Patent ID: 8692432

Claim:
A permanent magnet rotor comprising: at least one permanent magnet; a rotor core including a first end and a second end, said rotor core comprising a plurality of inner core walls that define a plurality of permanent magnet openings, each permanent magnet opening configured to receive said at least one permanent magnet; and a first rotor end lamination coupled to the first end of said rotor core, said first rotor end lamination comprising an axially outermost member of said rotor and comprising a plurality of inner lamination walls defining a first opening and a second opening circumferentially adjacent the first opening, said first and second openings corresponding to the plurality of permanent magnet openings included within said rotor core, said first opening and said second opening being similarly configured, wherein at least one inner lamination wall defines at least a portion of at least one permanent magnet retention feature configured to secure said at least one permanent magnet within said rotor core, wherein said at least one permanent magnet retention feature comprises a deformable bridge positioned between said radially outer inner lamination wall and an outer edge of said first rotor end lamination, wherein an entire length of said radially outer inner lamination wall is curved and said deformable bridge prevents said at least one permanent magnet from passing through one of said first and second openings to facilitate securing said at least one permanent magnet within a corresponding permanent magnet opening when mechanically deformed.