Abstract: An interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine having a rotor and a stator is provided. The rotor includes a radially inner barrier devoid of magnets, and a radially outer barrier having at least one permanent magnet, each barrier having two pockets with one pocket disposed at an angle relative to the other. At least one of the pockets of the inner barrier has a shape of an irregular quadrilateral. At least one of the pockets of the outer barrier has a substantially trapezoidal shape with a first side generally parallel to a second side, wherein the first side has a portion slanted relative to the third side. In such an IPM machine, demagnetization of the outer barrier magnet is limited when operating temperatures and electrical current exceed operating conditions prescribed by design specifications.

Abstract: A conducting wire for a stator of an electric machine includes a cross section having a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side. The third side and the fourth side are parallel with each other, with the first side and the second side extending between the third side and the fourth side. The first side and the second side each define a concave depression.

Abstract: A rotor (10) for an electric machine (40) includes a first elongated rotor segment (12) having a plurality of axially extending rotor poles (20) arranged in a circular array about a central axis (18) that extends longitudinally through the first rotor segment(12). A second axially extending rotor segment (14) engages and is fixed relative to the first rotor segment (12). The second rotor segment (14) has a plurality of axially extending rotor poles (38) arranged in a circular array about the central axis (18). The poles (38) of the second rotor segment (14) are rotated in a first direction about the central axis relative to the poles (20) of the first rotor segment (12). Preferably the rotor (10) also includes a third axially extending rotor segment (16) that engages and is fixed relative to at least one of the first and second rotor segments (12, 14). The third rotor segment (16) also has a plurality of axially extending rotor poles (44) arranged in a circular array about the central axis (18).