Those are more compact ways to describe the winding.
I think it is all effectively the same winding. In fact we can generate 13 variations of the same winding.
The winding I described was 2 "recurring units": one on the first line and one on the 2nd line below:
2 1 2 / 1 1 2 / 1 2 1 / 1 2 1 / 1 2 1 / 2 1 1 / 2 1 2 / 1 1 2 / 1 1 2 / 1 2 1 / 1 2 1 / 2 1 1 / 2 1 1
2 1 2 / 1 1 2 / 1 2 1 / 1 2 1 / 1 2 1 / 2 1 1 / 2 1 2 / 1 1 2 / 1 1 2 / 1 2 1 / 1 2 1 / 2 1 1 / 2 1 1
We had N=18 and beta = 13. Each recurring unit is 3*N = 54 coils, located within 3*beta = 3*13= 39 groups. The two recurring units together give the required 108 coils in 78 groups (26 poles). As you observed, the sequence of numbers (coils per group) within a 39-group recurring unit is periodic at a frequency of 54/3 = 13. (i.e. the pattern of 39 numbers is really 3 repeating patterns of 13 numbers). Liwschitz-Garik doesn't mention this, but it makes sense that after we count off beta = 13 groups, we have traveled N=18 slots, and we have traveled an electrical angle of N * alpha = N*180/(3*q). Substituting q = N/Beta, we have travelled N*180*Beta/(3*N) = 60*beta or an exact integer multiple of 60 degrees. Since the Liwschitz-Garik's "slot star" represents all 3 phases in 180 degrees, the phases are considered 60 degrees apart (taking into account allowed polarity swap to keep the entire slot star in a 0-180 degree range). After we travel those N slots in Beta groups and exactly 60 electrical degrees, we must land on the "same position" (**) within the next phase. Since the phases are symmetrical (when beta is not multiple of 3), we must be starting the coil grouping pattern all over again at that point. Therefore the pattern must repeat itself when we land at the same position in the next symmetric phase after beta = 13 groups.
Since the pattern is periodic with interval beta = 13 groups, we can generate 13 variations just by starting at a different group within the 13-group periodic pattern each time.
Starting at the 1st group within my "recurring unit":
2 1 2, 1 1 2, 1 2 1, 1 2 1, 1, repeat....
Starting at the 2st group within my "recurring unit":
1 2 1, 1 2 1, 2 1 1, 2 1 1, 2, repeat....
Stargting at the 3rd group within my "recurring unit":
2 1 1, 2 1 2, 1 1 2, 1 1 2, 1, repeat....
And continuing starting at the 4th thru 13 group within my "recurring unit":
1 1 2, 1 2 1, 1 2 1, 1 2 1, 2, repeat....
1 2 1, 2 1 1, 2 1 1, 2 1 2, 1, repeat....
2 1 2, 1 1 2, 1 1 2, 1 2 1, 1, repeat....
1 2 1, 1 2 1, 1 2 1, 2 1 1, 2, repeat....
2 1 1, 2 1 1, 2 1 2, 1 1 2, 1, repeat....
1 1 2, 1 1 2, 1 2 1, 1 2 1, 2, repeat....
1 2 1, 1 2 1, 2 1 1, 2 1 2, 1, repeat....
2 1 1, 2 1 2, 1 1 2, 1 2 1, 1, repeat....
1 1 2, 1 2 1, 1 2 1, 2 1 1, 2, repeat....
1 2 1, 2 1 1, 2 1 2, 1 1 2, 1, repeat....
But, assuming that all coils are identical, and that there is nothing unique about the 3 phases other than a relative phase relationship, and recognizing that the location where we choose to attach the T-leads doesn't affect anything we care about electtrically or magnetically (as long as correct polarity is maintained), then these 13 variations are all effectively the same winding.
(** "same position" with respect to the pattern that allows flipping coil polarity to roll the slot star into 180 degree window instead of 360 degree window).
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(2B)+(2B)' ?