Cooling ring for a rotating electrical machine stator equipped with retention means

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a cooling ring 10 for a rotating electrical machine stator with longitudinal axis X, the ring 10 having at a first axial end 12 a first diameter D12 and at a second axial end 13 a second diameter D13 different from said first diameter D12, the ring 10 being notable in that it has a first retention opening 14 and a second retention opening formed in the wall of the first axial end 12 of the ring 10, the first and second retention openings 14, 15 being configured to cooperate, respectively, with first and second gripping means of a tool for gripping and positioning the ring 10. Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: Cooling ring for a rotating electrical machine stator equipped with retention means

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling ring for a rotating electrical machine stator, said cooling ring being equipped with retention means configured to cooperate with a gripping tool for said ring. The invention thus relates to the technical field of cooling rotating electrical machine stators.

[0002] Rotating electrical machines with a longitudinal axis X are known, having a stator with first and second end faces and a winding running longitudinally through the stator, forming a bundle of electrically conductive wires at each end face. This type of rotating electrical machine is usually equipped with a phase connector with a longitudinal axis X, generally circular in shape, positioned opposite the first end face of the stator. Such a rotating electrical machine is also provided with a housing surrounding the stator and the phase connector. The phase connector has first and second lugs for angularly positioning a cooling ring, each lug extending radially from the phase connector towards the housing.

[0003] During operation, the temperature of the rotating electrical machine increases. When the temperature increase is not controlled, the performance of the rotating electrical machine may be degraded and the magnets may become demagnetized.

[0004] In order to control the temperature of the rotating electrical machine, it is known to equip it with two cooling rings, these two rings contributing to the cooling of the stator of the rotating electrical machine. Each ring surrounds one of the wire windings and is in contact with one of the end faces of the stator. For each ring, a sealed chamber is thus formed between the outer circumferential surface of the ring and the inner circumferential surface of the housing.

[0005] Each ring is provided with a plurality of orifices allowing cooling oil to be distributed from the sealed chamber onto the bundle of electrically conductive wires surrounded by the ring. The oil thus contributes to the cooling of the bundle of electrically conductive wires and, more generally, of the stator.

[0006] As schematically illustrated in [Fig. 1] showing a profile view of a cooling ring 1, such a ring 1 has a longitudinal axis X, possesses at a first axial end a first diameter DI and at a second axial end a second diameter D2 greater than the first diameter Dl.

[0007] Similar to the representation in [Fig.2] showing a front view of the ring shown in [Fig.1], ring 1 further comprises: • A first protrusion 2 extending radially from the ring 1 towards the longitudinal axis X, the first protrusion 2 having a groove 3 adapted to cooperate with the first positioning tenon of the phase connector; and • A second protrusion 4 extending radially from the ring 1 towards the longitudinal axis X, the second protrusion 4 having a groove 3 suitable for cooperating with the second positioning tenon of the phase connector.

[0008] The interaction of the grooves 3 with the first and second positioning lugs of the phase connector allows the ring 1 to be positioned angularly with respect to the phase connector. Indeed, the ring 1 has a plurality of shapes that interact with different elements of the rotating electrical machine and must be positioned angularly.

[0009] Stator ring mounting devices are known from document CN-U-214755992. Such devices are complex to implement.

[0010] During transport, the rings 1 are stacked one on top of the other as shown in [Fig. 3]. The first diameter Dl of a ring 1 of a level N+l is positioned on the first and second protrusions 2, 4 of a ring 1 of a level N, and so on. In other words, the rings 1 cannot fit inside one another, so that during transport, the space occupied by these rings 1 is significant.

[0011] The invention offers a solution to the problems mentioned above, by proposing a cooling ring for a rotating electrical machine stator which, during a transport operation of the ring, reduces the bulk taken up by a plurality of cooling rings.

[0012] In this context, the invention thus relates, in its broadest sense, to a cooling ring for a rotating electrical machine stator, said ring comprising a longitudinal axis, coolant conveying orifices through its thickness, a first axial end with a first diameter, and a second axial end with a second diameter different from the first diameter, said ring being notable in that it comprises a first retention opening and a second retention opening formed in the wall of the first axial end of said ring, the first and second retention openings being configured to cooperate, respectively, with first and second means of gripping a gripping tool and positioning said ring.

[0013] Thanks to the first and second retention openings designed to cooperate with a gripping and positioning tool, the protrusions are eliminated and transferred to the tool. Thus, the rings can be stacked one inside the other. Indeed, during transport, the first diameter of a ring of a level N+1 is nested within the second diameter of a ring of a level N. The invention therefore offers considerable space savings during transport and, consequently, a reduction in transport costs.

[0014] In addition to the characteristics just mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the ring according to this aspect of the invention may have one or more complementary characteristics from among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0015] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the first and second retention openings are arranged, in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, in a diametrically opposite manner.

[0016] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the first and second openings have a T-shape, the vertical bar I of said T opening axially at the first end.

[0017] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the ring comprises at its second axial end, first means for retaining said ring on a stator of a rotating electrical machine.

[0018] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the first retaining means are formed by a retaining tenon extending from the second axial end in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and in the opposite direction to the first axial end.

[0019] Another aspect of the invention relates to a tool for gripping and positioning a ring according to any one of the aforementioned aspects of the invention, the tool comprising a handle-like shape provided with: • At a first end, first gripping means configured to fit into the first retention opening of the ring and first positioning means configured to cooperate with a first positioning tenon of a rotating electrical machine phase connector; and • At a second end of second gripping means configured to fit into the second retention opening of the ring and second positioning means configured to cooperate with a second positioning tenon of the phase connector.

[0020] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the first and second positioning means have different dimensions.

[0021] Another aspect of the invention relates to a rotating electrical machine with a longitudinal axis comprising: • A stator comprising first and second axial end faces; • A casing surrounding the stator; • A winding running longitudinally through the stator and forming at each of the first and second axial end faces of the stator, respectively first and second bundles of electrically conductive wires; • A phase connector with an overall annular shape and a longitudinal axis, the phase connector being positioned opposite the first bun and comprising a first positioning tenon and a second positioning tenon extending radially from the phase connector towards the housing; • A ring according to any one of the aforementioned aspects of the invention; • Said ring surrounding the first bun and the phase connector; • The second axial end of said ring being in axial contact with the first axial end face of the stator; • The first retention opening of said ring being radially opposite said first positioning tenon of the phase connector and the second retention opening of said ring being radially opposite the second positioning tenon of the phase connector.

[0022] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the first and second positioning pins have different dimensions.

[0023] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the stator includes second means for retaining the ring cooperating with the first means for retaining the ring.

[0024] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the second retaining means comprising the stator are formed by a longitudinal groove formed in an external circumferential surface of the stator, the groove being parallel to the longitudinal axis and receiving the first retaining means of the ring.

[0025] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures.

[0026] [Fig. 1] represents a profile view of a cooling ring for a rotating electrical machine stator according to the prior art.

[0027] [Fig.2] shows a front view of the ring shown in [Fig.1].

[0028] [Fig.3] illustrates a stack of cooling rings conforming to that shown in [Fig.1].

[0029] [Fig.4] illustrates a cross-sectional profile view of a cooling ring for a rotating electrical machine stator according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention.

[0030] [Fig.5] shows a front view of the ring shown in [Fig.4].

[0031] [Fig.6] shows three rings according to the invention stacked one inside the other.

[0032] [Fig.7] illustrates a non-limiting example of an embodiment of a tool for gripping and positioning a ring according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention.

[0033] [Fig.8] illustrates a rotating electrical machine according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention.

[0034] The figures are presented for illustrative purposes only and are in no way limiting of the invention.

[0035] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing on different figures has a unique reference.

[0036] Figure 4 illustrates a longitudinal axis X-axis cooling ring 10 for a stator of a rotating electrical machine.

[0037] Coolant delivery ports 11 are provided in its thickness and pass through its thickness.

[0038] The ring 10 has at a first axial end 12 a first diameter D12 and at a second axial end 13 a second diameter D13 smaller than the first diameter D12.

[0039] As illustrated in [Fig. 5] showing a top view of the ring 10, the ring 10 has a first retention opening 14 and a second retention opening 15. The first and second retention openings 14, 15 are provided in the wall of the first axial end 12 of the ring 10 and are configured to cooperate, respectively, with first and second gripping means of a gripping and positioning tool for the ring 10. According to a non-limiting embodiment, the first and second retention openings 14, 15 form clips.

[0040] According to this non-limiting embodiment, the first and second retention openings 14, 15 are arranged, in a plane P perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, in a diametrically opposite manner.

[0041] According to a non-limiting embodiment, each of the first and second retention openings 14, 15 (only one is shown in [Fig.4]) has a T-shape, the vertical bar 1 of the T opening axially at the first axial end 12.

[0042] Furthermore, the ring 10 has, at its second axial end 13, first means 16 for retaining the ring 10 on a stator of a rotating electrical machine. These first means 16 are formed by a retaining tenon extending from the second end 13 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis X and in the opposite direction to the first end 12. In other words, the retaining tenon takes originates at the second end 13 and extends away from the first and second ends 12, 13.

[0043] Thus, as soon as the ring 10 is placed on the first end face of the stator of the rotating electrical machine, the latter is held together with the stator by means of the first retaining means 16.

[0044] Figure 6 shows three rings 10 according to the invention stacked one inside the other. This illustrates the space saved thanks to the first and second retention openings 14, 15.

[0045] Fig. 7 illustrates a non-limiting example of an embodiment of a tool 20 for gripping and positioning a ring 10 as illustrated in figures 4, 5, 6.

[0046] Tool 20 is handle-shaped, i.e., C-shaped, and is equipped with: • At a first end 21 of said C of first grasping means 22 configured to fit together, for example by clipping, in the first retention opening 14 of the ring 10; • At a second end 23 of said C of second gripping means 24 configured to fit together, for example by clipping, in the second retention opening 15 of the ring 10.

[0047] The first and second gripping means 22, 24 are formed in the embodiment by a gripping tenon. When a manipulator arm wishes to move the ring 10, it grasps the ring 10 and moves the ring 10 axially so that each gripping tenon is pushed through the vertical bar I of the T to finally become lodged in the horizontal bar of the T of one of the first or second retention openings 14, 15 of the ring 10. In other words, the first and second gripping means 22, 24 are clipped into the first and second retention openings 14, 15 of the ring 10.

[0048] Tool 20 also includes: • At the first end 21, first positioning means 25 configured to cooperate with a first positioning tenon of a rotating electrical machine phase connector; and • At the second end 23, second positioning means 26 configured to cooperate with a second positioning tenon of a rotating electrical machine phase connector.

[0049] In this non-limiting embodiment, each of the first and second positioning means 25, 26 is formed by a protrusion in which a groove is provided. In order to allow for proper angular positioning of the ring 10 in the rotating electrical machine, the grooves have different dimensions.

[0050] Figure 8 illustrates a rotating electrical machine 30 with longitudinal axis X comprising: • A stator 31 comprising first and second end faces 32, 33; • A housing 34 surrounding the stator 31; • A winding running longitudinally through the stator 31 and forming at each of the first and second end faces 32, 33 of the stator 31, respectively first and second bundles 35, 36 of electrically conductive wires; • A phase connector 37 of generally annular shape with longitudinal axis X, the phase connector 37 being arranged opposite the first bun 35 and comprising a first and a second positioning lugs 38, 39 extending radially from the phase connector 37 towards the housing 34.

[0051] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the first and second positioning pins 38, 39 of the phase connector 37 have different dimensions and are adapted to cooperate with the first and second positioning means 25, 26 of the tool 20, which also have different dimensions. In other words, the dimensions of the first positioning pin 38 are complementary to the dimensions of the first positioning means 25, and the dimensions of the second positioning pin 39 are complementary to the dimensions of the second positioning means 26. This feature allows the ring 10 to be positioned angularly with respect to the phase connector 37.

[0052] The rotating electrical machine 30 further comprises a ring 10 according to the invention. The ring 10 surrounds the first coil 35 and the phase connector 37. The second axial end 13 of the ring 10 is in axial contact with the first end face 32 of the stator 31.

[0053] The first retention opening 14 of the ring 10 is opposite the first lotioning pin 38 of the phase connector 37 and the second retention opening 15 of the ring 10 is opposite the second positioning pin 39 of the ring 10.

[0054] In addition, the stator 31 includes second retaining means 40 of the ring 10 cooperating with the first retaining means 16 of the ring 10.

[0055] In the illustrated example, the second retaining means 16 of the stator 31 are formed by a longitudinal groove formed in an external circumferential surface 40 of the stator 31. This groove is parallel to the longitudinal axis X. The retaining tenon of the ring 10 forming, in the illustrated example, the first retaining means 16 is fitted into the longitudinal groove.

[0056] To assemble the ring 10 according to the invention on the rotating electrical machine 30, an operator or an automatic mechanical arm clips the first and second gripping means 22, 24 of the gripping and positioning tool 20 into the first and second retention openings 14, 15.

[0057] Then, in order to angularly position the ring 10, the first and second positioning means 25, 26 of the tool 20 are positioned opposite the first and second positioning pins 38, 39 of the phase connector 37.

[0058] The ring 10 is then moved axially along the longitudinal axis X so as to position the second end 13 of the ring 10 in contact with the first end face 32 of the stator 31 and around the first bun 35 as well as the phase connector 37.

[0059] During axial movement, the retaining tenon 16 of the ring 10 fits into the longitudinal groove 40 formed in the external circumferential surface 41 of the stator 31.

[0060] Then, the gripping tool 20 is removed by exerting a traction force allowing the first and second gripping means 22, 24 to be extracted from the gripping tool 20 and the positioning of the first and second retention openings 14, 15. Thus, the ring 10 is held together with the stator 31 by means of the retaining means 16 which it includes.

Claims

Demands

1. Cooling ring (10) for a stator (31) of a rotating electrical machine (30), said ring (10) having a longitudinal axis (X), coolant conveying ports (11) through its thickness, a first axial end (12) a first diameter (DI2) and a second axial end (13) a second diameter (DI3) different from said first diameter (D12), said ring (10) being characterized in that it has a first retention opening (14) and a second retention opening (15) formed in the wall of said first axial end (12) of said ring (10), said first and second retention openings (14, 15) being configured to cooperate, respectively, with first and second gripping means (22, 24) of a tool (20) for gripping and positioning said ring (10).

2. Ring (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first and second retention openings (14, 15) are arranged, in a plane (P) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X), in a diametrically opposite manner.

3. Ring (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at its second axial end (13), first means for retaining said ring (10) on a stator (31) of a rotating electrical machine (30).

4. Ring (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first retaining means (16) are formed by a retaining tenon extending from the second axial end (13) in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) and in the opposite direction to the first axial end (12).

5. A tool (20) for gripping and positioning a ring (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, said tool (20) comprising a handle-like shape provided: - At a first end (21) with first gripping means (22) configured to fit into the first retention opening (14) of the ring (10) and first positioning means (25) configured to cooperate with a first positioning tenon

6.

7. (38) of a phase connector (37) of a rotating electrical machine (30); and - At a second end (23) of second gripping means (24) configured to fit into the second retention opening (15) of the ring (10) and of second positioning means (26) configured to cooperate with a second positioning tenon (39) of said phase connector (37). A gripping and positioning tool (20) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first and second positioning means (25, 26) have different dimensions. A rotating electrical machine (30) with longitudinal axis (X) comprising: - A stator (31) comprising first and second axial end faces (32, 33); - A housing (34) surrounding said stator (31); - A winding longitudinally passing through said stator (31) and forming at each of said first and second axial end faces (32, 33) of said stator (31), respectively first and second bundles (35, 36) of electrically conductive wires; - A phase connector (37) of generally annular shape with longitudinal axis (X), said phase connector (37) being disposed opposite said first bun (35) and comprising a first positioning tenon (38) and a second positioning tenon (39) extending radially from said phase connector (37) towards said housing (34); - Said rotating electrical machine (30) being characterized in that it comprises a ring (10) according to any one of the preceding claims; - Said ring (10)) surrounding said first bun (35) and said phase connector (37); - The second axial end (13) of said ring (10) being in axial contact with the first axial end face (32) of said stator (31); - The first retention opening (14) of said ring (10) being radially opposite said first positioning tenon (38) of said phase connector (37) and the second retention opening (15) of said ring (10) being radially opposite said second positioning tenon (39) of said phase connector (37).

8. Rotating electric machine (30) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first and second positioning pins (38, 39) have different dimensions.

9. Rotating electric machine (30) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the stator (31) comprises second retaining means (40) of the ring (10) cooperating with the first retaining means (16) that comprise said ring (10).

10. Rotating electric machine (30) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second retaining means (40) comprising the stator (31) are formed by a longitudinal groove formed in an external circumferential surface (41) of said stator (31), said groove being parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) and receiving the first retaining means (16) of the ring (10).