US-20260128640-A1 - PROPULSION UNIT

US20260128640A1US 20260128640 A1US20260128640 A1US 20260128640A1US-20260128640-A1

Abstract

A propulsion unit includes a stator, a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator, an inverter electrically connected to the stator, a cooling housing that is disposed adjacent to the stator and the inverter and defines a cooling channel, where the cooling channel includes a plurality of channels configured to carry coolant independently and circulate the coolant around the stator and the inverter, and a cooling unit connected to the cooling channel, where the cooling unit includes at least one of a heat exchanger or a pump.

Inventors

Hoan Ju Yoo
Hyun Woo JUN
Sung Ho Lee
Jae Joon Lee
Dong Su Lee
Yun kyung Hwang
Jong Hun Choi
Hong Wook LEE
Jae Young Jeun
Kwon Su Shin
Jeong Uk An
Ki Tack Lim
Yong Sok Jang
Kyung Ku Yeo
Chee Mann Kim
Kyung Jun Lee
Kam Chun LEE

Assignees

HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
KIA CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251104
Priority Date: 20241105

Claims (20)

1 . A propulsion unit comprising: a stator; a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator; an inverter electrically connected to the stator; a cooling housing that is disposed adjacent to the stator and the inverter and defines a cooling channel, the cooling channel comprising a plurality of channels configured to carry coolant independently and circulate the coolant around the stator and the inverter; and a cooling unit connected to the cooling channel, the cooling unit comprising at least one of a heat exchanger or a pump.
2 . The propulsion unit of claim 1 , wherein the cooling channel is disposed between the stator and the inverter.
3 . The propulsion unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels comprise a first channel and a second channel that are disposed adjacent to each other, wherein the cooling unit comprises (i) a first cooling unit connected to the first channel and (ii) a second cooling unit connected to the second channel, and wherein the first cooling unit and the second cooling unit are configured to independently operate.
4 . The propulsion unit of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of channels has an annular shape surrounding the stator.
5 . The propulsion unit of claim 4 , wherein outer surfaces of the plurality of channels face the stator in a radial direction of the stator, and inner surfaces of the plurality of channels face the inverter in the radial direction.
6 . The propulsion unit of claim 3 , wherein the first channel and the second channel are separately arranged in an axial direction of the rotor and spaced apart from each other in the axial direction.
7 . The propulsion unit of claim 3 , wherein the first channel and the second channel are alternately arranged in an axial direction of the rotor.
8 . The propulsion unit of claim 7 , wherein a first portion and a second portion of the first channel define a separation space therebetween in the axial direction of the rotor, and wherein the second channel is disposed in the separation space between the first and second portions of the first channel.
9 . The propulsion unit of claim 7 , wherein a first portion and a second portion of the first channel define a first separation space therebetween in the axial direction of the rotor, wherein a first part and a second part of the second channel defines a second separation space therebetween in the axial direction of the rotor, wherein the first portion of the first channel is disposed in the second separation space, and wherein the first part of the second channel is disposed in the first separation space.
10 . The propulsion unit of claim 9 , wherein the first channel comprises a first connecting portion that connects the first portion of the first channel and the second portion of the first channel, and wherein the second channel comprises a second connecting portion that connects the first part of the second channel and the second part of the second channel.
11 . The propulsion unit of claim 10 , wherein the first connecting portion overlaps with the second channel in the axial direction of the rotor.
12 . The propulsion unit of claim 10 , wherein the second connecting portion overlaps with the first channel in the axial direction of the rotor.
13 . The propulsion unit of claim 10 , wherein the first channel, the second channel, the first connecting portion, and the second connection portion are disposed along a common circumferential surface.
14 . The propulsion unit of claim 13 , wherein the first connecting portion and the second connection portion extend parallel to the axial direction of the rotor.
15 . The propulsion unit of claim 13 , wherein each of the first channel and the second channel comprises at least a portion that is radially recessed outward relative to the common circumferential surface.
16 . The propulsion unit of claim 15 , wherein the first connecting portion and the second connection portion are inclined with respect to the axial direction of the rotor.
17 . The propulsion unit of claim 1 , wherein the stator and the inverter overlap with each other in a radial direction of the rotor.
18 . The propulsion unit of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of channels are provided between the stator and the inverter in the radial direction.
19 . The propulsion unit of claim 17 , wherein the inverter is positioned closer to an axial center of the rotor than the stator in the radial direction.
20 . The propulsion unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels comprise a plurality of first annular channels spaced apart from one another in an axial direction of the rotor and a plurality of second annular channels spaced apart from one another in the axial direction, wherein the plurality of first annular channels and the plurality of second annular channels are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction and surround the stator, and wherein (i) two or more of the plurality of second annular channels are disposed between two of the plurality of first annular channels, or (ii) two or more of the plurality of first annular channels are disposed between two of the plurality of second annular channels.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0155151, filed on Nov. 5, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a propulsion unit including a stator, a rotor, and cooling channels. BACKGROUND A mobility apparatus includes a transportation means capable of transporting people or cargo over a city by flying using a propulsion unit. For instance, the propulsion unit of the mobility apparatus may include a propeller and a drive unit that rotates the propeller, and the drive unit may include a motor and an inverter that supplies electric power to the motor. In some cases, the motor may include a stator and a rotor. The rotor may be connected to a shaft connected to the propeller. The rotor may rotate based on electromagnetic interaction with the stator, and as the rotor rotates, the shaft and propeller may rotate. When the motor operates, heat may be generated. If the heat is not dissipated, fatal damage may occur to the drive unit. In addition, the inverter may also generate heat, and a cooling unit may be provided to reduce the heat generated in the inverter together with the motor. For example, the cooling unit may implement a heat exchange cycle for cooling. In some cases, when there is a defect in any of components of the cooling unit, cooling may not be provided, which may result in safety issues of the mobility apparatus. SUMMARY The present disclosure describes a propulsion unit capable of ensuring safety even when there is a defect in a cooling unit. According to one aspect of the subject matter described in this application, a propulsion unit includes a stator, a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator, an inverter electrically connected to the stator, a cooling housing that is disposed adjacent to the stator and the inverter and defines a cooling channel, the cooling channel including a plurality of channels configured to carry coolant independently and circulate the coolant around the stator and the inverter, and a cooling unit connected to the cooling channel, the cooling unit including at least one of a heat exchanger or a pump. Implementations according to this aspect can include one or more of the following features. For example, the cooling channel can be disposed between the stator and the inverter. In some examples, the plurality of channels can include a first channel and a second channel that are disposed adjacent to each other, where the cooling unit includes (i) a first cooling unit connected to the first channel and (ii) a second cooling unit connected to the second channel, and the first cooling unit and the second cooling unit are configured to independently operate. In some implementations, each of the plurality of channels can have an annular shape surrounding the stator. In some examples, outer surfaces of the plurality of channels can face the stator in a radial direction of the stator, and inner surfaces of the plurality of channels can face the inverter in the radial direction. In some examples, the first channel and the second channel can be separately arranged in an axial direction of the rotor and spaced apart from each other in the axial direction. In some examples, the first channel and the second channel are alternately arranged in an axial direction of the rotor. In some implementations, a first portion and a second portion of the first channel define a separation space therebetween in the axial direction of the rotor, and the second channel is disposed in the separation space between the first and second portions of the first channel. In some implementations, a first portion and a second portion of the first channel define a first separation space therebetween in the axial direction of the rotor, where a first part and a second part of the second channel defines a second separation space therebetween in the axial direction of the rotor, the first portion of the first channel is disposed in the second separation space, and the first part of the second channel is disposed in the first separation space. In some examples, the first channel can include a first connecting portion that connects the first portion of the first channel and the second portion of the first channel, and the second channel can include a second connecting portion that connects the first part of the second channel and the second part of the second channel. In some examples, the first connecting portion overlaps with the second channel in the axial direction of the rotor. In some examples, the second connecting portion overlaps with the first channel in the axial direction of the rotor. In some examples, the first channel, the second channel, the first connecting portion, and the second connection portion are disposed along a common circumferential surface. In some examples, the first connecting portion and the second co