Assembly and method for direct cooling of motor end-winding
First Claim
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1. A system having an electric motor, the system comprising:
- a motor housing having an internal reservoir;
a rotor;
a stator core having a stator winding, a portion of the stator winding protruding from at least one side of the stator core;
a fluid bath in the reservoir of the motor housing, the fluid bath having a top surface, wherein the rotor is maintained out of contact with the fluid bath;
a fluid level sensor for sensing a level of the top surface of the fluid bath; and
a controller coupled with the fluid level sensor to receive signals indicating the level of the top surface of the fluid bath, the controller operable to control a rate of the fluid circulating through the reservoir and the controller configured to maintain the level of the top surface as a fluid-gas interface spaced above the protruding portion of the stator winding.
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Abstract
Methods and related systems providing removal of heat from electric motors via fluid baths.
37 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system having an electric motor, the system comprising:
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a motor housing having an internal reservoir;
a rotor;
a stator core having a stator winding, a portion of the stator winding protruding from at least one side of the stator core;
a fluid bath in the reservoir of the motor housing, the fluid bath having a top surface, wherein the rotor is maintained out of contact with the fluid bath;
a fluid level sensor for sensing a level of the top surface of the fluid bath; and
a controller coupled with the fluid level sensor to receive signals indicating the level of the top surface of the fluid bath, the controller operable to control a rate of the fluid circulating through the reservoir and the controller configured to maintain the level of the top surface as a fluid-gas interface spaced above the protruding portion of the stator winding. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A motorized vehicle comprising:
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an electric motor having a rotor and a magnetic core;
a winding having a winding portion internal to the magnetic core and a winding portion external to the magnetic core;
a fluid bath in contact with at least the winding portion external to the magnetic core, wherein a top surface of the fluid bath forms an interface between the fluid bath and a gas, the fluid comprising the fluid bath is maintained out of contact with the rotor;
a fluid level sensor for sensing a level of the top surface of the fluid bath; and
a controller coupled with the fluid level sensor to control a rate of the fluid circulating through the reservoir and to maintain the level of the top surface above the winding portion external to the magnetic core while insuring a gap that extends above the top surface to a portion of the rotor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of transferring heat from at least an external end-winding of a stator core, the stator core operating in conjunction with a rotor to form an electric motor, the motor having an internal reservoir, the stator core having an internal winding electrically coupled with the external end-winding, said method comprising:
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sensing a top surface fluid level of a volume of fluid located in the reservoir;
controlling a circulation of the fluid; and
maintaining the top surface fluid level to provide a fluid-gas interface spaced above the external end-winding, and wherein maintaining the top surface fluid level includes the fluid comprising the fluid bath being maintained out of contact with the rotor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification