Patent ID: 7994691

Claim:
A stator assembly, comprising: a stator core comprising a plurality of coaxially stacked laminations, each lamination comprising a plurality of lamination sections comprising at least one cutout defined in a peripheral edge, wherein the at least one cutout of each lamination section is axially aligned among the plurality of stacked laminations to define a plurality of key bar grooves extending longitudinally in a peripheral edge and spaced apart around a circumference of the stator core; a plurality of key bars, each key bar disposed within a respective one of the plurality of key bar grooves; at least a first core support ring and a second core support ring longitudinally spaced apart and disposed around the stator core, wherein each of the plurality of key bars is affixed to an inner edge of the first core support ring and the second core support ring; a plurality of core ring compression bands longitudinally spaced apart and disposed around the stator core and the plurality of key bars, wherein each of the plurality of core ring compression bands is formed from a plurality of semi-circular sections coupled to form the respective core ring compression band, wherein each of the plurality of key bars is disposed within respective cutouts defined in an inner edge of the plurality of core ring compression bands, and wherein each of the core ring compression bands is structurally independent of the stator frame; and a stator frame to which the first core support ring and the second core support ring are mounted.