Systems and methods for shielding an electric machine

1. A method for reducing leakage currents in an electric machine, said method comprising:

positioning a plurality of leakage current shields between windings and teeth of a stator; and

coupling at least one of the plurality of leakage current shields to a reference point, wherein an electric potential at the reference point is not earth ground.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein positioning a plurality of leakage current shields between windings and teeth of a stator comprises:

positioning a first insulative layer adjacent to at least one tooth;

positioning a conductive layer adjacent the first insulative layer; and

positioning a second insulative layer adjacent the conductive layer.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein coupling the plurality of leakage current shields to the reference point comprises coupling the conductive layers of the plurality of leakage current shields in parallel.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein coupling the plurality of leakage current shields to the reference point comprises coupling the plurality of leakage current shields to a motor drive circuit at a position having an electric potential that is different than earth ground.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein positioning the plurality of leakage current shields between windings and teeth of the stator facilitates reducing shaft voltages and bearing currents in the electric machine.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein positioning the plurality of leakage current shields between windings and teeth of the stator facilitates reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) created by at least one of the electric machine and a drive circuit.

7. A leakage current shield for an electric machine, the electric machine having a stator that includes a plurality of windings positioned around at least one stator tooth, said leakage current shield comprising:

a conductive layer configured for placement between at least one of the plurality of windings and the at least one stator tooth, said conductive layer coupled to a reference point having an electric potential that is not earth ground;

a first insulative layer positioned between the at least one stator tooth and the conductive layer; and

a second insulative layer positioned between the windings and the conductive layer.

8. A leakage current shield in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a connector configured to couple said conductive layer to said reference point.

9. A leakage current shield in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said electric machine is coupled to and controlled by a variable frequency drive circuit.

10. A leakage current shield in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said reference point is at a position within said variable frequency drive circuit having an electric potential that is different than earth ground.

11. A leakage current shield in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said conductive layer coupled to a potential that is not earth ground further facilitates reducing one or more of: a shaft voltage and a bearing current present in said electric machine, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) created by said electric machine.

12. An electric machine comprising:

a rotor;

a stator including a plurality of teeth and a plurality of windings, each of said plurality of windings positioned around at least one of said plurality of teeth; and

a plurality of leakage current shields positioned between said plurality of teeth and said plurality of windings, said plurality of leakage current shields comprising a conductive layer coupled to a reference point having an electric potential that is not earth ground.

13. An electric machine in accordance with claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of leakage current shields further comprises:

a first insulative layer positioned between at least one of said plurality of teeth and said conductive layer; and

a second insulative layer positioned adjacent to said conductive layer, opposite to said first insulative layer.

14. An electric machine in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said plurality of leakage current shields are coupled together in parallel.

15. An electric machine in accordance with claim 12 , wherein at least one of said plurality of leakage current shields is coupled to a drive circuit at a position having a potential that is different than earth ground.

16. An electric machine in accordance with claim 12 , said electric machine configured to be coupled to and controlled by a variable frequency drive circuit.

17. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the motor drive circuit is configured to control operation of the electric machine and a ground fault circuit interrupter is coupled between the motor drive circuit and a power source, wherein coupling at least one of the plurality of leakage current shields to the reference point facilitates preventing nuisance tripping of the ground fault circuit interrupter caused by leakage current flowing from stator windings to earth ground.

18. A leakage current shield in accordance with claim 9 , wherein a ground fault circuit interrupter is coupled between said variable frequency drive circuit and a power source, said current shield configured to prevent nuisance tripping of said ground fault circuit interrupter caused by leakage current flowing from the plurality of stator windings to earth ground.

19. An electric machine in accordance with claim 15 , wherein a ground fault circuit interrupter is coupled between said drive circuit and a power source, said plurality of leakage current shields configured to prevent nuisance tripping of said ground fault circuit interrupter caused by leakage current flowing from the plurality of stator windings to earth ground.