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A transverse flux machine (TFM) includes a stator assembly that provides a plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuits placed circumferentially around a rotor assembly. The plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuits being comprised of a first stator segment, a second stator segment, and a plurality of stat

A transverse flux machine (TFM) includes a stator assembly that provides a plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuits placed circumferentially around a rotor assembly. The plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuits being comprised of a first stator segment, a second stator segment, and a plurality of stator yokes. The first stator segment and the second stator segment each have a plurality of poles spaced around a first circumference and a plurality of slots spaced around a second circumference opposite each of the plurality of poles. The plurality of stator yokes each have a first end sized to fit within one of the slots associated with the first stator segment and a second end sized to fit in one of the slots associated with the second stator segment. Positioning of the first and second ends of the stator yokes within the slots of the first and second stator segments, respectively, results in the creation of the plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuits, each magnetic circuit defined by one of the plurality of poles associated with the first stator segment, one of the yokes, and one of the plurality of poles associated with the second stator segment.

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The invention claimed is: 1. An electric machine assembly comprising: a shaft having a major axis; a ring coil adapted to carry electrical current; a stator assembly comprising: a first stator segment positioned circumferentially around the major axis of the shaft and having a plurality of first fe

The invention claimed is: 1. An electric machine assembly comprising: a shaft having a major axis; a ring coil adapted to carry electrical current; a stator assembly comprising: a first stator segment positioned circumferentially around the major axis of the shaft and having a plurality of first ferromagnetic poles and a plurality of first slots located about a periphery of the first stator segment wherein each of the first slots is radially aligned with one of the first ferromagnetic poles; a second stator segment positioned circumferentially around the major axis of the shaft and axially spaced from the first stator segment having a plurality of second ferromagnetic poles and a plurality of second slots located about a periphery of the second stator segment wherein each of the second slots is radially aligned with one of the second ferromagnetic poles; and a plurality of ferromagnetic yokes extending axially between the first and second stator segments to create a plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuits, wherein each yoke has a first end positioned in one of the first slots of the first stator segment and a second end positioned in one of the second slots of the second stator segment, and wherein each of the U-shaped magnetic circuits is comprised of a first ferromagnetic pole associated with the first stator segment, a second ferromagnetic pole associated with the second stator segment, and one of the ferromagnetic yokes connecting the first and second ferromagnetic poles associated with the first stator segment and the second stator segment, respectively; and a rotor assembly having a plurality of permanent magnets. 2. The electric machine assembly of claim 1, wherein the stator assembly surrounds an outer circumference of the rotor assembly, and each of the ferromagnetic poles associated with the plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuits extends toward the permanent magnets arranged around the outer circumference of the rotor assembly. 3. The electric machine assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ferromagnetic yokes comprises a soft magnetic composite material. 4. The electric machine assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first stator segment and the second stator segment comprises a soft magnetic composite material. 5. The electric machine assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ferromagnetic yokes comprises a plurality of laminations stacked together along a major surface, wherein each of the ferromagnetic yokes is oriented within the electric machine assembly such that the major surface of the laminations is parallel to the major axis of the shaft. 6. The electric machine assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first stator segment and the second stator segment comprises a plurality of laminations stacked together along a major surface, wherein each lamination has a plurality of pole protrusions which form a plurality of ferromagnetic poles when stacked together, and the first stator segment and second stator segment are oriented within the electric machine assembly such that the major surface of the laminations is perpendicular to the major axis of the shaft. 7. The electric machine assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ferromagnetic yokes includes a protrusion defined along a bottom edge of each yoke such that during assembly the protrusion acts as a spacer between the first stator segment and the second stator segment. 8. The electric machine assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pole protrusions defined by the first stator segment and the second stator segment have a two-dimensional geometry selected from the group consisting of: rectangular, square, and trapezoid. 9. The electric machine assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of yokes have a two-dimensional geometry selected from the group consisting of: rectangular, square, and oval. 10. A stator assembly for use in a transverse flux machine, the stator assembly comprising: a first stator segment having a plurality of poles spaced around a first circumference of the stator segment and a plurality of slots spaced around a second circumference of the stator segment wherein each of the plurality of slots is radially aligned with one of the plurality of poles; a second stator segment axially spaced from the first stator segment having a plurality of poles spaced around a first circumference of the second stator segment and a plurality of slots spaced around a second circumference of the stator segment wherein each of the plurality of slots is radially aligned with one of the plurality of poles; and a plurality of stator yokes each having a first end sized to fit within one of the slots associated with the first stator segment and a second end sized to fit in one of the slots associated with the second stator segment, wherein positioning of the first and second ends of the stator yokes within the slots of the first and second stator segments, respectively, results in the creation of a plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuits, each magnetic circuit defined by one of the plurality of poles associated with the first stator segment, one of the yokes, and one of the plurality of poles associated with the second stator segment. 11. The stator assembly of claim 10, wherein the first stator segment, the second stator segment and the stator yokes comprise laminations adapted to conduct magnetic flux through the plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuits. 12. The stator assembly of claim 11, wherein the plurality of laminations associated with the first stator segment and the second stator segment are positioned perpendicular to the plurality of laminations associated with the stator yokes. 13. The stator assembly of claim 10, wherein the first stator segment, the second stator segment and the stator yokes comprise a soft magnetic composite adapted to conduct magnetic flux though each of the plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuits. 14. The stator of claim 10, wherein the number of stator yokes is greater than the number of U-shaped magnetic circuits. 15. The stator of claim 10, further comprising a ring coil positioned between the first and second stator segments such that the plurality of U-shaped magnetic circuits are positioned around a periphery of the ring coil. 16. The stator of claim 10, wherein the stator yokes further comprise a protrusion adapted to space the first and second stator segments from one another. 17. The stator of claim 10, wherein the stator yokes are secured to the slots of the first and second stator segment using a method selected from the group consisting of: welding, riveting, gluing, and encapsulating. 18. A stator assembly for use in a transverse flux machine, the stator assembly comprising: a first ring-shaped stator segment having a first circumference, a second circumference, a plurality of poles extending radially from the first circumference, and a plurality of slots radially aligned with the plurality of poles extending from the second circumference toward the first circumference; a second ring-shaped stator segment axially spaced from the first ring-shaped stator segment having a first circumference, a second circumference, a plurality of poles extending radially from the first circumference, and a plurality of slots radially aligned with the plurality of poles extending from the second circumference toward the first circumference; and a plurality of yoke segments extending axially between the first and second ring shaped stator segments, each yoke segment having a first end positioned in one of the slots in the first ring-shaped stator segment and a second end positioned in one of the slots in the second ring-shaped stator segment. 19. The stator assembly of claim 18 wherein the number of slots of the first ring shaped stator segment and the poles of the first ring shaped stator segment are equal and the number of slots of the second ring shaped stator segment and poles of the second ring shaped stator are equal. 20. The stator assembly of claim 18 wherein the second circumference is larger than the first circumference.