Electric motor

• US 7,317,296 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grundfos A/S (Poul Due Jensens Fond)
• Original Assignee: Grundfos A/S (Poul Due Jensens Fond)
• Inventors: Vadstrup, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Ip; Paul
• Application Number:
  US10/848,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20040251869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 318430-434, 318471-474, 136/203, 136/205, 136/230, 136/242, 136/236.1, 603/24, 62/33, 625/20, 62/37, 388/825, 340/870.28, 417/32, 290/1.R, 290/1.A
• US Class Current: 318/807
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/06 the pump being electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0686 Mechanical details of the pump control unit pump control F04D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/06 the pump being electrically driven F04D25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/068 Mechanical details of the pump control unit pump control details F04D27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/5806 Cooling the drive system
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/0094 Structural association with other electrical or electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/128 using air-gap sleeves or air-gap discs
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/227 Heat sinks
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 4/00 Arrangements specially adapted for regulating or controlling the speed or torque of electric motors that can be connected to two or more different electric power supplies vector control H02P21/00

Abstract

The electric motor is equipped with an electronic control, for example in the form of a frequency converter (2) and comprises at least one Seebeck element (6) whose one side is connected to the motor (1) in a heat-conducting manner and whose other side is in heat-conducting connection with a cooling medium. The electrical output power of the Seebeck element (6) is led to the electronic control (2) of the motor (1).

Claims

1. An electric motor with an electronic control, the motor with control comprising:

a motor;

an electronic control, said electronic control including a frequency converter with an intermediate circuit;

a pump unit including a pump delivering a cooling medium, said motor being connected to said pump and forming a part of said pump unit;

a DC/DC converter;

a Seebeck element with one side connected to the motor in a heat-conducting manner and with another side in heat-conducting connection with said cooling medium, said another side of said Seebeck element being cooled via said cooling medium, said DC/DC converter being connected to said Seebeck element and said frequency converter, wherein the electrical output power of the Seebeck element is supplied to said intermediate circuit, whereby the electrical output power of the Seebeck element is supplied to the electronic control of the motor.

2. An electric motor according to claim 1, wherein the motor has a stator winding with an end winding and the Seebeck element has one side connected in a heat-conducting manner to a region of the end winding.

3. An electric motor according to claim 1, wherein the motor has a stator with a winding wire and a stator lamination and a Seebeck element is arranged between the winding wire of the stator and the stator lamination.

4. An electric motor according to claim 1, wherein the motor is a cap-cooled motor and the Seebeck element is arranged between the stator and the cap on an inner side of a stator housing.

5. An electric motor according to claim 1, wherein the another side of the Seebeck element is connected in a heat-conducting manner to a heat sink which is cooled by the cooling airflow of the motor.

6. An electric motor according to claim 1, wherein the motor is a wet-running motor and the Seebeck element is connected in a heat-conducting manner to a can of the motor and arranged on the dry side of the can.

7. An electric motor according to claim 1, wherein the frequency converter forms a construction unit with the motor or with the pump unit.

8. An electric motor and control comprising:

a motor;

a pump unit, said motor forming a portion of said pump unit, said pump unit delivering a cooling source to said motor;

a electronic motor control, said electronic control comprising a frequency converter, said frequency converter having an intermediate circuit;

a DC/DC converter;

a Seebeck element with one side connected to the motor in a heat-conducting manner and with another side in heat-conducting connection with said cooling source of said pump unit, said cooling source decreasing temperature of said another side of said Seebeck element, said DC/DC converter being connected to said Seebeck element and said intermediate circuit, wherein the electrical output power of the Seebeck element is supplied to said intermediate circuit via said DC/DC converter, whereby the electrical output power of said Seebeck element is connected to the electronic motor control.

9. An electric motor and control according to claim 8, wherein the motor has a stator winding with an end winding and the Seebeck element has one side connected in a heat-conducting manner to a region of the end winding.

10. An electric motor and control according to claim 8, wherein the motor has a stator with a winding wire and a stator lamination and a Seebeck element is arranged between the winding wire of the stator and the stator lamination.

11. An electric motor and control according to claim 8, wherein the motor is a cap-cooled motor and the Seebeck element is arranged between the stator and the cap, as the cooling source, on an inner side of a stator housing.

12. An electric motor and control according to claim 8, wherein the another side of the Seebeck element is connected in a heat-conducting manner to a heat sink cooling source which is cooled by the cooling airflow of the motor.

13. An electric motor and control according to claim 8, wherein the motor is a wet-running motor and the Seebeck element is connected in a heat-conducting manner to a can of the motor and arranged on the dry side of the can.

14. An electric motor and control according to claim 8, wherein the frequency converter forms a construction unit with the motor or with the pump unit.

15. An electric motor and control, comprising:

a motor;

a pump unit, said motor forming a portion of said pump unit, said pump unit delivering a cooling source to said motor;

a electronic motor control, said electronic control comprising a frequency converter, said frequency converter having an intermediate circuit;

a DC/DC converter;

a thermoelectric device having a first side and a second side, said first side being connected to said motor in a heat-conducting manner, said second side being in heat-conducting connection with said cooling source of said pump unit such that a temperature of said second side is lower than a temperature of said first side, whereby said thermoelectric device produces a Seebeck effect based on the difference between the temperature of said first side and the temperature of said second side, said DC/DC converter being connected to said Seebeck element and said intermediate circuit, wherein the electrical output power of the Seebeck element is supplied to said intermediate circuit via said DC/DC converter, whereby the electrical output power of said Seebeck element is connected to the electronic motor control, said DC/DC converter stabilizing voltage of said Seebeck element to voltage of said intermediate circuit.

16. An electric motor according to claim 15, wherein the motor has a stator winding with an end winding and the Seebeck element is connected in a heat-conducting manner to a the region of the end winding.

17. An electric motor according to claim 15, wherein the motor has a stator with a winding wire and a stator lamination and a Seebeck element is arranged between the winding wire of the stator and the stator lamination.

18. An electric motor according to claim 15, wherein the motor is a cap-cooled motor and the Seebeck element is arranged between the stator and the cap on an inner side of a stator housing.

19. An electric motor according to claim 15, wherein the Seebeck element is connected in a heat-conducting manner to a heat sink which is cooled by the cooling airflow of the motor.

20. An electric motor according to claim 15, wherein the frequency converter forms a construction unit with the motor or with the pump unit.