Bearing concept for segment motors

An electrical machine, comprising:

• a machine frame;
• a first stator coupled to the machine frame and having first means for producing a magnetic field;
• a shaft defining a shaft axis;
• a rotor connected to the shaft, said rotor magnetically interacting with the first stator and being separated from the first stator by a first air gap, wherein the air gap is arranged such that the magnetic field within the first air gap is directed essentially parallel to the shaft axis during operation of the electrical machine;
• an axial bearing arranged between the rotor and the first stator to absorb attraction forces which act between the first stator and the rotor in a direction of the shaft axis;
• and
• an elastic coupling mechanically coupling the first stator to the machine frame, said coupling being constructed less stiff than a stiffness of the axial bearing with respect to a force acting in the direction of the shaft axis, and constructed such that a force acting on the rotor in the direction of the shaft axis is able to cause the first stator to be translated with respect to the machine frame in the direction of the shaft axis.