Rotating electrical machine

Abstract

A rotary electric machine includes a terminal holding member that holds a terminal of an electric circuit that supplies electric power to a coil of the rotary electric machine, and a refrigerant tank that is formed integrally with the terminal holding member, has a storage portion that temporarily stores a refrigerant that cools the rotary electric machine, and causes the refrigerant to flow downward from a through hole formed in a bottom portion of the storage portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to rotary electric motors. Background Technology

[0002] Rotating motors such as electric motors and generators sometimes suffer from inefficient operation due to coil heating during drive. Therefore, techniques for cooling the internal components of rotating motors have been developed. One example of such a technique is the rotating motor disclosed in Patent Document 1. This rotating motor has a coolant tank on the peripheral wall at the top of the coil end, for storing coolant to cool the coil end. The coolant tank is provided with a coolant storage section and at least two coolant supply ports. The coolant storage section stores the supplied coolant, and the at least two coolant supply ports are connected to the coolant storage section and distribute coolant from the top side of the coil end to the peripheral walls on both sides of the coil end. Furthermore, rotating motors generally include terminal holding members that hold the terminals of the circuit supplying power to the coil.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-229672 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] However, the aforementioned rotary motor has independent coolant tanks and terminal holding components. Therefore, the rotary motor requires both structures and components for the coolant tanks and for the terminal holding components. Consequently, miniaturization of the rotary motor is difficult, increasing manufacturing costs and making manufacturing challenging.

[0008] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide a rotary motor that facilitates miniaturization, reduces manufacturing costs, and simplifies manufacturing.

[0009] Methods for solving problems

[0010] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the rotary electric motor of the present invention includes: a terminal holding member that holds a terminal of a circuit that supplies power to the coil of the rotary electric motor; and a refrigerant tank integrally formed with the terminal holding member, having a storage portion for temporarily storing refrigerant that cools the rotary electric motor, and allowing the refrigerant to flow downward through a through hole formed at the bottom of the storage portion.

[0011] Invention Effects

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a rotary motor that makes miniaturization easy, reduces manufacturing costs, and simplifies manufacturing. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing an example of the stator, terminal holding member, refrigerant tank, refrigerant discharge pipe, etc. of an electric motor according to an embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a refrigerant tank, a refrigerant discharge pipe, and the structure surrounding these two components in an embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a terminal holding member and a refrigerant tank in an embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, an electric motor will be used as an example of a rotary motor. This electric motor is mounted on an electric vehicle, for example, to rotate the wheels of an electric vehicle. Furthermore, in the description of this embodiment, axes parallel to the rotation axis A of the electric motor (described later), namely the X-axis, the Y-axis orthogonal to the X-axis, and the Z-axis orthogonal to both the X-axis and Y-axis, are used. Additionally, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis form a right-handed system. It should be noted that the Z-axis is parallel to the direction in which gravity is applied.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing an example of the stator, terminal holding member, refrigerant tank, refrigerant discharge pipe, etc. of an electric motor according to an embodiment. Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a refrigerant tank, a refrigerant discharge pipe, and the structure surrounding these two components in an embodiment. (See diagram for example.) Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 As shown, the electric motor of this embodiment includes a stator 1, terminals 41, 42, 43, and 44, busbars 51, 52, 53, and 54. Additionally, as... Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 As shown, the motor includes a terminal holding member 6, a refrigerant tank 7, a refrigerant discharge pipe 81, and a refrigerant discharge pipe 82.

[0018] like Figure 1 as well as Figure 2As shown, the stator 1 includes a stator core 11 and coils 12. The stator core 11 is a cylindrical component into which the rotor 2 and shaft 3 are inserted. The stator core 11 is fastened to the motor frame (not shown) by bolts 111, 112, 113, and 114. The rotor 2 is a cylindrical component that rotates about a rotation axis A parallel to the X-axis. The shaft 3 is a rod-shaped component that supports the rotor 2 so that it can rotate about the rotation axis A. Furthermore, the stator core 11 has multiple teeth formed on its inner side.

[0019] Coil 12 has a U-phase winding 121, a V-phase winding 122, and a W-phase winding 123. Windings 121, 122, and 123 are all made of copper wire wound into teeth. Furthermore, windings 121, 122, and 123 are connected in a star configuration. Coil 12 generates magnetic force to rotate rotor 2 by being supplied with three-phase alternating current.

[0020] Terminal 41 is the terminal for the U-phase of the three-phase AC circuit supplying power to coil 12. Terminal 41 is electrically connected to winding 121 and used to supply three-phase AC U-phase power to winding 121. Terminal 42 is the terminal for the V-phase of the three-phase AC circuit supplying power to coil 12. Terminal 42 is electrically connected to winding 122 and used to supply three-phase AC V-phase power to winding 122. Terminal 43 is the terminal for the W-phase of the three-phase AC circuit supplying power to coil 12. Terminal 43 is electrically connected to winding 123 and used to supply three-phase AC W-phase power to winding 123. Terminal 44 is the terminal for the neutral point of the star-connected windings 121, 122, and 123.

[0021] Busbar 51 is a conductor that electrically connects winding 121 to terminal 41. Busbar 52 is a conductor that electrically connects winding 122 to terminal 42. Busbar 53 is a conductor that electrically connects winding 123 to terminal 43. Busbar 54 is a conductor that electrically connects windings 121, 122, and 123 to terminal 44.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a terminal holding member and a refrigerant tank in an embodiment. (See diagram for example.) Figure 3 As shown, the terminal retaining member 6 and the refrigerant reservoir 7 are integrally formed. For example, the terminal retaining member 6 and the refrigerant reservoir 7 are integrally formed by insert molding performed in an injection molding die with the busbars 51, 52 and 53 housed in the die. Alternatively, the terminal retaining member 6 and the refrigerant reservoir 7 can also be integrally formed by resin injection molding.

[0023] In addition, such as Figure 2As shown, the terminal holding member 6 and the refrigerant tank 7 are disposed on the +Z direction side of the portion of the coil 12 not covered by the stator core 11. The terminal holding member 6 is a component that holds the terminals 41, 42, and 43 of the circuit supplying three-phase AC power to the coil 12. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the refrigerant tank 7 is located on the +Z direction side of the stator 1. Additionally, as... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the refrigerant tank 7 has a storage section 71, a recessed section 72, a through hole 721, a through hole 722, and a through hole 723.

[0024] The storage section 71 is a recessed portion that temporarily stores refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant discharge pipe 81 or refrigerant discharge pipe 82. The storage section 71 has a constant depth except for the portion where the recess 72 is formed. The recess 72 is a long, narrow recess formed at the bottom of the storage section 71 in the Y direction. The recess 72 has a constant depth except for the portion where through holes 721, 722, or 723 are formed. Through holes 721, 722, and 723 are all cylindrical holes that penetrate the bottom of the recess 72. Through holes 721, 722, and 723 are formed to cool the coil 12, busbar 54, etc., by allowing the refrigerant temporarily stored in the storage section 71 to flow downwards.

[0025] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, both refrigerant discharge pipe 81 and refrigerant discharge pipe 82 are arranged parallel to the X direction and are pipes through which refrigerant flows. Both refrigerant discharge pipe 81 and refrigerant discharge pipe 82 have at least one hole for discharging refrigerant used to cool the motor into the storage section 71. The position, shape, and size of these holes are not particularly limited as long as they allow refrigerant to be discharged into the storage section 71. Furthermore, the refrigerant flowing inside refrigerant discharge pipe 81 or refrigerant discharge pipe 82 is discharged through this hole and pressurized by a pump to the pressure required for storage in the storage section 71. Since both refrigerant discharge pipe 81 and refrigerant discharge pipe 82 need to discharge refrigerant through this hole and store the refrigerant in the storage section 71, they are positioned at a certain distance from the storage section 71 in the +Z direction.

[0026] Next, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The flow of the refrigerant in the embodiment will be explained. First, as... Figure 2 As indicated by the solid arrow, the refrigerant is discharged from the hole formed in the refrigerant discharge pipe 81 or refrigerant discharge pipe 82 and temporarily stored in the storage section 71. Next, as... Figure 2As shown by the dashed arrow, the refrigerant flows into the refrigerant tank 7 in the -Z direction through the recess 72 and through holes 721, 722, or 723. Furthermore, as... Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 As indicated by the arrow in the solid line, the refrigerant flows towards the -Z direction while being passed through the coil 12, busbar 54, etc. Afterwards, the refrigerant is temporarily stored in the oil pan located on the -Z direction side of the stator 1, and is then supplied again to the refrigerant discharge pipe 81 or refrigerant discharge pipe 82 via a pump that applies pressure to the refrigerant and a cooler that cools the refrigerant.

[0027] The above describes an example of a rotary motor as an embodiment. In the motor of this embodiment, the terminal holding member 6 and the refrigerant tank 7 are integrally formed. Therefore, the motor of this embodiment only requires the structure and components for providing the integrally formed terminal holding member 6 and refrigerant tank 7, eliminating the need for separately formed structures and components for the terminal holding member and refrigerant tank. Thus, the motor of this embodiment facilitates miniaturization, reduces manufacturing costs, and is easy to manufacture.

[0028] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, an electric motor was used as an example of a rotating electric machine, but the embodiments are not limited to this. The rotating electric machine in the embodiments may also be a generator that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, rather than an electric motor that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.

[0029] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case in which a recess 72, a through hole 721, a through hole 722, and a through hole 723 are formed at the bottom of the refrigerant tank 7 has been described as an example, but it is not limited to this. The refrigerant tank of the embodiment may also replace these structures, and a conical through hole may be formed at the bottom, the diameter of which decreases as it is formed by a plane parallel to the XY plane from the bottom surface toward the -Z direction side.

[0030] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. That is, the present invention includes various modifications, substitutions, design changes, etc., implemented based on the spirit of the present invention, and does not exclude these embodiments.

[0031] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0032] 6…Terminal holding member

[0033] 7…Refrigerant tank

Claims

1. A rotary electric motor, wherein, The rotary motor includes: A terminal holding member that holds the terminals of a circuit supplying power to the coils of a rotating electric motor; and A refrigerant tank, which is integrally formed with the terminal holding member, has a storage section for temporarily storing refrigerant for cooling the rotary motor, and the refrigerant flows downward through a through hole formed at the bottom of the storage section.

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