Patent ID: 7269888

Claim:
A method of making a cascaded multilayer conductor preform for insertion into a number of slots defined in a periphery of a stator core, the method comprising: forming several continuous conductors to define a number N of generally-parallel, generally-coplanar straight segments interconnected by end loop segments, wherein the first plurality of straight segments are adapted to be received in the slots of the stator core to define a number of winding layers such that the number N of the straight segments defined on each conductor is a nonunitary integer multiple of the number n of straight segments of each conductor adapted to form each winding layer, wherein each end loop segment includes a first leg and a second leg joined to the first leg at an apex, and wherein a first type of end loop segment is characterized in that the first leg is substantially coplanar with the first plurality of straight segments and at least a portion of the second leg is not substantially coplanar with the first plurality of straight segments; and interpositioning the conductors such that the generally-coplanar straight segments are placed in a staggered relation, with the first leg of each first type of end loop segment of a given conductor other than a first conductor overlying a portion of the second leg of each first type of end loop segment of another one of the conductors, and with the first leg of each of at least two end loop segments of the given conductor following the “nth” straight segment of the given conductor lying beneath the respective first leg of a respective pair of end loop segments of the first conductor.