@RickO posted:The odyssey motor is merely an improved pullmor. I find it hard to believe it would be better than a can motor.
The Odyssey motor technology was that of a synchronous motor coupled to a variable frequency drive where as the Pullmor motor was a universal motor with the stator in series with the rotor. Synchronous motors spin synchronous to the frequency of applied AC whereas the Pullmor spins to the applied voltage.
Synchronous motors w/VFDs are typically 90%+ efficient vs. 65% efficient for a DC can motor.
There is no need for Lionel to bring back the Odyssey motor. The motor is primitive by today's standards. There are lots of AC synchronous motors that are used in the RC hobby. They call them DC brushless, but DC brushless motors are AC synchronous motors. The batteries supply DC to the VFD which rectifies the DC to an AC frequency that is fed to the motor and the speed of rotation of the motor is controlled by the frequency of AC fed to the motor.
Modern diesel electric locomotives are similar. The diesel prime mover drives a generator which produces AC. The AC is rectified to DC. The DC is fed to a VFD which coverts the DC to an AC frequency which is fed to the asynchronous (induction motors) which drive the wheels. This is called an AC-DC-AC drive.
Marklin did this before with their C-Sine motor.
