Cooling system for motor, motor, and vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cooling system for a motor, a motor and a vehicle. The motor includes a housing, a stator accommodated in the housing and cooling rings, the stator includes a first end and a second end in an axial direction of the motor, the cooling rings are disposed at the first end and the second end, and the cooling system includes: an axial flow path, including an inlet for receiving an external cooling medium, the axial flow path being located between the first end and the second end and formed by a housing inner wall and a stator outer wall; cooling ring flow paths, located on respective outer surfaces of the cooling rings and formed by the housing inner wall and the respective outer surfaces of the cooling rings, wherein the cooling ring flow paths are in fluid communication with the axial flow path so that the cooling medium alternately flows through the axial flow path and the cooling ring flow path at either end, and then flows out of the axial flow path to outlets on the cooling ring flow paths located at both ends.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Cooling system for motor, motor, and vehicle

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The present disclosure relates to a cooling system for a motor and a motor and a vehicle comprising the cooling system.

[0005] Background Art

[0006] As vehicles rapidly develop, the pursuit of high efficiency in motors for vehicles is becoming a trend. This is accompanied by the challenge presented by temperature rise in motors, which is becoming ever more serious. For this reason, there is an urgent need for a more efficient cooling system to promptly carry away heat produced during motor operation. Without such a system, an excessively high temperature rise in the motor is the likely result; in less severe cases, this will affect performance, but in more severe cases it will result in winding burn-out, demagnetization of magnetic steel, bearing damage and other consequences, seriously impacting the service life of the motor.

[0007] Existing motors often have a cooling flow path provided around the stator core and cooling rings provided at both ends of the stator core, and a cooling medium is sprayed directionally over the stator windings through spray holes on the cooling rings. However, the cooling medium is often split into two streams: one stream flows through the stator core to cool the stator core, and another stream passes through the cooling rings to cool the stator windings. Compared with using all of the cooling medium to cool the stator core, the cooling effect is reduced.

[0008] Summary

[0009] An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a cooling system for a motor and a motor and a vehicle comprising the cooling system. The cooling system, by means of an ingenious structure, enables a cooling medium to be firstly used in its entirety to cool a surface of a stator core, and after cooling the stator i core, to then cool windings at two ends of the stator, thereby achieving a better cooling effect.

[0010] This objective is achieved by means of a cooling system for a motor and a motor and a vehicle comprising the cooling system according to the present disclosure, which are described below.

[0011] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a cooling system for a motor, comprising a housing, a stator accommodated in the housing and cooling rings, the stator comprises a first end and a second end in an axial direction of the motor, the cooling rings are disposed at the first end and the second end, and the cooling system comprises: an axial flow path, comprising an inlet for receiving an external cooling medium, the axial flow path being located between the first end and the second end and formed by a housing inner wall and a stator outer wall; cooling ring flow paths, located on respective outer surfaces of the cooling rings and formed by the housing inner wall and the respective outer surfaces of the cooling rings, wherein the cooling ring flow paths are in fluid communication with the axial flow path so that the cooling medium alternately flows through the axial flow path and the cooling ring flow path at either end, and then flows out of the axial flow path to outlets on the cooling ring flow paths located at both ends.

[0012] In the cooling system provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling ring comprises a flow-stopping rib and a stop plate which extend circumferentially, so as to form the cooling ring flow path, wherein the cooling ring flow path comprises a first circumferential flow path close to a stator end and a second circumferential flow path remote from the stator end, and the flow-stopping rib has an opening part.

[0013] In the cooling system provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first circumferential flow path is in fluid communication with the axial flow path so that the cooling medium alternately flows through the axial flow path and the first circumferential flow path at either end, and then flows out of the axial flow path, and flows into the second circumferential flow path through the opening part of the flow-stopping rib.

[0014] In the cooling system provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the outlets of the cooling ring flow paths are disposed on the second circumferential flow paths, wherein the outlets are configured to apply the cooling medium to stator windings at the first end and the second end.

[0015] In the cooling system provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the outlets are spray holes spaced apart circumferentially on the cooling rings.

[0016] In the cooling system provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the axial flow path comprises a first flow path rib disposed on the stator, wherein the first flow path rib is configured to extend continuously in an axial direction, so as to contact at least a part of the flow- stopping rib.

[0017] In the cooling system provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the axial flow path further comprises second flow path ribs disposed on the housing inner wall, with a groove formed between the second flow path ribs, the first flow path rib being clamped with the groove.

[0018] In the cooling system provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the axial flow path further comprises a third flow path rib only disposed on the housing inner wall and close to the inlet, wherein the third flow path rib is configured to extend in the axial direction and has an opening part, so that the cooling medium flows out of the axial flow path to the cooling ring flow paths at both ends.

[0019] In the cooling system provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening part of the third flow path rib is disposed in the middle of the third flow path rib.

[0020] In the cooling system provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a protrusion is provided on the cooling ring, and the groove is clamped with the protrusion in an assembled state of the motor.

[0021] In the cooling system provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the protrusion comprises a first protrusion disposed on the flowstopping rib and / or a second protrusion disposed on the stop plate.

[0022] In the cooling system provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second flow path ribs and the third flow path rib are in an interference fit with an outer surface of the stator.

[0023] In the cooling system provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, side faces of the first flow path rib are in an interference fit with side faces of the groove.

[0024] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a motor, comprising the cooling system provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a vehicle, comprising the motor provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] The technical solution of the present disclosure has the following advantages: the cooling system, by means of an ingenious structure, enables a cooling medium to be firstly used in its entirety to cool a surface of a stator core, and then cool windings at two ends of the stator, thereby achieving a better cooling effect.

[0027] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] To explain the technical solutions of embodiments of the present disclosure more clearly, the drawings which need to be used in describing the embodiments are described in simple terms below. Obviously, the drawings in the description below are merely some embodiments of the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art could obtain other drawings based on these drawings without expending inventive effort. The drawings below have not been drawn by meticulously reducing or enlarging actual dimensions in equal proportion, but focus on showing the substance of the present disclosure.

[0029] Fig. 1 is an exploded drawing of a motor provided in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] Fig. 2 is a 3D drawing of a stator and cooling rings provided in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, in an assembled state;

[0031] Fig. 3 is a 3D drawing of a housing provided in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] Fig. 4 is a top view of a cooling ring provided in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 5 is a 3D drawing of the assembled structure of the motor shown in Fig. 1; and

[0033] Fig. 6 is a schematic drawing of a flow path of a cooling system of a motor provided in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] In all the drawings, identical or similar components are denoted by identical reference numerals.

[0035] Reference labels used in the drawings:

[0036] 1 Motor

[0037] 2 Housing

[0038] 3 Stator

[0039] 4 Cooling ring

[0040] 5 Opening part

[0041] 6 Opening part

[0042] 11 Inlet

[0043] 12 Outlet

[0044] 10 Axial flow path

[0045] 20 Cooling ring flow path

[0046] 21 First circumferential flow path

[0047] 22 Second circumferential flow path

[0048] 23 Inlet

[0049] 31 First flow path rib

[0050] 32 Stator winding

[0051] 41 Flow- stopping rib

[0052] 42 Stop plate

[0053] 201 Second flow path rib

[0054] 202 Third flow path rib

[0055] 203 Groove

[0056] 411 First protrusion

[0057] 421 Second protrusion. Detailed Description of Embodiments

[0058] To clarify the objective, technical solutions and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure are described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0059] Unless defined otherwise, the technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the common meanings as understood by those of ordinary skill in the field to which the present disclosure belongs. The words "first", "second", and the like used in the description and claims of the patent application disclosed herein do not indicate any order, quantity or importance, being merely used to distinguish different component parts. Words such as "one", "a” or "the" do not indicate a quantity limit, but mean the presence of at least one. Words such as “comprise” or “include” mean that the element or object appearing before the word includes the elements or objects and equivalents thereof listed after the word but does not exclude other elements or objects.

[0060] Fig. 1 is an exploded drawing of a motor 1 provided in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0061] As shown in Fig. 1, the motor 1 comprises a housing 2, a stator 3 accommodated in the housing 2, and cooling rings 4. The stator 3 has a first end and a second end in an axial direction of the motor; the cooling rings 4 are disposed at the first end and second end of the stator 3, and the cooling rings 4 surround stator windings 32 at two ends of the stator 3. The cooling ring is an annular structure, generally made of metal material, and spray holes for example are provided thereon. When the motor is running, the cooling rings will continuously rotate, and at the same time, the spray holes will continuously spray out a cooling medium (such as oil), applying it to the stator windings at the first end and second end. In this way, the temperature of the motor will be effectively reduced, thereby ensuring normal running of the motor. The stator 3 is provided with first flow path ribs 31, which are strip-shaped protrusions that are axially disposed along an outer surface of the stator 3 and configured to extend continuously in the axial direction so as to contact at least a part of a flow-stopping rib 41. The first flow path ribs 31 are formed integrally with the stator 3. In this embodiment, the shape of the first flow path rib 31 does not change in the axial direction, so only one type of stator lamination is needed, making it possible to reduce mould costs. The circumferentially extending flow-stopping rib 41 is provided on the cooling ring 4 at a position close to an end of the stator, and a circumferentially extending stop plate 42 is provided on the cooling ring 4 at a position remote from the end of the stator. The flow-stopping rib 41 has an opening part 5. The spray holes are spaced apart circumferentially on the cooling ring 4 between the flow-stopping rib 41 and the stop plate 42, and are outlets 12 for the cooling medium. An inlet 23 for receiving an external cooling medium is provided on the housing 2. The assembled structure of the motor shown in Fig. 1 is shown in Fig. 5.

[0062] The motor 1 described above comprises a cooling system provided in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The cooling system provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail below with reference to Fig. 2 - Fig. 6.

[0063] As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 6, the cooling system comprises an axial flow path 10 and cooling ring flow paths 20. The axial flow path 10 comprises an inlet 11 for receiving the external cooling medium, the inlet 11 being in fluid communication with the inlet 23 on the housing 2; the axial flow path 10 is located between the first end and second end of the stator 3 and formed by a housing inner wall and a stator outer wall. Each cooling ring flow path 20 is located on an outer surface of the cooling ring 4 and formed by the housing inner wall and the outer surface of the cooling ring. The cooling ring flow paths 20 are in fluid communication with the axial flow path 10 so that the cooling medium alternately flows through the axial flow path 10 and the cooling ring flow path 20 at either end, and then flows out of the axial flow path 10 to the outlets 12 on the cooling ring flow paths 20 located at both ends.

[0064] Specifically, the cooling ring flow path 20 comprises a first circumferential flow path 21 close to the stator end and a second circumferential flow path 22 remote from the stator end. The first circumferential flow path 21 is formed by the flow-stopping rib 41, the second circumferential flow path 22 is formed by the flow-stopping rib 41 and the stop plate 42, and the outlets 12 of the cooling ring flow path 20 are provided on the second circumferential flow path 22. The first circumferential flow path 21 is in fluid communication with the axial flow path 10 so that the cooling medium alternately flows through the axial flow path 10 and the first circumferential flow path 21 at either end, and then flows out of the axial flow path 10, and flows into the second circumferential flow path 22 through the opening part 5 of the flow-stopping rib 41.

[0065] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the axial flow path comprises not only the first flow path rib but also second flow path ribs and a third flow path rib. As shown in Fig. 3, the second flow path ribs 201 and the third flow path rib 202 are disposed on the housing inner wall, the third flow path rib 202 being close to the inlet 11. A groove 203 is formed between the second flow path ribs 201, which is used to clamp with the first flow path rib 31. The third flow path rib 202 is configured to extend in the axial direction and has an opening part 6, so that the cooling medium flows out of the axial flow path 10 to the cooling ring flow paths 20 at both ends. The use of the third flow path rib 202 having the opening part 6 can avoid the use of stator laminations of different types, because if an opening part were provided on the first flow path rib 31 , it would be necessary to use stator laminations of different types, which would increase costs. For example, in this embodiment, the opening part 6 is disposed in the middle of the third flow path rib 202. Having the opening part 6 disposed in the middle of the third flow path rib 202 enables the cooling medium to flow towards both ends of the stator equally, so that the cooling effect is uniform. It should be explained that the opening part 6 could also be disposed at another position, and the present disclosure does not impose any restrictions in this regard.

[0066] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a protrusion is provided on the cooling ring. The protrusion comprises a first protrusion disposed on the flowstopping rib and / or a second protrusion disposed on the stop plate. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, a first protrusion 411 is provided on the flow-stopping rib 41, and a second protrusion 421 is provided on the stop plate 41, the purpose of the first protrusion 411 and second protrusion 421 are to clamp with the groove 203, thereby fixing the cooling ring 4. Other specific structures of the cooling ring 4 have already been described above, and will not be repeated here. It should be explained that the spray holes on the cooling ring 4 are merely one example, and could also be another structure allowing the cooling medium to pass through, and the present disclosure does not impose any restrictions in this regard.

[0067] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second flow path rib 201 and the third flow path rib 202 are in an interference fit with the outer surface of the stator 3, and a side face of the first flow path rib 31 is in an interference fit with a side face of the groove 203, thereby preventing axial play of the stator 3 in the housing 2. In addition, having the first flow path rib 31 engaged in the groove 203 can prevent circumferential rotation of the stator 3 in the housing 2.

[0068] Fig. 6 is a schematic drawing of a flow path of the cooling system provided in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0069] For example, in an assembled state of the motor, the cooling system comprises N axial flow paths 10 (a 1st axial flow path, a 2nd axial flow path, . , an Nth axial flow path), N being a positive integer greater than 1. The outer surface of the stator core is divided into the 1 st to the Nth axial flow paths sequentially by the first flow path ribs 31, the second flow path ribs 201 and the third flow path rib 202. The cooling medium first enters the 1st axial flow path through the inlet 11. The structures of the flow-stopping ribs 41 and the first flow path ribs 31 cooperate, causing serpentine flow of the cooling medium and preventing the cooling medium from flowing towards the outlets 12 when flowing in the 1st to the (N-l)th axial flow paths.

[0070] As shown in Fig. 6, the cooling medium first flows into the 1st axial flow path 10 on the outer surface of the stator core through the inlet 11 , and then flows axially towards one end of the stator. The first circumferential flow paths 21 are in fluid communication with the axial flow path 10, and the cooling medium is able to alternately flow through the axial flow path 10 and the first circumferential flow path 21 at either end, flowing in serpentine fashion on the surface of the stator core until it flows into the (N-l)th axial flow path, then flowing from the (N-l)th axial flow path into the Nth axial flow path through the opening part 6 of the third flow path rib 202, splitting into two streams in the Nth axial flow path and flowing out towards the two ends of the stator separately, flowing into the second circumferential flow paths 22 through the opening parts 5 of the flow-stopping ribs 41, and finally flowing out through the openings 12 of the second circumferential flow paths 22, so as to cool the stator windings 32 at the first end and second end.

[0071] The flow-stopping ribs 41 can prevent the cooling medium from flowing towards the second circumferential flow paths 22, so that all of the cooling medium cools the surface of the stator 3 first. After flowing nearly all the way round the surface of the stator, the cooling medium enters the second circumferential flow paths 22. Such a flow path causes the cooling medium to first be used in its entirety to cool the stator surface, and then to cool the stator windings 32 via the outlets 12, thus enabling an improvement in the cooling effect.

[0072] The cooling system provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure is formed by the specific structure of the motor provided in embodiments of the present disclosure, and the cooling system has the advantages of the motor descsribed above.

[0073] Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a vehicle, which comprises the motor provided in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle may be an electrified vehicle, such as a battery electric vehicle (BEV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), a range extended EV and a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). The vehicle may also be a hydrogen-powered vehicle. Embodiments of the present invention are not restricted with regard to the specific type of the vehicle.

[0074] Based on the above, the vehicle can realize the functions of the cooling system and the motor described above, and has the advantages described above.

[0075] Certain features, structures or characteristics in one or more embodiments of the present application may be combined appropriately.

[0076] Unless otherwise defined, all of the terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meanings as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in a common dictionary should be interpreted as having the same meanings as they have in the context of the related art, rather than being interpreted in an idealized or extremely formalized sense, unless expressly so defined herein.

[0077] The above is a description of the present disclosure, and should not be regarded as limiting it. Although some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, those skilled in the art will readily understand that many modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the original teaching and advantages of the present disclosure. Therefore, all such modifications are intended to be included in the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. It should be understood that the above is a description of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure should not be regarded as being limited to the specific embodiments disclosed; moreover, modifications to the disclosed embodiments and other embodiments are intended to be included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cooling system for a motor (1), characterized in that the motor (1) comprises a housing (2), a stator (3) accommodated in the housing (2), and cooling rings (4), the stator (3) comprises a first end and a second end in an axial direction of the motor, the cooling rings (4) are disposed at the first end and the second end, and the cooling system comprises: an axial flow path (10), comprising an inlet (11) for receiving an external cooling medium, the axial flow path (10) being located between the first end and the second end and formed by a housing inner wall and a stator outer wall; cooling ring flow paths (20), located on respective outer surfaces of the cooling rings (4) and formed by the housing inner wall and the respective outer surfaces of the cooling rings, wherein the cooling ring flow paths (20) are in fluid communication with the axial flow path (10) so that the cooling medium alternately flows through the axial flow path (10) and the cooling ring flow path (20) at either end, and then flows out of the axial flow path (10) to outlets (12) on the cooling ring flow paths (20) located at both ends.

2. The cooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling ring (4) comprises a flow-stopping rib (41) and a stop plate (42) which extend circumferentially, so as to form the cooling ring flow path (20), wherein the cooling ring flow path (20) comprises a first circumferential flow path (21) close to a stator end and a second circumferential flow path (22) remote from the stator end, and the flow-stopping rib (41) has an opening part (5).

3. The cooling system according to claim 2, characterized in that the first circumferential flow path (21) is in fluid communication with the axial flow path (10) so that the cooling medium alternately flows through the axial flow path (10) and the first circumferential flow path (21) at either end, and then flows out of the axial flow path (10), and flows into the second circumferential flow path (22) through the opening part (5) of the flow-stopping rib (41).

4. The cooling system according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe outlets (12) of the cooling ring flow paths (20) are disposed on the second circumferential flow paths (22), wherein the outlets (12) are configured to apply the cooling medium to stator windings (32) at the first end and the second end.

5. The cooling system according to claim 4, characterized in that the outlets (12) are spray holes spaced apart circumferentially on the cooling rings (4).

6. The cooling system according to any one of claims 2 - 5, characterized in that the axial flow path (10) comprises a first flow path rib (31) disposed on the stator (3), wherein the first flow path rib (31) is configured to extend continuously in an axial direction, so as to contact at least a part of the flow- stopping rib (41).

7. The cooling system according to claim 6, characterized in that the axial flow path (10) further comprises second flow path ribs (201) disposed on the housing inner wall, with a groove (203) formed between the second flow path ribs (201), the first flow path rib (31) being clamped with the groove (203).

8. The cooling system according to claim 7, characterized in that the axial flow path (10) further comprises a third flow path rib (202) only disposed on the housing inner wall and close to the inlet (11), wherein the third flow path rib (202) is configured to extend in the axial direction and has an opening part (6), so that the cooling medium flows out of the axial flow path (10) to the cooling ring flow paths (20) at both ends.

9. The cooling system according to claim 8, characterized in that the opening part (6) of the third flow path rib (202) is disposed in the middle of the third flow path rib (202).

10. The cooling system according to claim 7, characterized in that a protrusion is provided on the cooling ring (4), and the groove (203) is clamped with the protrusion in an assembled state of the motor (1).

11. The cooling system according to claim 10, characterized in that the protrusion comprises a first protrusion (411) disposed on the flowstopping rib (41) and / or a second protrusion (421) disposed on the stop plate (42).

12. The cooling system according to claim 8, characterized in that the second flow path ribs (201) and the third flow path rib (202) are in an interference fit with an outer surface of the stator (3).

13. The cooling system according to claim 7, characterized in that side faces of the first flow path rib (31) are in an interference fit with side faces of the groove(203).

14. A motor, characterized by comprising the cooling system according to any one of claims 1 - 13.

15. A vehicle, characterized by comprising the motor according to claim 14.

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