Axially asymmetric permanent magnet machine

A permanent magnet machine comprising:

• a stator defining a stator inner profile;
• a rotor positioned at least partially within the stator and defining a rotor outer profile;
• wherein the rotor includes a first and a second ring segment oriented axially around a central axis;
• a first layer of slots formed in the rotor and defining a slot outer edge;
• a stator-to-slot gap defined between the slot outer edge and the stator inner profile;
• and
• wherein the stator-to-slot gap varies between the first and second ring segments.

A permanent magnet machine comprising:

• a stator defining a stator inner profile;
• a rotor positioned at least partially within the stator and defining a rotor outer profile;
• wherein the rotor includes a first, a second and a third ring segment oriented axially around a central axis, the second ring segment being axially adjacent to the first and the third ring segment;
• a first layer of slots defining a slot outer edge and formed in the rotor;
• a stator-to-slot gap defined between the slot outer edge and the stator inner profile;
• wherein the stator-to-slot gap varies between the first, second and third ring segments;
• a first bridge thickness defined between the slot outer edge and the rotor outer profile in the first ring segment;
• a second bridge thickness defined between the slot outer edge and the rotor outer profile in the second ring segment;
• a third bridge thickness defined between the slot outer edge and the rotor outer profile in the third ring segment;
• and
• wherein the first, the second and the third bridge thickness are each different from one another.