Damping vibration in a switched reluctance motor

A switched reluctance motor includes a stator 11 which may comprise a plurality of laminated sections 12-18 each of which has a non-circular shape and which has a plurality of pairs of opposing stator pole portions projecting radially inwards and extending in the axial direction, each pole portion having a coil wound thereon; an end bracket 23, 24 on either side of the stator, the end brackets supporting A rotor and a plurality of stiffening rods 22 each of which penetrates the end brackets and passes through a portion of the stator which is substantially radially aligned with a stator pole portion. The laminated sections are circumferentially offset to define projecting portions which act as cooling fins 28.