Liquid cooled asynchronous electric machine

• US 6,191,511 B1
• Filed: 09/27/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Swatch Group Management Services AG (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Swatch Group Management Services AG (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Zysset, Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Nestor
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perez, Guillermo
• Application Number:
  US09/406,105
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 310/254, 310/52, 310/54, 310/58, 310/61, 310/62, 310/63, 310/60.A, 310/60.V, 310/59, 310/75.D, 310/57, 310/53
• US Class Current: 310/60.00A
• 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 order to assure efficient cooling and a temperature balance between the stator and the rotor, an asynchronous electric motor is provided containing a closed cooling liquid circuit which passes successively into the stator (1) and into the shaft (3) of the rotor, over the entire length of the stator and the rotor. A pump (15) is incorporated in the rotor shaft. The liquid is injected into the pump by a stationary axial tube (16) and comes out again between the shaft and this tube. The pump includes a centrifugal pumping member (20) fixed to the bottom of the bore of the shaft, and longitudinal-blades (21) fixed to the shaft facing an external helicoid rib (17) of the injection tube. The liquid is cooled by the ambient air along the periphery of the stator.

Claims

1. An asynchronous electric machine comprising:

a stator having a support structure, first conduit means and a peripheral casing;

a rotor mounted within said stator and having a hollow shaft;

a closed cooling circuit passing through said first conduit means and within said hollow shaft, substantially over the entire length of the rotor and the entire length of the stator; and

,

a pump for circulating a liquid in said cooling circuit, said pump being arranged inside the rotor in said hollow shaft;

wherein said cooling circuit is a closed circuit within the electric motor and includes a radiator comprising a cooling chamber arranged in the stator between said supporting structure and said peripheral casing and where said liquid in contact with said peripheral casing, which is arranged to be cooled by ambient air.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said hollow shaft includes a central bore which is closed on a drive side of the shaft and open on an opposite side, and wherein the cooling circuit includes a stationary injection tube extending axially into said bore and opening out near a bottom of the bore.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said pump includes a centrifugal pumping member arranged at the bottom of the bore of said hollow shaft.

4. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said injection tube is provided with at least one helicoid outer rib.

5. A machine according to claim 4, wherein said pump includes at least two longitudinal or helicoid rotating blades fixed to said hollow shaft in said bore, so as to be able to rotate about the helicoid rib of the injection tube.

6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein said rotating blades are able to be deformed, so that their distance from the helicoid rib is variable.

7. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said rotating blades are able to be deformed by the effect of the dynamic pressure which they exert on the liquid.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pump further includes a centrifugal pumping member arranged at the bottom of the bore of said hollow shaft.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said pump further includes a centrifugal pumping member arranged at the bottom of the bore of said hollow shaft.

10. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said rotating blades are able to be deformed by the effect of temperature.

11. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the shaft of the rotor includes a central bore which is closed on the drive side of the shaft and open on the opposite side, and wherein the liquid circuit includes a stationary injection tube extending axially into said bore and opening out near the bottom of the bore, and wherein the stator is closed on said opposite side, by a flange containing first channels which connect said bore to said cooling chamber, and second channels which connect said first conduit means of the stator to the injection tube, said injection tube being fixed to said flange.

12. An asynchronous electric machine according to claim 1, wherein said peripheral casing is provided with outer fins.

13. An asynchronous electric machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said machine is an electric motor.

14. An asynchronous electric machine including:

a stator;

a rotor mounted within said stator and having a hollow shaft;

a closed cooling circuit passing through said stator and within said hollow shaft of said rotor; and

,

a pump for circulating a liquid in said cooling circuit, said pump being arranged inside said rotor in said hollow shaft;

said hollow shaft including a central bore having a closed bottom on a drive side of said shaft and being open on the opposite side;

said cooling circuit including a stationary injection tube extending axially into said bore and having an outlet near to said bottom of said bore;

wherein said pump includes a centrifugal pumping member arranged on said bottom of said bore and facing said outlet of said injection tube.

15. An asynchronous electric machine as claimed in claim 14 wherein said machine is an electric motor.

16. An asynchronous motor comprising:

a stator having a support structure, first conduit means and a peripheral casing;

a rotor mounted within said stator and having a hollow shaft;

a closed cooling circuit passing through said first conduit means and within said hollow shaft, substantially over the entire length of the rotor and the entire length of the stator; and

,

a pump for circulating a liquid in said closed cooling circuit, said pump being arranged inside said rotor in said hollow shaft;

said closed cooling circuit comprising a closed recirculation loop located entirely within said motor.

17. An asynchronous motor as claimed in claim 16 wherein said cooling circuit includes a radiator comprising a cooling chamber arranged in the stator between said support structure and said peripheral casing so that liquid in contact with said peripheral casing is cooled by ambient air.