Rotary electrical machine

Abstract

This invention cools a rotor 2 by a liquid refrigerant, and comprises: an inlet 13 for supplying the liquid refrigerant to a horizontal end face of a shaft 5 of the rotor 2; a first flow passage 9 that is provided in the rotor 2 and allows the liquid refrigerant to flow in the direction of the shaft 5; a second flow passage 10 that is provided on a first flow passage inlet 9a side of the first flow passage 9; and a third flow passage 11 that is provided on a first flow passage outlet 9b side of the first flow passage 9, wherein the second flow passage 10 has an opening that opens toward the radially inward side, the third flow passage 11 has an opening that opens toward the radially outward side, and the inlet 13 is provided on the radially inward side of the opening of the second flow passage 10 so as to discharge the liquid refrigerant toward the opening of the opening of the second flow passage 10.

Description

rotating electrical machines

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotating electric machine.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a rotating electric machine that "includes a rotor, a shaft that passes through the rotor along the rotation axis and is supported by a bearing, a stator that houses the rotor inside, a rotor cover that is attached to the axial end face of the rotor, and a housing that has a flow path for supplying oil to the bearing. The rotor cover forms a concentric gap between itself and the shaft, and has an oil receiving portion that receives oil from the bearing in the gap, and an oil distribution path that communicates with the oil receiving portion to the axial end face of the rotor. The rotating electric machine cools the rotor by supplying oil that has been guided into the gap to the oil distribution path by centrifugal force."

[0003] Patent Document 2 describes a motor in which "in a twin-rotor motor having an inner rotor and an outer rotor, an oil passage is provided on the outer periphery of the outer rotor. Cooling oil is supplied by being discharged from a supply part fixed to the case onto the rotating surface of the outer rotor. The cooling oil flows into an oil receiving part by the action of centrifugal force, and then flows into the interior from a supply port. After passing through the oil passage, the cooling oil is discharged to the outside from a discharge port. In such a cooling structure, the supply part discharges the cooling oil in a direction that gives it a speed component along the rotational direction. Furthermore, the discharge part is provided at a position closer to the center of rotation than the oil passage, and discharges the cooling oil after reducing the rotational speed."

[0004] Japanese Patent No. 7243780 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-358345

[0005] In the industrial and mobility fields, rotating electrical machines such as motors require cooling of their stators and rotors, and cooling structures are provided for this purpose. In industrial applications, there is a demand for smaller motors with higher power density to reduce installation space. Furthermore, with the advancement of electrification in mobility in recent years, efforts are being made to increase the power density of motors for aircraft, which have strict weight restrictions, followed by motors for automobiles. Given these circumstances, further improvements in the cooling performance of rotating electrical machines are required in both fields.

[0006] Direct liquid cooling methods such as oil cooling are effective for improving the cooling performance of rotating electrical machines, but the cooling structure for the rotor tends to be complicated because it is a moving part.

[0007] As background art of the present invention, the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2 are known.

[0008] Patent document 1 discloses a technology in which cooling oil is supplied to the inside of the motor housing through a bearing from a flow path provided radially within a housing cover on the axial end side of a rotating electric machine, and the oil flows radially outward within a radial flow path formed by installing a rotor cover at the rotor end, and then passes through a cooling flow path provided axially within the rotor to directly cool the rotor.

[0009] Patent document 2 also discloses a technology for directly cooling the rotor by providing an oil receiver at the end of the rotor, spraying oil from a supply unit toward the oil receiver, and guiding the cooling oil in the oil receiver into an axial oil passage provided in the rotor.

[0010] Cooling the rotor of a rotating electrical machine involves the following problems.

[0011] First, because the rotor is a rotating body, the coolant introduction path tends to be complicated. Also, depending on the cooling structure, it is technically difficult to completely seal the flow path. For these reasons, rotor cooling structures have the problem of being expensive.

[0012] Secondly, as mentioned in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the refrigerant in the cooling flow passage can be caused to flow by utilizing the centrifugal force acting on the radial flow passage of the rotor, but when the rotation speed is slow, the centrifugal force becomes weaker, resulting in a problem of a decrease in the refrigerant flow rate.

[0013] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a rotating electrical machine equipped with a direct cooling structure that can ensure a sufficient flow rate of the coolant flowing through the cooling passages with a simple and low-cost structure.

[0014] The present invention includes multiple means for solving the above-mentioned problems. One example is a rotating electric machine that cools a rotor with a liquid refrigerant, comprising: an inlet port that supplies the liquid refrigerant to an end face of the rotor that is horizontal to the rotational axis of the rotor; a first flow path that is provided within the rotor and that causes the liquid refrigerant to flow in the direction of the rotational axis; a second flow path that is provided on the inlet side of the first flow path; and a third flow path that is provided on the outlet side of the first flow path, wherein the second flow path has an opening that opens radially inward, and the third flow path has an opening that opens radially outward, and the inlet port is provided radially inward of the opening of the second flow path and so as to discharge the liquid refrigerant in the direction of the opening of the second flow path.

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a direct cooling structure that can ensure a sufficient flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the cooling channel with a simple and low-cost structure. Objects, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become clear from the description of the following examples.

[0016] 1 is an explanatory diagram of a rotating electric machine to which a first embodiment is applied; FIG. 2 is a view of a rotor of the rotating electric machine according to the first embodiment as seen from the upper end position of the iron core; FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a structure for enhancing the centrifugal effect of a second flow path of the rotating electric machine according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a rotating electric machine to which a second embodiment is applied; FIG. 5 is a view of a rotor of the rotating electric machine according to the second embodiment as seen from the upper end position of the iron core; FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a rotor of a rotating electric machine to which a third embodiment is applied; FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a rotating electric machine to which a fourth embodiment is applied; FIG. 8 is a view of a rotor of the rotating electric machine according to the fourth embodiment as seen from the upper end position of the iron core; and FIG.

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the rotating electric machine of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used in this specification, identical or similar reference numerals are used to designate identical or corresponding components, and repeated description of these components may be omitted.

[0018] First Embodiment A first embodiment of a rotating electrical machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG.

[0019] The overall configuration of a rotating electric machine to which the first embodiment is applied will be described below with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram of a rotating electric machine to which the first embodiment is applied. Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of a rotor of the rotating electric machine of Figure 1, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 1.

[0020] The rotating electric machine 30 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an inner rotor type rotating electric machine in which a stator 1 is arranged on the outer diameter side thereof, and a rotor 2 having a permanent magnet 4 on the inner diameter side thereof via an air gap 3 between this stator 1 and the rotor 2, and which is also a vertical type rotating electric machine in which the rotating shaft is installed in the direction of gravity.

[0021] 1, the rotor 2 is cooled by a liquid refrigerant. The structure for this cooling will be described later.

[0022] The rotor 2 has a rotating axis that is rotated by a shaft 5, and has a plurality of permanent magnets 4 arranged in the circumferential direction. The rotor 2 is supported by bearings 6 so as to be rotatable relative to the stator 1 fixed to a housing 12.

[0023] In the rotating electric machine 30 of this embodiment, a first flow path 9, which is a flow path for flowing liquid refrigerant in the axial direction of the rotating shaft, is provided in the rotor core 8 inside the rotor 2. A common method for forming this first flow path 9 is to punch holes in advance at corresponding positions in the electromagnetic steel sheets that form the rotor core 8, and then to create the rotor core 8 by stacking the electromagnetic steel sheets.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2 , in the first embodiment, a total of eight first flow passages 9 are provided at equal intervals of 45 degrees in the circumferential direction. However, the number of first flow passages 9 in the circumferential direction is not limited to eight, and the number of first flow passages at the same radial position is not limited to one. Furthermore, the spacing between adjacent first flow passages 9 does not need to be equal. Furthermore, although the example shows all first flow passages 9 at the same radial position, the radial position is not limited. In other words, the number of first flow passages 9 and their positions in the circumferential direction and radial direction can be designed and selected as appropriate to satisfy the performance required for cooling the object to be cooled, including the permanent magnets 4, and the electrical design of the rotating electric machine 30.

[0025] In a vertical rotating electric machine 30 such as that of this embodiment, a second flow passage 10 is provided on the side of a first flow passage inlet 9a of the first flow passage 9, which is located on the vertically upper side of the first flow passage 9. The second flow passage 10 extends radially inward from the first flow passage inlet 9a of the first flow passage 9, and has an opening on the inner diameter side.

[0026] In this embodiment, a plurality of first plate blades 15 are provided radially, extending radially inward from the first flow passage inlet 9 a side of the first flow passage 9. Furthermore, the upper part and radially outer end part of the first plate blade 15 are covered by a first cover 16 that closes the first flow passage inlet 9 a of the first flow passage 9 from the radially outer side to the radially inner side, i.e., that covers the first flow passage inlet 9 a from the radially outer side to the radially inner side.

[0027] The first plate blade 15 and the first cover 16 form a second flow passage 10 .

[0028] The first plate blades 15 are not particularly limited in terms of their circumferential positions relative to the first flow passages 9, and may be located at any position between the plurality of first flow passage inlets 9 a. For example, they may be located at equal distances from the adjacent first flow passage inlets 9 a, or may be located immediately behind the first flow passage inlets 9 a in the circumferential direction, and are not particularly limited.

[0029] Furthermore, in the vertical rotating electric machine 30 of this embodiment, a third flow passage 11 is provided on the side of the first flow passage outlet 9b of the first flow passage 9 located on the vertically lower side of the first flow passage 9. The third flow passage 11 extends radially outward from the first flow passage outlet 9b of the first flow passage 9, and has an opening on the outer diameter side.

[0030] In this embodiment, a plurality of second plate blades 17 are provided radially, extending radially outward from the first flow passage outlet 9b side of the first flow passage 9. The lower part and radially inner end part of the second plate blade 17 are covered by a second cover 18 that closes the first flow passage outlet 9b of the first flow passage 9 from the radially inner side to the radially outer side, i.e., that covers the first flow passage outlet 9b from the radially inner side to the radially outer side.

[0031] The second plate blade 17 and the second cover 18 form the third flow passage 11 .

[0032] The second plate blade 17 is not particularly limited in its circumferential position relative to the first flow passage 9, and may be located at any position between the multiple first flow passage outlets 9b, at a position equidistant from the multiple first flow passage outlets 9b, or immediately after the circumferential position of the first flow passage outlet 9b, and is not particularly limited.

[0033] The flow of the liquid refrigerant that cools the rotor 2 is also indicated by arrows in FIG.

[0034] 1 , refrigerant inlet 13 supplies liquid refrigerant to an end face horizontal to the rotation axis of rotor 2. More specifically, refrigerant inlet 13 is disposed vertically above rotor 2 and radially inward of the inner diameter side opening of second flow passage 10 so as to discharge liquid refrigerant radially inward of the opening of second flow passage 10.

[0035] In this configuration, the refrigerant falls to the upper end of the rotor 2 by gravity, flows into the second flow passage 10, and then flows radially outward within the second flow passage 10 due to the action of centrifugal force. Then, it flows into the first flow passage 9 from above, flows axially downward, and then flows into the third flow passage 11. The refrigerant in the third flow passage 11 is pressure-fed radially outward by the action of centrifugal force. It then accumulates in the lower part of the housing 12. The refrigerant accumulated in the lower part of the housing 12 is discharged from the outlet 14.

[0036] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0037] The rotating electric machine 30 of the first embodiment of the present invention described above cools the rotor 2 with a liquid refrigerant, and includes an inlet 13 that supplies the liquid refrigerant to an end face of the rotor 2 that is horizontal to the rotation axis of the rotor 2, a first flow path 9 that is provided within the rotor 2 and that allows the liquid refrigerant to flow in the direction of the rotation axis, a second flow path 10 that is provided on the first flow path inlet 9a side of the first flow path 9, and a third flow path 11 that is provided on the first flow path outlet 9b side of the first flow path 9, wherein the second flow path 10 has an opening that opens radially inward, and the third flow path 11 has an opening that opens radially outward, and the inlet 13 is provided radially inward of the opening of the second flow path 10 and so as to discharge the liquid refrigerant in the direction of the opening of the second flow path 10.

[0038] With this configuration, centrifugal force acts on the refrigerant at two locations, the second flow path and the third flow path, and the centrifugal forces acting on the refrigerant in the second flow path 10 and the third flow path 11 are added together, thereby enhancing the centrifugal pumping action and increasing the flow rate of the refrigerant cooling the rotor 2. In particular, because centrifugal force acts on both the first flow path inlet 9a and the first flow path outlet 9b, the refrigerant flows smoothly even if the first flow path 9 has a small diameter. Furthermore, even if the radial position of the first flow path 9 changes, as long as the positions of the inlet of the second flow path 10 and the outlet of the third flow path 11 remain unchanged, the total centrifugal force acting on the refrigerant does not change, which has the advantage of stabilizing the centrifugal pumping action regardless of the radial position of the first flow path 9.

[0039] In addition, the second flow path 10 has a first plate blade 15 extending radially inward from the first flow path inlet 9a side of the first flow path 9, and a first cover 16 blocking the first flow path inlet 9a of the first flow path 9 from its radial outside to its radial inside, and the third flow path 11 has a second plate blade 17 extending radially outward from the first flow path outlet 9b side of the first flow path 9, and a second cover 18 blocking the first flow path outlet 9b of the first flow path 9 from its radial inside to its radial outside, so that a large amount of liquid refrigerant can be guided to the first flow path 9 with a simple configuration.

[0040] Furthermore, since the rotating electric machine 30 is installed with its rotation axis in the direction of gravity and the inlet 13 is a vertical axis located vertically above the rotor 2, the refrigerant flows naturally from the inlet 13 and reaches the inlet opening of the second flow path 10. This eliminates the need for a sealed flow path and the need to pressurize the refrigerant into the housing 12, eliminating the need to pressurize and spray the refrigerant from the inlet 13, thereby reducing the pressure of the refrigerant circulation pump. This simplifies the cooling structure compared to conventional systems, thereby suppressing cost increases. Furthermore, there is no need to connect the inlet of the second flow path 10 with a sealed flow path. If it is necessary to control the inflow flow rate, a pump may be used, but even in this case, high pressure is not required, so the pump output can be reduced.

[0041] The rotating electric machine of this embodiment is not limited to the above-described configuration, and may be configured as follows. A modified rotating electric machine will be described below with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows a modified rotating electric machine 30A that enhances the centrifugal pump action of the second flow path 10A.

[0042] In the rotating electric machine 30 of Figure 1, the first plate blade 15 is long enough to fit within the first cover 16, but in the rotating electric machine 30A of Figure 3, the first plate blade 15A of the second flow path 10A of the rotor 2A extends to the inner diameter side beyond the inlet 13.

[0043] In the rotating electrical machine 30A having such a configuration, the first plate blades 15A extend radially inward beyond the inlet 13, so that the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet 13 falls between the first plate blades 15A and is subjected to centrifugal force at this point, thereby enhancing the centrifugal pumping action in the second flow path 10A.

[0044] Second Embodiment A rotating electric machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a rotating electric machine to which the second embodiment is applied, and Fig. 5 is a view of the rotor of the rotating electric machine according to the second embodiment as seen from the upper end position of the core.

[0045] In the first embodiment, the first flow passage 9 is configured to be parallel to the rotation axis, i.e., to be straight in the vertical direction. Naturally, in this case, centrifugal force does not directly act on the refrigerant in the first flow passage 9.

[0046] Generally, the first flow passage 9, which is an axial flow passage for cooling the rotor 2, cannot be made very large in many cases. This is because reducing the amount of the rotor core 8 increases the magnetic flux density, which deteriorates the characteristics of the rotating electric machine.

[0047] Therefore, the refrigerant flowing through the first flow path 9 may be subjected to a flow similar to a gap flow and may be subjected to a large viscous friction. For this reason, it may be better to apply some kind of pumping action to the refrigerant in the first flow path 9 as well to actively discharge the refrigerant.

[0048] To achieve this, in the rotating electric machine 30B of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the first flow path outlet 9b1 of the first flow path 9B is arranged radially shifted so as to be radially outward from the first flow path inlet 9a1 of the first flow path 9B.

[0049] More specifically, the radial position of the first flow path inlet 9a1 of the first flow path 9B in the rotor core 8B within the rotor 2B is located radially inward of the radial position of the first flow path inlet 9a of the first flow path 9 in Example 1.

[0050] Accordingly, the radial positions of the two members, the first plate blade 15B and the first cover 16B, which form the second flow passage 10B, are also located on the radially inner side.

[0051] The other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those of the rotating electrical machine of the first embodiment, and the details thereof will be omitted.

[0052] The rotating electrical machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention also provides substantially the same effects as those of the rotating electrical machine according to the first embodiment described above.

[0053] Furthermore, since the first flow path outlet 9b1 of the first flow path 9B is positioned radially outward from the first flow path inlet 9a1 of the first flow path 9B and is thus shifted radially, a centrifugal pumping action is exerted on the refrigerant in the first flow path 9B by an amount corresponding to the difference in radius between the first flow path inlet 9a1 and the first flow path outlet 9b1 of the first flow path 9B, thereby discharging the refrigerant. The configuration of this embodiment is particularly effective when the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow path 9B cannot be made very large.

[0054] In addition, the radial position of the first flow path outlet 9b1 of the first flow path 9B in the rotor core 8B within the rotor 2B may be located on the outer diameter side of the radial position of the first flow path outlet 9b of the first flow path 9 in Example 1, or the radial positions of the first flow path inlet and first flow path outlet may both be changed to the inner diameter and outer diameter side, respectively.

[0055] Third Embodiment A rotating electric machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a rotor of a rotating electric machine to which the third embodiment is applied.

[0056] The rotating electric machine 30C of this embodiment, like the rotating electric machine 30B of embodiment 2, is one of the methods for applying a pumping action to the refrigerant in the first flow path 9C, and the first flow path outlet 9b2 of the first flow path 9C is positioned circumferentially offset in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the rotor 2 from the first flow path inlet 9a1 of the first flow path 9C.

[0057] The section between the first flow passage inlet 9a1 and the first flow passage outlet 9b2 of the first flow passage 9C may be linear or curved, for example, with the same curvature as the outer periphery of the rotor core 8C, and is not particularly limited.

[0058] The other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those of the rotating electrical machine of the first embodiment, and the details thereof will be omitted.

[0059] The rotating electrical machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention also provides substantially the same effects as those of the rotating electrical machine according to the first embodiment described above.

[0060] Furthermore, since the first flow path outlet 9b2 of the first flow path 9C is disposed offset in the circumferential direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotor 2 from the first flow path inlet 9a2 of the first flow path 9C, the refrigerant in the first flow path 9C is subjected to a force pushing downward, so that the refrigerant in the first flow path 9C can also be discharged. This embodiment is also effective when the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow path 9C cannot be made very large. Note that it is also possible to dispose the first flow path outlet radially outward from the first flow path inlet as in the above-described second embodiment, and to displace it circumferentially opposite to the rotation direction of the rotor 2 as in the third embodiment.

[0061] Fourth Embodiment A rotating electric machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a rotating electric machine to which the fourth embodiment is applied, and Fig. 8 is a view of the rotor of the rotating electric machine according to the fourth embodiment as seen from the upper end position of the core.

[0062] The rotating electrical machine 30D of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is an example of a specific structure for easily realizing the structure of the first flow passage 9B of the rotating electrical machine 30B of the second embodiment.

[0063] The first flow path 9D provided in the rotor core 8D of the rotor 2D is composed of a slit-shaped through hole 19 with a radially long cross section, a first wedge 20 which is wider toward the first flow path inlet 9a of the first flow path 9D and is provided on the radially outer side of the through hole 19, and a second wedge 21 which is wider toward the first flow path outlet 9b of the first flow path 9D and is provided on the radially inner side of the through hole 19.

[0064] The composition of the first wedges 20 and the second wedges 21 of the fourth embodiment is determined according to the electrical characteristics of the rotating electrical machine.

[0065] The other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those of the rotating electrical machine of the first embodiment, and the details thereof will be omitted.

[0066] The rotating electrical machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention also provides substantially the same effects as those of the rotating electrical machine according to the first embodiment described above.

[0067] Furthermore, the first flow path 9D is formed by a slit-shaped through hole 19 provided in the iron core of the rotor 2 and having a radially long cross section, a first wedge 20 which is wider toward the first flow path inlet 9a of the first flow path 9D and is provided on the radially outer side of the through hole 19, and a second wedge 21 which is wider toward the first flow path outlet 9b of the first flow path 9D and is provided on the radially inner side of the through hole 19. This means that only one type of mold is required to punch out the electromagnetic steel plate of the rotor core 8, which has the advantage of further reducing costs in implementing the present invention.

[0068] Fifth Embodiment A rotating electric machine according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a rotating electric machine to which the fifth embodiment is applied.

[0069] A rotating electric machine 30E of this embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is a horizontal, inner rotor type rotating electric machine whose rotation axis is installed in a direction perpendicular to gravity.

[0070] In the rotating electric machine 30E of this embodiment, a rotor core 8E in a rotor 2E is provided with a first flow passage 9E, which is a flow passage for flowing a liquid refrigerant in the axial direction of the rotating shaft. Furthermore, a second flow passage 10E extending radially inward from the first flow passage inlet 9a4 of the first flow passage 9E and having an opening on the inner diameter side is provided on the first flow passage inlet 9a4 side of the first flow passage 9E located on the inlet 13E side of the first flow passage 9E, and a third flow passage 11E extending radially outward from the first flow passage outlet 9b4 of the first flow passage 9E and having an opening on the outer diameter side is provided on the first flow passage outlet 9b4 side of the first flow passage 9E.

[0071] The structures of the second flow path 10E and the third flow path 11E are substantially the same as those of the second flow path 10 and the third flow path 11 of the first embodiment.

[0072] The rotating electric machine 30E differs from the rotating electric machine 30 of the first embodiment in that an inlet 13E is disposed vertically below a shaft 5E of a rotor 2E, and its shape is such that the amount of protrusion toward the rotor core 8 is longer than that of the inlet 13 of the first embodiment, and the inlet 13E is bent vertically downward in an L-shape. Also, an outlet 14E is located vertically below a housing 12E.

[0073] The other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those of the rotating electrical machine of the first embodiment, and the details thereof will be omitted.

[0074] Even in a configuration in which the rotation axis is installed perpendicular to gravity and the inlet 13E is located vertically below the shaft 5E, as in the rotating electric machine 30E of Example 5 of the present invention, effects substantially similar to those of the rotating electric machine of Example 1 described above can be obtained.

[0075] In addition, even in a horizontal rotating electric machine such as this embodiment, modified configurations of the first flow path and the second flow path such as the modified example of embodiment 1 (FIG. 3) and embodiments 2 to 4 (FIGS. 4 to 8) can be adopted.

[0076] <Others> The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples, and includes various modifications. The above-described examples have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those having all of the described configurations.

[0077] It is also possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, or to add the configuration of one embodiment to the configuration of another embodiment.It is also possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment.

[0078] For example, in the first to fifth embodiments, the embodiments are described using an inner rotor type rotating electrical machine, but the present invention can also be implemented in an outer rotor type rotating electrical machine.

[0079] Furthermore, the method of forming the second flow path and the third flow path is exemplified as using two components, a blade plate and a cover, but this is not limited to this and they can also be formed by a method such as cutting the end plate of the rotor.

[0080] Furthermore, other embodiments conceivable within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention are also included within the scope of the present invention.

[0081] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Stator 2, 2A, 2B, 2D, 2E... Rotor 3... Air gap (air gap) 4... Permanent magnet 5, 5E... Shaft 6... Bearing 7... Stator core 8, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E... Rotor core 9, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E... First flow path 9a, 9a1, 9a2, 9a4... First flow path inlet 9b, 9b1, 9b2, 9b4... First flow path outlet 10, 10A, 10B, 10D, 10E... Second flow path 11, 11E... Third flow path 12, 12E... Housing 13, 13E... Inlet 14, 14E... Outlet 15, 15A, 15B, 15D... First plate blade 16, 16B, 16D... First cover 17... Second plate blade 18... Second cover 19...Through hole 20...First wedge 21...Second wedge 30, 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E...Rotating electric machine

Claims

1. A rotating electric machine in which a rotor is cooled with a liquid refrigerant, comprising: an inlet port for supplying the liquid refrigerant to an end face of the rotor that is horizontal to the rotational axis of the rotor; a first flow path provided within the rotor and for flowing the liquid refrigerant in the direction of the rotational axis; a second flow path provided on the inlet side of the first flow path; and a third flow path provided on the outlet side of the first flow path, wherein the second flow path has an opening that opens radially inward, and the third flow path has an opening that opens radially outward, and the inlet port is provided radially inward from the opening of the second flow path and disposed so as to discharge the liquid refrigerant in the direction of the opening of the second flow path.

2. A rotating electric machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second flow passage has a first plate blade extending radially inward from the inlet side of the first flow passage, and a first cover closing the inlet of the first flow passage from its radial outside to its radial inside, and the third flow passage has a second plate blade extending radially outward from the outlet side of the first flow passage, and a second cover closing the outlet of the first flow passage from its radial inside to its radial outside.

3. A rotating electric machine according to claim 2, wherein the first plate blade extends to an inner diameter side beyond the inlet.

4. A rotating electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the outlet of said first flow passage is arranged radially outwardly of the inlet of said first flow passage and shifted radially.

5. A rotating electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the outlet of said first flow passage is arranged offset in the circumferential direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotor from the inlet of said first flow passage.

6. A rotating electric machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first flow passage is formed by: a slit-shaped through hole provided in the iron core of the rotor and having a radially long cross section; a first wedge which is wider towards the inlet side of the first flow passage and provided on the radially outer side of the through hole; and a second wedge which is wider towards the outlet side of the first flow passage and provided on the radially inner side of the through hole.

7. A rotating electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotating shaft of the rotating electric machine is installed in the direction of gravity, and the inlet is disposed vertically above the rotor.

8. A rotating electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotating electric machine is installed so that the rotating shaft is in a direction perpendicular to gravity, and the inlet is disposed vertically below the rotating shaft.

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