This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-180236 filed on Nov. 10, 2022. The entire content of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference.
The technology disclosed herein relates to motors.
In a motor described in U.S. patent Ser. No. 11/125,315, a stator is housed in a housing. A plurality of injection holes is defined in an annular member that provides a seal between an axial end face of a stator core and an inner surface of the housing. Refrigerant is injected toward a coil end through each of the injection holes.
Refrigerant injected through a plurality of holes may be insufficient in amount. In this case, a coil end may not be sufficiently cooled, which may cause heat damage.
A motor may comprise a rotor; a stator comprising a stator core and a coil; a housing that houses the rotor and the stator; and a first annular member that provides a seal between a first end face of the stator core in an axial direction of the stator core and an inner wall surface of the housing. The first annular member may be arranged so as to surround an outer periphery of a first coil end of the coil protruding from the first end face of the stator core. The first annular member may comprise a plurality of first holes through which refrigerant is injected toward the first coil end. At least one opening of the plurality of first holes may have a shape in which a maximum value of a first width, which is a dimension in a circumferential direction of the stator core, is greater than a maximum value of a second width, which is a dimension in the axial direction of the stator core.
The refrigerant may comprise various types of refrigerants. For example, the refrigerant may be cooling oil. Alternatively, the refrigerant may be a liquid such as water or a gaseous fluid. According to the configuration above, regarding the at least one opening of the first holes, the maximum value of the first width, which is its dimension in the circumferential direction of the stator core, is greater than the maximum value of the second width, which is its dimension in the axial direction of the stator core. Thus, the at least one opening has an increased opening area as compared to a circular opening having the maximum value of the second width as its diameter. Since it is ensured that a sufficient amount of the refrigerant is injected from the first hole(s), the cooling performance for the coil end can be enhanced.
The at least one opening may comprise a center portion including a center of the at last one opening in the circumferential direction, and a pair of end portions located opposite to each other in the circumferential direction with the center portion interposed therebetween. In each of the pair of end portions, the second width may decrease from an end of the end portion closer to the center portion toward another end of the end portion farther from the center portion.
In the configuration above, in each end portion, the area of the at least one opening is larger at its portions closer to the center of the at least one opening in the circumferential direction.
The maximum value of the second width may be a value at the center of the at least one opening in the circumferential direction.
The configuration above allows for an increase in an injection amount from the center of at least one first hole in the circumferential direction.
In the center portion, the second width may decrease from the center toward ends of the center portion in the circumferential direction.
The configuration above allows for an appropriate increase in an injection amount from the center of at least one first hole in the circumferential direction.
The at least one opening may be elliptical in shape.
In the configuration above, the edge of the at least one opening is formed by a smoothly curved line. This appropriately suppresses an uneven injection amount distribution in the at least one first hole.
In the center portion, the second width may be constant in the circumferential direction.
In the configuration above, an injection amount of the refrigerant from the center portion is substantially constant in the circumferential direction. This allows the first coil end to be evenly cooled in the circumferential direction.
The at least one opening may be oval in shape.
In the configuration above, the edges of the end portions are each formed by a smoothly curved line. This appropriately suppresses an uneven injection amount distribution in the at least one first hole.
In the center portion, the second width may increase from the center toward ends of the center portion in the circumferential direction.
In the configuration above, the refrigerant is injected in a larger amount from parts of the center portion that are close to the end portions. This allows the first coil end to be cooled over a broad area in the circumferential direction.
The at least one opening may have a polygonal shape with each corner rounded.
The maximum value of the first width may be at least 1.5 times the maximum value of the second width.
In the configuration above, the refrigerant injection distribution is appropriately broadened in the circumferential direction rather than in the axial direction.
The housing may comprise a supply port through which the refrigerant is supplied from outside. A flow path may be defined in an outer circumferential surface of the stator core, and the flow path may allow the refrigerant supplied through the supply port to flow toward the first annular member.
This configuration allows the stator to be appropriately cooled by flowing the refrigerant in the flow path.
The flow path may comprise a plurality of channels extending in the axial direction. The maximum value of the first width may be greater than or equal to a width of the plurality of channels in the circumferential direction.
This configuration allows to appropriately introduce the refrigerant flowing in the channels into the first holes.
The motor may further comprise a second annular member that provides a seal between a second end face of the stator core and the inner wall surface of the housing, the second end face being opposite to the first end face of the stator core in the axial direction. The second annular member may be arranged so as to surround an outer periphery of a second coil end of the coil protruding from the second end face of the stator core. The second annular member may comprise a plurality of second holes through which the refrigerant is injected toward the second coil end. At least one opening of the plurality of second holes may have a shape in which a maximum value of a first width, which is a dimension in a circumferential direction of the stator core, is greater than a maximum value of a second width, which is a dimension in the axial direction of the stator core.
This configuration allows both the first and second coil ends to be appropriately cooled.
Representative, non-limiting examples of the present disclosure will now be described in further detail with reference to the attached drawings. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing preferred aspects of the present teachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, each of the additional features and teachings disclosed below may be utilized separately or in conjunction with other features and teachings to provide improved motors.
Moreover, combinations of features and steps disclosed in the following detailed description may not be necessary to practice the disclosure in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe representative examples of the disclosure. Furthermore, various features of the above-described and below-described representative examples, as well as the various independent and dependent claims, may be combined in ways that are not specifically and explicitly enumerated in order to provide additional useful embodiments of the present teachings.
All features disclosed in the description and/or the claims are intended to be disclosed separately and independently from each other for the purpose of original written disclosure, as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed subject matter, independent of the compositions of the features in the embodiments and/or the claims. In addition, all value ranges or indications of groups of entities are intended to disclose every possible intermediate value or intermediate entity for the purpose of original written disclosure, as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed subject matter.
Configuration of Motor 1
The motor 1 is mounted on an electric-powered vehicle. The electric-powered vehicle comprises a hybrid vehicle and an electric vehicle. In the electric-powered vehicle, the motor 1 may be used as a traction motor that generates power for the vehicle to travel, or as a generator that generates electric power from regenerative braking power and/or excess power of an engine. In the electric-powered vehicle, the motor 1 is mounted such that −z-direction is coincident with the gravity direction.
As shown in
The motor 1 mainly comprises the rotor 10, the stator 20, the housing 30, the first annular member 41, and the second annular member 42. The rotor 10 comprises the rotation shaft 11. The rotation shaft 11 is supported by the housing 30 via a bearing (not shown) and is rotatable. The rotor 10 is fixed to the rotation shaft 11.
The stator 20 comprises the stator core 21 and a coil 22. The stator core 21 is a substantially annular member formed, for example, of a stack of steel plates. The stator core 21 includes a first end face 21e1 at its one end in the axial direction (x-direction) and a second end face 21e2 at its other end in the axial direction. A wire that constitutes the coil 22 is wound around the stator core 21. A first coil end 22e1 of the coil 22 protrudes in the axial direction from the first end face 21e1. A second coil end 22e2 of the coil 22 protrudes in the axial direction from the second end face 21e2.
The housing 30 is a member that houses the rotor 10 and the stator 20. The housing 30 surrounds the stator 20. A supply hole 30p, which will be described later, is defined in a side surface of the housing 30. A cooling oil reservoir (not shown) is disposed at a bottom portion of the housing 30. Known prior art can be applied for basic configuration of the housing 30, and thus its detailed description is omitted here.
The first annular member 41 has a ring shape about the rotation shaft 11. The first annular member 41 is constituted of resin. As shown in
The first annular member 41 comprises a plurality of first holes H1. Cooling oil is injected toward the first coil end 22e1 through the first holes H1. Referring to
Referring to
As shown in
As shown in
Shape of First Holes H1
Openings of the first holes H1 have the same shape. Therefore, the following description focuses on the shape of an opening of one of the first holes H1.
The opening of the first hole H1 is elliptical in shape. The shape is detailed as follows. The opening of the first hole H1 comprises a first width W1 which is a dimension in the circumferential direction and a second width W2 which is a dimension in the axial direction. The opening of the first hole H1 comprises a circumferential center CC, which is the center of the opening in the circumferential direction, and an axial center AC, which is the center of the opening in the axial direction. Further, the opening of the first hole H1 comprises a center portion H1C and end portions H1E. The center portion H1C includes the circumferential center CC. The end portions HE are a pair of portions opposite to each other in the circumferential direction with the center portion H1C interposed therebetween.
At the axial center AC, the first width W1 is a first maximum width W1max, which is the maximum value of the first width W1. The first width W1 gradually decreases from the axial center AC toward the respective ends of the opening in the axial direction (toward the right and left on the drawing sheet). At the circumferential center CC, the second width W2 is a second maximum width W2max, which is the maximum value of the second width W2. In the center portion H1C, the second width W2 gradually decreases from the circumferential center CC toward the respective ends of the center portion H1C in the circumferential direction (toward the upside and downside on the drawing sheet). The edges of the center portion H1C of the opening are formed by curved lines. In each of the pair of end portions H1E, the second width W2 gradually decreases from an end of the end portion HE closer to the circumferential center CC toward another end of the end portion HE farther from the circumferential center CC. The edge of each end portion HE is formed by a curved line.
The first maximum width W1max is greater than the second maximum width W2max. In the present embodiment, the first maximum width W1max is at least 1.5 times the second maximum width W2max. As shown in
The structure on +x-direction side relative to the center plane CP has been mainly described above. The structure on −x-direction side relative to the center plane CP is similar to that on +x-direction side. That is, there is a second annular member 42 that provides a seal between the second end face 21e2 of the stator core 21 and the inner wall surface 30w of the housing 30. A space SP2 is defined between the second annular member 42 and the inner wall surface 30w. The second annular member 42 comprises a plurality of second holes H2. The cooling oil is injected toward the second coil end 22e2 through the plurality of second holes H2. Openings of the second holes H2 have the same elliptical shape. In each opening, a first maximum width W1max in the circumferential direction is greater than a second maximum width W2max in the axial direction. Further description on the structure on −x-direction side relative to the center plane CP is omitted herein.
Operation
How the motor 1 operates is described. The cooling oil in the cooling oil reservoir flows through a pump and a supply pipe, which are not shown, and then flows into the supply port 30p of the housing 30. The cooling oil supplied through the supply port 30p flows into the annular channel 50r. This cooling oil flows within the annular channel 50r in the circumferential direction (see arrows A0 in
Once reaching +x direction ends of the first channels 50c1, the cooling oil is discharged to the space SP1 and reaches the first annular member 41. A part of the discharged cooling oil directly flows into each of the first holes H1 (see arrows Ali). The rest of the discharged cooling oil flows into each of the first holes H1 via the space SP1. As described above, the first maximum width W1max (
Referring to
Effects
The opening of each first hole H1 has an elliptical shape in which the first maximum width W1max in the circumferential direction is greater than the second maximum width W2max in the axial direction. Thus, the opening of each first hole H1 has an increased area as compared to a circular opening having a diameter of the second maximum width W2max. Thus, the cooling oil, which has reached the first annular member 41, can sufficiently flow into the plurality of first holes H1 (see arrows Ali in
As shown in
If the edge of the opening of a first hole H1 includes one or more corners formed by straight lines, the injection amount may be varied at the one or more corners, which may cause an uneven injection amount distribution. In the technology according to the present embodiment, the openings of the first holes H1 have an elliptical shape, and thus the edges of the openings do not include any straight-line portion and are formed by smoothly curved lines. Therefore, the uneven injection amount distribution can be appropriately suppressed in each first hole H1.
Configuration of First Holes H201
A second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the shape of a plurality of first holes H201. Configurations same as those described in connection with the first embodiment are labeled with the same reference signs, and description for them is omitted.
The opening of the first hole H201 is oval in shape. The shape is detailed as follows. A first width W1 which is a dimension in the circumferential direction (in up-down direction on the drawing sheet) can be a first maximum width W1max, which is the maximum value of the first width W1, at the axial center AC. A second width W2 which is a dimension in the axial direction (in right-left direction on the drawing sheet) can be a second maximum width W2max, which is the maximum value of the second width W2, at the circumferential center CC. In the present embodiment, the first maximum width W1max is at least 1.5 times the second maximum width W2max.
In a center portion H201C, the second width W2 is constant in the circumferential direction. Thus, the edge of the center portion H201C is formed by straight lines parallel to each other. In each of a pair of end portions H201E, the second width W2 gradually decreases from an end of the end portion H201E closer to the circumferential center CC toward another end thereof farther from the circumferential center CC. The edge of each end portion H201E is formed by a curved line.
Effects
In the technology according to the present embodiment, the injection amount of cooling oil from the center portion H201C is substantially constant in the circumferential direction. This allows the first coil end 22e1 to be evenly cooled in the circumferential direction.
In the technology according to the present embodiment, the edges of the end portions H201E are formed by smoothly curved lines. This allows to appropriately suppress an uneven injection amount distribution in each of the end portions H201E.
Configuration of First Holes H301
A third embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in the shape of a plurality of first holes H301. Configurations same as those described in connection with the first embodiment are labeled with the same reference signs, and description for them is omitted.
The opening of the first hole H301 has an hourglass shape in which a second width W2 is narrowed near the circumferential center CC. The shape is detailed as follows. A first width W1 which is a dimension in the circumferential direction (in up-down direction on the drawing sheet) can be a first maximum width W1max, which is the maximum value of the first width W1, at the axial center AC. The second width W2 which is a dimension in the axial direction (in right-left direction on the drawing sheet) can be a second maximum width W2max, which is the maximum value of the second width W2, at borders BO between a center portion H301C and respective end portions H301E. In the present embodiment, the first maximum width W1max is at least 1.5 times the second maximum width W2max.
In the center portion H301C, the second width W2 gradually increases from the circumferential center CC toward ends of the center portion H301C in the circumferential direction (toward the upside and downside on the drawing sheet). The edge of the center portion H301C is formed by curved lines. In each of the pair of end portions H301E, the second width W2 gradually decreases from an end of the end portion H301E closer to the circumferential center CC toward another end thereof farther from the circumferential center CC. The edge of each end portion H301E is formed by a curved line.
Effects
In the technology according to the present embodiment, the injection amount from the pair of end portions H301E is relatively increased by narrowing the second width W2 near the circumferential center CC. This allows the first coil end 22e1 to be cooled over a broad area in the circumferential direction.
Configurations of First Holes H401, H501, and H601
A fourth embodiment is different from the first to third embodiments in the shapes of a plurality of first holes H401, H501, and H601. Configurations same as those described in connection with the first embodiment are labeled with the same reference signs, and description for them is omitted.
The openings of the first holes H401, H501, and H601 have polygonal shapes with each corner rounded. The opening of the first hole H401 shown in
The following description is common to the first holes H401, H501, and H601. A first width W1 which is a dimension in the circumferential direction (in up-down direction on the drawing sheets) can be a first maximum width W1max, which is the maximum value of the first width W1, at the axial center AC. A second width W2 which is a dimension in the axial direction (in right-left direction on the drawing sheets) can be a second maximum width W2max, which is the maximum value of the second width W2, at the circumferential center CC. In the present embodiment, the first maximum width W1max is at least 1.5 times the second maximum width W2max. In a center portion H401C (
Effects
Even with polygonal shaped openings such as the ones according to the present embodiment, it is ensured that a sufficient amount of cooling oil flows into the first holes. Further, the cooling oil can be injected to spread in the circumferential direction.
While specific examples of the present disclosure have been described above in detail, these examples are merely illustrative and place no limitation on the scope of the patent claims. The technology described in the patent claims also encompasses various changes and modifications to the specific examples described above. The technical elements explained in the present description or drawings provide technical utility either independently or through various combinations. The present disclosure is not limited to the combinations described at the time the claims are filed. Further, the purpose of the examples illustrated by the present description or drawings is to satisfy multiple objectives simultaneously, and satisfying any one of those objectives gives technical utility to the present disclosure.
Modification
The shapes of the openings of the first and second holes are not limited to those described herein but may be various other shapes. Further, the number and arrangement of the first and second holes are not limited to those described herein but may be different.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2022-180236 | Nov 2022 | JP | national |