Systems and methods for regulating fluid flow for internal cooling and lubrication of electric machines
First Claim
1. An electric machine comprising:
- a rotor fixed to a rotatable shaft and supported by means of one or more bearings;
a stator stationary in relation to the rotatable rotor and shaft with a gap between the rotor and the stator;
one or more fluid flow passages within the machine, wherein at least one fluid flow passage leads to a junction wherein the fluid flow splits into a bearing fluid flow pathway to contact the one or more bearings and into a rotor fluid flow pathway toward the rotor and stator; and
a fluid flow metering device at the junction between the bearing fluid flow pathway and the rotor fluid flow pathway, wherein the fluid flow metering device is configured to determine the relative amount of fluid that flows into the bearing fluid flow pathway and fluid that flows into the rotor fluid flow pathway,wherein the rotor fluid flow pathway comprises a fluid injector nozzle, wherein the fluid injector nozzle surrounds the rotatable shaft and a gap between the fluid injector nozzle and the rotatable shaft is formed, and wherein fluid is directed to flow along the rotatable shaft through the gap between the fluid injector nozzle and the rotatable shaft toward the rotor and stator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for cooling and lubrication of high power density electric machines with an enhanced fluid injection system. Multiple fluid flow passages are within the electric machine, which include a bearing fluid flow pathway and a rotor fluid flow pathway. The bearing fluid flow pathway comprises a passage which directs fluid to contact a bearing for lubrication and cooling. The rotor fluid flow pathway comprises a passage which directs fluid along the rotatable shaft toward the rotor and stator for cooling. A fluid flow passage may lead to a junction, and may split between the bearing fluid flow pathway and the rotor fluid flow pathway. Additionally, a fluid flow metering device at the junction between the bearing fluid flow pathway and the rotor fluid flow pathway, may determine the relative amount of fluid that flows to the bearing and that flows toward the rotor and stator.
33 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An electric machine comprising:
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a rotor fixed to a rotatable shaft and supported by means of one or more bearings; a stator stationary in relation to the rotatable rotor and shaft with a gap between the rotor and the stator; one or more fluid flow passages within the machine, wherein at least one fluid flow passage leads to a junction wherein the fluid flow splits into a bearing fluid flow pathway to contact the one or more bearings and into a rotor fluid flow pathway toward the rotor and stator; and a fluid flow metering device at the junction between the bearing fluid flow pathway and the rotor fluid flow pathway, wherein the fluid flow metering device is configured to determine the relative amount of fluid that flows into the bearing fluid flow pathway and fluid that flows into the rotor fluid flow pathway, wherein the rotor fluid flow pathway comprises a fluid injector nozzle, wherein the fluid injector nozzle surrounds the rotatable shaft and a gap between the fluid injector nozzle and the rotatable shaft is formed, and wherein fluid is directed to flow along the rotatable shaft through the gap between the fluid injector nozzle and the rotatable shaft toward the rotor and stator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for regulating fluid flow for internal cooling and lubrication of an electric machine comprising:
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providing a rotor fixed to a rotatable shaft and supported by means of one or more bearings; providing a stator stationary in relation to the rotatable rotor and shaft with a gap between the rotor and the stator; providing one or more fluid flow passages within the machine, wherein the one or more fluid flow passages comprise; one or more bearing fluid flow pathways comprising one or more passages which direct fluid to contact the one or more bearings for lubrication and cooling of the one or more bearings; one or more rotor fluid flow pathways comprising one or more passages which direct fluid along the rotatable shaft toward the rotor and stator for cooling of the rotor and stator; and an introductory fluid flow passage leading to a junction, wherein the fluid flow splits between the bearing fluid flow pathway and the rotor fluid flow pathway; and providing a fluid flow metering device at the junction between the bearing fluid flow pathway and the rotor fluid flow pathway, wherein the fluid flow metering device is configured to determine the relative amount of fluid that flows into the bearing fluid flow pathway and fluid that flows into the rotor fluid flow pathway, wherein the one or more rotor fluid flow pathways comprise a fluid injector nozzle, wherein the fluid injector nozzle surrounds the rotatable shaft and a gap between the fluid injector nozzle and the rotatable shaft is formed, and wherein fluid is directed to flow along the rotatable shaft through the gap between the fluid injector nozzle and the rotatable shaft toward the rotor and stator. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification