Electric machine system including an alternating current (AC) electric machine having an expandable coolant manifold
First Claim
1. An electric machine system comprising:
- an alternating current (AC) electric machine including a machine housing having a machine portion and a switch portion, a stator fixedly mounted in the machine portion of the machine housing, a rotor rotatably mounted relative to the stator, and an switch assembly arranged within the switch portion of the machine housing and electrically connected to the stator, the switch assembly including a switch module having at least one switch member;
a direct current (DC) power source electrically connected to the stator through the switch assembly;
a controller operatively connected to the switch assembly, the controller being configured and disposed to operate the switch assembly to convert direct current from the DC power source to an alternating current to operate the AC electric machine; and
a cooling system including an expandable coolant manifold arranged in the switch portion of the machine housing, the expandable coolant manifold including a coolant branch having an inlet passage portion and an outlet passage fluidly connected to the at least one switch module, the inlet passage portion being configured and disposed to join with another inlet passage portion provided on another coolant branch to form a continuous inlet passage.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electric machine system including an alternating current (AC) electric machine. The AC electric machine includes a machine housing having a machine portion and a switch portion. A stator is fixedly mounted in the machine portion of the machine housing, and a rotor rotatably mounted relative to the stator. A switch assembly is arranged within the switch portion of the machine housing and electrically connected to the stator. The switch assembly includes a switch module having a switch member. The switch module is configured and disposed to be detachably mounted in the switch portion of the machine housing. A cooling system that includes an expandable coolant manifold is arranged in the switch portion of the machine housing. The expandable coolant manifold is fluidly connected to the switch module.
12 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An electric machine system comprising:
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an alternating current (AC) electric machine including a machine housing having a machine portion and a switch portion, a stator fixedly mounted in the machine portion of the machine housing, a rotor rotatably mounted relative to the stator, and an switch assembly arranged within the switch portion of the machine housing and electrically connected to the stator, the switch assembly including a switch module having at least one switch member; a direct current (DC) power source electrically connected to the stator through the switch assembly; a controller operatively connected to the switch assembly, the controller being configured and disposed to operate the switch assembly to convert direct current from the DC power source to an alternating current to operate the AC electric machine; and a cooling system including an expandable coolant manifold arranged in the switch portion of the machine housing, the expandable coolant manifold including a coolant branch having an inlet passage portion and an outlet passage fluidly connected to the at least one switch module, the inlet passage portion being configured and disposed to join with another inlet passage portion provided on another coolant branch to form a continuous inlet passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An alternating current (AC) electric machine comprising:
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a machine housing having a machine portion and a switch portion; a stator fixedly mounted in the machine portion of the machine housing; a rotor rotatably mounted relative to the stator; a switch assembly arranged within the switch portion of the machine housing and electrically connected to the stator, the switch assembly including a switch module having at least one switch member; and a cooling system including an expandable coolant manifold arranged in the switch portion of the machine housing, the expandable coolant manifold including a coolant branch having an inlet passage portion and an outlet passage fluidly connected to the at least one switch module, the inlet passage portion being configured and disposed to join with another inlet passage portion provided on another coolant branch to form a continuous inlet passage. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of connecting an alternating current (AC) electric machine having a machine housing including a machine portion and a switch portion, the method comprising:
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installing a first switch module and a second switch module into the switch portion of the machine housing; connecting the switch module to a stator arranged in the machine portion of the switch housing and first and second power terminals arranged on the machine housing; and connecting a first coolant branch of an expandable coolant manifold to the first switch module, the first coolant branch having a first inlet passage portion and an outlet passage fluidly connected to the first switch module; and connecting a second coolant branch of the expandable coolant manifold to the second switch module, the second coolant branch including a second inlet passage portion and a second outlet fluidly connected to the second switch portion, the second inlet passage portion being connected to the first inlet passage portion to form a continuous inlet passage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification