Abstract: An electric machine includes a shaft and a rotor carried by the shaft and having a rotor body, a plurality of rotor windings carried by the rotor body, and a retaining ring surrounding the rotor windings adjacent an end of the rotor body. An electrically conductive stud extends radially outwardly from the shaft adjacent the end of the rotor body. An electrically conductive member includes a first end section coupled to the electrically conductive stud and having a loop shape, a second end section coupled to a corresponding one of the rotor windings, and an intermediate section between the first and second end sections. An insulation assembly is between the shaft and the retaining ring and surrounding the intermediate section to define at least one gap with adjacent portions thereof.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a shaft and a rotor carried by the shaft and having a rotor body, a plurality of rotor windings carried by the rotor body, and a retaining ring surrounding the rotor windings adjacent an end of the rotor body. An electrically conductive stud extends radially outwardly from the shaft adjacent the end of the rotor body. An electrically conductive member includes a first end section coupled to the electrically conductive stud and having a loop shape, a second end section coupled to a corresponding one of the rotor windings, and an intermediate section between the first and second end sections. An insulation assembly is between the shaft and the retaining ring and surrounding the intermediate section to define at least one gap with adjacent portions thereof.

Abstract: A thrust bearing assembly is provided which reduces initial axial loading on a shaft's thrust bearing in order to correspondingly reduce the required torque for rotational start-up. The shaft's bearing runner is forced in a direction away from its associated thrust bearing during initial start-up procedures by a suitable means for imparting a force on the bearing runner in a direction away from the thrust bearing. The force is provided by a piston and cylinder combination, in the preferred embodiment, which provides an axial force in a direction opposing the initial shaft loading force. An anti-friction guide bearing is used to transfer this force from the piston to the shaft and, in turn, to the bearing runner.