Methods and apparatus for protection in a multi-phase machine

An apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of coils of a multi-phase machine, each coil from the plurality of coils being associated with a different electrical phase from a plurality of electrical phases of the multi-phase machine;
• and
• a plurality of passive protective elements disposed within the multi-phase machine, each passive protective element from the plurality of passive protective elements being arranged in series with a different coil from the plurality of coils,
• each coil from the plurality of coils is disposed between its associated passive protective element from the plurality of passive protective elements and a phase terminal connection associated with an electrical phase from the plurality of electrical phases,
• a passive protective element from the plurality of passive protective elements is configured to allow a first amount of current through its associated coil from the plurality of coils when in a first configuration, the passive protective element configured to allow a second amount of current through its associated coil from the plurality of coils when in a second configuration.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of coils of a multi-phase machine, each coil from the plurality of coils being associated with a different electrical phase from a plurality of electrical phases of the multi-phase machine;
• and
• a plurality of protective elements, each protective element from the plurality of protective elements being associated with a different coil from the plurality of coils, each protective element from the plurality of protective elements is disposed between its associated coil and a phase terminal connection associated with an electrical phase from the plurality of electrical phases,
• a protective element from the plurality of protective elements is configured to allow a first amount of current through its associated coil from the plurality of coils when in a first configuration, the protective element configured to allow a second amount of current through its associated coil from the plurality of coils when in a second configuration.