Connection device and electric machine

• US 10,333,363 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2015
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Fries, Benedikt, Loffler, Axel, Crnogorac, Roland, Kopal, Karl-Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung, Quyen P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Eric
• Application Number:
  US15/328,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20170214284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 310 52, 310 54, 310 59, 310 71
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/22 consisting of hollow conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/24 with channels or ducts for cooling medium between the conductors

Abstract

A connection device for connecting at least one electrical hollow conductor as used in a winding of an electric machine for a motor vehicle to an electrical energy source or an electrical energy storage or user is disclosed, wherein the connection device includes a first channel adapted for introduction of a coolant into the at least one hollow conductor.

Claims

1. A connection device for connecting at least one electrical hollow conductor as used in a winding of an electric machine for a motor vehicle, to an electrical energy source or an electrical energy storage or an electrical energy user, said connection device comprising a first channel, adapted for introduction of a coolant into the at least one hollow conductor, a second channel via which the coolant can be discharged from the at least one hollow conductor, wherein the first channel and/or the second channel include a collection region having a flow cross section in which a plurality of coolant conduits formed in the connection device are fluidly coupled, said coolant conduits being assigned to the hollow conductors in one to one correspondence, wherein the flow cross section of the collection region increases toward an interface region of the connection device, said interface region being configured for connection of the connection device with an inlet line or with an outlet line for the coolant.

2. The connection device of claim 1, further comprising a connection region having a surface, and coolant conduits ending in the connection region, wherein ends of the coolant conduits provide receptacles for insertion of the hollow conductors.

3. The connection device of claim 2, wherein the surface of the connection region is even.

4. The connection device of claim 2, wherein first ones of the coolant conduits are fluidly connected with the collection region of the first channel and second ones of the coolant conduits are fluidly coupled with the collection region of the second channel, and wherein in the connection region the first ones and second ones of the coolant conduits are arranged alternating with each other in at least one direction of extent of the connection region.

5. The connection device of claim 1, wherein the flow cross section of the collection region substantially corresponds to at least a sum of flow cross sections of respective ones of the plurality of the coolant conduits which are fluidly coupled with the collection region at a respective distance to the interface region.

6. The connection device of claim 5, wherein the respective ones of the plurality of the coolant conduits have at least one curvature.

7. The connection device of claim 1, wherein the interface region has a contact surface for an electrical conductor via which the at least one hollow conductor can be impinged with electrical energy or electrical energy can be conducted from the electrical machine.

8. The connection device of claim 1, wherein the interface region has a screw thread.

9. The connection device of claim 1, wherein the connection device, is produced by at least one process selected from the group consisting of three dimensional printing, three dimensional sintering joining of individually processed discs, casting and material removing processes.

10. The connection device of claim 9, wherein the connection device is made of a metal and/or of a plastic provided with a metal.

11. An electric machine, comprising a connection device, for connecting at least one electrical hollow conductor as used in a winding of an electric machine for a motor vehicle, to an electrical energy source or an electrical energy storage or an electrical energy user, said connection device comprising a first channel adapted for introduction of a coolant into the at least one hollow conductor, a second channel via which the coolant can be discharged from the at least one hollow conductor, wherein the first channel and/or the second channel include a collection region having a flow cross section in which a plurality of coolant conduits formed in the connection device are fluidly coupled, said coolant conduits being assigned to the hollow conductors in one to one correspondence, wherein the flow cross section of the collection region increases toward an interface region of the connection device, said interface region being configured for connection of the connection device with an inlet line or with an outlet line for the coolant.

12. The electric machine of claim 11, configured to provide propulsion energy for propulsion of the vehicle and/or to convert during driving of the vehicle mechanical energy into electrical energy.