Vacuum gap generators and motors

• US 10,033,236 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2015
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Chankaya, Kurt M., Schuetze, Arthur Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Mok, Alex W
• Application Number:
  US14/803,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20160028283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 310 54
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/32 with channels or ducts for flow of cooling medium
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/02 of stator or rotor bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2205/12 Machines characterised by means for reducing windage losses or windage noise
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/24 with channels or ducts for cooling medium between the conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/197 in which the rotor or stator space is fluid-tight, e.g. to provide for different cooling media for rotor and stator

Abstract

In one embodiment, a generator or an alternating current (AC) motor includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor is configured to rotate at least partially within the stator or around the stator and is separated from the stator by a gap having a partial vacuum. The rotor includes a shaft configured to permit a flow of coolant and a plurality of microchannels formed within the rotor. The microchannels are fluidly coupled to the shaft and are configured to permit the coolant to pass from the shaft through at least a portion of the rotor in order to provide cooling for the rotor.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a stator; and

a rotor configured to be positioned at least partially within the stator and to rotate within the stator, the rotor being separated from the stator by a gap comprising a partial vacuum, the rotor formed from a ferrous material using additive manufacturing, the rotor comprising;

a shaft configured to permit a flow of coolant within the shaft;

a plurality of electromagnets, each electromagnet comprising a plurality of windings; and

a plurality of microchannels formed within the rotor and fluidly coupled to the shaft, wherein;

at least one microchannel is located proximate to one of the windings;

the microchannels are configured to permit the coolant to pass from the shaft through at least a portion of the rotor in order to provide cooling for the rotor; and

wherein the rotor comprises;

a plurality of rotor teeth;

a plurality of rotor windings, each of the one or more rotor winding being located proximate to one of the rotor teeth; and

wherein at least one of the microchannels passes through at least a portion of one of the rotor teeth along a longitudinal direction aligned with a rotation axis of the rotor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microchannels comprise cross-sectional diameters that are less than cross-sectional diameters of the plurality of rotor windings.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a generator or an alternating current (AC) motor.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the coolant comprises polyalphaolefin (PAO).

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the ferrous material comprises steel or iron.

6. A device comprising:

a stator; and

a rotor configured to rotate at least partially within the stator or around the stator, the rotor being separated from the stator by a gap comprising a partial vacuum, the rotor comprising;

a shaft configured to permit a flow of coolant;

a plurality of microchannels formed within the rotor and fluidly coupled to the shaft, the microchannels configured to permit the coolant to pass from the shaft through at least a portion of the rotor in order to provide cooling for the rotor; and

wherein the rotor comprises;

a plurality of rotor teeth;

a plurality of rotor windings, each of the one or more rotor winding being located proximate to one of the rotor teeth; and

wherein at least one of the microchannels passes through at least a portion of one of the rotor teeth along a longitudinal direction aligned with a rotation axis of the rotor.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the rotor comprises a single member that is formed using additive manufacturing.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the rotor is formed using steel or iron.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of microchannels comprise cross-sectional diameters that are less than cross-sectional diameters of the plurality of rotor windings.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the coolant comprises polyalphaolefin (PAO).

11. The device of claim 6, wherein:

the device comprises an electrical generator; and

rotation of the rotor by mechanical energy causes a voltage to be induced in electromagnets of the stator.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the electrical generator is configured to be installed in an aircraft.

13. The device of claim 6, wherein:

the device comprises an alternating current (AC) motor; and

the rotor rotates in response to rotating magnetic fields caused by electromagnets of the stator.

14. A generator comprising:

a stator;

a rotor configured to rotate at least partially within the stator or around the stator, the rotor being separated from the stator by a gap comprising a partial vacuum, the rotor comprising a plurality of microchannels formed within the rotor and fluidly coupled to a shaft of the rotor, the microchannels configured to permit a coolant to pass from the shaft through at least a portion of the rotor in order to provide cooling for the rotor; and

wherein the rotor comprises;

a plurality of rotor teeth;

a plurality of rotor windings, each of the one or more rotor winding being located proximate to one of the rotor teeth; and

wherein at least one of the microchannels passes through at least a portion of one of the rotor teeth along a longitudinal direction aligned with a rotation axis of the rotor.

15. The generator of claim 14, wherein the plurality of microchannels comprise cross-sectional diameters that are less than cross-sectional diameters of the plurality of rotor windings.

16. The generator of claim 14, wherein the coolant comprises polyalphaolefin (PAO).