Reinforced stator housing for an electric motor
A stator assembly for an electric motor includes a laminate steel core arranged on an axis. The stator assembly also includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The stator assembly additionally includes a stator housing arranged on the axis concentrically with respect to the laminate steel core. The stator housing has a conduit fluidly connected to each of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and configured to circulate fluid around the laminate steel core. The stator assembly also includes a structural skeleton embedded in the stator housing. The structural skeleton is thereby configured to reinforce the stator housing. An electric motor employing the above-described stator assembly is also contemplated.
1. A stator assembly for an electric motor, the stator comprising:
a laminate steel core arranged on an axis;
a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a stator housing arranged on the axis concentrically with respect to the laminate steel core, wherein the stator housing has a conduit fluidly connected to each of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and configured to circulate fluid around the laminate steel core; and
a structural skeleton embedded in the stator housing and thereby configured to reinforce the stator housing.
2. The stator assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the stator housing is fixed to the laminate steel core via an interlocking feature.
3. The stator assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the interlocking feature includes serrations extending along the axis and in positive engagement with the stator housing.
4. The stator assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the stator housing is constructed from a polymeric material.
5. The stator assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the structural skeleton is constructed from a continuous fiber composite, metal, or polymeric material.
6. The stator assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the structural skeleton includes a first set of members extending along the axis and a second set of members arranged at a non-zero angle with respect to the axis, and wherein the second set of members is fixed to the first set of members via an adhesive or a weld, or by being snapped together.
7. The stator assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the structural skeleton is directly affixed to the laminate steel core.
8. The stator assembly according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a rotor bearing;
a housing cap mounted to the stator housing; and
a rotor bearing bushing configured to support the rotor bearing, embedded in the housing cap, and fixedly connected with the structural skeleton.
9. The stator assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the structural skeleton extends along the axis through the stator housing.
10. The stator assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
wire windings arranged on and supported by the laminate steel core and having winding end-turns; and
an end cap arranged on and configured to encapsulate the winding end-turns, wherein the end cap has a fluid passage in fluid communication with the conduit and configured to circulate fluid around the winding end-turns.
11. An electric motor comprising:
a stator assembly; and
a rotor configured to rotate within the stator assembly about an axis;
wherein the stator assembly includes:
a laminate steel core arranged on the axis;
a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
a stator housing arranged on the axis concentrically with respect to the laminate steel core, wherein the stator housing has a conduit fluidly connected to each of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and configured to circulate fluid around the laminate steel core; and
a structural skeleton embedded in the stator housing and thereby configured to reinforce the stator housing.
12. The electric motor according to claim 11 , wherein the stator housing is fixed to the laminate steel core via an interlocking feature.
13. The electric motor according to claim 12 , wherein the interlocking feature includes serrations extending along the axis and in positive engagement with the stator housing.
14. The electric motor according to claim 11 , wherein the stator housing is constructed from a polymeric material.
15. The electric motor according to claim 11 , wherein the structural skeleton is constructed from a continuous fiber composite, metal, or polymeric material.
16. The electric motor according to claim 11 , wherein the structural skeleton includes a first set of members extending along the axis and a second set of members arranged at a non-zero angle with respect to the axis, and wherein the second set of members is fixed to the first set of members via an adhesive or a weld, or by being snapped together.
17. The electric motor according to claim 11 , wherein the structural skeleton is directly affixed to the laminate steel core.
18. The electric motor according to claim 17 , wherein the stator assembly additionally includes:
a rotor bearing;
a housing cap mounted to the stator housing; and
a rotor bearing bushing configured to support the rotor bearing, embedded in the housing cap, and fixedly connected with the structural skeleton.
19. The electric motor according to claim 11 , wherein the structural skeleton extends along the axis through the stator housing.
20. The electric motor according to claim 11 , wherein the stator assembly additionally includes:
wire windings arranged on and supported by the laminate steel core and having winding end-turns; and
an end cap arranged on and configured to encapsulate the winding end-turns, wherein the end cap has a fluid passage in fluid communication with the conduit and configured to circulate fluid around the winding end-turns.