Abstract: A power converter includes bus bars that have a dual function of cooling the electronic switches and of conducting power to or from the electronic switches. Indeed, the electronic switches, that are packaged in a TO-220 or similar package, have the large tab of the package directly soldered or otherwise fastened to the bus bar, therefore efficiently cooling the switches. Furthermore, since the tabs are electrically connected to a portion of the electronic switch, the bus bars are connected to a portion of the electronic circuit of the power converter.

Abstract: A turn-off overvoltage limiting for IGBT is described herein. The injection of a sample of the overvoltage across the IGBT in the gate drive to slow down the slope of the gate voltage decrease only during the overvoltage above a predetermined value is described herein. Techniques to increase the parasitic inductance to allow the control to limit an overvoltage at turn off of the second IGBT are also described herein.

Abstract: Electrically insulating material so foldable as to form an interphase insulator so configured as to be inserted in the slots of the stator or the rotor of an electric machine to prevent separate coils inserted in the same slot to be in direct contact with one another and to prevent the coil heads of different coils to be in direct contact is described herein. The interphase insulator may be so folded that the coil heads are properly insulated from one another.

Abstract: A turn-off overvoltage limiting for IGBT is described herein. The injection of a sample of the overvoltage across the IGBT in the gate drive to slow down the slope of the gate voltage decrease only during the overvoltage above a predetermined value is described herein. Techniques to increase the parasitic inductance to allow the control to limit an overvoltage at turn off of the second IGBT are also described herein.

Abstract: The external rotor for an electric machine includes a cylindrically shaped receptacle having a peripheral wall and a magnet-receiving assembly including segments assembled to the inner surface of the peripheral wall so as to define a cylindrically shaped stack. The segments are shaped so as to yield magnet- receiving portions in the ring-shaped stack, and permanent magnets are secured to the magnet-receiving portion of the magnet receiving assembly.

Abstract: An embodiment of a liquid cooled external rotor electric machine includes a stator, a generally cylindrical liquid cooling assembly secured to the stator therein, a rotor including a generally cylindrical shaped support having permanent magnets secured to its inner surface, an output shaft coaxially mounted to the rotor therein and a coupling assembly that biases the cooling assembly onto the stator and operatively mounts together the stator and cooling assembly to the output shaft. Mounting the shaft to the rotor and to the liquid cooling system yields a compact assembly where no housing is required for the alignment of the stator and rotor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a compensation circuit for independently controlling turn-on and turn-off of a power electronic switch through a gate driver. The compensation circuit includes a circuit path sampling a first portion of a voltage induced across an inductance of the power electronic switch at turn-on. Another circuit path samples a second portion of the voltage induced across the inductance of the power electronic switch at turn-off. The compensation circuit further includes a gate driver reference connection configured to respectively supply the sampled portions of the voltage during turn-on and turn-off of the power electronic switch. A compensation circuit controlling a first power electronic switch in parallel with a second power electronic switch, a commutation cell and a power converter having a pair of parallel legs, in which each power electronic switch is provided with the compensation circuit, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cooling assembly for the stator of an electric machine provided with coils including heads is described herein. The cooling assembly includes a generally cylindrical cooling body provided with opposite longitudinal ends and at least one head-cooling element mounted to one of the longitudinal end of the body; the head-cooling element being so configured as to enclose heads of the coils and to receive heat conducting material therein.

Abstract: A turn-off overvoltage limiting for IGBT is described herein. The injection of a sample of the overvoltage across the IGBT in the gate drive to slow down the slope of the gate voltage decrease only during the overvoltage above a predetermined value is described herein. Techniques to increase the parasitic inductance to allow the control to limit an overvoltage at turn off of the second IGBT are also described herein.

Abstract: A cooling arrangement for the stator of an electric machine provided with coils including heads is described herein. The cooling arrangement includes a generally cylindrical cooling body provided with opposite longitudinal ends. Heat transfer material embeds the heads of the coils and contact the cooling body. A coil head embedding assembly and method are also described herein.

Abstract: A multi-path liquid cooling arrangement for electric machines includes a heat storing element provided with channels having a generally C-shaped cross-section and cooling tubes so configured and sized as to be insertable in the channels is described herein. The cooling tubes, once inserted in the channels, are deformed to conform thereto, whereby heat stored in the heat storing element is extracted by circulating cooling fluid inside the cooling tubes.

Abstract: The insertion of electrically insulating paper from a continuous roll into slots of a stator created by outwardly projecting teeth is described herein. The insertion of the insulating paper is done by the insertion of prewound coils in the stator slots. The electrically insulating paper is not cut prior to its insertion in the slots, thereby completely covering the outer surface of the stator. The insertion systems and methods described herein are also optionally concerned with the insertion of interphase insulation paper between the different coils inserted in the stator slots and with the insertion of slot closing wedges.

Abstract: A liquid cooling arrangement for electric machines uses a continuous cooling tube associated with a heat storing element. The cooling tube has a serpentine configuration and the heat storing element includes longitudinal slots starting from both longitudinal ends of the heat storing element. Accordingly, it is possible to slightly deform the heat storing element to properly position it into the internal stator of an electric machine. An internal biasing assembly may be used to force the external surface of the heat storing element to the internal surface of the stator.

Abstract: A transmission for a Series/Parallel Hybrid Vehicles (SPHV) enabling the vehicle to switch between series and parallel modes while the vehicle is in motion and while both the traction motor and the prime mover are operating at efficient levels is described herein. The traction motor and the prime mover are connected to an intermediate shaft via different ratio gear assemblies. A clutch is provided between the prime mover gear assembly and the intermediate shaft to allow the switch between the series mode and the parallel mode.

Abstract: A machine to form the heads of coils made of relatively large rectangular wire so that it fits within the slots of the stator of an electric machine is described herein. The machine receives a coil having unformed first and second heads separated by first and second legs and apply controlled deformation thereto to yield properly shaped heads. The machine comprises first and second leg support mechanisms for gripping the first and second legs and four head forming elements for contacting portions of the heads of the wire coil while the first and second legs are gripped by the leg support. The head forming elements are mounted to the first and second leg support mechanisms for relative movement therebetween. Actuators, coupled to a controller so as to be controlled therefrom are provided for moving the head forming elements and the first and second heads between spaced apart relationships and forming relationships.

Abstract: The insertion of electrically insulating paper from a continuous roll into slots of a stator created by outwardly projecting teeth is described herein. The insertion of the insulating paper is done by the insertion of prewound coils in the stator slots. The electrically insulating paper is not cut prior to its insertion in the slots, thereby completely covering the outer surface of the stator. The insertion systems and methods described herein are also optionally concerned with the insertion of interphase insulation paper between the different coils inserted in the stator slots and with the insertion of slot closing wedges.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission described herein comprises a planetary gear arrangement and a clutch including two electromagnetic clutch portions used to interconnect an internal combustion engine, an electric traction motor, an electric motor/generator and driving wheels of a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid transmission described herein allows various modes of operation.

Abstract: A multi-path liquid cooling arrangement for electric machines comprising a heat storing element provided with channels having a generally C-shaped cross-section and cooling tubes so configured and sized as to be insertable in the channels is described herein. The cooling tubes, once inserted in the channels are deformed to conform thereto, whereby heat stored in the heat storing element is extracted by circulating cooling fluid inside the cooling tubes.

Abstract: A stator assembly is provided with detachable teeth that are made of magnetic powder material. The teeth are so configured and sized as to be interconnected to a core body of the stator with pre-formed coils that are positioned between adjacent teeth.

Abstract: A cooling assembly to be positioned inside an internal stator of an electric machine is described herein. The cooling assembly includes a plurality of cooling segments that may be so mounted to a support structure as to be biased towards an inner surface of the stator.