Patent ID: 8810347

Claim:
A method of activating an electric machine, said method comprising: coupling a rotor to a stator, the rotor configured to rotate about a first axis with respect to the stator, wherein: (a) the rotor includes a plurality of rotor segments, each rotor segment including: (i) a plurality of modules of magnetizable material, and (ii) a pair of magnetic guides having respective first faces and configured to conduct a magnetic flux coupled to said respective modules, and (b) the stator includes: (i) an outer cylinder, and (ii) a plurality of slidably removable stator segments arranged about the first axis, wherein at least two of the plurality of stator segments are fitted to the outer cylinder of the stator to define a seat configured to house at least another one of said stator segments; inserting a magnetizing device in the seat, the magnetizing device having two second faces and configured to provide the magnetizing flux; positioning the magnetizing device such that the second faces of the magnetizing device face the first faces of at least one of the pairs of magnetic guides; after coupling the rotor to the stator, magnetizing at least one of said plurality of modules of magnetizable material; and slidably moving the magnetizing device along the rotor segments such that the second faces of the magnetizing device face the first faces of at least another one of the pairs of magnetic guides.