The present disclosure is directed to balanced winding layouts for electric motors, and more particularly, to winding layouts having hairpins of a particular span with a reduced number of part variances.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to a stator of an electric motor. The stator includes a plurality of motor teeth, a phase lead, a neutral lead, winding hairpins, and a same-layer jumper. The plurality of motor teeth form a plurality of slots configured to accommodate N layers, wherein N is an integer. The phase lead and the neutral lead are arranged in in a first layer of the N layers. A first set of winding hairpins, each configured to achieve a span of M slots, are coupled in series together and also coupled to the phase lead. The first set of winding hairpins are arranged sequentially in a first azimuthal direction. The jumper is arranged between slots of a second layer, and is coupled in series with the first set of winding hairpins. The second set of winding hairpins are each configured to achieve the span of M slots, and are coupled in series between the jumper and the neutral lead. The second set of winding hairpins are arranged sequentially in a second azimuthal direction opposite to the first azimuthal direction. The first set of winding hairpins, the jumper, and the second set of winding hairpins form a continuous electrical path between the phase lead and the neutral lead. In some embodiments, the first layer is a radially outermost layer, and the second layer is a radially innermost layer. In some embodiments, the first layer is a radially innermost layer, and the second layer is a radially outermost layer.
In some embodiments, the jumper is configured to achieve the span of M slots. In some embodiments, the jumper is configured to achieve a shorter span less than the span of M slots. In some embodiments, M is equal to seven slots such that seven stator teeth are arranged between legs of each of the first set of winding hairpins and between legs of each of the second set of winding hairpins. To illustrate, the side of the stator where the hairpins are laid out is referred to as the crown end while the other end of the stator where the hairpins are welded to form a continuous circuit for current flow is referred to as the weld end. In some embodiments, the pitch of the winding on the crown side is seven, while the pitch on the weld side is five. In some embodiments, a pitch of five in the crown side and a pitch of seven on the weld side is used. In some embodiments, an equal pitch is implemented on both the crown side and the weld side (e.g., a pitch of six on either side).
In some embodiments, the plurality of slots include 48 slots and the phase lead, the neutral lead, the first set of winding hairpins, the jumper, and the second set of winding hairpins correspond to a first winding of a first phase. In some such embodiments, the stator includes further windings corresponding to two additional phases.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to a stator having a plurality of slots and a plurality of phases arranged in the slots. Each phase includes a first set of winding hairpins coupled in series and arranged sequentially in a first azimuthal direction, a second set of winding hairpins coupled in series and arranged sequentially in a second azimuthal direction opposite the first azimuthal direction, and a jumper. Each of the first set of winding hairpins and each of the second set of winding hairpins include a span of M slots. The jumper is arranged in a single layer and is coupled in series with the first set of winding hairpins and with the second set of winding hairpins.
In some embodiments, the first set of winding hairpins, the second set of winding hairpins and the jumper correspond to a first continuous winding, and each phase includes a second continuous winding coupled in parallel with the first continuous winding. In some such embodiments, each second continuous winding includes a third set of winding hairpins coupled in series and arranged sequentially in the first azimuthal direction, a fourth set of winding hairpins coupled in series and arranged sequentially in the second azimuthal direction, and another jumper. Each of the third set of winding hairpins and each of the fourth set of winding hairpins include a span of M slots. The other jumper arranged in a single layer and is coupled in series with the third set of winding hairpins and with the fourth set of winding hairpins.
In some embodiments, the jumper is configured to achieve the span of M slots, and the additional jumper is configured to achieve a shorter span of less than M slots. In some embodiments, M is equal to seven slots such that seven stator teeth are arranged between legs of each first set of winding hairpins and between legs of each second set of winding hairpins. In some embodiments, the single layer is a radially outermost layer. In some embodiments, the single layer is a radially innermost layer.
In some embodiments, the plurality of phases includes three phases, wherein each phase of the three phases includes at least two windings coupled in parallel. The first set of winding hairpins, the second set of winding hairpins, and the jumper are included in a first winding of the at least two windings, for example.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to stator of an electric motor including a plurality of stator teeth, a plurality of winding hairpins, a plurality of jumper hairpins, and a jumper. The plurality of stator teeth form a plurality of slots, each configured to accommodate N layers, wherein N is an even integer. Each of the plurality of winding hairpins is configured to achieve a span, and includes N/2 subsets of winding hairpins, each subset of the N/2 subsets including a respective length corresponding to the span. Each of the plurality of jumper hairpins is configured to achieve the span. The plurality of jumper hairpins include N/2-1 subsets of jumper hairpins, and each subset of the N/2-1 subsets includes a respective length corresponding to the span. The jumper is arranged in a single layer of the N layers. The plurality of winding hairpins, the plurality of jumper hairpins, and the jumper are coupled in series to form a continuous electrical path of a phase.
In some embodiments, the single layer is a radially outermost layer. In some embodiments, the single layer is a radially innermost layer. In some embodiments, the jumper is configured to achieve the span. In some embodiments, the jumper is configured to achieve a short span less than the span.
In some embodiments, the plurality of winding hairpins, the plurality of jumper hairpins, and the jumper form a sequence, wherein the jumper is arranged at the center of the sequence, and wherein the jumper corresponds to a change in azimuthal winding direction of the plurality of winding hairpins and the plurality of jumper hairpins.
The present disclosure, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments. These drawings are provided to facilitate an understanding of the concepts disclosed herein and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of these concepts. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.
The present disclosure is directed to balanced winding layouts for electric motors. Electric vehicles, for example, may require motors exhibiting high torque and power for fast acceleration (e.g., especially for higher end vehicles). In a further example, as larger vehicles, such as Trucks and SUVs are electrified, the electric motors require increased torque and power. High power motors may require an increased number of windings connected in parallel (e.g., depending on the level of motor power). To illustrate, more parallel winding connections often require hairpins (e.g., in bar wound machines), resulting in multiple pitches per layer. Winding pitch (or “span”) refers to the number of slots one leg of hairpin is from the other leg of the hairpin. For example, a hairpin may extend a “full pitch,” which means the number of slots the hairpin covers is equal to number of slots divided by number of poles (e.g., typically an integer for integral slot machines). Conversely, the winding pitch can be “short” in which case the number of slots covered by the hairpin is less than the full pitch winding. Further, the winding pitch can be “long,” in which case the number of slots covered by the hairpin is greater than the full pitch. Many winding arrangements, when connecting windings in parallel, require hairpins in every layer to make several pitches: standard pitch (full pitch); short pitch; and (sometimes) long pitch.
The number of layers in a winding layout is defined by the number of conductors in each slot (e.g., stacked radially). In some arrangements, every conductor constitutes one layer. For example, a winding layout with 4 or 6 conductors per slot may have 4 or 6 layers of winding respectively. In some arrangements, parallel connections require a larger number of hairpin shapes (e.g., different pitches) in order to balance windings that are connected in parallel with each other. For example, several hairpin shapes may be required in order to balance these parallel windings such that the same phase (angle) is maintained with respect to each winding. To achieve the same angular phase, each winding should occupy the same location of the slot with respect to the winding pole an equal number of times. Achieving this can necessitate several shapes of hairpins for different layer pairs. As the number of required hairpin shapes increases, stator manufacturing can become more complicated (e.g., requiring more toolings with the associated tooling cost and longer cycle time), which can affect product cost and manufacturing time, and thus productivity. Balanced windings, as used herein, refer to the clockwise and counterclockwise oriented hairpin sequences used for each winding of a phase.
In some embodiments, the winding layouts of the present disclosure allow a balanced winding with a large number of coils connected in parallel and with a reduced numbers of hairpin shapes, thereby reducing the unit and production cost. Each pair of layers can include two sets of windings: a first set (referred to herein as a forward winding) is wound in the forward direction (e.g., azimuthal) around the stator to complete the winding and a second set (referred to herein as a reverse winding) is wound in the reverse direction (e.g., in the opposite azimuthal direction of the forward winding). In some arrangements, the forward winding and the reverse windings are balanced individually and are then connected in parallel (e.g., for increased power). However, this approach may require many hairpin shapes (e.g., hairpins having different spans), thus increasing the cost. In winding layouts of the present disclosure, the forward and reverse windings are not connected in parallel, but rather the forward and reverse windings are connected in series. For example, the forward and reverse windings of the present disclosure may either occupy all the slots in a layer or partially occupy the slots in every layer (e.g., depending on the number of parallel connections). As set forth in more detail with regards to the examples below, a forward winding can be connected (e.g., via a same-layer jumper) to a reverse winding, the forward and reverse windings complementing each other to make the winding fully balanced. The approach of the present disclosure utilizes standard shapes (e.g., full pitch hairpin) in layer pairs, thus reducing the number of different shapes in the winding layouts. For example, a same winding layout can apply to all of the forward winding, and after a same-layer jump, is connected to the reverse winding having a same or similar winding layout. The combination of the forward and the reverse windings can make the winding fully balanced, reducing the number of hairpin shapes.
An illustrative 10-layer stator is illustrated in
Referencing panel 298 showing winding 281, winding lead 291 enters slot 13 (“slot 13” of 48 slots) at layer 10 (i.e., the outermost layer) from the lead side (e.g., axially, at the top as illustrated), with the hairpins of winding 281 forming a continuous path to neutral lead 292 (e.g., at slot 20, as illustrated). As illustrated in panel 298 of
Referencing panel 299 showing winding 282, winding lead 293 enters slot 14 at layer 10 from the lead side (e.g., axially, at the top as illustrated), with the hairpins of winding 282 forming a continuous path to neutral lead 294 (e.g., at slot 19, as illustrated). The hairpins of winding 282 include:
Referencing panel 398 showing winding 381 (i.e., winding 381), winding lead 391 enters slot 13 at layer 1 from the lead side (e.g., axially, at the top as illustrated), with the hairpins of winding 381 forming a continuous path to neutral lead 392 (e.g., at slot 6, as illustrated). The hairpins of winding 381 include:
Referencing panel 399 showing winding B4 (i.e., winding 382), winding lead 393 enters slot 12 at layer 1 from the lead side (e.g., axially, at the top as illustrated), with the hairpins of winding 382 forming a continuous path to neutral lead 394 (e.g., at slot 7, as illustrated). The hairpins of winding B4 include:
Accordingly, for windings 281, 282, 381, and 382 (i.e., windings B1-B4), it can be summarized that:
As shown in this example, two of the 4 parallel paths of windings of phase B (e.g., windings B1, B2, illustrated in
Referencing panel 598 showing winding 581 (i.e., winding B1), phase lead 591 enters slot 14 at layer 6 from the lead side (e.g., axially, at the top as illustrated). A first set of counter-clockwise hairpins 502, 503, and 504, and jumper 505 extend counter-clockwise around in layers 5 and 6, which continue to second set of counter-clockwise hairpins 512, 513, and 514, and jumper 515 which extend counter-clockwise around in layers 3 and 4, which continue to third set of counter-clockwise hairpins 522, 523, 524, and jumper 525 which extend counter-clockwise around in layers 1 and 2. While hairpins 502-504, 512-514, and 522-524, and jumpers 505 and 515 have the same span (e.g., 7 slots, as illustrated), jumper 525, as illustrated, includes a different span (e.g., 5 slots as illustrated). Jumper 525 is termed a “1-1” jumper because is extends between slots at layer 1 and marks the winding position where the azimuthal winding direction changes (e.g., counter-clockwise winding direction changes to clockwise for winding 581). A third set of clockwise hairpins 532, 533, and 534, and jumper 535 extend clockwise around in layers 1 and 2, which continue to another second set of clockwise hairpins 542, 543, and 544, and jumper 545 which extend clockwise around in layers 3 and 4, which continue to another first set of clockwise hairpins 552, 553, and 554 which extend clockwise around in layers 1 and 2, and continue to neutral lead 592 (e.g., at slot 19, as illustrated). Hairpins 532-534, 542-544, and 552-554, and jumpers 535 and 545 have the same span (e.g., 7 slots, as illustrated). Accordingly, hairpins 502-504 and 552-554 are the same, hairpins 512-514 and 542-544 are the same, and hairpins 522-524 and 532-534 are the same, with each set differing in length (e.g., all have the same span, but the azimuthal distance changes based on layer pairs as the radius changes).
Referencing panel 599 showing winding 582 (i.e., winding B2), phase lead 593 enters slot 13 at layer 6 from the lead side (e.g., axially, at the top as illustrated). A first set of hairpins 506, 507, and 508, and jumper 509 extend counter-clockwise around in layers 5 and 6, which continue to second set of hairpins 516, 517, and 518, and jumper 519 which extend counter-clockwise around in layers 3 and 4, which continue to third set of hairpins 526, 527, 528, and jumper 529 which extend counter-clockwise around in layers 1 and 2. Hairpins 506-508, 516-518, and 526-528, and jumpers 509, 519 and 529 have the same span (e.g., 7 slots, as illustrated). Jumper 529 is also a “1-1” jumper because is extends between slots at layer 1, and marks the winding position where the direction changes (e.g., counter-clockwise to clockwise for winding 582), but includes the same span as the hairpins. Another third set of hairpins 536, 537, and 538, and jumper 539 extend clockwise around in layers 1 and 2, which continue to another second set of hairpins 546, 547, and 548, and jumper 549 which extend clockwise around in layers 3 and 4, which continue to another first set of hairpins 556, 557, and 558 which extend clockwise around in layers 1 and 2, and continue to neutral lead 594 (e.g., at slot 20, as illustrated). Hairpins 536-538, 546-548, and 556-558, and jumpers 539 and 549 have the same span (e.g., 7 slots, as illustrated). Accordingly, for windings 581 and 582, it can be summarized that:
The illustrative winding arrangements of
Step 1302 includes arranging a phase lead and a neutral lead in respective slots of a stator. In some embodiments, the phase lead and neutral lead are inserted into respective slots axially. In some embodiments, step 1302 includes bending the inserted leads after insertion (e.g., to position the ends of the leads for welding). In some embodiments, the phase lead and the neutral lead each include one leg, which is inserted into the respective slot.
Step 1304 includes arranging a first set of winding hairpins in respective slots of a stator, in a sequence along a first azimuthal orientation. In some embodiments, each winding hairpin is inserted into respective slots axially. In some embodiments, step 1304 includes bending the inserted leads after insertion (e.g., to position the ends of the leads for welding). The first azimuthal orientation may be either clockwise or counter-clockwise. In some embodiments, the first set of winding hairpins may include jumpers that span one or more layers. In some embodiments, the first set of winding hairpins each include the same span (e.g., span the same number of slots).
Step 1306 includes arranging a same-layer jumper hairpin in respective slots of a stator. In some embodiments, the same layer jumper is arranged in the radially innermost layer. In some embodiments, the same layer jumper is arranged in the radially outermost layer. The same-layer jumper may include the same span, a shorter span, or a longer span than the first set of winding hairpins.
Step 1308 includes arranging a second set of winding hairpins in respective slots of a stator, in a sequence along a second azimuthal orientation. In some embodiments, each winding hairpin is inserted into respective slots axially. In some embodiments, step 1308 includes bending the inserted leads after insertion (e.g., to position the ends of the leads for welding). The second azimuthal orientation may be either clockwise or counter-clockwise, whichever is opposite to the direction of step 1304. In some embodiments, the second set of winding hairpins may include jumpers that span one or more layers. In some embodiments, the second set of winding hairpins each include the same span (e.g., span the same number of slots). In some embodiments, each winding hairpin of the first set and the second set include the same span (e.g., seven slots as illustrated in
Step 1310 includes welding legs of sequential winding hairpins together. Step 1310 may include contact welding, laser welding, friction welding, soldering, brazing, crimping, joining using any other suitable technique, or any combination thereof.
In an illustrative example, each winding applied using process 1300 may follow a path from outer to inner (e.g., and vice versa for 10 layer winding), then make a same layer jump, and then return back to the outer or inner by changing the winding direction (e.g., azimuthal direction), rather than starting at an outer or inner layer and ending at the opposite radial side (e.g., inner or outer, respectively). In a further illustrative example, for some ten-layer and eight layer arrangements, each the winding need not complete each layer before jumping to the next layer.
The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this disclosure, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The above described embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. The present disclosure also can take many forms other than those explicitly described herein. Accordingly, it is emphasized that this disclosure is not limited to the explicitly disclosed methods, systems, and apparatuses, but is intended to include variations to and modifications thereof, which are within the spirit of the following claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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7622843 | Cai | Nov 2009 | B2 |
20080042508 | Cai | Feb 2008 | A1 |
20190222078 | Liang | Jul 2019 | A1 |
20210218305 | Tang | Jul 2021 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20230018571 A1 | Jan 2023 | US |