Nested torsional damper for an electric machine

• US 7,923,874 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Himmelmann, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Dang D
• Application Number:
  US12/486,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20100323804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 310/51, 310/75.D, 310/90, 310/261.1
• US Class Current: 310/75.00D
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/12 specially adapted for accumulation of energy to absorb shocks or vibration by making use of fluid elements F16D3/80
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/10 Suppression of vibrations in rotating systems by making use of members moving with the system by balancing F16F15/22 ; yielding couplings F16D3/00 ; with flywheels acting variably or intermittently F16H ; construction providing resilience or vibration-damping for gear elements F16H55/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/121 using springs as elastic members, e.g. metallic springs F16F15/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1807 Rotary generators H02K7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1815 structurally associated with reciprocating piston engines general aspects of generating sets, e.g. housing, F02B63/04

Abstract

A damper for an electric machine (10) includes a shaft (20) and at least one shaft segment (26) concentric about the shaft (20) and operably connected to the shaft (20). The at least one shaft segment (26) includes a plurality of shaft slots (38) extending through a wall (40) of the at least one shaft segment (26) to increase torsional compliance of the at least one shaft segment (26). A driveline mounted electric machine (10) includes at least one rotor (16) located at a central axis (18) of the electric machine (10) and a damper. The damper includes a shaft (20) in operable communication with the at least one rotor (16) and at least one shaft segment (26) concentric about the shaft (20) an operably connected thereto. The at least one shaft segment (26) includes a plurality of shaft slots (38) extending through a wall (40) of the at least one shaft segment (26) to increase torsional compliance of the at least one shaft segment (26).

Claims

1. A damper for an electric machine (10) comprising:

a shaft (20); and

two or more radially stacked shaft segments (26) concentric about the shaft (20) and operably connected thereto, the two or more stacked shaft segments connected to each other by a plurality of end segments, each shaft segment of the two or more shaft segments (26) including a plurality of shaft slots (38) extending through a wall (40) thereof to increase torsional compliance of the two or more shaft segments (26).

2. The damper of claim 1 wherein each shaft slot (38) of the plurality of shaft slots (38) extends in a substantially longitudinal direction along the two or more shaft segments (26).

3. The damper of claim 1 wherein at least one shaft segment (26) of the two or more shaft segments is connected to the shaft (20) via an end segment (28).

4. The damper of claim 1 wherein a first end (30) of a first shaft segment (32) is connected to a second end (34) of a second shaft segment (36) via an end segment (28).

5. The damper of claim 4 wherein the first shaft segment (32) is radially adjacent to the second shaft segment (36).

6. The damper of claim 1 wherein a filler (42) is disposed in at least one shaft slot (38) of the plurality of shaft slots (38).

7. The damper of claim 6 wherein the filler (42) comprises vulcanized rubber.

8. The damper of claim 1 wherein the shaft (20) includes a plurality of spline teeth (22).

9. A driveline mounted electric machine (10) comprising:

at least one rotor (16) disposed at a central axis (18) of the electric machine (10); and

a damper comprising;

a shaft (20) in operable communication with the at least one rotor (16); and

two or more radially stacked shaft segments (26) concentric about the shaft (20) and operably connected thereto, the two or more stacked shaft segments connected to each other by a plurality of end segments, each shaft segment of the two or more shaft segments (26) including a plurality of shaft slots (38) extending through a wall (40) thereof to increase torsional compliance of the two or more shaft segments (26).

10. The electric machine (10) of claim 9 wherein each shaft slot (38) of the plurality of shaft slots (38) extends in a substantially longitudinal direction along the two or more shaft segments (26).

11. The electric machine (10) of claim 9 wherein the two or more shaft segments (26) is connected to the shaft (20) via an end segment (28).

12. The electric machine (10) of claim 9 wherein a first end (30) of a first shaft segment (32) is connected to a second end (34) of a second shaft segment (36) via an end segment (28).

13. The electric machine (10) of claim 12 wherein the first shaft segment (32) is radially adjacent to the second shaft segment (36).

14. The electric machine (10) of claim 12 wherein a filler (42) is disposed in at least one shaft slot (38) of the plurality of shaft slots (38).

15. The electric machine (10) of claim 14 wherein the filler (42) comprises vulcanized rubber.

16. The electric machine (10) of claim 9 wherein the shaft (20) includes a plurality of spline teeth (22) to operably connect the shaft (20) to a flywheel (12).

17. The electric machine (10) of claim 9 comprising a plurality of gear teeth (44) disposed at the at least one shaft segment (26).

18. The electric machine (10) of claim 17 wherein the damper is operably connected to the at least one rotor (16) via the plurality of gear teeth (44).

19. The electric machine (10) of claim 9 wherein the damper is integrated directly into the at least one rotor (16).