EP-4740293-A1 - STATOR CARRIER FOR A DRIVE UNIT

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a stator carrier includes the step of fashioning a stator carrier body that includes a side wall that extends circumferentially about a hollow. The side wall has an interior surface that defines the hollow and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface. The method of manufacturing the stator carrier further includes the step of, subsequently, providing a fin on the exterior surface of the side wall of the stator carrier body. The fin is coupled to the exterior surface of the side wall and extends axially and circumferentially along the exterior surface of the of the side wall in a winding fashion.

Inventors

• NELSON, KYLE

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240613

Claims (20)

1. 1. A method of manufacturing a stator carrier, comprising the steps of: fashioning a stator carrier body that includes a side wall that extends circumferentially about a hollow, the side wall having an interior surface that defines the hollow and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface; and subsequently, providing a fin on the exterior surface of the side wall of the stator carrier body, wherein the fin is coupled to the exterior surface of the side wall and extends axially and circumferentially along the exterior surface of the of the side wall in a winding fashion.
2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fin comprises: a spring, and the step of providing a fin on the exterior surface of the side wall of the stator carrier body comprises positioning the spring about the exterior surface of the side wall such that the spring is wound about the exterior surface of the side wall.
3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein an outer diameter of the exterior surface of the side wall is greater than an inner diameter of the spring in an undeformed state of the spring, and the spring is positioned about the exterior surface of the side wall via elastic deformation of the spring.
4. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of providing a fin on the exterior surface of the side wall further comprises: brazing the spring to the exterior surface of the side wall of the stator carrier body.
5. 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of providing a fin on the exterior surface of the side wall further comprises: welding the spring to the exterior surface of the side wall of the stator carrier body.
6. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein step of providing a fin on the exterior surface of the side wall comprises: depositing a bead of filler metal onto the exterior surface of the side wall.
7. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: machining the bead of filler metal.
8. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of fashioning the stator carrier body comprises: stamping at least one metal component.
9. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the fin comprises: a first portion that extends in a winding fashion circumferentially in a first circumferential direction and axially toward a flange of the stator carrier body that extends radially outboard from the side wall; a second portion that extends axially from the first portion toward the flange of the stator carrier; and a third portion that extends from the second portion circumferentially about the exterior surface of the side wall a second circumferential direction that is opposite the first circumferential direction.
10. 10. A stator carrier, comprising: a stator carrier body that includes a side wall that extends circumferentially about a hollow, the side wall having an interior surface that defines the hollow and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface; and a spring coupled to the exterior surface of the side wall and extending axially and circumferentially along the exterior surface of the of the side wall in a winding fashion.
11. 11. The stator carrier of claim 10, wherein the spring is in an elastically deformed state, and an outer diameter of the exterior surface of the side wall along which the spring extends in the elastically deformed state is greater than an inner diameter of the spring in an undeformed state of the spring.
12. 12. The stator carrier of claim 11, wherein interference between the spring and the exterior surface of the side wall of the stator carrier due to the spring being resiliently biased toward undeformed state yieldingly maintains the position of the spring relative to the stator carrier body.
13. 13. The stator carrier of claim 10, wherein the spring is coupled to the exterior surface of the side wall via brazing.
14. 14. The stator carrier of claim 10, wherein the spring is welded to the exterior surface of the side wall.
15. 15. The stator carrier of claim 10, wherein the spring comprises: a first portion that extends in a winding fashion axially and circumferentially in a first circumferential direction; a second portion that extends axially away from the first portion; and a third portion that extends from the second portion circumferentially about the exterior surface of the side wall a second circumferential direction that is opposite the first circumferential direction.
16. 16. The stator carrier of claim 15, wherein the first portion of the spring extends axially toward a flange of the stator carrier body that extends radially outboard from the side wall of the stator carrier body, and the second portion of the spring extends axially toward the flange of the stator carrier body.
17. 17. The stator carrier of claim 10, wherein the stator carrier body includes at least one stamped metal component.
18. 18. A stator carrier, comprising: a stator carrier body that includes a side wall that extends circumferentially about a hollow, the side wall having an interior surface that defines the hollow and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface; and a bead of filler metal coupled to the exterior surface of the side wall and extending axially and circumferentially along the exterior surface of the of the side wall in a winding fashion.
19. 19. The stator carrier of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the bead of filler metal has a machined outer profile.
20. 20. The stator carrier of claim 18, wherein the stator carrier body includes at least one stamped metal component, and the bead of filler metal is fixed to the at least one stamped metal component.

Description

STATOR CARRIER FOR A DRIVE UNIT CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. 18/347,205, filed July 5, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE [0002] The present disclosure generally relates to a stator carrier. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a stator carrier for an electric drive unit of a vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE [0003] Electric drive units often include stator carriers. A fin that may be coupled to an exterior surface of a side wall of a stator carrier body may be desired. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE [0004] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method of manufacturing a stator carrier includes the step of fashioning a stator carrier body that includes a side wall that extends circumferentially about a hollow. The side wall has an interior surface that defines the hollow and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface. The method of manufacturing the stator carrier further includes the step of, subsequently, providing a fin on the exterior surface of the side wall of the stator carrier body. The fin is coupled to the exterior surface of the side wall and extends axially and circumferentially along the exterior surface of the of the side wall in a winding fashion. [0005] Embodiments of the first aspect of the disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features: - the fin includes a spring, and the step of providing a fin on the exterior surface of the side wall of the stator carrier body comprises positioning the spring about the exterior surface of the side wall such that the spring is wound about the exterior surface of the side wall; - an outer diameter of the exterior surface of the side wall is greater than an inner diameter of the spring in an undeformed state of the spring, and the spring is positioned about the exterior surface of the side wall via elastic deformation of the spring; - the step of providing a fin on the exterior surface of the side wall further includes brazing the spring to the exterior surface of the side wall of the stator carrier body; - the step of providing a fin on the exterior surface of the side wall further includes welding the spring to the exterior surface of the side wall of the stator carrier body; - the step of providing a fin on the exterior surface of the side wall includes depositing a bead of filler metal onto the exterior surface of the side wall; - the step of machining the bead of filler metal; - the step of fashioning the stator carrier body includes stamping at least one metal component; and - the fin includes a first portion that extends in a winding fashion circumferentially in a first circumferential direction and axially toward a flange of the stator carrier body that extends radially outboard from the side wall, a second portion that extends axially from the first portion toward the flange of the stator carrier, and a third portion that extends from the second portion circumferentially about the exterior surface of the side wall a second circumferential direction that is opposite the first circumferential direction. [0006] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a stator carrier includes a stator carrier body that includes a side wall that extends circumferentially about a hollow. The side wall has an interior surface that defines the hollow and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface. The stator carrier further includes a spring coupled to the exterior surface of the side wall and extending axially and circumferentially along the exterior surface of the of the side wall in a winding fashion. [0007] Embodiments of the second aspect of the disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features: - the spring is in an elastically deformed state, and an outer diameter of the exterior surface of the side wall along which the spring extends in the elastically deformed state is greater than an inner diameter of the spring in an undeformed state of the spring; - interference between the spring and the exterior surface of the side wall of the stator carrier due to the spring being resiliently biased toward undeformed state yieldingly maintains the position of the spring relative to the stator carrier body; - the spring is coupled to the exterior surface of the side wall via brazing; - the spring is welded to the exterior surface of the side wall; - the spring includes a first portion that extends in a winding fashion axially and circumferentially in a first circumferential direction, a second portion that extends axially away from the first portion, and a third portion that extends from the second portion circumferentially about the exterior surface of the side wall a second circumferential direction that is opposite the first circumferential direction; - the first portion of the spring extends axially to