Abstract: An electric machine may employ a distributed bearing, for example spaced radially outwardly of a longitudinal center of a rotor and stator assembly. The distributed bearing may take the form of a wire race bearing, which positions a rotor assembly relative to a stator assembly to maintain an air gap therebetween. The rotor assembly may be concentrically located within the stator assembly. Electrically insulative fasteners may couple a race assembly to the stator or rotor assembly. Compensation fastener assemblies may couple the wire race assembly to the rotor or stator assembly, to compensate for differential expansion for instance thermal differential expansion along a longitudinal axis of the electric machine. The electric machines may be arranged in series, for example with drive shafts arranged along a common axis, and may be coupled to the same source of motion (e.g., propeller of wind turbine, without or with a gear box).

Abstract: An electric machine may employ a distributed bearing, for example spaced radially outwardly of a longitudinal center of a rotor and stator assembly. The distributed bearing may take the form of a wire race bearing, which positions a rotor assembly relative to a stator assembly to maintain an air gap therebetween. The rotor assembly may be concentrically located within the stator assembly. Electrically insulative fasteners may couple a race assembly to the stator or rotor assembly. Compensation fastener assemblies may couple the wire race assembly to the rotor or stator assembly, to compensate for differential expansion for instance thermal differential expansion along a longitudinal axis of the electric machine. The electric machines may be arranged in series, for example with drive shafts arranged along a common axis, and may be coupled to the same source of motion (e.g., propeller of wind turbine, without or with a gear box).