Rotor cooling arrangement

• US 6,661,133 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Safran Power USA LLC (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Eli Liebermann
• Inventors: Liebermann, Eli
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/904,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 310/58, 310/54, 310/61, 310/64
• US Class Current: 310/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/32 with channels or ducts for flow of cooling medium
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/24 with channels or ducts for cooling medium between the conductors
• 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: H02K 9/227 Heat sinks

Abstract

An arrangement for cooling a rotor of a motor, generator or alternator wherein at least one cold plate element is disposed between a rotor pole and its associated winding. One or more cold plate elements surround each pole and are in substantial contact therewith. In addition, each cold plate element is also in substantial contact with the pole winding. As a result, each cold plate element serves to conduct heat from both the pole and its associated winding. To enhance the cooling capabilities of this arrangement, each cold plate element may incorporate passageways for conducting a cooling medium through the element. Advantageously, the resulting rotor assembly is suitable for retrofit into existing applications having strict rotor size and weight requirements. In addition, this assembly is suitable for use in alternators, generators or motors, whether alternating current or direct current.

Claims

1. A rotor for electrical equipment, said rotor having at least one pair of poles, each pole having a length and a width and a winding encircling said length and said width, and said rotor comprising

at least one element fabricated of heat conductive material, said element being separate from said poles and said winding, said element being disposed between at least one of said poles and its encircling winding, said element extending along said length between a first and a second location then and then turning at said second location to form an extension that extends a predetermined distance along said width.

2. The rotor of claim 1 wherein each element has a first surface adjacent to said winding and formed so as to be in substantial contact therewith.

3. The rotor of claim 2 wherein each element has a second surface adjacent to said pole and formed to be in substantial contact therewith.

4. The rotor of claim 1 wherein each element has a first surface adjacent to said pole and formed so as to be in substantial contact therewith.

5. The rotor of claim 4 wherein each element has a second surface adjacent to said winding and formed so as to be in substantial contact therewith.

6. The rotor of claim 1 wherein each element includes at least one passageway for the conduction of a cooling medium therethrough.

7. The rotor of claim 6 wherein said rotor includes at least one manifold for receiving a cooling medium.

8. The rotor of claim 7 further including at least one coupling member for transporting the cooling medium from the manifold to each passageway.

9. The rotor of claim 8 wherein said rotor includes a shaft having a cooling medium conducting passageway therethrough.

10. The rotor of claim 1 wherein said winding is fabricated of wire having a rectangular cross section.

11. The rotor of claim 10 wherein said wire is solid.

12. The rotor of claim 1 wherein said element is a unitary member.

13. The rotor of claim 1 wherein said element includes a pair of mating members, each member extending over a different non-overlapping region between the rotor pole and its encircling winding.

14. The rotor of claim 1 wherein said element extends along the entire length and width of said at least one of said poles.

15. The rotor of claim 1 wherein said element encircles said at least one of the poles.

16. Electrical equipment comprising

a housing;

a stationary winding disposed within said housing and forming an aperture;

a rotor disposed within said aperture, said rotor including at least one pair of poles, each pole having a length and a width and a winding encircling said length and said width; and

at least one element fabricated of heat conductive material, said element being separate from said poles and said winding, said element being disposed between at least one of said poles and its encircling winding, said element extending along said length between a first and a second location and then turning at said second location to form an extension that extends a predetermined distance along said width.

17. The equipment of claim 16 wherein said equipment is an alternator.

18. The equipment of claim 16 wherein said equipment is a generator.

19. The equipment of claim 16 wherein said equipment is a motor.

20. The electrical equipment of claim 16 wherein said element extends along the entire length and width of said at least one of said poles.

21. The electrical equipment of claim 16 wherein said element encircles said at least one of the poles.

22. A method of cooling a rotor for electrical equipment, said rotor having at least one pair of poles and each pole having a length and a width and a winding encircling said length and said width, said method comprising the steps of

providing at least one element fabricated of heat conductive material;

and

disposing said element between each rotor pole and its encircling winding, said element extending along said length between a first and a second location and then turning at said second location to form an extension that extends a predetermined distance along said width.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said element extends along the entire length and width of said at least one of said poles.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said element encircles said at least one of the poles.

25. A rotor for electrical equipment, said rotor having at least one pair of poles, each pole having at least two intersecting pole surfaces and a winding encircling these surfaces, and said rotor comprising

at least one element fabricated of heat conductive material, said element being disposed between at least one of said poles and its encircling winding, said element having a bend so that said element wraps around and extends along said two intersecting pole surfaces.

26. A rotor for electrical equipment, said rotor having at least one pair of poles, each pole having at least two intersecting pole surfaces and a winding encircling these surfaces, and said rotor comprising

at least one element fabricated of heat conductive material, said element being disposed between at least one of said poles and its encircling winding, each element having a first nonplanar surface that is adjacent to said two intersecting pole surfaces.

27. Electrical equipment comprising

a housing;

a stationary winding disposed in said housing and forming an aperture;

a rotor disposed in said aperture, said rotor including at least one pair of poles, each pole having at least two intersecting pole surfaces and a winding encircling these surfaces, and at least one element fabricated of heat conductive material, said element being disposed between at least one of said poles and its encircling winding, each element having a first nonplanar surface that is adjacent to said two intersecting pole surfaces.

28. A method of cooling a rotor for electrical equipment, said rotor having at least one pair of poles, each pole having at least two intersecting pole surfaces and a winding encircling these surfaces, said method comprising the steps of

providing at least one element fabricated of heat conductive material, each element having a nonplanar surface;

and

disposing said element between each rotor pole and its encircling winding, said nonplanar surface of said element being adjacent to said two intersecting pole surfaces.