IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,784,526
Granted Patent B2
US 11,784,526 · App. 17/182,587 · Granted Oct 10, 2023

Cooling system for electric motor busbar, stator and coils

Inventor: Tyler Elfers (Akron, OH)
Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
H02K1/32H02K3/24H02K5/203H02K9/197
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,784,526
App. No.
17/182,587
Granted
Oct 10, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A coolant flowpath configuration for an electric motor is disclosed herein. The coolant flowpath configuration includes a coolant flowpath channel defined on a radially outer surface of a stator lamination pack. The coolant flowpath channel includes: a first axial end defined radially outward from a first set of coils; and a second axial end defined radially outward from a second set of coils that is remote from the first set of coils.

Claims (35)

1. A cooling arrangement for an electric motor, the arrangement comprising:

a housing defining an inlet for liquid coolant, the housing partially defining a primary flowpath (F);

a stator carrier positioned adjacent to the housing, the stator carrier partially defining the primary flowpath (F);

a busbar carrier positioned entirely radially inward from and fully surrounded by the stator carrier, the busbar carrier partially defining the primary flowpath (F);

a stator arranged inside of the stator carrier; and

a plurality of coils including a first set of coils arranged adjacent to the busbar carrier at a first axial end of the stator, and a second set of coils arranged at a second axial end of the stator that is remote from the busbar carrier,

wherein the primary flowpath (F) is directed through a chamber defined by the housing, the stator carrier, and the busbar carrier into (i) a first flowpath (F 1 ) directed radially inward to the first set of coils, and (ii) a second flowpath (F 2 ) directed axially outward to the second set of coils.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising sealant applied between components of the arrangement.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the sealant is applied to at least one of (i) a first location defined between the housing and the busbar carrier, (ii) a second location defined on a radially outward surface of the busbar carrier, or (iii) a third location defined between the busbar carrier and the stator.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the stator is formed as a lamination pack.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the second flowpath (F 2 ) is partially defined by at least one axially extending channel formed on a radially outer surface of the stator.

6. The arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the at least one axially extending channel extends an entire axial extent of the stator.

7. The arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the at least one axially extending channel is formed as a semi-circular indentation on the stator.

8. The arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the at least one axially extending channel includes a plurality of channels that are circumferentially spaced apart from each other.

9. The arrangement of claim 5 , wherein a radially inner surface of the stator carrier partially defines a boundary of the at least one axially extending channel.

10. The arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising an O-ring mounted on the housing and surrounding the primary flowpath (F).

11. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein a radially outer surface of the busbar carrier includes protrusions that extend radially outward and restrict the primary flowpath (F).

12. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first flowpath (F 1 ) and the second flowpath (F 2 ) are each dispersed circumferentially to the respective set of coils.

13. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first set of coils and the second set of coils are each mounted in a respective bobbin, and each bobbin is positioned directly adjacent to the stator.

14. The arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a valve in the housing that regulates a fluid flow rate into the housing.

15. A cooling system for an electric motor, the cooling system comprising:

a primary flowpath (F) originating inside of a housing of the electric motor, the primary flowpath (F) being directed from the housing through an O-ring attached to the housing, the primary flowpath (F) directed into a chamber partially defined by the housing, a busbar carrier, and a stator carrier,

wherein the primary flowpath (F) is restricted via sealant applied to a first location defined on a radially outer surface of the busbar carrier to direct the primary flowpath (F) into the chamber,

wherein the chamber divides the primary flowpath (F) into a first flowpath (F 1 ) and a second flowpath (F 2 );

the first flowpath (F 1 ) extending radially inward from the chamber and extending towards a first set of coils that are adjacent to the busbar carrier; and

the second flowpath (F 2 ) extending axially away from the chamber within an axially extending channel defined on a radially outer surface of a stator, and the second flowpath (F 2 ) is directed towards a second set of coils that are remote from the first set of coils.

16. The cooling system of claim 15 , wherein the primary flowpath (F) is further restricted via sealant applied to at least one of a second location defined between the housing and the busbar carrier, or a third location defined between the busbar carrier and the stator.

17. The cooling system of claim 15 , wherein the first set of coils and the second set of coils are each mounted in a respective bobbin, and each bobbin is positioned directly adjacent to the stator.

18. The cooling system of claim 15 , wherein the first flowpath (F 1 ) and the second flowpath (F 2 ) are each dispersed circumferentially to the respective set of coils.

19. The cooling system of claim 15 , wherein the channel extends an entire axial extent of the stator, and the channel is formed as a semi-circular indentation on the stator.

20. A coolant flowpath configuration for an electric motor, the coolant flowpath configuration comprising:

a coolant flowpath channel defined on a radially outer surface of a stator lamination pack, wherein the coolant flowpath channel includes:

a first axial end defined radially outward from a first set of coils, and a second axial end defined radially outward from a second set of coils that is remote from the first set of coils;

wherein the first axial end of the coolant flowpath channel receives a liquid coolant from a chamber partially defined by a housing, a busbar carrier, and a stator carrier of the electric motor, the busbar carrier positioned entirely radially inward from and fully surrounded by the stator carrier; and

wherein a radially outer surface of the busbar carrier includes protrusions positioned fully radially inward of the stator carrier and extending radially outward into the chamber to restrict a flow of the liquid coolant and direct the flow of the liquid coolant to the first axial end of the coolant flowpath channel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 23, 2021
From: ELFERS, TYLER
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 055374/0468 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62983100 · Feb 28, 2020
Related Publication 20210273512A1 · Sep 2, 2021