Metglas, Inc.

Carl Eugene Kroger

Nicholas J DeCristofaro

Scott M Lindquist

Gordon Edward Fish

Ryusuke Hasegawa

Seshu V Tatikola

Sastry S Renduchintala

A bulk amorphous metal inductive device includes a magnetic core having at least one low-loss bulk ferromagnetic amorphous metal magnetic component forming a magnetic circuit having an air therein. The component has a plurality of similarly shaped layers of amorphous metal strips bonded together to form a polyhedrally shaped part. The device has one or more electrical windings and is easily customized for specialized magnetic applications, e.g. for use as a transformer or inductor in power conditioning electronic circuitry employing switch-mode circuit topologies and switching frequencies ranging from 1 kHz to 200 kHz or more. The low core losses of the device, e.g. a loss of at most about 12 W/kg when excited at a frequency of 5 kHz to a peak induction level of 0.3 T, make it especially useful at frequencies of 1 kHz or more.

Bulk amorphous metal inductive device

A selective etching process cuts shapes from amorphous metal strip feedstock. The etching process comprises depositing a chemically resistant material to one side of the strip in a pattern that defines the requisite shape, mating the metal strip with a carrier strip, exposing at least one side of the metal strip to an etching agent to selectively etch the desired shape, and separating the shape from the strip feedstock. A plurality of layers of the shapes is assembled by adhesive lamination to form a generally polyhedrally shaped bulk amorphous metal magnetic component useful in high efficiency electric motors and inductive devices. The bulk amorphous metal magnetic component may include an arcuate surface, and preferably includes two arcuate surfaces that are disposed opposite to each other. The magnetic component is operable at frequencies ranging from about 50 Hz to about 20,000 Hz. When the component is operated at an excitation frequency 'f' to a peak induction level B, the component exhibits a core-loss less than about 'L' wherein L is given by the formula L=0.005 f(B)+0.000012 f(B), said core loss, said excitation frequency and said peak induction level being measured in watts per kilogram, hertz, and teslas, respectively. Performance characteristics of the bulk amorphous metal magnetic component of the present invention are significantly better than those of silicon-steel components operated over the same frequency range.

Selective etching process for cutting amorphous metal shapes and components made thereof

A unitary amorphous metal magnetic component for an axial flux electric machine such as a motor or generator is formed from a spirally wound annular cylinder of ferromagnetic amorphous metal strips. The cylinder is adhesively bonded and provided with a plurality of slots formed in one of the annular faces of the cylinder and extending from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the cylinder. The component is preferably employed in constructing a high efficiency, axial flux electric motor. When operated at an excitation frequency 'f' to a peak induction level Bthe unitary amorphous metal magnetic component has a core-loss less than 'L' wherein L is given by the formula L=0.0074f(B)+0.000282f(B), the core loss, excitation frequency and peak induction level being measured in watts per kilogram, hertz, and teslas, respectively.

Method of constructing a unitary amorphous metal component for an electric machine

A magnetic ribbon or sheet is coated with an electrical insulator prior to formation of a magnetic implement. Manufacture of the magnetic implement is accomplished in a single process without a need for co-winding magnetic and insulator ribbons. Thermal property differences between the magnetic material and the insulator operate during heat treatment to enhance magnetic property modification of the implement.

Magnetic implement using magnetic metal ribbon coated with insulator

A bulk amorphous metal inductive device comprises a magnetic core having at least one low-loss bulk ferromagnetic amorphous metal magnetic component forming a magnetic circuit having an air gap therein. The component comprises a plurality of similarly shaped layers of amorphous metal strips bonded together to form a polyhederally shaped part. The device has one or more electrical windings and is easily customized for specialized magnetic applications, e.g. for use as a transformer or inductor in power conditioning electronic circuitry employing switch-mode circuit topologies and switching frequencies ranging from 1 kHz to 200 kHz or more. The low core losses of the device, e.g. a loss of at most about 12 W/kg when excited at a frequency of 5 kHz to a peak induction level of 0.3 T, make it especially useful at frequencies of 1 kHz or more.

Bulk laminated amorphous metal inductive device

A unitary amorphous metal magnetic component for an axial flux electric machine such as a motor or generator is formed from a spirally wound annular cylinder of ferromagnetic amorphous metal strips. The cylinder is adhesively bonded and provided with a plurality of slots formed in one of the annular faces of the cylinder and extending from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the cylinder. The component is preferably employed in constructing a high efficiency, axial flux electric motor. When operated at an excitation frequency &ldquo;f&rdquo; to a peak induction level B the unitary amorphous metal magnetic component has a core-loss less than &ldquo;L&rdquo; wherein L is given by the formula L&equals;0.0074 f (B ) &plus;0.000282 f (B ) , the core loss, excitation frequency and peak induction level being measured in watts per kilogram, hertz, and teslas, respectively.

Unitary amorphous metal component for an axial flux electric machine

A high efficiency electric motor has a generally polyhedrally shaped bulk amorphous metal magnetic component in which a plurality of layers of amorphous metal strips are laminated together adhesively to form a generally three-dimensional part having the shape of a polyhedron. The bulk amorphous metal magnetic component may include an arcuate surface, and preferably includes two arcuate surfaces that are disposed opposite to each other. The magnetic component is operable at frequencies ranging from about 50 Hz to about 20,000 Hz. When the motor is operated at an excitation frequency &ldquo;f&rdquo; to a peak induction level B , the component exhibits a core-loss less than about &ldquo;L&rdquo; wherein L is given by the formula L&equals;0.005 f (B ) &plus;0.000012 f (B ) , said core loss, said excitation frequency and said peak induction level being measured in watts per kilogram, hertz, and teslas, respectively. Performance characteristics of the bulk amorphous metal magnetic component of the present invention are significantly better than those of silicon-steel components operated over the same frequency range.

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Aynor, SC, United States of America

Carl Eugene Kroger