Electric machine with heat pipes

• US 6,943,467 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Vollmer, Rolf, Potoradi, Detlef
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Leda
• Application Number:
  US10/738,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20040155539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 310/52, 310/53, 310/54, 310/58, 310/61, 310/64, 310/57, 310/59, 310/60.A, 296/05
• US Class Current: 310/52
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/02 in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes heat pipes used in solar heat collectors F24S10/95; in radiators F28D1/0226; in nuclear reactors G21C15/257
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/225 Heat pipes

Abstract

An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor which is spaced from the stator at formation of an air gap therebetween. In order to cool down heat-generating components of the stator and the rotor, the electric machine is provided with a cooling system which includes heat pipes placed in proximity of the heat-generating components.

Claims

1. An electric machine, comprising:

a stator;

a rotor spaced from the stator; and

a cooling system, including a heat pipe, for cooling a heat-generating component of at least one of the stator and the rotor, and a cooler positioned at an axial end of the heat pipe wherein the heat pipe is flexible at least along a predetermined section for outward or inward deflection in a direction of the cooler.

2. The electric machine of claim 1, wherein the heat-generating component of the stator and the rotor is a member selected from the group consisting of winding, lamination stack, and winding end portion.

3. The electric machine of claim 1, wherein the heat pipe has an evaporation zone, a transport zone and a condenser zone, with the evaporation zone positioned adjacent to the heat-generating component.

4. The electric machine of claim 1, wherein the heat pipe is outwardly bent behind a winding end portion.

5. The electric machine of claim 1, wherein the heat pipe is constructed to conform to a shape of the heat-generating component.

6. The electric machine of claim 1, wherein the cooling system includes a cooler positioned axially on the electric machine in an area of the condenser zone of the heat pipe.

7. The electric machine of claim 1, wherein the cooler is arranged radially on the electric machine.

8. The electric machine of claim 1, wherein the cooler is part of the electric machine.

9. The electric machine of claim 1, wherein the cooler is separate from the electric machine.

10. The electric machine of claim 1, wherein the heat pipe extends in or around a winding end portion.