Motor assembly with reduced thermal resistance

1 . An insulating slot liner for an electric motor, the slot liner comprising:

a body portion having an exterior side configured to be disposed adjacent to an interior surface of a stator of the electric motor and an interior side opposite the exterior side;

a first arm portion and a second arm portion each extending away from the interior side of the body portion so as to form a winding channel between the body portion, the first arm portion, and the second arm portion; and

one or more insulation openings formed in the body portion between the interior side and the exterior side so as to form a fluid connection between the winding channel and the interior surface of the stator.

2 . The insulating slot liner of claim 1 , wherein the body portion extends between a first end and a second end along a vertical axis, and wherein the one or more insulation openings are disposed spaced from one another in an array along the vertical axis.

3 . The insulating slot liner of claim 1 , wherein the body portion extends between a first end and a second end along a vertical axis, and wherein the one or more insulation openings each have an opening height measured along the vertical axis that is less than an opening width measured perpendicular to the vertical axis.

4 . The insulating slot liner of claim 1 , wherein the body portion extends between a first end and a second end along a vertical axis, and wherein the one or more insulation openings each have an opening height measured along the vertical axis that is greater than or equal to an opening width measured perpendicular to the vertical axis.

5 . The insulating slot liner of claim 1 , wherein the first arm portion is configured to be disposed adjacent a first stator tooth of the electric motor, and wherein the second arm portion is configured to be disposed adjacent a second stator tooth of the electric motor, the second stator tooth being adjacent the first stator tooth.

6 . The insulating slot liner of claim 5 , wherein the first arm portion includes a distal end that extends away from the first arm portion and the second arm portion includes a distal end that extends away from the second arm portion, and wherein the distal end of the first arm portion is configured to be disposed adjacent a distal end of the first stator tooth and wherein the distal end of the second arm portion is configured to be disposed adjacent a distal end of the second stator tooth.

7 . A motor assembly comprising:

a stator having a circumferential interior surface;

a plurality of stator teeth extending radially inward from the interior surface of the stator;

a plurality of slots formed between pairs of adjacent stator teeth and the interior surface of the stator; and

a plurality of slot liners, each slot liner of the plurality of slot liners disposed within one of the plurality of slots, wherein each slot liner includes:

a body portion having an exterior side disposed against the interior surface and an interior side opposite the exterior side,

a first arm portion disposed against a first stator tooth of the plurality of stator teeth,

a second arm portion disposed against a second stator tooth of the plurality of stator teeth, the second stator tooth being adjacent to the first stator tooth, and

one or more insulation openings formed in the body portion between the interior side and the exterior side so as to form a fluid connection between each respective slot of the plurality of slots and the interior surface of the stator.

8 . The motor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the body portion extends between a first end and a second end along a vertical axis, and wherein the one or more insulation openings are disposed spaced from one another in an array along the vertical axis.

9 . The motor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the body portion extends between a first end and a second end along a vertical axis, and wherein the one or more insulation openings each have an opening height measured along the vertical axis that is less than an opening width measured perpendicular to the vertical axis.

10 . The motor assembly of claim 7 further comprising a thermally conductive potting material disposed within at least one of the plurality of slots so as to cover the one or more insulation openings.

11 . The motor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the body portion extends between a first end and a second end along a vertical axis, and wherein the one or more insulation openings are disposed along the vertical axis so as to not extend beyond each respective stator in the vertical axis.

12 . The motor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first arm portion includes a distal end that extends away from the first arm portion and the second arm portion includes a distal end that extends away from the second arm portion, and wherein the distal end of the first arm portion is configured to be disposed adjacent a distal end of a first stator tooth and wherein the distal end of the second arm portion is configured to be disposed adjacent a distal end of a second stator tooth adjacent the first stator tooth.

13 . The motor assembly of claim 7 further comprising stator windings disposed around each of the plurality of stator teeth, the stator windings being disposed at least partially within each respective slot of the plurality of slots.

14 . The motor assembly of claim 13 , wherein the stator windings do not overlap the respective insulation openings in a radial direction.

15 . A pump system for pumping a fluid, the pump system comprising:

a pump housing including an inlet conduit configured to convey the fluid into the pump housing and an outlet conduit configured to convey the fluid out of the pump housing;

an electric motor assembly including a stator;

a shaft extending out of the stator and into the pump housing, the electric motor assembly being configured to rotate the shaft with respect to the electric motor and the pump housing;

an impeller disposed on the shaft and within the pump housing in fluid communication with the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit, the impeller being configured to rotate within the pump housing in response to the shaft so as to convey the fluid out of the outlet conduit;

wherein the stator includes:

a plurality of stator teeth extending radially inward and spaced from one another to form a plurality of slots, and

a plurality of slot liners each disposed within one of the plurality of slots, each of the plurality of slot liners including one or more insulation openings disposed so as to form a fluid connection between the respective slot and the stator; and

a thermally conductive and electrically isolating potting material disposed within at least one of the plurality of slots so as to cover the one or more insulation openings.

16 . The pump system of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of slot liners further comprises:

a body portion having an exterior side disposed against the stator and an interior side opposite the exterior side;

a first arm portion disposed against a first stator tooth of the plurality of stator teeth;

a second arm portion disposed against a second stator tooth of the plurality of stator teeth, the second stator tooth being adjacent to the first stator tooth;

wherein the plurality of insulation openings are formed in the body portion between the interior side and the exterior side.

17 . The pump system of claim 16 , wherein the first arm portion includes a distal end that extends away from the first arm portion and the second arm portion includes a distal end that extends away from the second arm portion, and wherein the distal end of the first arm portion is configured to be disposed adjacent a distal end of a first stator tooth and wherein the distal end of the second arm portion is configured to be disposed adjacent a distal end of a second stator tooth adjacent the first stator tooth.

18 . The pump system of claim 15 , wherein the body portion extends between a first end and a second end along a vertical axis, and wherein the one or more insulation openings are disposed along the vertical axis so as to not extend beyond each respective stator in the vertical axis.

19 . The pump system of claim 15 , wherein the thermally conductive and electrically isolating potting material is disposed within each of the plurality of slots so as to cover each of the one or more insulation openings.

20 . The pump system of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of slot liners extends between a first end and a second end along a vertical axis, and wherein the plurality of insulation openings are disposed spaced from one another in an array along the vertical axis.