Circulation Patents (Class 310/58)
  • Patent number: 8269381
    Abstract: The mounting of a coolant line system in a magnet device of an electric machine is to be simplified. Therefore, a magnet device is provided, with a ferromagnetic base member (4) comprising a first (3) and an opposite second side (5) and comprising penetration holes for coolant lines from the first side (3) to the second side (5), and a plurality of first coolant line segments (1) inserted through the holes. The first coolant line segments (1) are U-shaped and each of the free leg ends (2) thereof is inserted through two of the holes of the first side (3) such that the leg ends (2) protrude from the second side (5) of the base member (4). Two of the leg ends of the first coolant line segments (1) are connected by way of a second coolant line segment. Thus, only two types of coolant line segments are needed to construct the coolant line system, and also the coolant line segments can be connected at a single side (5) of the base member (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Erich Auernhammer
  • Patent number: 8261575
    Abstract: A self cooling motor system includes an internally cooled motor assembly operationally interconnected to a heat transfer assembly. The internally cooled motor assembly includes a winding assembly having one or more winding, each winding constructed of an electrically conductive material and having a fluid passage extending lengthwise therethrough. A fluid heat transfer media flows through the winding(s) while the internally cooled motor assembly is in operation, and the fluid heat transfer media is structured to remove a predetermined amount of heat from the winding(s) of the motor assembly. The fluid heat transfer media is transferred to the heat transfer assembly, where heat is dissipated from the fluid heat transfer media, reducing its temperature to a preselected exit temperature, prior to reintroduction into the winding(s) of the internally cooled motor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventor: Jeremy Holmes
  • Publication number: 20120223601
    Abstract: A terminal block (10) to be fixed to a motor case (C) which houses a motor body and includes a coolant flow path (C1) and adapted to fasten busbars by tightening bolts includes nuts (30) for tightening the bolts, and a heat sink (40) made of aluminum die-cast and held in close contact with the nuts (30) via an insulation plate (20) behind the nuts (30). The heat sink (40) includes a heat radiating portion (46) which comes into contact with cooling water passing in the coolant flow path (C1) of the motor case (C).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Akuta
  • Publication number: 20120212085
    Abstract: An axial-flux electric motor includes a stator having a plurality of stator windings and a plurality of stator pole-pairs, a first rotor configured to magnetically interact with the stator in an axial direction, the first rotor is positioned on one side of the stator, having a plurality of permanent magnets embedded thereon with a plurality of rotor pole-pairs, a second rotor configured to magnetically interact with the stator in the axial direction, the second rotor is position on another side of the stator, having a plurality of permanent magnets embedded thereon with a plurality of rotor pole-pairs, and a plurality of stationary ferromagnetic segments, positioned between the stator and the first rotor and between the stator and the second rotor, the ferromagnetic segments are adapted to modulate magnetic field of the permanent magnets in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Weinong Fu, Siu-lau Ho
  • Patent number: 8232660
    Abstract: Reduce noises emitted from inlet and outlet of cooling air of a soundproof enclosed type generator. An inlet 20 and an outlet 26 of the cooling air are provided to the front and rear of a chassis 2, respectively. An air supply duct 8 is detachably mounted to the inlet 20, and an exhaust duct 9 is detachably mounted to the outlet 26. An air taking-in opening 8a facing downward is provided to the air supply duct 8 which guides the air towards horizontally opened inlet 20. The exhaust duct 9 is equipped with wall surface and a straightening vane 27 at a position opposed to the cooling air discharged from the outlet 26 to change the cooling air flow in complicated fashion to discharge it outside. Sound-absorption materials are pasted to the interior surface of the air supply duct 8 and the exhaust duct 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ito, Kaku Okabe, Taiyo Onodera
  • Patent number: 8232692
    Abstract: An induction motor has a rotation detector, a heat dissipating disc for dissipating heat generated from a rotor, and a cooling fan for forcibly cooling the heat dissipating disc with outside air. The heat dissipating disc is disposed between the rotation detector and the cooling fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: FANUC Ltd
    Inventors: Kazuki Yoshimura, Yasuyuki Nakazawa, Shinichi Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20120181882
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing, a stator mounted within the housing, and a rotor rotatably mounted within the housing relative to the stator. The rotor includes a rotor lamination assembly having a plurality of laminations. A temperature sensor is arranged within the housing. The temperature sensor includes a sensing surface configured and disposed to detect a temperature of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Chamberlin, David A. Fulton
  • Publication number: 20120175977
    Abstract: A coolant flow enhancing device is provided to increase electric machine coil cooling at coil end turn locations. Such a device is incorporated into an overall fluid cooled electric machine that has phase separators extending through slots between stator teeth. The device includes flow deflectors located at ends of the phase separators. Each of the flow deflectors is designed so that a contour of its interior surface follows an outer contour of a corresponding one of the end turns to both maximize a cooling fluid flow rate past the one of the end turns and minimize separation of the fluid from the one of the end turns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Kollmorgen Corporation
    Inventors: Reinhard Beatty, Ian Hovey
  • Patent number: 8212439
    Abstract: A fan-motor unit comprises a fan driven by an electric motor, both mounted on a support, at least one inlet (I) and one outlet (S) for a forced air flow, an electronic circuit board for controlling the motor, and a radiator at least partially immersed in the forced air flow. The radiator has a curved peripheral edge determining a convex face and a concave face of the said radiator, the electronic circuit board being in contact with the said radiator on the concave face side and a substantially cylindrical bearing surface on the convex face side of the said radiator. A radial gasket that forms a skirt comprises a first end secured to the support, a free second end, and a substantially cylindrical interior face between the first and second ends, and the interior face of the radial gasket bears against the bearing surface so as to isolate the electronic circuit board from the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Wurzburg
    Inventors: Pascal Dautel, Stéphane Foulonneau
  • Patent number: 8212441
    Abstract: An automotive alternator is provided that has a brush holder assembly that reduces exclusive circumferential space for the brush holder assembly inside a rear bracket, and that also reduces entry of water, dust, etc., into a regulator circuit housing portion. The brush holder assembly has a base and a plate. The base is prepared by molding a brush holder portion, a regulator circuit housing portion, and a connector portion integrally, and the plate is mounted to the brush holder portion, and has a cover portion that closes the resin injection aperture of the regulator circuit housing portion. The brush holder portion, the regulator circuit housing portion, and the connector portion are formed so as to be positioned such that respective center lines thereof are in a common plane that includes a central axis of the rotating shaft. A lead-through opening that is formed on the rear bracket so as to allow the connector portion to be led through is generally closed by the connector portion and the cover portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Oohashi
  • Patent number: 8198764
    Abstract: An air-gap is between a rotor and a stator. The stator comprises a number of stacked laminate-plates. The laminate-plates are positioned and fixed by a structural support and by end-plates in relation to a central-part of the stator to achieve the air-gap. A cavity is formed by the end-plates, the central-part of the stator, the air-gap and an internal surface of the rotor. An air-cooling arrangement is arranged and used to circulate a gaseous medium for cooling purposes inside the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: James Kenneth Booth, Uffe Eriksen, Soeren Gundtoft, Jacob Blach Nielsen
  • Patent number: 8198770
    Abstract: A method of cooling shaft bearings of a high speed rotating machine is provided. In various embodiments, the method includes utilizing a primary cooling circuit of the machine that is structured and operable to cool a drive package of the machine to cool condenser ends of each of a plurality of heat pipes absent an auxiliary cooling system structured for cooling the heat pipe condenser ends. Each heat pipe including a respective evaporator end disposed proximate the shaft bearings to absorb heat generated by the bearings during operation of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: HPEV, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Hassett, Mark Hodowanec
  • Patent number: 8193667
    Abstract: An automotive alternator is provided that reduces exclusive circumferential space for a regulator assembly inside a rear bracket, and that also increases performance in cooling the regulator assembly and a rectifier by ensuring that flows of air that cool the regulator assembly and the rectifier do not interfere with each other. An approximately C-shaped rectifier is disposed in a vicinity of a rotating shaft, and a regulator assembly is disposed between two end portions of the approximate C shape of the rectifier. A brush holder portion, a regulator circuit housing portion, and a connector portion that constitute a regulator assembly are positioned such that respective center lines thereof are in a common plane that includes a central axis of the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Oohashi
  • Publication number: 20120133222
    Abstract: An electric motor includes a frame, a stator disposed in the frame, a rotor disposed in the frame, and a cooling unit configured to perform a cooling operation by supplying a cooling fluid into the frame. Under this configuration, a cooling function may be enhanced, and a high output density and high efficiency may be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Seungdo Han, Jinsoo Park, Kwangwook Chun, Yunho Kim, Jaeho Kim, Jiseong Park
  • Patent number: 8183724
    Abstract: A cooling electric generator with pipes embedded in its housing which includes mechanisms for generating electrical power from the motor torque provided by a wind turbine rotor, and with an external housing comprised of a cylindrical casing (23) and side shields (25) made of cast iron and have embedded conduits configured to form a refrigeration circuit (31, 41) for the generator with routes for entry and exit (33, 35, 43, 45) of the refrigeration liquid to and from the generator exterior. Preferably, the circuit (31) embedded in the cylindrical casing (23) has a helicoidal form and the circuits (41) embedded in the shields (25) have a spiral form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Gamesa Innovation & Technology, S.L.
    Inventors: Rafael Rodriguez Rodriguez, Juan Manuel Sacristan San Martin, Jaime Peredo Argos, Jesús Macarro Ruano
  • Publication number: 20120119603
    Abstract: A rotor for a turbo generator is provided. The rotor includes a cylindrical rotor shaft that expands in the center to form a rotor body, grooves introduced into the cylindrical surface of the rotor body, an excitation winding accommodated in the grooves, a feeding duct through which a cooling gas flows, and cooling ducts which penetrate the excitation winding substantially in the radial direction and connect the feeding duct to respective outlets in the cylindrical surface of the rotor body A distribution duct extending in the longitudinal direction of the shaft is arranged in the area of the central longitudinal axis. The feeding ducts are connected to the distribution duct via junction ducts. An admission duct for feeding the cooling gas is provided for each distribution duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Waldemar Kowalski, Christoph Lehmann
  • Patent number: 8179002
    Abstract: A wind turbine having a generator is provided. The generator includes a rotor and a stator having a stator lamination, one or more flange rings and one or more core rings. The stator lamination includes a plurality of axial flow passages and the one or more core rings include a plurality of core ring axial flow passages that are aligned with the plurality of axial flow passages in the stator lamination. The plurality of axial flow passages in the stator lamination have a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Mancuso, Sayantan Bhar, Sandip Shahaji Hirade, Peter Anthony DiLorenzo, Andrew David Maduskuie, Sadeo Ramtahal
  • Publication number: 20120112572
    Abstract: A stator system for an electric machine, in particular a generator of a wind turbine is disclosed. The stator system includes a stator housing segment, a plate, supply system and a manifold segment. The stator housing segment includes a cooling channel which includes an opening at an axial front face of the stator housing segment. The plate is mounted to the axial front face for reinforcing the stator housing segment. The supply system is adapted for supplying cooling fluid to the cooling channel. The manifold segment is welded to the plate for forming a guide channel for the cooling fluid between the manifold segment and the plate. The plate includes a through-hole for generating a connection between the opening of the cooling channel and the guide channel. The supply system is connected to the guide channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Jean Le Besnerais, Henrik Stiesdal
  • Patent number: 8174156
    Abstract: A rotating electrical machine includes: a rotor comprising a rotor core and a field winding wound round the rotor core; and a stator comprising a stator core and a stator winding wound round the stator core. The stator is arranged in opposition to the rotor with a predetermined spacing therebetween. the stator core is formed by punching a split piece, which comprises teeth for insertion of the stator winding thereinto and a core back on an outer periphery thereof, from a magnetic steel sheet, and laminating a plurality of those circular configurations in an axial direction, in which a plurality of the split pieces are arranged in a circle in a circumferential direction. The stator core has magnetic steel sheets, which are different in magnetic permeability in a diametrical direction, laminated at an axial end region of and in an axial central region of the stator core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihito Nakahara, Hiroyuki Mikami, Kazumasa Ide, Kazuhiko Takahashi, Kenichi Hattori
  • Patent number: 8169110
    Abstract: An oil-cooled motor/generator for an automotive powertrain located outside of the transmission is provided, such as a BAS motor/generator. The motor/generator may have a stator, a rotor circumscribed by the stator, and a motor shaft on which the rotor is mounted for rotation. A housing assembly may surround the stator and the rotor, with a bearing positioned between the housing assembly and the motor shaft. A flow control member may at least partially circumscribe the rotor axially adjacent the stator. A bearing retainer may be positioned axially adjacent the bearing. A rotor end ring may be axially adjacent the rotor. The housing assembly may have an inlet configured to receive cooling oil. The housing assembly, the flow control member, the bearing retainer and the rotor end ring may be configured to distribute the cooling oil from the inlet to cool the stator, the rotor and the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shawn H. Swales, Paul F. Turnbull, Brian Schulze, Fredrick R. Poskie, William J. Omell, William C. Deneszczuk
  • Patent number: 8164225
    Abstract: A generator includes a housing and a stator arranged within the housing. The stator includes a first end that extends to a second end, and a plurality of axial flow passages extending between the first and second ends. The generator also includes at least one air flow re-direction member provided on at least one of the first and second ends of the stator. The at least one air flow re-direction member fluidly connects adjacent ones of the plurality of axial flow passages. The at least one air flow re-direction member guides an air flow passing though one of the plurality of axial flow passages in a first direction into an adjacent one of the plurality of axial flow passages in a second direction, the second direction being distinct from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew David Maduskuie, Gary Randall Barnes, Thomas Mancuso, Peter Anthony DiLorenzo
  • Patent number: 8159094
    Abstract: An electric motor having a housing, a stator mounted in the housing, and a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation relative to the stator about a central axis. A plurality of fluid flow passages extend through the rotor between opposite ends. An electro-magnetic drive system is adapted for driving rotation of the rotor relative to the stator. A fluid circulation system is in fluid communication with the fluid flow passages for providing fluid flow from the first end of the rotor to the second end of the rotor through at least one of the fluid flow passages and fluid flow from the second end of the rotor to the first end of the rotor through at least one other of the fluid flow passages. The rotor and components of the fluid circulation can be assembled to make a rotor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Ruffing, Ronald W. Schmidt, Kenneth R. Friedman
  • Publication number: 20120080964
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module including an electric machine. The electric machine includes a stator assembly with a plurality of stator laminations. The plurality of stator laminations include a plurality of different outer diameters and some of the plurality of stator laminations include at least two different radii. At least one circumferential coolant channel and at least one axial coolant channel can be defined by the plurality of stator laminations. The at least one circumferential coolant channel can be defined substantially around a circumference of the stator assembly and the at least one axial coolant channel can be defined substantially along an axial length of the stator assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventor: Michael D. Bradfield
  • Publication number: 20120080965
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module including an electric machine with a stator assembly. The stator assembly includes a plurality of stator laminations and the plurality of stator laminations include a plurality of different outer diameters. The plurality of stator laminations are positioned relative to one another to form radially-extending fins. At least one circumferential coolant channel is defined along the circumference of the stator assembly by the plurality of stator laminations at least partially between the radially-extending fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventor: Michael D. Bradfield
  • Patent number: 8148858
    Abstract: A totally enclosed motor comprising a housing totally encloses an electrical package that includes plurality of slot vents extending radially outward from a shaft on which the electrical package is mounted. The electrical package being operable to generate a closed circuit electrical package cooling air flow that circulates through the slot vents and is confined within the housing. The motor additionally including an exterior cooling assembly that is operable to generate a directed exterior air flow along an exterior portion of the housing. The motor further including a plurality of heat pipes having evaporator ends disposed within the closed circuit electrical package cooling air flow and condenser ends disposed within the exterior air flow, whereby heat is removed from the electrical package chamber such that the ‘Totally Enclosed’ more provides a power output substantially equivalent to that of an ‘Open’ motor of approximately the same size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: HPEV, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Hassett, Mark Hodowanec
  • Publication number: 20120074799
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module comprising an electric machine with a stator and housing at least partially circumscribing the electric machine. The housing includes at least two housing members coupled together and substantially securing the electric machine within the housing. The electric machine module also includes a coolant jacket at least partially defined by an outer diameter of the stator and an inner diameter portion of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventor: Michael D. Bradfield
  • Publication number: 20120062056
    Abstract: An electric machine including a housing, and a stator mounted relative to the housing. The stator includes a body including a first end portion that extends to a second end portion and a plurality of stator windings that extend between the first and second end portions. A sleeve member is mounted to the stator and covers a portion of the stator windings at one of the first and second end portions. The sleeve member is configured and disposed to guide a coolant over the portion of the stator windings to remove heat from the stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michael D. Bradfield
  • Patent number: 8134260
    Abstract: A motor including a frame that defines a motor portion and an adjacent cooling portion, and a plurality of heat pipes disposed within and fully enclosed by the motor frame. Each heat pipe has an evaporator end disposed within the portion of the frame that defines the motor portion and a condenser end disposed within the portion of the frame that defines the cooling portion. A cooling chamber within the motor cooling portion is structured to have a fluid introduced therein by a working device such that at least a portion of the frame defining the cooling portion is cooled via the working fluid, thereby extracting heat from the heat pipe condenser ends and cooling the motor portion of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: HPEV, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Hassett, Mark Hodowanec
  • Patent number: 8134261
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement is disclosed for an electrical machine in which the main cooling air circulation within the machine is arranged using a centrifugal blower in at least one of the ends of the machine, making the main cooling air circulation flow through at least an air space in the machine and the outer surface of the stator. A circulating fan is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the centrifugal fan for the purpose of generating a coil end circulation that circulates air at least in the area of the machine's coil ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Jouni Ikäheimo, Jere Kolehmainen, Jari Pekola, Tommi Ryyppö
  • Patent number: 8129877
    Abstract: In one aspect, an arrangement for cooling of an electrical machine is provided. A rotor and a stator include an air-gap arranged between the rotor and the stator. The rotor and the stator include a circulation arrangement to allow the circulation of air for cooling-purposes of the rotor and of the stator. The rotor and the stator are encapsulated by a shell which is formed to allow the flow of hot air from the rotor and the stator to a heat-exchanger. The shell is formed to allow the flow of cool air from the heat-exchanger back to the rotor and the stator for cooling-purposes. The shell includes a number of corners, while each corner is used to gather the hot air before it is guided to the heat-exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: James Kenneth Booth, Uffe Eriksen
  • Patent number: 8129874
    Abstract: A system for cooling an electrical machine is disclosed. The electrical machine includes a stator including a plurality of coils, an exterior housing, and an end cap. During operation of the electrical machine, a fluid is sprayed from the end cap onto the plurality of coils to carry away heat generated by the electrical machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventors: Carolyn Lambka, Eric Richard Anderson
  • Patent number: 8129878
    Abstract: A rotor for an electrical generator is disclosed, including a rotor body having a circular portion and a cylindrical portion coaxial with the circular portion. A generally cylindrical recess is defined by the cylindrical portion and the first side of the circular portion for receiving a stator. At least one first wall is at least partially spaced apart from the first side of the circular portion, defining at least one chamber therebetween. The chamber has an inlet. An aperture in the at least one first wall defines an outlet of the at least one chamber. At least one second wall extends outwardly from the first side of the circular portion. The at least one second wall has an end portion adjacent to the inlet of the at least one chamber. An internal combustion engine with an electrical generator and a method of cooling an electrical generator are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Patrick Raffelsberger
  • Patent number: 8115352
    Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine includes a rotor having a plurality of adjacent coils; a spaceblock disposed between adjacent coils so as to define first and second cavities adjacent the spaceblock and between mutually adjacent coils; and the spaceblock includes a channel disposed in a coil facing surface of the spaceblock for intercepting and redirecting a circulating coolant flow to the first cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shriniwas Ananda Neje, Rebinth Jose Robin, Samir Armando Salamah, Vidyapati Tiwari
  • Patent number: 8110952
    Abstract: To provide a rotating electric machine capable of accurate detection of coil temperature by causing refrigerant to flow so as not to contact a temperature detecting element provided on a coil end portion. A rotating electric machine (10) comprises: a cylindrical stator core (12); coils (16) wound around a plurality of teeth (14) projecting from an inner circumferential surface of the stator core (12) and having coil end portions (18) protruding beyond respective end portions in an axial direction of the stator core (12); a cooling part (50) to cool the coil (16) by dropping refrigerant onto the coil end portions (18); and a temperature detecting element (30) placed in contact with the coil end portion (18), for detecting coil temperature. The temperature detecting element (30) is provided so as not to directly contact the refrigerant flowing on the coil end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuo Wakita
  • Patent number: 8093770
    Abstract: Cooling of the end windings on a stator of the electric motor can be made more uniform if a physically-compliant, thermally-conductive cap is placed over the end windings. In one embodiment, a liquid coolant is sprayed on the outside of the cap. The cap serves to make the temperature more uniform in the end windings. In an alternative embodiment, a cover is placed over the cap with a coolant jacket formed between the cap and the cover. A coolant, such as transmission fluid or engine coolant, can be circulated in the coolant jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Tekletsion Berhan
  • Patent number: 8087905
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling apparatus for an electric component such as a CPU, a memory or power semiconductor, such as transistors or LEDs, or a processor. The cooling apparatus comprises a heatsink, an impeller that coaxially encloses the heatsink, and a drive motor for the impeller. The heatsink takes the form of a stationary hub having a base for introducing heat from the electronic component that is to be cooled, the hub widening towards the base. Cooling fins are thermally coupled to the hub, the cooling fins being given a spiral-like curve similar to the blades of the impeller. Due to the special design of the hub and the cooling fins as well as the use of a radial flux motor, a highly efficient, particularly compact cooling apparatus can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Wysk, Karl-Heinz Glatz
  • Publication number: 20110309699
    Abstract: An electric machine (10;100) comprises a rotor (14a, b) having permanent magnets (24a,b) and a stator (12) having coils (22) wound on stator bars (16) for interaction with the magnets across an air gap (26a, b) defined between them. The bars and coils are enclosed by a stator housing (42a,b; 102, 142a, b,146) that extends between the air gap and defines a chamber (52;152) incorporating cooling medium to cool the coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: ISIS INNOVATION LTD
    Inventors: Tim Woolmer, Malcolm McCulloch, Hugo Spowers, Andrew Thornby
  • Publication number: 20110298317
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module and a method for cooling an electric machine. The apparatus and method include providing the electric machine including a rotor and a stator with stator end turns and enclosing at least a portion of the electric machine within a housing. The method also includes introducing a coolant into a machine cavity, directing the coolant toward the stator end turns, and returning a portion of the coolant which flows past the stator end turns back toward the stator end turns using a rotating agitator member operatively coupled to the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: Michael D. Bradfield
  • Publication number: 20110298318
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module and a method for cooling an electric machine. The electric machine module includes an electric machine and a housing enclosing the electric machine within a machine cavity. The housing can include at least one end cap positioned axially adjacent to the electric machine and including a shroud protruding into the machine cavity. The shroud can include a step with an angled rotor feed path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: Michael D. Bradfield
  • Publication number: 20110298316
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module and a method for cooling an electric machine. The electric machine module includes the electric machine including a stator with stator end turns and a housing enclosing the electric machine. An inner wall of the housing defines a machine cavity. The electric machine module also includes a cover coupled to the housing and extending radially inward into the machine cavity. The cover and the stator end turns define a stator cavity which is in fluid communication with the machine cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: Michael D. Bradfield
  • Patent number: 8067865
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in one form, provides an electric motor/generator low hydraulic resistance cooling mechanism including a hollow cooling stator case having an inner and outer coaxial surface. The inner surface defines a generally cylindric cavity for receiving a stator in heat transference contact with the inner surface. The outer surface has integrated spiral groove cooling passages that are defined by filleted rectangular cross sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Satish D. Savant
  • Publication number: 20110285222
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module including a module housing. The module housing can include a sleeve member coupled to at least one end cover and can define a machine cavity. In some embodiments, the sleeve member can include an inner perimeter and can be coupled to a stator assembly of an electric machine. In some embodiments, the electric machine can be positioned within the machine and at least partially enclosed by the module housing. In some embodiments, a coolant jacket can be defined by at least a portion of the sleeve member and at least a portion of the stator assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Remy Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley D. Chamberlin, James Ramey
  • Patent number: 8057195
    Abstract: An outer rotor type fan-motor includes: a rotational shaft; a bearing assembly that rotatably supports the rotational shaft; a stator installed at an outer side of the bearing assembly; a permanent magnet assembly that covers an outer side of the stator at a certain distance and is installed at the rotational shaft; and a fan that includes a shaft fixing part for fixing the rotational shaft, a hub for covering an outer side of the permanent magnet assembly at a certain distance and blades formed around the hub. An insulation space is formed between the permanent magnet assembly and the fan to prevent transfer of vibration and noise of the permanent magnet assembly to the fan, and vibration or noise of high frequency can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong-Il Lee, Hyoun-Jeong Shin
  • Publication number: 20110273038
    Abstract: A fan assembly includes a motor ring and an electric motor supported by the motor ring and including an output shaft defining a central axis, a brush assembly, and a motor end shield having at least one aperture and disposed adjacent the brush assembly. The fan assembly further includes a splash shield adjacent the motor end shield. The splash shield includes a rim having an inner surface in facing relationship with the motor end shield and configured to direct an airflow between the motor end shield and the splash shield in a substantially radial direction toward the central axis, and configured to redirect the substantially radial airflow through the aperture in a direction having both a radial and an axial component with respect to the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Naman, Bhaskar Ray
  • Patent number: 8053938
    Abstract: A core assembly for an electric motor includes a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of fins. The fins define a plurality of cooling air passages that include offset fins that disrupt cooling air flow to reduce the formation of boundary layers and improve heat transfer capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstand Corporation
    Inventors: Debabrata Pal, Mark Hamilton Severson, Roy D. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8047774
    Abstract: A heating and cooling system for a wind turbine is provided and includes a gearbox, gearbox heat exchanger, generator, generator heat exchanger, and a cooling duct. The cooling duct is connected to the gearbox and generator heat exchangers, and is used to transport air across both heat exchangers to cool the gearbox and generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Bharat S. Bagepalli
  • Patent number: 8049379
    Abstract: A radial duct for a dynamoelectric machine having a rotor, and a plurality of radial slots in the rotor is provided. A plurality of coils are respectively seated in the radial slots, and the coils form a plurality of radially stacked turns. The radial duct includes one or more cooling slots defined in at least a portion of the radially stacked turns, and extend in a substantially radial direction to the rotor. At least a portion of an interior surface of one or more cooling slots includes one or more ribs for enhanced heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric Steven Buskirk, Curtis Maurice Hebert
  • Patent number: 8049385
    Abstract: A fluid deflecting baffle is provided for use on an electric motor to be used in an environment where liquid may otherwise pass through a vent opening in an endshield of the motor. The baffle is secureable to the endshield and extends in a partial covering relationship with the vent opening. The baffle includes a vent passage therethrough and has at least one liquid flow obstructing louver that extends across the vent opening to deflect liquid away from the vent passage while allowing venting air to flow through the vent passage. The louver includes a generally flat liquid deflection surface that is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the axis of the motor and at least partially faces a venting direction of incoming air and fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Jose L. Vadillo, Raymond D. Heilman, John G. Schrader, James D. Ellis, II, Patrick M. Jones
  • Patent number: 8049378
    Abstract: The invention aims at providing a forced cooling rotary electric machine capable of bringing temperature distribution close to a designed temperature distribution and avoiding becoming a larger size, and employs a wedge formed with ventilation grooves and a wedge not formed with the ventilation grooves to regulate the flow rates of cooling gas passing through air ducts, so that the cooling gas supplied to a part of a stator core, in which temperature is low, can be caused to flow positively to a part in which the temperature is high and the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the stator core can be uniformized. As a result, the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the stator core can be brought close to a designed temperature distribution, and a forced cooling rotary electric machine that need not be made larger in size with a margin can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Hattori, Tadaaki Kakimoto, Akitomi Semba, Mitsuru Saeki, Mitsunori Sezaki, Takashi Shibata
  • Patent number: 8039991
    Abstract: In a cogeneration system having a first power plant connected to an AC power feed line between a power network and an electrical load and a first internal combustion engine for driving the first power plant such that exhaust heat of the first engine is supplied to a thermal load, power supply from the first power plant to the power network is interrupted by turning off a switch installed in the feed line, when outage of the power network is detected and a second power plant is operated, such that outputs of the first and second power plants are supplied to the electrical load. With this, it becomes possible to respond to a commercial power network outage for preventing reverse flow of the power output by the cogeneration system into the power network and supplying as much electric power as possible to the electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Wakitani, Yoshinori Nakagawa, Hiroyuki Eguchi