Abstract: A method of forming an annealed magnet includes positioning a magnetizing array ring concentrically with a ring of bulk magnetic material to form an assembly, the magnetizing array ring having a magnetic field defining directions for orienting grains of the ring of bulk magnetic material, placing the assembly in a furnace, and operating the furnace to anneal the ring of bulk magnetic material and grow the grains in the directions. A magnetic array assembly includes a furnace; and an assembly including (i) a ring of bulk magnetic material having grains and (ii) a magnetizing array ring concentric with the ring of bulk magnetic material, and having a magnetic field defining directions for orienting the grains during growth thereof in a presence of heat from the furnace.

Abstract: A vehicle electric machine assembly including a stator core and a terminal block is provided. The stator core includes one or more three-phase terminals connected to end windings. The terminal block includes a connector for each of the three-phase terminals. A portion of the end windings extending from the stator core, the three-phase terminals, and the terminal block are overmolded as a single unit such that a portion of each of the connectors is exposed for connection to an inverter. The terminal block may further include one or more threaded apertures, each sized to receive a threaded stud to facilitate an electrical connection between one of the one or more three-phase terminals and the inverter. Each of the one or more three-phase terminals may extend axially along an axis substantially parallel to a central axis of a rotor disposed within a cavity defined by the stator core.

Abstract: A vehicle electric machine assembly including a stator core and a terminal block is provided. The stator core includes one or more three-phase terminals connected to end windings. The terminal block includes a connector for each of the three-phase terminals. A portion of the end windings extending from the stator core, the three-phase terminals, and the terminal block are overmolded as a single unit such that a portion of each of the connectors is exposed for connection to an inverter. The terminal block may further include one or more threaded apertures, each sized to receive a threaded stud to facilitate an electrical connection between one of the one or more three-phase terminals and the inverter. Each of the one or more three-phase terminals may extend axially along an axis substantially parallel to a central axis of a rotor disposed within a cavity defined by the stator core.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator core defining slots having radial layers that each include adjacent first and second pin positions. Pins are disposed in corresponding ones of the slots and are interconnected to form a winding path. The path occupies the first and second positions of each layer, and, for each of the corresponding slots, the pins are in a same layer.

Abstract: A method of separating a blank from a stack of blanks is provided and includes grasping a first blank and moving the first blank away from a plurality of blanks. At least one additional blank from the plurality of blanks is adhered to the first blank to form a sub-stack of blanks and at least one impulse electrically generated force (EGF) is applied to separate the at least one additional blank from the first blank. The first blank may be grasped by a device with a force F1, and the at least one impulse EGF may be less than the force F1. Also, the at least one impulse EGF may be applied to separate the at least one additional blank from the first blank by passing a pulse of current through an EGF generator positioned adjacent the first blank and inducing an EGF within the plurality of blanks.

Abstract: A method of separating blanks from a stack includes positioning a magnetic field generator in a fixed location proximate a peripheral edge of an upper portion of the stack, activating the magnetic field generator such that eddy currents are generated and result in a force vector in a direction away from a top-most blank of the stack, and pushing a blank, or multiple blanks, immediately below the top-most blank away from the top-most blank by the eddy currents.

Abstract: An electric machine may include an adjacent pair of laminations each defining pockets having permanent magnets arranged therein to form magnetic poles. The laminations may be stacked in a pole-skewed fashion to form a portion of a rotor. A stator may surround the rotor. The machine may further include a separator lamination between the adjacent pair defining cutout portions having a shape based on a superposition of shapes of the pockets to increase a reluctance of leakage paths between the permanent magnets.

Abstract: An encasement of an electric machine of an electrified vehicle is provided. The encasement may include a base sidewall, an inner sidewall, and an outer sidewall. The inner sidewall may extend in a circular pattern about the base sidewall. The outer sidewall may extend from the base sidewall and may be spaced apart from the inner sidewall to define a coolant channel at least partially surrounding end windings of a stator of the electric machine. The base sidewall may define features between the sidewalls to promote turbulence of coolant flowing through the coolant channel. The base sidewall may define a meandering trough between the sidewalls to form a predetermined coolant path relative to a location of the end windings.

Abstract: A rotor assembly has a rotor including a plurality of laminations each defining a plurality of poles arranged such that values of a pair of angles corresponding to each of the poles and defined between a magnetic axis of the pole and respective interpolar axes adjacent thereto are different. The values of the pairs define a repeating sequence around the lamination. The angles opposite an axis of rotation of the rotor are equal.

Abstract: A method of separating blanks from a stack includes positioning a magnetic field generator in a fixed location proximate a peripheral edge of an upper portion of the stack, activating the magnetic field generator such that eddy currents are generated and result in a force vector in a direction away from a top-most blank of the stack, and pushing a blank, or multiple blanks, immediately below the top-most blank away from the top-most blank by the eddy currents.

Abstract: A rotor may include a planar lamination having permanent magnets arranged therein, and an inner edge defining an opening configured to receive a driveshaft. The planar lamination may include a driveshaft key, and a relief notch and scallop disposed on each side of the driveshaft key. The relief notch and scallop may distribute stress imparted to the driveshaft key and reduce deformation due to centrifugal loads during rotation of the rotor. The relief notches may be next to the driveshaft key. The relief notches may be sandwiched between the scallops. The inner edge may include additional scallops.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator core defining slots and hairpins disposed in the slots. The hairpins are selectively joined at connections to form windings that include at least first and second radial layers. Each connection is disposed in one of the layers. The connections are staggered such that the connections of the first layer are circumferentially offset from the connections of the second layer to increase clearance for tooling that forms the connections.

Abstract: A vehicle electric machine assembly including a stator core and a terminal block is provided. The stator core includes one or more three-phase terminals connected to end windings. The terminal block includes a connector for each of the three-phase terminals. A portion of the end windings extending from the stator core, the three-phase terminals, and the terminal block are overmolded as a single unit such that a portion of each of the connectors is exposed for connection to an inverter. The terminal block may further include one or more threaded apertures, each sized to receive a threaded stud to facilitate an electrical connection between one of the one or more three-phase terminals and the inverter. Each of the one or more three-phase terminals may extend axially along an axis substantially parallel to a central axis of a rotor disposed within a cavity defined by the stator core.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator core defining slots having radial layers that each include adjacent first and second pin positions. Pins are disposed in corresponding ones of the slots and are interconnected to form a winding path. The path occupies the first and second positions of each layer, and, for each of the corresponding slots, the pins are in a same layer.

Abstract: A rotor assembly has a rotor including a plurality of laminations each defining a plurality of poles arranged such that values of a pair of angles corresponding to each of the poles and defined between a magnetic axis of the pole and respective interpolar axes adjacent thereto are different. The values of the pairs define a repeating sequence around the lamination. The angles opposite an axis of rotation of the rotor are equal.

Abstract: An electric machine rotor includes a lamination configured to rotate about a central axis and a plurality of pairs of permanent magnets. Each pair of permanent magnets is arranged in a V-shaped pattern and affixed within the lamination to create a magnetic field for rotation of the lamination. The lamination also includes an outer periphery spanning circumferentially outside of the permanent magnets, wherein a mass-reduction cutout extends through the lamination nested within in a V-shape defined by the permanent magnets adjacent to an outer surface of the rotor. The lamination further includes a stress-reduction slot that extends through the outer periphery of the rotor.

Abstract: A vehicle electric machine includes a stator having an end face and a yoke region defining a channel. End windings are adjacent to the end face. An annular cover has inner and outer walls defining an annular cavity configured to receive the end windings. The channel opens into the cavity, and a radial distance between the inner and outer walls is less than or equal to a radial length of the end face.

Abstract: An electric machine for a vehicle includes a stator having slots and a yolk region defining a plurality of channels extending between the opposing end faces of the stator. Windings extend through the slots and have end windings adjacent to the end faces. A rotor is disposed within the stator. The electric machine also includes first and second annular covers each defining a cavity having a plurality of walls partitioning the cavity into a plurality of cooling chambers that are circumferentially isolated from each other. Each of the covers is attached to one of the end faces such that a corresponding one of the end windings is disposed within one of the cavities, and such that each of the channels is in direct fluid communication with a corresponding one of the cooling chambers of the first cover and with a corresponding one of the cooling chambers of the second cover.

Abstract: A cover for a housing of an electric machine is provided. The cover may include an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall. The outer sidewall may be spaced apart from the inner sidewall to define a coolant channel therebetween. The inner sidewall and outer sidewall may be defined by an interior surface of the cover such that the coolant channel receives end windings of a stator of the electric machine when the cover is secured to the housing. The interior surface of the cover may define features between the sidewalls to promote turbulence of coolant flowing through the coolant channel. The interior surface of the cover may define a meandering trough between the sidewalls to form a predetermined coolant path relative to a location of the end windings when the cover is secured to the housing.

Abstract: An electric machine for an electrified vehicle is provided. The electric machine may include a stator, a ring plate, an encasement, and a fastener. The stator defines a cavity, a stator recess about a portion of the cavity, and a stator aperture. The stator may include windings disposed within and partially protruding out of the cavity. The ring plate may be sized for disposal within the stator recess, and may define a tab and a plate aperture for alignment with the stator aperture. The encasement may define a key sized for engagement with the tab to secure the encasement to the ring plate, and a closed coolant channel. The fastener may be sized for insertion within the apertures to secure the plate to the stator. The stator, ring plate, and encasement may be arranged with one another such that the partially protruding windings are disposed within the closed coolant channel.