Patent ID: 8629597

Claim:
An electric machine comprising: a stator including a stator core; and a rotor configured to rotate about an axis of rotation in a direction of angular rotation with an active airgap defined between the rotor and the stator core, the rotor including a first claw-pole segment and an opposing second claw-pole segment, the first claw-pole segment including a plurality of fingers extending from an end ring, each finger including: a distal end and a proximal end with the proximal end fixed to the end ring; an interior side and an exterior side, the exterior side facing the stator; a leading side and a trailing side defined by the direction of angular rotation; and an indentation formed on the exterior trailing side of the finger at the proximal end of the finger, wherein the indentation does not extend to the distal end of the finger or the leading side of the finger, and wherein each finger is asymmetrical in shape relative to a plane of symmetry extending through an axial centerline of the finger and through the axis of rotation of the rotor, wherein the asymmetrical shape of the finger results from the indentation such that the finger is substantially symmetrical except for the indentation, and wherein most of the indentation does not face the active airgap.