Washing machine including a segmented stator switched reluctance motor

A washing machine comprising:

• a tub assembly including an inner tub that is mounted for rotation in an outer tub;
• a switched reluctance motor that rotates at least one of said inner and outer tubs;
• and
• a stator for said switched reluctance motor including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced stator segment assemblies that are arranged around an inner surface of a motor housing, each of said stators segment assemblies defining a salient stator pole that extends in a radially inward direction, wherein inter-polar stator slots are defined between adjacent stator segment assemblies, and said stator segment assemblies include a stator segment core and winding wire that is wound around said stator segment core.

A washing machine comprising:

• a tub assembly including an inner tub that is mounted for rotation in an outer tub;
• a drive assembly that includes a shaft, a spinner pulley, and a belt that is wound around said spinner pulley and that is rotated by said shaft, wherein said spinner pulley is fixed for rotation with said inner tub;
• and
• a switched reluctance motor including a motor housing, a rotor that is connected to said shaft and that rotates relative to said motor housing, and a stator that is mounted on an inner surface of said motor housing, said stator including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced stator segment assemblies, wherein said stator segment assemblies include a stack of stator plates forming a stator segment core and winding wire that is wound around said stator segment core, wherein each of said stator plates has a generally “T”-shaped cross-section, a radially outer rim section, and a tooth section that extends radially inwardly from a center portion of said radially outer rim section.