3 and polar expansion 5, of the same size as the electromagnets 2A2. The electromagnets 2B2 are arranged on a circumference of radius R2 which is circularly corresponding to the permanent magnets 7M2. The electromagnets 2B2 are angularly offset with respect to the electromagnets 2B1 by twice the angle h, too. The electromagnets 2A1, 2A2 of the circular series SA1, SA2 are angularly offset with respect to the electromagnets 2B1, 2B2 of the circular series SB1 , SB2 by said angle h.

The circular series SA1 and SA2 are connected to each other in parallel, similar to the circular series SB1 and SB2, and therefore such motor can be powered and biased with four terminals in the same way as the motor presented in figure 10. Even the bias and operation modes are identical to those shown in the schematic figures 2-9.

With this configuration consisting of forty-eight electromagnets, with contemporary power supply of both stators and oblique alignment as in figures 6 - 9, at each step there are activated ninety-six (96) magnetic poles that multiplied by forty-eight (48) steps provide four thousand six hundred and eight (48 x 96 = 4.608) active magnetic poles per motor revolution.

For motors of adequate diameter it is possible to add further series of more peripheral electromagnets, having a number of components equal to the innermost series and therefore of larger dimensions, proportional to the radius on which they will be placed, to comply with the rules set out so far.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a different rotor disc 121 visible in its left and right faces.

The rotor disc 121 incorporates:

on one face (on the left in the drawing) a first circular series SM1 of permanent magnets consisting of permanent magnets 7M1 (in the example, twelve) lying on a conference of radius R1 , and

a second and internal circular series SM2 of permanent magnets consisting of permanent magnets 7M2 (twelve as before) lying on a circumference of radius R2.

The same disc 121 on the face opposite to the first one (on the right in the drawing) incorporates:

a first circular series SN1 of permanent magnets consisting of permanent magnets 7N1 (in the example, twelve) lying on a circumference of radius R1 , and

a second and internal circular series SN2 of permanent magnets consisting of permanent magnets 7N2 (as before, twelve) lying on a circumference of radius R2.

The two series SM1, SM2 and the two series SN1 , SN2 of permanent magnets, arranged on the two different opposite faces of the disc 121 , can be specular to each other with respect to the rotation axis or otherwise axially offset from each other.

In Figure 13 a version of the motor using the rotor disc 121 is presented prospectively. A statoric support 131 (on the left) mounts the two circular series SA1, SA2 of electromagnets 2A1 , 2A2 identical to those described in Figure 1 1 , and a statoric support 132 (on the right) mounts the two circular series SB1 , SB2 of electromagnets 2B1, 2B2 identical to those described in figure 11.

At the center of the structure, between the supports 131, 132, there is the rotor disc 121 with the two circular series SM1 , SM2 each consisting of twelve permanent magnets 7M1 , 7M2 arranged on the visible face of the disc, and other two circular series SN1 , SN2 of permanent magnets 7N1 , 7N2, arranged with the same radii on the non-visible face of the rotor disc 121.

On the rotor disc 121 the circular series 7M1 , 7M2 are in this case angularly coinciding, axially mirrored, with the circular series 7N1 , 7N2.

Figure 14 schematically shows the operation of the motor of Figure 13,

where the series of electromagnets SA1 , with radius R1 , is indicated at the upper part on the left, represented, in this example, by two electromagnets which are angularly offset from each other by the angle h. In the center there is the rotor disc 121 on whose left face the circular series SM1 , with radius R1 , of permanent magnets is fixed, whose magnets 7M1 are mutually angularly offset by the angle h; while on the right face there is fixed a circular series SN1 , having the same radius R1 , of permanent magnets 7N1.

The components of the two series SM1 and SN1 arranged on the two faces of the disc 121 are, in this case, angularly coinciding, equally to the series SM2 and SN2 visible in the bottom part of figure 14 indicating the innermost series. On the right is the series of electromagnets SB1 , always with radius R1 , represented by two electromagnets angularly offset from each other by the angle h.

The circular series of electromagnets SA1 and SB1 are angularly offset from each other by the angle h. More at the bottom, there are shown the circular series SA2, SB2 of electromagnets positioned on the circumference drawn by the radius R2 and spatially corresponding to the circular series of permanent magnets 7M2, 7N2. All these series of components SA2, SB2, SM2, SN2 are located on a circumference with a radius R2 smaller than the radius R1 which locates the components of the series SA1 , SB1 , SM1 , SN1 , and they are therefore of proportionally smaller dimensions. But the components of the series SA2, SB2, SM2, SN2 comply with the same rules listed for the more peripheral components shown in the upper left part of figure 14.

In this implementation, too, the power supply and bias of the electromagnets takes place with only four terminals, two for a statoric component SA1 , SA2 (on the left in fig. 14) and two for the opposing statoric component SB1 , SB2 (on the right in Fig. 14), as the circular series of electromagnets SA1 , SA2 are equally connected in parallel to the circular series of electromagnets SB1 , SB2. The control unit, updated by the encoder 10, biases the circular series SA1 , SA2 with polarity (- +) and the circular series SB1 , SB2 with polarity (+ -), thereby determining an oblique alignment S / N N / S alternated with an oblique alignment N / S S / N between the poles of the electromagnets and the permanent magnets of opposite sign visible in the right part of figure 14.

This represents the point of stability, as the electromagnets of the two lateral stators attract the permanent magnets arranged on the two faces of the disc with perfectly symmetrical forces.

Even with this configuration, the rotor disc 121 moves angularly by one step s1 corresponding to the angle h.

At this point the control unit (see Fig. 15) keeps the windings of the

circular series SA1 , SA2 biased with the same polarity (- +) while it reverses the polarity (- +) of the circular series SB1 , SB2. This results in a further oblique alignment between the poles of the electromagnets and the permanent magnets of opposite sign visible on the right side of Figure 15. The rotor disc 121 moves angularly by a step s2 corresponding to the angle h. Then (see figure 16) the control unit reverses the polarity of the circular series SA1 , SA2 with polarity (+ -) while the circular series SB1 , SB2 remain biased with polarity (- +), determining a further oblique alignment, as in Figure 14, visible in the right part of Figure 16. The rotor disc 121 moves angularly by a step s3 corresponding to the angle h. Finally (see Fig. 17) the control unit keeps the circular series SA1, SA2 biased with polarities (+ -), while it inverts the polarization of the circular series SB1 , SB2 with polarity (+ -) obtaining, as in figure 15, an oblique alignment visible on the right side of figure 17. The rotor disc 121 moves angularly by a step s4 corresponding to the angle h.

After completion of four angular steps s1 , s2, s3, s4 corresponding each to the angle h, the permanent magnets of rotor disc 121 are located in the same positions as in figure 14 and the control unit can re-start a new cycle of four biases until one revolution is complete.

At each step, forty-eight electromagnets corresponding to ninety-six active magnetic poles are activated, which multiplied by forty-eight steps provide four thousand six hundred and eight (96 x 48 = 4.608) active magnetic poles for each motor revolution.

Figure 18 shows a schematic view of operation of the same motor but with a rotor disc, indicated with 181 , modified with respect to the previous disc 121.

In this case the circular series of permanent magnets SM1 , SM2 (the latter not shown) arranged on a face of the disc are angularly offset, with respect to the rotation axis, by an angle h with respect to the circular series SM2, SN2 (the latter not shown) arranged on the opposite face of the disc.

With this configuration of the rotor disc, in which the series of permanent magnets arranged on the two faces of the disc are axially offset from each other by said angle, the poles of the electromagnets of the series SA1 , SA2 of the first stator are arranged axially mirrored to the poles of the electromagnets of the circular series SB1 , SB2 of the other lateral stator.

The power and bias modes in such configuration remain the same as seen previously in Figures 14-17 and summarized in Table 141 at the top.

Figure 19 shows an exploded perspective view of the motor whose operation was described in figures 14 - 18. There are visible:

- the rotor disc 121 or 181 which incorporates twelve magnets 7M1 and twelve magnets 7M2, arranged on the visible face of the disc, and twelve magnets 7N1 and twelve magnets 7N2, arranged on the hidden face of the disc,

- the stator 131 (on the left) consisting of twelve electromagnets 2A1 and twelve electromagnets 2A2, and

- the stator 132 (on the right) consisting of twelve electromagnets 2B1 and twelve electromagnets 2B2. Figure 20 shows a front view and two perspective views of a central stator 201 which is incorporated in a further version of the motor, shown in figure 21.

The central stator 201 incorporates a circular series SC1 , with radius R1 , consisting of twenty-four linear electromagnets 202C1 having a core consisting of a square-section parallelepiped 205 with sides of dimension d1 equal to that of the polar expansions 5 of the electromagnets 2A1 and 2B1 and which also subtend an angle h.

The linear electromagnets 202C1 are angularly spaced from one another by the same angle h.

The central stator 201 also incorporates a second, more internal, circular series SC2, of radius R2, consisting of twenty-four linear electromagnets 202C2 having a core consisting of a square section parallelepiped 206 with dimensions proportionally reduced according to the ratio between the radius R1 and the radius R2 (analogously to what has been seen for the ratio between the electromagnets 2A1 , 2A2 and 2B1 , 2B2) and which also subtend an angle h.

The central stator 201 , like the lateral ones, provides for e.g. oil cooling with connections for oil circulation 203.

The linear electromagnets 202C1 and the linear electromagnets 202C2 are angularly spaced from each other by two angles h for purely constructive reasons.

Figure 21 presents prospectively, in an exploded view, a further version of the motor which, starting from the left, consists of:

- said lateral stator 131 which incorporates twenty-four electromagnets 2A1 , 2A2;

- one said rotor disc 121 or 181 which incorporates on the two faces forty-eight permanent magnets 7M1 , 7M2, 7N1 , 7N2;

- said central stator 201, described in Figure 20, which incorporates forty-eight linear electromagnets 202C1 , 202C2;

- a further rotor disc 121 or 181 with forty-eight permanent magnets 7M1 , 7M2, 7N1 , 7N2; and

- said lateral stator 132 which incorporates twenty-four electromagnets 2B1 , 2B2.

Figure 22 schematically shows the operation of the motor of Figure 20.

In the left figure the circular series SA1 is highlighted consisting of twelve electromagnets 2A1 , offset from each other by the angle h, forming part of the stator 131 , and the circular series SB1 consisting of electromagnets 2B1 belonging to the stator 132.

Said circular series SA1 , SB1 mirror each other with respect to the axis of rotation.

At the center there is the central stator 201 consisting of a circular series SC1 consisting of twenty-four linear electromagnets 202C1.

Said electromagnets 202C1 are connected to power supply terminals TC, tC in an alternating manner, so that the poles generated by an electromagnet in the series are inverted with respect to poles of an adjacent electromagnet.

Said electromagnets 202C1 are angularly spaced from each other by the angle h and are axially mirrored with respect to the electromagnets of the series SA1 and the series SB1.

Said rotor discs 181 , already previously described, are interposed between the lateral stators and the central one to skim the poles of said series SA1 , SC1 , SB1. The permanent magnets placed on both sides of the disc 181 are mutually offset by an angle h. Said discs 181 and 181 (bis) are in turn angularly offset by an angle h with respect to the rotation axis.

Lower down in fig. 22 there are shown connections to power supply the components of the series SA2, SC2 SB2 arranged on a radius R2 and therefore proportionally small in size (omitted in the drawing).

The control unit, based on information provided by the encoder 10 (not shown in this case for graphic simplicity), biases at the same time, with only two terminals TAB and tAB, the inputs Ta, TB with sign (-) and tA, tB with sign (+), the series SA1, SA2 and SB1 , SB2 in the following indicated series SAB as in table 221 which summarizes these polarizations.

With two other terminals TC (-), tC (+) the control unit biases the series of linear magnets SC1 , SC2 of the central stator in the following indicated in a table with series SC.

These polarizations allow to obtain, with the same methods described previously, an angular displacement of the discs 181 by a step s1 corresponding to said angle h highlighted in the right part of figure 22. Even in this case an oblique alignment is determined between the poles of the electromagnets of the three stators and the poles of the permanent magnets of the two rotor discs already seen previously.

In figure 23 there is shown how the bias (- +) of the series SAB remains unchanged while the terminals SC are biased (+ -) thus obtaining an angular displacement of the discs 181 of a further step s2 corresponding to an angle h highlighted in the right part of the figure.

In Figure 24 the bias (+ -) of the terminals SAB is inverted while maintaining the preceding bias (+ -) for the terminals SC, thereby obtaining an angular displacement of the discs by a further step s3 corresponding to said angle h shown in the right part of figure 24.

In Figure 25 the bias of the terminals SAB (+ -) remains unchanged and the bias (- +) of the series SC is inverted, obtaining an angular displacement of the discs by a further step s4 corresponding to said angle h shown in the right part of figure 25.

As can be seen from Figures 22 - 25 and from Table 221 , this motor can be supplied and biased with only four terminals, two driving the lateral stators and two driving the central stator. This last configuration allows to further double the power and the torque of the motor compared to the previous version because, at each angular step, there are activated ninety-six electromagnets corresponding to one hundred and ninety-two magnetic poles, that multiplied by forty-eight steps give nine thousand two hundred and sixteen (192 x 48 = 9.216) active poles magnets for each revolution of the motor. This configuration can be further increased by inserting further central stators 201 and further discs 181.

In all the configurations presented, inverting the supply polarity reverses the direction of rotation of the motor. The motor optimally lends itself to provide driving force for vehicles.

In the phases of slowing down or braking of the vehicle, the motor can be used as electro-generator, to recover the kinetic energy of the vehicle and store it in a battery. The higher the resistive load applied to the terminals, the greater the braking action of the motor.

If while driving a greater braking action is to be exerted, by applying a voltage with reverse polarity compared to that applied during that travel direction, an extremely effective motor brake can be obtained.

Figure 26 shows prospectively the three types of motor previously described. The lateral stators are the same. The first motor 261 on the left uses the disc 1 and the longitudinal space occupied by it is indicated with

264. The second motor 262 uses the disc 121 , 181 , and the longitudinal space occupied by it is indicated by

265. The third motor 263 uses: a said disc 181 occupying the space 265, the central stator 201 and a second said disc 181 occupying the space 265.

The rotor with central recess 266 allows the housing of several motors on the same traction axis. Note also the fittings 193 for possible oil cooling of the lateral and central stators.

Figure 27 shows a front view, a rear view and a perspective view and a detail of a further application of the motor used to make a motor-assisted electric bike.

At the top left one can see a bicycle wheel, possibly made of carbon, consisting of a tire 272 and its support (rim) 271.

On a face of the support 271 a first series SM1 of thirty-two permanent magnets with radius R1 is incorporated, and on the opposite face, not visible, a second series SN1 of thirty-two permanent magnets having said radius.

On the side, there are fixed to the frame 276, by means of suitable fixed jaws, two lateral stators 274, 275 of which the first supports a first series SA1 constituted, in this case, by two electromagnets, having same radius R1 , with the poles facing the permanent magnets of the series SM1 and, on the other face, the second supports a second series SB1, having the same radius R1 , consisting of two electromagnets with the poles facing the permanent magnets of the (not visible) series SN1.

The tire support 271 behaves like the disk 181 indicated in Figure 18 with the two circular series of permanent magnets SM1, SN1 incorporated in the structure angularly offset from each other by an angle h. This allows keeping the lateral stators 274, 275 symmetrical and specular to each other.

In particular, at the top, the interior of a stator 274 can be seen, where an optical comparator 273 is housed which creates a reflective encoder together with the mask 10 drawn or inlaid with a reflective metallic color on the opaque black background of the carbon forming the rim 271.

With this solution using thirty-two (32) permanent magnets and four (4) electromagnets, a complete revolution is accomplished with one hundred and twenty-eight (128) steps, wherein at each step eight (8) magnetic poles are activated, therefore a complete revolution activates one thousand and twenty-four (128 x 8 = 1.024) active magnetic poles.

In figure 28 at the top a portion of the rim 271 is shown with relative mask 10 and permanent magnets 7M1. Further down, a section of the rim with the optical comparator 273 able to detect the four levels of synchronism of the mask and to drive the power supply unit. In figure 28 at the bottom the operating scheme of this configuration is shown, which is perfectly superimposable to what has already been shown in figure 18. The version related to figures 14 - 17 can also be used, to which we relay, which use the disk 1 1. In such a case the circular series of electromagnets housed in the stators, and consequently the stators themselves, must be angularly offset by an angle h.

Similarly, Figure 29 shows an electric scooter that uses the same stators 274, series of magnets 7M1 on one side and 7N1 on the other, incorporated in the wheel rim, modifiable in height and length, removable and storable in a bag or trunk.

Still in figure 30 the same motor version applied to the wheel of a motorcycle with the rim 301 , the wheel 302, the stators 303, 304 containing the series SA1, SB1 , permanent magnets 7M1 on the visible face and encoder mask 10.

The number of magnets or electromagnets present in a series may vary from what is illustrated.