Patent ID: 7923881
Filing Date: 2011-04-12
Classification: H02K

Abstract:
1. An electric machine comprising: a stator; a rotor core positioned adjacent the stator and rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the rotor core including a plurality of bar apertures, a plurality of elongated flux barriers separate from the bar apertures and positioned completely radially inward of at least one of the bar apertures, and a plurality of magnet slots separate from the bar apertures and positioned radially inward of a portion of the bar apertures; a plurality of magnets, each positioned in one of the magnet slots; a plurality of conductive bars each positioned in one of the bar apertures and including a first end and a second end; a first end ring coupled to the first end of each of the bars; and a second end ring coupled to the second end of each of the bars, wherein each magnet slot includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a magnet-receiving portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion and the second end portion being devoid of any magnets and electrically-conductive material, and wherein the second end portion is larger than the first end portion.