Systems for rotor assembly including a lubricant distributor
Systems are provided for an electric motor. In one example, a rotor assembly of the electric motor includes a shaft, a lubricant distributor inserted into the shaft, the lubricant distributor comprising a first section comprising a plurality of first nozzles and a second section comprising a plurality of second nozzles, the lubricant distributor further comprising an overflow portion arranged between the first and second sections, and a stationary lance positioned adjacent to the first section of the lubricant distributor, the lance comprising a plurality of radial nozzles. The rotor assembly controls coolant flow towards the rotor and bearings, helping to decrease drag losses.
1 . A rotor assembly of an electric motor, comprising:
a shaft;
a lubricant distributor inserted into the shaft, the lubricant distributor comprising a first section comprising a plurality of first nozzles and a second section comprising a plurality of second nozzles, the lubricant distributor further comprising an overflow portion arranged between the first and second sections; and
a lance positioned adjacent to the first section of the lubricant distributor, the lance comprising a plurality of radial nozzles, wherein the lance comprises a first arm integrally arranged in a body of the electric motor and a second arm, that is normal to the first arm, interior to the first section of the lubricant distributor, and wherein the second arm terminates in the first section of the lubricant distributor, and the plurality of radial nozzles are positioned upstream of the plurality of first nozzles.
2 . The rotor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant distributor is configured to rotate with the shaft.
3 . The rotor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lance is stationary, and wherein a first air intake channel is arranged between the first arm and the first section of the oil distributor, and a second air intake channel is arranged downstream of the plurality of second nozzles.
4 . The rotor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotor shaft comprises an interior channel.
5 . The rotor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of radial nozzles of the lance is configured to spray lubricant from a conduit of the lance to an inner diameter surface of the lubricant distributor.
6 . The rotor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first nozzles of the lubricant distributor flow lubricant to at least one bearing.
7 . The rotor assembly of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of second nozzles of the lubricant distributor flow lubricant to an inner diameter of end windings.
8 . An electric motor, comprising:
a rotor shaft;
a lubricant distributor inserted into the rotor shaft, the lubricant distributor comprising a plurality of first nozzles configured to lubricate at least one bearing and a plurality of second nozzles configured to lubricant rotor laminations;
a static lance having a plurality of radial nozzles, the lance extending into a conduit of the rotor shaft interior to the lubricant distributor, wherein the static lance comprises a T-shape, and wherein the lance terminates upstream of the plurality of second nozzles, and the plurality of radial nozzles are positioned upstream of the plurality of first nozzles; and
an air gap arranged between the lubricant distributor and the static lance.
9 . The electric motor of claim 8 , further comprising an overflow portion arranged between the plurality of first nozzles and the plurality of second nozzles.
10 . The electric motor of claim 9 , wherein a lubricant film is present on an inner surface of the lubricant distributor, and wherein the overflow portion is free of the lubricant film.
11 . The electric motor of claim 8 , wherein a number of the plurality of second nozzles is greater than a number of the plurality of first nozzles.
12 . The electric motor of claim 8 , wherein a size of the plurality of second nozzles is greater than a size of the plurality of first nozzles.
13 . The electric motor of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of first nozzles flow lubricant to axial passages in contact with an outer diameter of the lubricant distributor, further comprising angled passages configured to flow lubricant from the axial passages to the bearings.
14 . The electric motor of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of first nozzles are closer to the lance than the plurality of second nozzles, and wherein the rotor shaft comprises an interior channel, and wherein the gap is an axial air intake channel configured to flow air into the interior channel.
15 . A method for an electric motor comprising a rotor assembly including a shaft and a lubricant distributor inserted into the shaft, the method comprising:
flowing lubricant through a static lance to a first section of the lubricant distributor via a plurality of radial nozzles arranged on the lance, wherein the static lance comprises a T-shape, the static lance terminates in the first section of the lubricant distributor upstream of a second section of the lubricant distributor, and wherein the plurality of radial nozzles are arranged upstream of a plurality of first nozzles of the lubricant distributor;
generating a first film on an inner diameter of the lubricant distributor of the electric motor via air from an axial air intake channel; and
cooling a bearing via the first film.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein lubricant generating the first film is sprayed by the plurality of radial nozzles arranged on a second arm of the lance normal to a first arm, and wherein the second arm extends into the lubricant distributor and the shaft, and terminates in the first section of the lubricant distributor.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising generating a second film on an inner diameter of the shaft via spraying lubricant from the plurality of first nozzles of the lubricant distributor, the plurality of first nozzles of the lubricant distributor arranged in the first section of the lubricant distributor.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising flowing lubricant from the second film through outer angled passages to the bearing.
19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising flowing excess lubricant provided to the lubricant distributor through a plurality of second nozzles of the lubricant distributor to a sump, the plurality of second nozzles arranged in the second section of the lubricant distributor, downstream of the first section of the lubricant distributor.