Solid rotor assembly

• US 5,798,593 A
• Filed: 05/02/1996
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Perfect Galaxy International Limited
• Original Assignee: Satcon Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Bushko, Dariusz A., Colello, Gary, Kirtley, James L. Jr., Rao, Gita P., Salter, Richard T. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Timothy A.
• Application Number:
  US08/642,146
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 310/211, 310/261, 310/267, 310/271, 310/216, 310/106, 310/262, 29/598, 180/165
• US Class Current: 310/166
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/12 Induction machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• 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: B60L 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/32 with channels or ducts for flow of cooling medium
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/028 for fastening to casing or support, respectively to shaft or hub
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 17/16 having rotors with internally short-circuited windings, e.g. cage rotors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/24 with channels or ducts for cooling medium between the conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/08 Insulating casings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/203 specially adapted for liquids, e.g. cooling jackets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/193 with provision for replenishing the cooling medium; with means for preventing leakage of the cooling medium
• 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
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

An induction motor includes a stator defining stator inner and stator outer diameters extending about a longitudinal axis, the stator includes a plurality of windings extending longitudinally and circumferentially about the longitudinal axis between the stator inner diameter and the stator outer diameter, passing an electric current therethrough to create a magnetic field, a rotor extending along the longitudinal axis having a rotor length and a rotor outer diameter less than the stator inner diameter, the rotor being rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to the stator in response to the magnetic field, the rotor including a hoop portion disposed adjacent the rotor outer diameter and extending radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis, the hoop portion being a solid unitary structure.

Claims

1. An induction motor comprising:

a stator defining stator inner and stator outer diameters extending about a longitudinal axis, said stator including a plurality of windings extending longitudinally and circumferentially about the longitudinal axis between said stator inner diameter and said stator outer diameter and passing an electric current therethrough to create a magnetic field; and

a rotor extending along the longitudinal axis having a rotor length and a rotor outer diameter less than said stator inner diameter, said rotor being rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to said stator in response to the magnetic field, said rotor including a hoop portion disposed adjacent said rotor outer diameter and extending radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis, said hoop portion being a solid unitary structure having an outer peripheral wall with a continuous cylindrical surface;

said hoop portion having a plurality of slots extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, said slots adjacent to the outer peripheral wall but not penetrating said surface,

each slot containing an electrically conductive bar.

3. The induction motor of claim 1, wherein said slots are spaced equidistantly from each other about the diameter of the hoop portion.

4. The induction motor of claim 1, wherein each bar has a longitudinal notch extending along its length on its outer side.

5. The induction motor of claim 1, wherein each bar comprises copper.

6. The induction motor of claim 1, further comprising an end cap at one end of the rotor, the end cap comprising a ring member that is in electrical contact with each of the conductive bars, the ring member being surrounded on its periphery by a longitudinal extension of the rotor peripheral wall.

7. The induction motor of claim 6, wherein the ring member comprises copper.

8. The induction motor of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cooling channels in the rotor, the cooling channels being parallel to the slots.

9. The induction motor of claim 8, wherein a cooling channel is located between each pair of slots.

2. A motor vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

at least two wheels connected to said chassis; and

an induction motor operatively connected to at least one of said two wheels to create a force to move said chassis, said induction motor including;

a stator defining stator inner and stator outer diameters extending about a longitudinal axis;

said stator including a plurality of windings extending longitudinally and circumferentially about the longitudinal axis between said stator inner diameter and said stator outer diameter and passing an electric current therethrough to create a magnetic field; and

a rotor extending along the longitudinal axis having a rotor length and a rotor outer diameter less than said stator inner diameter, said rotor being rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to said stator in response to the magnetic field,

said rotor including a hoop portion disposed adjacent said rotor outer diameter and extending radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis, said hoop portion being a solid unitary structure having an outer peripheral wall with a continuous cylindrical surface;

said hoop portion having a plurality of slots extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, said slots adjacent to the outer peripheral wall but not penetrating said surface;

each slot containing an electrically conductive bar.

10. The motor vehicle of claim 2, wherein in said induction motor said slots are spaced equidistantly from each other about the diameter of the hoop portion.

11. The motor vehicle of claim 2, wherein in said induction motor each bar has a longitudinal notch extending along its length on its outer side.

12. The motor vehicle of claim 2, wherein in said induction motor each bar comprises copper.

13. The motor vehicle of claim 2, wherein said induction motor further comprises an end cap at one end of the rotor, the end cap comprising a ring member that is in electrical contact with each of the conductive bars, the ring member being surrounded on its periphery by a longitudinal extension of the rotor peripheral wall.

14. The motor vehicle of claim 13, wherein the ring member comprises copper.

15. The motor vehicle of claim 2, wherein said induction motor further comprises a plurality of cooling channels in the rotor, the cooling channels being parallel to the slots.

16. The induction motor of claim 15, wherein a cooling channel is located between each pair of slots.