LIFE MONITOR FOR ELECTRIC MACHINE

• US 20120065900A1
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Remy Technologies LLC (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Remy Technologies LLC (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bradfield, Michael D.
• Application Number:
  US12/881,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065900A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0283 Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A method for monitoring remaining life of an electric machine for a motor vehicle includes sensing a temperature of a component of the electric machine at one or more time intervals. A percentage of life of the component consumed at each time interval is calculated and the percentages of life consumed are summed to determine a total percentage of life consumed. The total percentage of life consumed is compared to a selected threshold. A life monitor system for an electric machine for a vehicle includes a temperature sensor secured to a component of the electric machine. An engine control unit is operably connected to the temperature sensor and is configured to calculate a remaining life of the component of the electric machine compared to a selected threshold, based on temperature data from the temperature sensor.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring remaining life of an electric machine comprising:

sensing a temperature of a component of the electric machine at one or more time intervals;

calculating a percentage of life of the component consumed at one or more time intervals;

summing the percentages of life consumed to determine a total percentage of life consumed; and

comparing the total percentage of life consumed to a selected threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a warning signal when the total percentage of life consumed exceeds the selected threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the warning signal is a light at a dashboard display of the motor vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the component is end turn insulation of a stator of the electric machine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the component is sensed via a thermistor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculating, the summing, and/or the comparing are accomplished via a powertrain control module.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the time interval is ten seconds.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected threshold is ninety percent.

9. A life monitor system for an electric machine comprising:

a temperature sensor secured to a component of the electric machine configured to sense a temperature of the component at one or more time intervals;

an engine control unit operably connected to the temperature sensor configured to calculate a remaining life of the component of the electric machine compared to a selected threshold, based on temperature data from the temperature sensor; and

a warning indicator operably connected to the engine control unit configured to be activated when the remaining life of the component falls below the selected threshold.

10. The life monitor system of claim 9, wherein the temperature sensor is a thermistor.

11. The life monitor system of claim 9, wherein the component is an end turn insulation of a stator of the electric machine.

12. The life monitor system of claim 9, wherein the warning indicator is a light at a dashboard display of the motor vehicle.

13. The life monitor system of claim 9, wherein the engine control unit is a powertrain control module electrically connected to the temperature sensor.

14. The life monitor system of claim 9, wherein the time interval is ten seconds.

15. The life monitor system of claim 9, wherein the selected threshold is ninety percent.

16. The life monitor system of claim 9, wherein the electric machine is a hybrid motor.

17. A life monitor system for an electric machine of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine comprising:

a temperature sensor secured to a component of the electric machine configured to sense a temperature of the component at one or more time intervals;

an engine control unit operably connected to the temperature sensor configured to calculate a remaining life of the component of the electric machine compared to a selected threshold, based on temperature data from the temperature sensor; and

a warning indicator operably connected to the engine control unit configured to be activated when the remaining life of the component falls below the selected threshold.

18. The life monitor system of claim 17, wherein the temperature sensor is a thermistor.

19. The life monitor system of claim 17, wherein the component is an end turn insulation of a stator of the electric machine.

20. The life monitor system of claim 17, wherein the warning indicator is a light at a dashboard display of the motor vehicle.

21. The life monitor system of claim 17, wherein the engine control unit is a powertrain control module electrically connected to the temperature sensor.

22. The life monitor system of claim 17, wherein the time interval is ten seconds.

23. The life monitor system of claim 17, wherein the selected threshold is ninety percent.