Patent ID: 8531076

Claim:
A stator for an alternating current (AC) electric motor, the stator comprising: a steel core disposed concentrically around an axis; a first row of conductors arranged in the steel core concentrically around the axis; a second row of conductors arranged adjacent to the first row of conductors such that the first row of conductors is arranged concentrically around the second row; a third row of conductors arranged in the steel core concentrically around the axis; a fourth row of conductors arranged adjacent to the third row of conductors such that the third row of conductors is arranged concentrically around the fourth row of conductors; a first dielectric shim ring arranged concentrically around the axis between the first row of conductors and the second row of conductors; a second dielectric shim ring arranged concentrically around the axis between the third row of conductors and the fourth row of conductors; and a third dielectric shim ring arranged concentrically around the axis between the second row of conductors and the third row of conductors; wherein: each conductor of the first row, each conductor of the second row, each conductor of the third row, and each conductor of the fourth row includes a linking end; each conductor of the first row is configured to be bent in one of a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the axis and each conductor of the second row is configured to be bent in the other of the clockwise and the counter-clockwise direction with respect to the axis; each conductor of the third row is configured to be bent in one of a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the axis and each conductor of the fourth row is configured to be bent in the other of the clockwise and the counter-clockwise direction with respect to the axis; the linking end of each conductor of the first row is attached to the linking end of an adjacent conductor of the second row after each conductor of the first row and of the second row is bent, such that an AC phase is defined; the linking end of each conductor of the third row is attached to the linking end of an adjacent conductor of the fourth row after each of the conductors of the first row and each of the conductors of the second row is bent, such that another AC phase is defined; the first shim ring separates the first row of conductors from the second row of conductors when each of the first and second rows of conductors is being bent, the first shim ring being at least partially disposed between the first and second rows of conductors when the linking ends of the adjacent conductors are being attached; and the third shim ring fully separates and electrically insulates the second row of conductors from the third row of conductors.