Electric machines including stator modules

A stator module for use in a rotating electric machine including a stator assembly having a plurality of stator poles and a rotor assembly supported for rotation relative to the stator assembly about a rotational axis, the rotor assembly including a plurality of rotor poles for magnetically interacting with the stator poles, the stator module comprising:

• multiple independently energizable stator segments with each stator segment defining a plurality of stator poles of the stator assembly, the stator module being configured to be supported in the stator assembly such that the stator module and its associated stator poles are independently removable and replaceable from the stator assembly to adjust the total number of stator poles included in the stator assembly.

A stator assembly for an electric machine, the stator assembly comprising:

• a plurality of independent stator modules, each stator module including multiple independently energizable stator segments, each stator segment defining a plurality of stator poles of the stator assembly for magnetically interacting with rotor poles of the electric machine, each stator module being independently removable and replaceable from the stator assembly to adjust the total number of stator poles included in the stator assembly.

A rotating electric machine, comprising:

• a rotor assembly supported for rotation about a rotational axis, the rotor assembly including a plurality of rotor poles, the rotor poles being supported for rotation about the rotational axis;
• and
• a stator assembly including a plurality of independent stator modules with each stator module including multiple independently energizable stator segments, each stator segment defining a plurality of stator poles of the stator assembly for magnetically interacting with the rotor poles, each stator module being independently removable and replaceable from the stator assembly to vary the maximum power output of the electric machine.