Stator for an axial flux rotary electric machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stator for an axial flux rotary electric machine and to a method for manufacturing same. The stator comprises: a support ring (10) having N teeth (14), each of which extends along an axial component to a tip (24), the N teeth being separated respectively from one another by N recesses (12); N windings (26) of conductor wires respectively wound around the N teeth (14); N pairs of flanges (36, 38) respectively rigidly connected to the tips (24) of the N teeth (14), the two flanges of each of the N pairs extending laterally opposite one another and respectively perpendicular to each of the N windings (26). The N pairs of flanges (36, 38) are jointly embedded, at least partially, in one piece forming a cover (50) and covering the N teeth (14), so as to confine the N recesses (12) in order to be able to cool the N recesses.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Title of the invention: Stator of an axial flux rotating electric machine

[0003] The present invention relates to a stator of an axial flux rotating electric machine.

[0004] One area of ​​application envisaged is in particular, but not exclusively, that of the motorization of motor vehicles, and in particular electric or hybrid vehicles.

[0005] Known axial flux rotating electrical machines usually comprise a stator and, opposite, a disc-shaped rotor equipped with permanent magnets.

[0006] Some other electrical machines include a rotor located between two stators.

[0007] The stators of these electrical machines comprise a support ring, or yoke, made of a magnetic material, which ring has a plurality of teeth, fifteen for example, extending along an axial component. The support rings are made from a stack of uniform sheets called "electrical". These uniform sheets are obtained by punching and simultaneous rolling of the same strip of "electrical" steel.

[0008] The teeth are regularly spaced from each other, defining free spaces between them. The spaces are generally parallelepipedal in shape, while the teeth are generally prismatic in shape. The teeth thus extend in a pointed direction along a radial component, towards the center of the crown.

[0009] Also, the teeth each include a winding of conductive wire forming a winding extending into the free housings.

[0010] In addition, the crown has at the top of each of the teeth, two wings opposite each other in relation to the tooth, to extend in line with the windings. These two opposite wings are also made of a magnetic material so as to be able to better guide the field lines outside the windings of conductive wire.

[0011] Reference may be made to document FR 2 998 112 A1, which describes such a stator. These stators enable the construction of high-performance electrical machines. However, their conductive wire windings generate a lot of thermal energy, which affects the machine's performance.

[0012] Also, a problem which arises and which the present invention aims to solve is to provide a stator which is not only easy and inexpensive to manufacture, but also which has better performance.

[0013] In order to solve this problem, and according to a first object, there is proposed a stator for an axial flux rotary electrical machine comprising: a support ring made of a magnetic material, said support ring having N teeth each extending along an axial component up to a vertex, N being an integer greater than 2, said N teeth being separated from each other respectively by N housings so that each of said teeth extends between two adjacent housings; N windings of conductive wires respectively wound around said N teeth, each of said N windings extending in said two adjacent housings; and, N pairs of wings made of magnetic material respectively secured to the vertices of said N teeth, the two wings of each of said N pairs extending laterally opposite each other with respect to each of said N teeth and respectively in line with each of said N windings.Also, said N pairs of wings are embedded together at least partially in a single piece forming a cover and covering said N teeth, so as to confine said N housings to be able to refrigerate them better.

[0014] Thus, a feature of the invention lies in the implementation of a part adapted to form a cover, and including the N pairs of wings, to confine the housings so as to cool them efficiently. Indeed, the thermal energy released by the Joule effect in the wires of the windings can be efficiently evacuated by means of a refrigerant, provided that the housings in which these windings extend are confined.

[0015] By evacuating this thermal energy, the efficiency and performance of the electrical machine are significantly improved.

[0016] On the other hand, the air gap, i.e. the spacing between the elements of the stator and those of the rotor, must be minimal to maintain good machine performance. Thanks to the object of the invention, the top of the teeth and their wings remain close to the rotor despite the implementation of the single part forming a cover, because they are integral parts of this cover, as will be explained in more detail in the rest of the description.

[0017] Furthermore, and as will also be explained below, said N pairs of wings are advantageously embedded together at least partially in a polymer material.

[0018] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said N housings are refrigerated by injecting a refrigerant fluid. For example, a cold gas inlet and an outlet for discharging the gas are provided for each of the housings. Thus, the thermal energy released by the windings is exchanged with the cold gas which can be discharged, once heated, through the outlet.

[0019] Preferably, said refrigerant fluid is guided inside said N housings inside a conduit. Thus, a conduit is provided which extends inside each of the housings, around the wire windings. The conduit is then connected outside the housings to a refrigerant fluid circuit.

[0020] Also, according to yet another embodiment, and provided that the housings are sufficiently sealed, an inlet for a refrigerant liquid and a corresponding outlet are provided. In this way, for example, oil can be injected into the housings to evacuate the thermal energy produced by the conductive wires of the windings.

[0021] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the two wings of each of said N pairs of wings together form a single element which is applied against the top of each of said N teeth. In this way, the magnetic field lines generated by the wire windings through the teeth extend without discontinuity through the wings. This also contributes to the performance of the electrical machine.

[0022] According to a particularly advantageous, but non-limiting, variant embodiment of the invention, the wings of said N pairs of wings are produced by sintering metal powder. Also, this is also the case when the two wings of each of said N pairs of wings together form a single element. Thus, the wings are produced at an advantageous cost and are easy to implement in said single part to form a cover as will be explained in more detail in the remainder of the description.

[0023] According to another embodiment of the invention, the wings of said N pairs of wings are made of a composite material with metallic reinforcing fibers. In this way, the metallic reinforcing fibers are embedded in a matrix of a polymer material. Consequently, the single part forming a cover includes in its thickness the wings formed by the metallic fibers. Consequently, both the function of the wings as a guide for the field lines as close as possible to the rotor and the function of confining the housings are obtained. Also, such characteristics make it possible to obtain perfectly sealed housings. This facilitates the cooling of the conductive wires.

[0024] According to another object, there is provided a method of producing a stator of an axial flux rotating electric machine as described above.The method comprises the following steps: a support ring made of a magnetic material is provided, said support ring having N teeth each extending along an axial component up to a vertex, N being an integer greater than 2, said N teeth being separated from each other respectively by N housings so that each of said teeth extends between two adjacent housings; N conductive wires are wound respectively around said N teeth so as to form N windings, each of said N windings extending into said two adjacent housings; N pairs of wings made of magnetic material are provided and said N pairs of wings are secured respectively to the vertices of said N teeth, the two wings of each of said N pairs extending laterally opposite each other with respect to each of said N teeth and respectively in line with each of said N windings.And, said N pairs of wings are at least partially embedded together in a single piece forming a cover and said N teeth are covered, so as to confine said N housings in order to be able to refrigerate said N housings.

[0025] According to a first embodiment, the N pairs of wings are overmolded together in a single piece with a polymer material to produce the single piece forming the cover. The wings are then connected to each other by relatively thin wall portions made of polymer material. According to this embodiment, the wings are held against the teeth between the apexes, while the wall portions of the cover are applied directly against the apexes.

[0026] According to a second embodiment, the two wings of each of said N pairs of wings are formed together in a single element and said single element is applied against the top of each of said N teeth. Thus, the two wings in a single element are applied against the top of the teeth and the N single elements are overmolded directly onto the crown to form the cover. In this way, the sealing of the housings is further improved, while ensuring perfect continuity of the field lines.

[0027] Preferably, the wings of said N pairs of wings are produced by sintering metal powder. In this way, it is easy to choose and produce the appropriate material for guiding the field lines.

[0028] According to a third embodiment, the wings of said N pairs of wings are made from a composite material with metallic reinforcing fibers. In this way, the single part forming the cover is relatively homogeneous and it has zones forming the wings, themselves made of the same continuous element. Here too, the part forming the cover is directly overmolded onto the crown, as will be explained in more detail in the following description.

[0029] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description given below of particular embodiments of the invention, given for informational but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0030] [Fig. 1] is a schematic perspective view from above of an element of the stator according to the invention according to one embodiment;

[0031] [Fig. 2] is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of an element of the object of [Fig. 1] in combination with a first other element and according to a first embodiment;

[0032] [Fig. 3] is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of an element of the object of [Fig. 1] in combination with a second other element and according to a second embodiment; [Fig. 4] is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of an element of the object of [Fig. 1] in combination with a third other element and according to a third embodiment in a first embodiment step;

[0033] [Fig. 5] is a schematic view of the object of [Fig. 4] in a second stage of production;

[0034] [Fig. 6A]-[Fig. 6C] are schematic views of implementation of the invention according to the third embodiment which is the subject of [Fig. 4] and [Fig. 5];

[0035] [Fig. 7] is a schematic perspective view of an element of the stator obtained according to the third embodiment; and,

[0036] [Fig. 8] is a partial schematic view in radial section of the stator which is the subject of the invention.

[0037] [Fig. 1] shows a support ring 10 having a center C and an axis of symmetry A. The ring 10 is made up of a stack of a plurality of “electrical” steel sheets.

[0038] Also, in the non-limiting example presented here, the crown 10 has fifteen U-shaped grooves 12 of cylindrical symmetry with a square base and oriented along straight lines perpendicular to the axis of symmetry A which they intersect. In addition, the U-shaped grooves 12 are regularly spaced from each other. The fifteen U-shaped grooves 12 thus define fifteen teeth 14 of substantially prismatic shape, and extending along an axial component parallel to the axis of symmetry A. Also, the teeth 14 extend, for example, along the axial direction, over a thickness of between a third and a quarter of the total thickness of the crown 10.

[0039] The prismatic teeth 14 are also oriented radially towards the centre C of the crown 10. Also, the length of the teeth 14 in this radial direction is for example between a third and a quarter of the outer radius of the crown 10.

[0040] It will be observed that each of the teeth 14 has, inside the crown 10, an inner face 16, substantially concave, opposite an outer face 18, substantially convex and oriented towards the outside of the crown 10.

[0041] Each of the teeth 14 also has two opposite lateral faces 20, 22, defined by the two adjacent grooves 12, and a free upper face 24. Each of the fifteen teeth 14 then receives the winding of a conductive wire around an axis Z, substantially parallel to the axis of symmetry A of the crown 10.

[0042] We thus find in [Fig. 2] a sectional view of a tooth 14, along a plane parallel to the axis of symmetry A of the crown 10, and in the vicinity of the inner face 16, also parallel to the mean plane that it defines.

[0043] We then find in [Fig. 2] the two opposite lateral faces 20, 22 and a winding 26, divided into two first half-windings 28, 30 which extend along the two opposite lateral faces 20, 22 and thus in the two adjacent grooves 12, which then form two adjacent housings.

[0044] Obviously, the winding 26 also extends opposite the inner face 16 and the opposite outer face 18.

[0045] The winding 26 of conductive wire makes it possible, by supplying the conductive wire with electric current, to generate through the tooth 14, a magnetic field parallel to the Z axis. It will be observed that the magnetic field lines tend to deviate from the Z axis, outside the winding 26.

[0046] Also, it is convenient that these field lines are guided inside a metallic material outside the winding 26 and beyond the tooth 14.

[0047] In addition, electric current tends to generate, by Joule effect, thermal energy inside homes.

[0048] Also, an aim of the invention is to confine the housings formed by the grooves 12 so as to be able to efficiently evacuate the thermal energy which accumulates there.

[0049] Also, [Fig. 2] also shows a first embodiment allowing both the guiding of the field lines beyond the tooth 14 and also the confining of the housings formed by the grooves 12.

[0050] According to this first embodiment, the two opposite lateral faces 20, 22 of each of the teeth 14 are notched behind the free upper face 24 so as to form two opposite recesses 32, 34.

[0051] Each of the teeth 14 is then associated with two first wings 36, 38, obtained by sintering metal powder, and each having a return 40, 42. The two first wings 36, 38 are advantageously joined together in a single piece at the end of the teeth 14, by a portion, not shown, extending along the inner face 16, and opposite by a portion, not shown either, extending along the outer face 18.

[0052] Also, the fifteen pairs of wings, regularly offset from each other by 30°, are overmolded with a layer of a polymer material 44. The polymer material forms thin film portions 46 between the wings 36, 38 of the same pair of wings, and also fills the spaces 48 which extend between the wings 36, 38 of each of the two contiguous pairs of wings, in a sealed manner. In other words, the fifteen pairs of wings 36, 38 are partially embedded in the layer of polymer material 44.

[0053] Thus, all fifteen pairs of overmolded wings 36, 38 form a sealed cover 50 which can then cover the crown. The returns 40, 42 of each of the pairs of wings 36, 48 then engage respectively in the opposite recesses 32, 34, while the thin film portions 46 are applied to the upper face 24 of each of the teeth 14.

[0054] Thanks to this method of implementation, the air gap between the rotor and stator elements can be very thin, thanks to the thin film portions 46. The electric machine will then maintain good performance.

[0055] Thus, the grooves 12 forming housings are confined and can be easily refrigerated as will be explained below.

[0056] Reference will now be made to [Fig. 3] showing a second mode of confinement of the housings formed by the grooves 12.

[0057] Also, similar elements will have the same reference as those of the object in [Fig. 2] preceded by a: “1”.

[0058] We then find in [Fig. 3] the two opposite lateral faces 120, 122 and the winding 126, divided into two second half-windings 128, 130 which extend along the two opposite lateral faces 120, 122 and thus in the two adjacent grooves 112, which then form two adjacent housings.

[0059] The winding 126 also extends opposite the inner face and the opposite outer face. Also, according to this second embodiment allowing both the guiding of the field lines beyond the tooth 114 and also the confining of the housings formed by the grooves 112, two second wings 136, 138, of the same pair of wings, are formed together from a single element 135 coming into contact against the top, or free upper face 124, of each of the teeth 114. The element 135 is also obtained by sintering metal powder.

[0060] Also, the fifteen elements 135, regularly offset from each other by 30°, are overmolded with another layer of a polymer material 144. Thus, the fifteen elements 115 defining the pairs of wings 136, 138 are embedded in the layer of the other layer of polymer material 144.

[0061] It will be observed that the element 115 made of magnetic material comes into direct contact with the free upper face 124,

[0062] Thus, the set of fifteen elements 135 forms a watertight cover 150 which can then cover the crown

[0063] We will now refer to [Fig. 4] showing a third mode of confinement of the housings formed by the grooves 12.

[0064] Also, elements similar to those of the object in [Fig. 2] will have the same reference preceded by a: “2”.

[0065] We then find in [Fig. 4] the two opposite lateral faces 220, 222 and the winding 226, divided into two third half-windings 228, 230 which extend along the two opposite lateral faces 220, 222 and thus in the two adjacent grooves 212, which then form two adjacent housings.

[0066] The winding 226 also extends opposite the inner face and the opposite outer face.

[0067] According to this third embodiment allowing the guiding of the field lines beyond the tooth 214 and also, to confine the housings formed by the grooves 212, the sealed cover 250 is formed in a single piece in a composite material including portions of metal fiber sheet 252 and portions of glass fiber sheet 254, the whole embedded in a matrix of a polymer material. The method of producing the composite will be explained in the remainder of the description. Also, the portion of metal fiber sheet 252 impregnated with its matrix, defines two third wings 236, 238, of the same pair of wings, and they are therefore formed together. The portion of metal fiber sheet 252 comes into contact against the top, or free upper face 224, of each of the teeth 214.

[0068] The fifteen portions of metal fiber sheet 252 regularly offset from each other by 30° between the fifteen portions of glass fiber sheet 254, are impregnated with the polymer matrix and are overmolded together directly onto the crown 210, as illustrated in [Fig. 5], forming the cover 250.

[0069] The method for obtaining the cover 250 illustrated in [Fig. 5] will be described with reference to [Fig. 6A] - [Fig. 6C].

[0070] Thus, [Fig. 6A] illustrates, seen from below, a first stack 260 of trapezoidal portions of fiberglass sheet having a central lumen 262 which is also trapezoidal. It also illustrates a second stack 264 of trapezoidal portions of metal fiber sheet.

[0071] The two stacks 260, 264 are of substantially the same thickness. For example, they each comprise five crossed fiber layers.

[0072] Also, the width L of the five layers of the second stack 264 increases, from the bottom view appearing in [Fig. 6A], to the top view appearing in [Fig. 6C].

[0073] Conversely, the five sheets of the first stack 260 have a central lumen 262 which widens in the width direction between the bottom view appearing in [Fig. 6A] and the top view appearing in [Fig. 6C],

[0074] Thus, as illustrated in [Fig. 6B], seen from the edge, the second stack 264 has two opposite lateral edges 266, 268 in a bevel, while the first stack 260 has two opposite inner edges 270, 272 also in a bevel which come to bear opposite against and two opposite lateral edges 266, 268. In this way, the respective superposition of the lateral and inner edges 266, 270; 268, 272 remains at a constant thickness of the five fiber sheets. Thus, fifteen first and second stacks are adjusted edge to edge in a crown in a mold, so that the widest sheet of the second stack 264 comes to bear against the bottom of the mold.

[0075] The crown 10 is then adjusted in the mold, so that the free upper face 224 of each of the teeth comes precisely and respectively into contact with the narrowest layer of each of the second stacks 264.

[0076] Then a polymer material, preferably a viscous thermoplastic polymer material, is injected into the mold at a temperature above 100°C. The polymer material impregnates all the layer stacks.

[0077] We thus obtain, after cooling of the polymer, the cover 250 made of a single piece which we find in [Fig. 7] in perspective, without the crown for explanatory reasons.

[0078] It will be observed that the two opposite lateral edges 266, 268 at an angle of the second stack 264, shown in [Fig. 6B] then form the two opposite wings 236, 238 as shown in [Fig. 5].

[0079] [Fig. 8] thus illustrates, in a diametrical section and in accordance with a particular embodiment, the cover 250, which confines the free spaces 212. The crown 210 is found installed inside a circular U-shaped receptacle 280, which cooperates with the cover 250 in a sealed manner.

[0080] The windings 226 are found around the teeth 214. The portions of metallic fiber sheet 252 impregnated with polymer are also found, respectively applied against the free upper faces 224 of the teeth 214.

[0081] The elements of the rotor of the electric machine will thus be able to extend opposite these portions of impregnated metallic fiber sheet 252.

[0082] Also, the circular U-shaped receptacle 280 has radial inlet orifices 282, 284 for refrigerant fluid, opening into the free spaces 212. And it also has axial outlet orifices 286, 288, allowing the hot fluid to be evacuated. And in this way, thanks to the sealed cover 250, the refrigerant fluid can circulate without leakage around the windings 226 so as to cool them.

[0083] In this way, the efficiency of the electric machine is not affected.

[0084] The cover 250 has the advantage of having magnetic portions made of metal fiber, which extend over the surface of the cover 250. And these magnetic portions can interact freely with the rotor elements. Under these conditions, the air gap is small, and the electric machine retains all its performance.

[0085] The crown 210 described above has fifteen teeth. In some other embodiments, it has fewer teeth and in others, it has more teeth.

[0086] Obviously, the number of pairs of wings is adapted accordingly.

Claims

CLAIM 1) Stator of axial flux rotating electric machine comprising: - a support ring (10) made of a magnetic material, said support ring having N teeth (14) each extending along an axial component up to a vertex (24), N being an integer greater than 2, said N teeth being separated from each other respectively by N housings (12) so that each of said teeth extends between two adjacent housings; - N windings (26) of conductive wires respectively wound around said N teeth (14), each of said N windings extending into said two adjacent housings (12); - N pairs of wings (36, 38) made of magnetic material respectively secured to the apices (24) of said N teeth (14), the two wings of each of said N pairs extending laterally opposite each other with respect to each of said N teeth and respectively in line with each of said N windings (26); characterized in that said N pairs of wings (36, 38) are embedded together at least partially in a single part forming a cover (50) and covering said N teeth (14), so as to confine said N housings (12) in order to be able to refrigerate said N housings. 2) Stator of an electric machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said N housings (12) are refrigerated by injecting a refrigerant fluid. 3) Stator of an electric machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said refrigerant fluid is guided inside said N housings (12) inside a conduit. 4) Stator of an electric machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the two wings (136, 138) of each of said N pairs of wings together form a single element (135) coming into contact against the top (124) of each of said N teeth. 5) Stator of an electric machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the wings (136, 138) of said N pairs of wings are produced by sintering metal powder. 6) Stator of an electric machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the wings (236, 238) of said N pairs of wings are made of a composite material with metallic reinforcing fibers. 7) Method for producing a stator of an axial flux rotating electrical machine, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising the following steps: - a support ring (10) is provided, made of a magnetic material, said support ring having N teeth (14) each extending along an axial component up to a vertex (24), N being an integer greater than 2, said N teeth being separated from each other respectively by N housings (12) so that each of said teeth extends between two adjacent housings; - N conductive wires are wound respectively around said N teeth (14) so ​​as to form N windings (26), each of said N windings extending into said two adjacent housings (12); - N pairs of wings (36, 38) made of magnetic material are provided and said N pairs of wings are secured respectively to the apices (24) of said N teeth (14), the two wings of each of said N pairs extending laterally opposite each other with respect to each of said N teeth and respectively in line with each of said N windings (26); characterized in that said N pairs of wings (36, 38) are at least partially embedded together in a single piece forming a cover (50) and said N teeth (14) are capped, so as to confine said N housings (12) in order to be able to refrigerate said N housings. 8) Method for producing a stator according to claim 7, characterized in that the two wings (136, 138) of each of said N pairs of wings are formed together in a single element and said single element is applied against the top (124) of each of said N teeth (14). 9) Method for producing a stator according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the wings (136, 138) of said N pairs of wings are produced by sintering metal powder. 10) Method for producing a stator according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the wings (236, 238) of said N pairs of wings are produced from a composite material with metallic reinforcing fibers.

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