Phase change heat sink for use in electrical solenoids and motors

• US 20020164277A1
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Tobias, Lee A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,069,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/175
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/20 wherein the cooling medium vaporises within the machine casing
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/22 by solid heat conducting material embedded in, or arranged in contact with, the stator or rotor, e.g. heat bridges

Abstract

A method, and a system for reducing the internal temperature of an electrical solenoid or motor device involves placing a heat absorbing phase change material (PCM) in intimate contact with the device to reduce the internal temperature of the device. The PCM material reduces the internal operational temperature of the device by undergoing an endothermic phase transition in an operating temperature range of the device. The PCM material transitions between a solid phase and a liquid phase in the internal operational temperature range of the device, or between a liquid phase and a gaseous phase in the internal operational temperature range of the device. The PCM material can be affixed externally to the device. For example, the PCM material is affixed in the form of externally placed pads to the device. The PCM material can also be affixed inside of the device. For example, the PCM material is placed in a potted position around and inside of coil windings of the device, or within an outer structure of the device.

Claims

1. A method for reducing the internal temperature of an electrical solenoid or motor device, comprising:

placing a heat absorbing phase change material (PCM) in intimate contact with the device to reduce the internal temperature of the device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said PCM material reduces the internal operational temperature of the device by undergoing an endothermic (heat absorbing) phase transition in an operating temperature range of the device.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said PCM material transitions between a solid phase and a liquid phase in said internal operational temperature range of the device.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said PCM material is affixed externally to the device.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said PCM material is affixed in the form of externally placed pads to the device.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said PCM material is affixed inside of the device.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said PCM material is placed in a potted position around internal components of the device, and within an outer structure of the device.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said outer structure is a flexible, bellows-resembling structure.

4. A method according to claim 4, wherein said PCM material transitions between a liquid phase and a gaseous phase in said internal operational temperature range of the device.

11. A system for reducing the internal temperature of an electrical solenoid or motor device, comprising:

an outer structure;

one or more internal components contained within said outer structure; and

phase change material (PCM) material in intimate contact with the device to reduce the internal temperature of the device.

10. A method according to claim 10, wherein said internal components are coil windings of the device.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said PCM material is a material that reduces the internal operational temperature of the device by undergoing an endothermic phase transition in an operating temperature range of the device.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said PCM material is a material that transitions between a solid phase and a liquid phase in said internal operational temperature range of the device.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein said PCM material is a material that transitions between a liquid phase and a gaseous phase in said internal operational temperature range of the device.

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein said PCM material is affixed externally to the device.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said PCM material is affixed in the form of externally placed pads to the device.

17. A system according to claim 11, wherein said PCM material is affixed inside of the device.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein said PCM material is placed in a potted position around and inside of said one or more internal components of the device.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said one or more components are coil windings of the device.

20. A system according to claim 11, wherein said outer structure is a flexible, bellows-resembling structure.