Assembly and method for direct cooling of motor end-winding

• US 20030173840A1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Corporation (Superior Plus Corporation)
• Inventors: Ahmed, Sayeed, Seniawski, David, Cardinal, Jason M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,914,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/003 with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/203 specially adapted for liquids, e.g. cooling jackets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/19 for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/193 with provision for replenishing the cooling medium; with means for preventing leakage of the cooling medium
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 Motor or generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 Assembly or relative location of components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/952 Housing details

Abstract

Methods and related systems providing removal of heat from electric motors via fluid baths.

Claims

1. A system having an electric motor, the system comprising:

a stator core;

a stator winding having a winding portion external to the stator core; and

a fluid bath having fluid in contact with the winding portion external to the stator core.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid further comprises oil.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid further comprises recirculated gear-box oil.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid bath comprises:

a reservoir internal to an electric motor housing.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the electric motor housing further comprises:

a heat sink.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the heat sink comprises:

a fluid cooled jacket.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is coupled with a load.

8. A motorized vehicle comprising:

an electric motor having a magnetic core;

a winding having a winding portion internal to the magnetic core and a winding portion external to the magnetic core; and

a fluid bath in contact with the winding portion external to the magnetic core.

9. The motorized vehicle of claim 8, wherein the motorized vehicle comprises at least one of an electric vehicle, a hybrid-electric vehicle, and a fuel-cell powered vehicle.

10. The motorized vehicle of claim 8, wherein the winding portion external to the magnetic core comprises:

an end-winding of a stator.

11. A method of making a system to transfer heat from an electric motor end-winding, said method comprising:

loading a volume of fluid to a reservoir; and

at least partially submerging the end-winding in the volume of fluid.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising placing the fluid in the reservoir in thermal communication with a heat sink.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the placing the fluid in the reservoir in thermal communication with a heat sink further comprises:

placing a motor housing in thermal communication with the fluid in the reservoir; and

placing a fluid cooled jacket in thermal communication with the motor housing.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising placing the fluid in the reservoir in thermal communication with a heat sink.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the placing the fluid in thermal communication with a heat sink further comprises:

constructing a fluid path between the reservoir and a gear box.

16. A method of transferring heat from an electric motor end-winding, said method comprising:

maintaining contact between a volume of fluid in a reservoir and the end-winding.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the maintaining contact between a volume of fluid in a reservoir and the end-winding further comprises:

sensing a fluid level of the fluid in the reservoir;

maintaining the fluid level such that the fluid in the reservoir contacts the end winding.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the maintaining contact between a volume of fluid in a reservoir and the end-winding further comprises:

circulating the fluid between the reservoir and a gear box.