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EP-4738654-A1 - COOLING SYSTEMS FOR E-MACHINES HAVING A WINDING ARRANGEMENT

EP4738654A1EP 4738654 A1EP4738654 A1EP 4738654A1EP-4738654-A1

Abstract

An e-machine includes a stator core having a first axial end and a second axial end that are separated along a longitudinal axis. The stator core has a slot that extends between the first axial end and the second axial end. The e-machine further includes a plurality of winding members. The plurality of winding members comprise a plurality of longitudinal segments that are received in the slot and that extend between the first axial end and the second axial end. The stator core has a fluid distribution member attached to the first axial end of the stator core, the fluid distribution member comprising a fluid distribution channel having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising an opening for receiving fluid and the second end being fluidly connected to at least one fluid passageways formed within the plurality of longitudinal segments.

Inventors

  • SLAMA, DAVID
  • BREZINA, Michal
  • Quinn, Cheney
  • TOMANEC, Filip

Assignees

  • Garrett Transportation I Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241030

Claims (15)

  1. An e-machine comprising: a stator core (154) having a first axial end (160) and a second axial end (162) that are separated along a longitudinal axis (109), the stator core having a slot (164) that extends between the first axial end and the second axial end; a plurality of winding members (170), the plurality of winding members comprising a plurality of segments (172) that are received in the slot and that extend between the first axial end and the second axial end, the plurality of segments disposed in an arrangement that define one or more fluid passageways (171) within the slot, the one or more fluid passageways extending between the first axial end and the second axial end of the stator core; and a fluid distribution member (200), the fluid distribution member being attached to the first axial end of the stator core, the fluid distribution member comprising a first fluid distribution channel (250) having a first end (215) and a second end (220), the first end being connected to an opening (210) for receiving fluid and the second end being fluidly connected to at least one of the one or more fluid passageways.
  2. The e-machine of claim 1, wherein the fluid distribution member (200) comprises a bonded stack of at least two disc-shaped members (230, 240), wherein a first disc-shaped member (230) of the at least two disc-shaped members comprises the opening (210) and a second disc-shaped member (240) of the at least two disc-shaped members comprises the second end (220) of the first fluid distribution channel (250).
  3. The e-machine of claim 1, wherein the second end (220) of the first fluid distribution channel (250) is located proximate to only one of the plurality of fluid passageways (171) within the slot, optionally wherein the second end (220) is fluidically connected to only one of the plurality of fluid passageways within the slot and is fluidically isolated from other fluid passageways within the slot.
  4. The e-machine of Claim 3, wherein the fluid distribution member (200) comprises a second fluid distribution channel (350), the second fluid distribution channel having a first end that is connected to the opening (210) and having a second end (320) that is different to the second end (220) of the first fluid distribution channel.
  5. The e-machine of claim 4, wherein the bonded stack of at least two disc-shaped members comprises a third disc-shaped member (340), and wherein the second end (320) of the second fluid distribution channel is formed in only the third disc-shaped member.
  6. The e-machine of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the second end (320) of the second fluid distribution channel is located proximate to only one of the plurality of fluid passageways within the slot, optionally wherein the second end (320) is fluidically connected to only one of the plurality of fluid passageways within the slot and is fluidically isolated from other fluid passageways within the slot.
  7. The e-machine of claim 6, wherein the second end (220) of the first distribution channel (250) is located proximate to a different one of the plurality of fluid passageways within the slot as compared to the second end (320) of the second distribution channel (350).
  8. The e-machine of any preceding claim, further comprising an e-machine housing (124) that defines a cavity (129), the stator core (154) received in the cavity, the e-machine housing having a fluid inlet (142) and a fluid outlet (144), the housing fluid inlet and the housing fluid outlet being spaced apart along the longitudinal axis (109), and the housing fluid inlet being in fluid communication with the opening (210) of the fluid distribution member (200); and wherein the e-machine further comprises a fluid coolant system (140) configured to provide a coolant fluid into the cavity for flow into the fluid inlet (142).
  9. The e-machine of any preceding claim, wherein the e-machine is an electric motor, or wherein the e-machine is an electric generator.
  10. The e-machine of any preceding claim, further comprising a first seal (600) disposed at the first axial end (160) of the stator core (154) and a second seal (600) disposed at the second axial end (162) of the stator core (154), the first and second seals configured to prevent fluid flow from the slot (164) to end windings (188, 189) disposed outside of the stator core (154).
  11. An e-machine comprising: a stator core (1154) received in the cavity, the stator core having a first axial end and a second axial end that are separated along a longitudinal axis (109), the stator core having a slot (1164) that extends between the first axial end and the second axial end; a plurality of winding members, the plurality of winding members comprising a plurality of segments that are received in the slot and that extend between the first axial end and the second axial end; and a cooling channel (1181) that extends through the stator core between the first and second axial ends, wherein the cooling channel is fluidically isolated from the slot, and wherein the cooling channel comprises a first opening for fluid inflow and a second opening for fluid outflow.
  12. The e-machine of claim 11, wherein the e-machine housing comprises a fluid inlet (1142) and a fluid outlet (1144), the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet being spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, and the fluid inlet being in fluid communication with the first opening of the cooling channel (1181) and the fluid outlet being in fluid communication with the second opening of the cooling channel; and wherein the e-machine further comprises a fluid coolant system (140) configured to provide a coolant fluid into the cavity for flow into the fluid inlet.
  13. The e-machine of claim 11 or claim 12, wherein an end winding (188, 189) of the stator core is fluidically connected to the slot (1164) with no seal disposed therebetween.
  14. The e-machine of claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the e-machine is an electric motor.
  15. The e-machine of claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the e-machine is an electric generator.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates, generally, to an e-machine and, more particularly, to an e-machine system with a windings arrangement in which segments of the winding are arranged to form fluid passageways within a slot of a stator of the e-machine. BACKGROUND E-machines, such as electric motors, electric generators, and combination electric motor/generators, are provided for a variety of uses. For example, electric traction motors are used in electric vehicles, electric locomotives, and so on. Electric generators also have many industrial uses. E-machine systems typically generate heat during operation. Additionally, e-machine systems may operate in high-temperature environments. Elevated temperatures may hinder performance and/or cause other disadvantages associated with the e-machine. Thus, it is desirable to include cooling features in the e-machine. However, the design and provision of such cooling features remains challenging. There may be detrimental increases in costs, part count, device complexity, size, bulkiness, and/or weight if such cooling features are included. Thus, there remains a need for an e-machine system that provides effective cooling. There also remains a need for e-machine systems where the cooling features are provided in a relatively compact, low-weight arrangement. There is also a need for an e-machine system including cooling features that may be manufactured with high efficiency and with reduced costs and manufacturing time. BRIEF SUMMARY This summary is provided to describe select concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an e-machine comprising: a stator core having a first axial end and a second axial end that are separated along a longitudinal axis, the stator core having a slot that extends between the first axial end and the second axial end; a plurality of winding members, the plurality of winding members comprising a plurality of segments that are received in the slot and that extend between the first axial end and the second axial end, the plurality of segments disposed in an arrangement that define one or more fluid passageways within the slot, the one or more fluid passageways extending between the first axial end and the second axial end of the stator core; and a fluid distribution member, the fluid distribution member being attached to the first axial end of the stator core, the fluid distribution member comprising a first fluid distribution channel having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to an opening for receiving fluid and the second end being fluidly connected to at least one of the one or more fluid passageways. In an embodiment, the fluid distribution member comprises a bonded stack of at least two disc-shaped members, wherein a first disc-shaped member of the at least two disc-shaped members comprises the opening and a second disc-shaped member of the at least two disc-shaped members comprises the second end of the first fluid distribution channel. As will be explained in more detail below, forming the fluid distribution member from a stack of disc-shaped members allows for improved ease of manufacturing. In an embodiment combinable with the above embodiment, the plurality of segments are disposed in an arrangement that define a plurality of fluid passageways within the slot, wherein the second end is located proximate to only one of the plurality of fluid passageways within the slot, optionally wherein the second end is fluidically connected to only one of the plurality of fluid passageways within the slot and is fluidically isolated from other fluid passageways within the slot. In an embodiment combinable with the above embodiments, the fluid distribution member comprises a second fluid distribution channel, the second fluid distribution channel having a first end that is connected to the opening and having a second end that is different to the second end of the first fluid distribution channel. In an embodiment combinable with the above embodiments, the bonded stack of at least two disc-shaped members comprises a third disc-shaped member, and wherein the second end of the second fluid distribution channel is formed in only the third disc-shaped member. In an embodiment combinable with the above embodiments, the second end of the second fluid distribution channel is located proximate to only one of the plurality of fluid passageways within the slot, optionally wherein the second end is fluidically connected to only the only one of the plurality of fluid passageways within the slot and is fluidically isolated from other fluid passageways within the slot. In an embodiment combinable with the above embodiments, the secon