Abstract: A rotor assembly for a permanent magnet electric machine includes a plurality of rotor laminations joined to form a rotor body. Each of the plurality of rotor laminations includes a plurality of slots. One or more permanent magnets are mounted within respective ones of the plurality of slots. Each of the one or more permanent magnets includes a thermal enhancement bonding coating. A method of forming a rotor assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a core with a plurality of slots. A plurality of electric conductors are positioned in the slots. Each of the plurality of electric conductors includes a U-turn portion extending between two in-slot portions and connection ends extending from the in-slot portions. The connection ends are positioned on an opposite end of the core from the U-turn portions. A plurality of insulation tubes are positioned in the plurality of slots. The in-slot portions of the electric conductors extend through the insulation tubes.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing, a stator fixedly mounted relative to the housing, and a rotor assembly rotatably mounted relative to the stator. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of rotor laminations forming a rotor body, one or more permanent magnets provided in the rotor body, and a sleeve extending around the one or more permanent magnets. The sleeve provides a thermal interface between the one or more permanent magnets and the rotor body.

Abstract: A rotor of an electric machine includes a lamination stack having a plurality of longitudinally extending magnet channels each having a magnet space and longitudinally extending gaps on each lateral end of the magnet space. A plurality of permanent magnets are respectively disposed in ones of the magnet channels, substantially non-magnetic bars are disposed in each longitudinally extending gap, and a thermally conductive filler material secures the magnets and the bars within the channels. A method of thermal management of an internal permanent magnet (IPM) rotor includes installing, into at least one longitudinally extending magnet channel of a lamination stack, a pair of substantially non-magnetic bars adjacent opposite lateral ends of a longitudinally extending permanent magnet, and transferring heat from the magnet through the bars into the lamination stack.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing, a stator fixedly mounted relative to the housing, and a rotor assembly rotatably mounted relative to the stator. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of rotor laminations forming a rotor body, one or more permanent magnets provided in the rotor body, and a sleeve extending around the one or more permanent magnets. The sleeve provides a thermal interface between the one or more permanent magnets and the rotor body.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for a permanent magnet electric machine includes a plurality of rotor laminations joined to form a rotor body. Each of the plurality of rotor laminations includes a plurality of slots. One or more permanent magnets are mounted within respective ones of the plurality of slots. Each of the one or more permanent magnets includes a thermal enhancement bonding coating. A method of forming a rotor assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A permanent magnet electric machine includes a housing, a stator mounted within the housing, and a rotor assembly rotatably mounted within the housing relative to the stator. The rotor assembly includes a rotor body having a plurality of rotor laminations. A plurality of permanent magnets having axial end portions is mounted to the rotor body. An amount of thermal interface material (TIM) is arranged between the axial end portions of adjacent ones of the plurality of permanent magnets.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an interior portion. The housing also includes a connection zone having a first end portion that extends from the outer surface to a second end portion that is exposed to the interior portion. The connection zone includes a connection passage. A terminal block extends through the connection passage. The terminal block includes a non-electrically conductive member that is sealed against the connection passage, and an electrically conductive member covered by the non-electrically conductive member. The electrically conductive member includes a first end section that extends to a second end section through an intermediate section. The first end section has a first connection zone and the second end section has a second connection zone. The second connection zone is at an angle relative to the first connection zone.

Abstract: A method of forming a rotor includes placing a plurality of laminations into a stack having a plurality of longitudinally extending magnet slots, placing a plurality of permanent magnets into ones of the magnet slots, and injecting a low viscosity epoxy resin into the lamination stack, thereby substantially filling the magnet slots with a portion of the epoxy resin having a thermal conductivity greater than 0.3 Watts/(meter*degree Kelvin) and substantially filling axial spaces between adjacent ones of the laminations with a portion of the epoxy resin having a thermal conductivity less than that of the epoxy resin in the magnet spaces.

Abstract: A permanent magnet electric machine including a housing, a stator mounted within the housing, and a rotor assembly rotatably mounted within the housing relative to the stator. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of laminations. Each of the plurality of laminations includes a plurality of slots and one or more permanent magnets mounted within respective ones of the plurality of slots. Each of the plurality of permanent magnets includes a sacrificial coating formed from a thermal interface material (TIM).

Abstract: A stator assembly includes a coil isolator having a first flange, a phase separator, and a living hinge connecting the first flange and the phase separator, the coil isolator structured for enclosing a stator lamination stack and for winding a coil thereon in electrical isolation from the stack, the phase separator being radially closeable for enclosing a portion of the coil within the coil isolator. A method of forming a stator includes placing an isolator onto a lamination stack segment, winding a coil onto the isolator, folding a phase separator of the isolator to enclose a portion of the coil, and placing a plurality of bus bars onto the phase separator in physical partition from one another. A method of insulating a phase bus from a stator coil includes forming a coil insulator having a bobbin, a phase separator, and a living hinge coupling the bobbin to the phase separator.

Abstract: A slot liner is configured for insertion into a slot of a core of an electric machine having a winding arrangement comprised of a plurality of conductors. The slot liner comprises a first insulation layer forming a cavity configured to receive at least one of the plurality of conductors of the winding arrangement. The slot liner also comprises a second insulation layer coupled to the first insulation layer. In addition, the slot liner includes a length of conductive material positioned between the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer. The length of conductive material has a resistance that varies with temperature. A first lead extends from a first end of the length of conductive material and a second lead extends from the second end of the length of conductive material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotor for a fluid cooled electric machine including a rotor shaft rotably located at a central axis and a plurality of rotating coolant passages extending outwardly from the rotor shaft to direct a flow of coolant to a desired impingement location on the electric machine thereby removing thermal energy from the impingement location. Further disclosed is a fluid cooled electric machine including a plurality of coolant passages each including at least one coolant passage inlet and at least one coolant passage outlet, the plurality of coolant passages configured to rotate about the central axis and direct a flow of coolant therethrough to a desired impingement location thereby removing thermal energy from the impingement location.

Abstract: An electric machine having insulated conductor wires and a method of insulating the conductor wires. The conductor wires include an electrically conductive core and an electrical insulation portion. The electrical insulation portion includes an electrical insulation coating layer and at least one electrical insulation wrap layer.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a core with a plurality of slots. A plurality of electric conductors are positioned in the slots. Each of the plurality of electric conductors includes a U-turn portion extending between two in-slot portions and connection ends extending from the in-slot portions. The connection ends are positioned on an opposite end of the core from the U-turn portions. A plurality of insulation tubes are positioned in the plurality of slots. The in-slot portions of the electric conductors extend through the insulation tubes.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module including a module housing. In some embodiments, the module housing can at least partially define a machine cavity into which an electric machine can be positioned. The electric machine can include a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of laminations and a least one magnet positioned substantially within the rotor assembly. In some embodiments, at least one temperature sensor can be operatively coupled to, and in thermal communication with, a portion of the rotor assembly. The temperature sensor can be configured to sense a temperature of the rotor assembly. In some embodiments, at least one transmitter can be in communication with the temperature sensor and can transmit a signal from the temperature sensor to a receiver. In some embodiments, the receiver can be coupled to the module housing and in communication with a controller.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine including a rotor assembly. In some embodiments, the rotor assembly can include a plurality of rotor laminations including at least one first aperture positioned through a portion of the rotor laminations. In some embodiments, the first apertures can form at least one magnet channel when the rotor assembly is substantially assembled. At least one permanent magnet can be positioned in each of the magnet channels. In some embodiments, at least one second aperture can be positioned through a portion of some of the laminations, along a Q-axis, and adjacent to the at magnet channel. Also, the second apertures can be configured and arranged to form at least one first coolant channel when the rotor assembly is substantially assembled.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an interior portion. The housing also includes a connection zone having a first end portion that extends from the outer surface to a second end portion that is exposed to the interior portion. The connection zone includes a connection passage. A terminal block extends through the connection passage. The terminal block includes a non-electrically conductive member that is sealed against the connection passage, and an electrically conductive member covered by the non-electrically conductive member. The electrically conductive member includes a first end section that extends to a second end section through an intermediate section. The first end section has a first connection zone and the second end section has a second connection zone. The second connection zone is at an angle relative to the first connection zone.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotor for a fluid cooled electric machine including a rotor shaft rotably located at a central axis and a plurality of rotating coolant passages extending outwardly from the rotor shaft to direct a flow of coolant to a desired impingement location on the electric machine thereby removing thermal energy from the impingement location. Further disclosed is a fluid cooled electric machine including a plurality of coolant passages each including at least one coolant passage inlet and at least one coolant passage outlet, the plurality of coolant passages configured to rotate about the central axis and direct a flow of coolant therethrough to a desired impingement location thereby removing thermal energy from the impingement location.