Rotary electrical machine rotor, rotary electrical machine, and method for producing rotary electrical machine rotor

Abstract

A rotary electrical machine rotor (1) comprises a laminated core (21) that has a plurality of through holes (28) penetrating in the rotation axis direction in a magnetic pole region which extends over a pole-to-pole circumferential angle (RA) on both sides of a magnetic pole center line (LA) in the circumferential direction. When the average rotation angle toward the center line (LD) of a through hole (28) from a straight line perpendicular to the magnetic pole center line (LA) of a magnetic pole region (30) to which that through hole (28) belongs is defined as a center line inclination (RB), the center line inclinations (RB) of at least two through holes (28) in the magnetic pole region (30) have inclination angles in opposite directions of rotation. An annular steel sheet (22) is divided, by cut lines (LC), into a plurality of divided steel sheets (27) that each have at least two through holes (28). The angle sequence in which the angles of the center line inclinations (RB) of the through holes (28) of divided steel sheets (27) are arranged in the order of arrangement of the through holes (28) in a circumferential direction differs from the angle sequence for center line inclinations (RB) of adjacent divided steel sheets (27) in the rotation axis direction of the divided steel sheets (27).

Description

Rotor of a rotating electrical machine, rotating electrical machine, and method for manufacturing a rotor of a rotating electrical machine

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a rotor of a rotating electrical machine provided with a laminated core and a method for manufacturing a rotor of a rotating electrical machine.

[0002] The rotor of a conventional rotating electrical machine includes a laminated core formed by arranging a plurality of laminated iron core pieces, each of which is an arc-shaped iron core piece divided into a plurality of parts, in an annular shape such that the joints between the arc-shaped iron core pieces in the circumferential direction are phase-shifted in the circumferential direction and laminated in a so-called brickwork manner (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent No. 6469355

[0004] Since the laminated core of the rotor of a conventional rotating electrical machine is composed of divided steel plates, although the material yield is improved, there is a problem that since arc-shaped iron cores of the same shape are arranged in the rotational axis direction, there is a portion with weak rigidity even when laminated with a phase shift.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to obtain a rotating electrical machine having a high rigidity of the laminated core as a whole even when the laminated core is constituted using divided steel plates.

[0006] The rotor of the rotating electrical machine according to the present disclosure includes a laminated core in which annular steel plates centered on a rotation axis are laminated in the rotation axis direction and fixed to form magnetic poles at equal intervals around the rotation axis. The laminated core has a plurality of through holes whose cross-sectional shape having a width with a line segment or a curve as a center line penetrates in the rotation axis direction in a magnetic pole region that spreads in the circumferential direction on both sides of the magnetic pole by the magnetic pole circumferential angle which is the interval between the magnetic poles centered on the magnetic pole center line. When the average angle from a straight line perpendicular to the magnetic pole center line of the magnetic pole region to the center line of the through hole is defined as the center line inclination, at least two of the through holes in the magnetic pole region have inclination angles whose center line inclinations are angles with opposite rotation directions to each other. The annular steel plate is divided into a plurality of divided steel plates having at least two through holes by a cutting line connecting from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side of the annular shape, and an angle sequence in which the angles of the center line inclinations of the through holes of the divided steel plates are arranged in the order in which the through holes are arranged in one circumferential direction is different from the angle sequence of the center line inclinations of the divided steel plates adjacent in the rotation axis direction of the divided steel plates.

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to increase the rigidity of a laminated iron core constructed using segmented steel plates.

[0008] This is a cross-sectional view of a rotating electric machine showing Embodiment 1. This is a schematic diagram of the laminated core of the rotor of the rotating electric machine showing Embodiment 1. This is a cross-sectional view showing the first layer of annular steel plate of the rotor of the rotating electric machine showing Embodiment 1. This is a cross-sectional view showing the second layer of annular steel plate of the rotor of the rotating electric machine showing Embodiment 1. This is a top view showing the first divided steel plate of the first layer of annular steel plate of the rotor of the rotating electric machine showing Embodiment 1. This is a top view showing the first divided steel plate of the second layer of annular steel plate of the rotor of the rotating electric machine showing Embodiment 1. This is a top view showing the second divided steel plate of the second layer of annular steel plate of the rotor of the rotating electric machine showing Embodiment 1. This is a top view showing the maximum inscribed rectangle of the first divided steel plate of the first layer of annular steel plate of the rotor of the rotating electric machine showing Embodiment 1. This is a top view showing the maximum inscribed rectangles of the first and second divided steel plates of the second layer of annular steel plate of the rotor of the rotating electric machine showing Embodiment 1. This is a top view showing the positional relationship of the centroids of the first and second divided steel plates of the second layer of annular steel plate and the first divided steel plate of the first layer of annular steel plate of the rotor of the rotating electric machine showing Embodiment 1. This is a top view showing the positional relationship between the overlap of the first and second divided steel plates of the second layer annular steel plate and the first divided steel plate of the first layer annular steel plate of the rotor of a rotating electric machine according to Embodiment 1, and the magnetic pole center line and magnetic pole boundary line. This is a top view showing the positional relationship between the overlap of the first and second divided steel plates of the second layer annular steel plate and the first divided steel plate of the first layer annular steel plate of the rotor of a rotating electric machine according to Embodiment 1, and the representative radiation and rolling direction. This is a top view showing the positional relationship between the overlap of the first and second divided steel plates of the second layer annular steel plate and the first divided steel plate of the first layer annular steel plate of the rotor of a rotating electric machine according to Embodiment 1, and a straight line perpendicular to the representative radiation and the rolling direction. This is a flowchart showing an example of a method for manufacturing the laminated core of the rotor of a rotating electric machine according to Embodiment 1. This is a flowchart showing a modified example of the method for manufacturing the laminated core of the rotor of a rotating electric machine according to Embodiment 1. This is a top view showing an example of the arrangement of the punched shapes of the divided steel plates on the base material in the method for manufacturing the laminated core of the rotor of a rotating electric machine according to Embodiment 1. This is a top view showing a first modified example of the arrangement of punched shapes of segmented steel plates on a base material in a manufacturing method for a laminated iron core of a rotor of a rotating electric machine, as shown in Embodiment 1.This is a top view showing the arrangement of punched shapes of the first layer of annular steel plates in a second modified example of the arrangement of punched shapes of the divided steel plates on the base material in the manufacturing method of the laminated core of the rotor of a rotating electric machine shown in Embodiment 1. This is a top view showing the arrangement of punched shapes of the second layer of annular steel plates in a second modified example of the arrangement of punched shapes of the divided steel plates on the base material in the manufacturing method of the laminated core of the rotor of a rotating electric machine shown in Embodiment 1. This is a top view showing a third modified example of the arrangement of punched shapes of the divided steel plates on the base material in the manufacturing method of the laminated core of the rotor of a rotating electric machine shown in Embodiment 1. This is a side view showing the first and second layer annular steel plates extracted from the laminated core of the rotor of a rotating electric machine shown in Embodiment 1. This is a cross-sectional view of a rotating electric machine showing Modification 1 of Embodiment 1. This is a schematic configuration diagram of the laminated core of the rotor of a rotating electric machine showing Modification 1 of Embodiment 1. This is a cross-sectional view showing the first layer annular steel plate of the rotor of a rotating electric machine showing Modification 1 of Embodiment 1. This is a cross-sectional view showing the second layer annular steel plate of the rotor of a rotating electric machine showing Modification 1 of Embodiment 1. This is a top view showing the first divided steel plate of the first layer of annular steel plate in the rotor of a rotating electric machine, which is a modified example of Embodiment 1. This is a top view showing the first divided steel plate of the second layer of annular steel plate in the rotor of a rotating electric machine, which is a modified example of Embodiment 1. This is a top view showing the second divided steel plate of the second layer of annular steel plate in the rotor of a rotating electric machine, which is a modified example of Embodiment 1. This is a cross-sectional view of a rotating electric machine, which is a modified example of Embodiment 2. This is a schematic diagram of the laminated core of the rotor of a rotating electric machine, which is a modified example of Embodiment 2. This is a cross-sectional view showing the first layer of annular steel plate in the rotor of a rotating electric machine, which is a modified example of Embodiment 2. This is a cross-sectional view showing the second layer of annular steel plate in the rotor of a rotating electric machine, which is a modified example of Embodiment 2. This is a top view showing the first divided steel plate of the first layer of annular steel plate in the rotor of a rotating electric machine, which is a modified example of Embodiment 2. This is a top view showing the first to third divided steel plates of the second layer of annular steel plate in the rotor of a rotating electric machine, which is a modified example of Embodiment 2. This is a top view showing the third divided steel plate of the second layer of annular steel plate in the rotor of a rotating electric machine, which is a modified example of Embodiment 2. This is a top view showing the maximum inscribed rectangle of the first divided steel plate of the first annular steel plate of the rotor of a rotating electric machine according to Embodiment 2. This is a top view showing the maximum inscribed rectangle of the first divided steel plate and the second divided steel plate of the second annular steel plate of the rotor of a rotating electric machine according to Embodiment 2.This is a top view showing the positional relationship of the centroids of the largest inscribed rectangles of the first and second divided steel plates of the second layer annular steel plate and the first divided steel plate of the first layer annular steel plate of the rotor of a rotating electric machine according to Embodiment 2. This is a top view showing the first to third divided steel plates of the first layer annular steel plate of the rotor of a rotating electric machine according to Embodiment 2, and the angles made between the representative rays and the rolling direction. This is a top view showing the angles made between the straight lines perpendicular to the representative rays and the rolling direction of the first to third divided steel plates of the first layer annular steel plate of the rotor of a rotating electric machine according to Embodiment 2. This is a top view showing an example of the arrangement of the punched shapes of the divided steel plates on the base material in the manufacturing method of the laminated core of the rotor of a rotating electric machine according to Embodiment 2. This is a top view showing a modified example of the arrangement of the punched shapes of the divided steel plates on the base material in the manufacturing method of the laminated core of the rotor of a rotating electric machine according to Embodiment 2.

[0009] Embodiment 1. Figure 1 shows a rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment. In Figure 1, the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper is the axial direction of the rotation axis A of the rotating electric machine 1, the front side of the paper is the upper side of the rotating electric machine 1, and the figure shows a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the rotation axis A. The rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment has a configuration in which a stator 11 surrounds the outer circumference of a rotor 12 that is rotatably held around the rotation axis A. The rotor 12 comprises a cylindrical shaft 40 centered on the rotation axis A, and a cylindrical laminated iron core 21 that surrounds and is fixed around the shaft 40 in an annular shape. The rotor 12 rotates around the rotation axis A by the force of the magnetic field generated between it and the stator 11 when an electric current is applied to the stator 11. The shaft 40 is connected to an external device (not shown) and rotates around the rotation axis A in conjunction with the rotation of the rotor 12, transmitting the rotational force.

[0010] In this disclosure, the inner circumference and outer circumference are two concentric circles that form an annular shape with a cross-section perpendicular to the axis of rotation A of the annular steel plate 22 of the laminated iron core 21. The circle closer to the axis of rotation A is the inner circumference, and the circle further from the axis of rotation is the outer circumference. The side closer to the axis of rotation A is called the inner circumference side, and the side further from the axis of rotation A is called the outer circumference side.

[0011] In this disclosure, the circumferential direction refers to the circumferential direction of the circle around the rotation axis A of the annular steel plate 22 of the laminated iron core 21. Furthermore, there is a direction one and the opposite direction of the circumferential direction. When viewed from the same viewpoint as in Figure 1, clockwise is the direction one of the circumferential directions (the direction one of the circumferential directions) and is represented by a positive sign "+". Conversely, when viewed from the same viewpoint as in Figure 1, counterclockwise is the opposite direction of the direction one of the circumferential directions (the opposite direction of the direction one of the circumferential directions) and is represented by a negative sign "-".

[0012] In the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 of this embodiment, the laminated iron core 21 has a plurality of through holes 28 that penetrate in the direction of the rotation axis A, with a cross-sectional shape having a width with a line segment or curve as the centerline, in a magnetic pole region that extends circumferentially to both sides of the magnetic pole centerline LA, which is the center of the magnetic pole, and the centerline inclination RB is the average rotation angle from a straight line perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LA of the magnetic pole region to which the through hole 28 belongs toward the centerline of the through hole 28. The centerline inclination RB of each of the two through holes 28 has an inclination angle such that the rotational directions are opposite to each other. The annular steel plate 22 is divided into a plurality of segmented steel plates 27, each having at least two through holes 28, by a cutting line LC that connects the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the annular shape. The angle sequence obtained by arranging the centerline inclination angles of the through holes of the segmented steel plates 27 in the order in which the through holes are arranged in the circumferential direction is different from the angle sequence of centerline inclination RB of adjacent segmented steel plates 27 in the direction of the rotation axis A of the segmented steel plate 27. Here, the shapes of the plurality of segmented steel plates 27 belonging to one annular steel plate 22 may be the same shape but different from the shapes of segmented steel plates belonging to another annular steel plate 22 adjacent to the annular steel plate in the direction of the rotation axis A (details described in this embodiment). Furthermore, one annular steel plate 22 may be composed of a group of segmented steel plates 29, each consisting of multiple segmented steel plates 27 of different shapes, arranged repeatedly in the circumferential direction, and another annular steel plate 22 adjacent to the annular steel plate in the direction of the rotation axis A may be composed of a group of segmented steel plates 29 with the same shape as the above group of segmented steel plates 29 (details described in Embodiment 2). In either case, it is included in the concept of the rotor 12, and this embodiment also describes matters common to both cases.

[0013] In Figure 1, the laminated core 21 is constructed by stacking annular steel plates 22 in the axial direction of the rotation axis A of the rotating electric machine 1. The laminated core 21 also has a plurality of through holes 28 around the rotation axis A. In the case of the laminated core 21 of the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 with embedded permanent magnets as illustrated in Figure 1, permanent magnets 23 are inserted and fixed into the through holes 28. The group of through holes 24 thus formed constitutes magnetic poles and is arranged at equal intervals around the rotation axis A. Figure 1 shows a rotor 12 with eight magnetic poles.

[0014] In this disclosure, the through holes 28 and the group of through holes 24 contribute to the formation of magnetic poles. For example, holes formed for positioning the annular steel plate 22 in the manufacturing process are not included in the through holes 28 and the group of through holes 24 in this disclosure.

[0015] The rotor 12 forms magnetic poles around the rotation axis A. Here, a hypothetical line connecting the circumferential center of each magnetic pole to the rotation axis A is called the magnetic pole centerline LA. The laminated iron core 21 that constitutes the rotor 12 has magnetic pole regions 30 that extend circumferentially on both sides of the rotation axis A, centered on the magnetic pole centerline LA, by an inter-pole circumferential angle RA, which is the distance between the magnetic poles. The magnetic pole region 30 can be considered as the area influenced by one magnetic pole. Furthermore, a hypothetical line that forms the boundary between adjacent magnetic pole regions 30 in the circumferential direction is called the magnetic pole boundary line LB. The magnetic pole region 30 of the laminated iron core 21 has a cross-sectional shape with a width centered on a line segment or curve, and penetrates in the direction of the rotation axis A, with a plurality of through holes 28. The magnetic pole centerline LA and the magnetic pole boundary line LB each exist in any cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis A, for the number of magnetic poles. In Figure 1, of the magnetic pole centerline LA and magnetic pole boundary lines LB, one magnetic pole centerline LA and the two magnetic pole boundary lines LB on either side of it are denoted with a virtual line and this reference numeral, while the virtual lines of the other magnetic pole regions 30 are omitted.

[0016] Here, the centerline inclination RB is defined as the average rotation angle from a straight line LE (virtual reference line) perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LA of the magnetic pole region 30 to which the through-hole 28 belongs, toward the centerline LD of the through-hole 28. More specifically, the virtual reference line LE is a straight line perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LA, located on the outer side (outer side) of the annular steel plate 22 when viewed from the rotation axis A. The centerline inclination RB is the smallest angle from the virtual reference line LE toward the centerline LD of the through-hole 28. Alternatively, it can be said that when the centerline LD of the through-hole 28 intersects the virtual reference line LE, an angle is formed by the line LE and the centerline LD, outside the virtual reference line LE when viewed from the rotation axis A, and the angle of the angle with the smallest angle among these formed angles is defined as the centerline inclination RB. The absolute value of the angle of the centerline inclination RB is less than 90°. Furthermore, the absolute value of the centerline inclination RB may be greater than half of the inter-pole circumferential angle RA.

[0017] In the example in Figure 1, since the center line LD is a line segment on a straight line, the center line slope RB is the absolute value of the angle of the center line LD of the through hole 28 with respect to the virtual reference line LE, plus the angle considering the direction of rotation. The center line LD can be a line segment or a curve. If the center line LD is a curve, the straight line connecting the two ends of the center line LD may be defined as the representative straight line LF of the center line LD. Alternatively, the angle of the representative straight line LF with respect to the virtual reference line LE may be defined as the average angle and called the center line slope RB. Or, the curved center line LD may be divided into infinitesimal line segments, and the average value of the angles that each infinitesimal line segment makes with respect to the straight line LE may be defined as the center line slope RB. In this case, the straight line LF representing the center line LD may be a straight line that passes through the midpoint of the center line LD and has a center line slope RB with respect to the straight line LE.

[0018] As defined above, when the centerline inclination RB is defined, there is at least one pair of through-holes 28 in the magnetic pole region 30, where the rotation directions of their respective centerline inclinations RB are opposite. In one magnetic pole region 30 of the annular steel plate 22, there are multiple through-holes where the absolute value of the centerline inclination RB is acute and greater than half of the inter-pole circumferential angle RA. In other words, among these through-holes where the absolute value of the centerline inclination RB is acute and greater than half of the inter-pole circumferential angle RA, the centerline inclinations of at least two through-holes in one magnetic pole region 30 are opposite to each other. In the figure, the two through-holes 28 provided in one magnetic pole region 30 have a centerline inclination RB, and the rotation directions of their respective centerline inclinations RB are opposite. Note that although it is stated here that the rotation directions are opposite, the centerline inclination RB may also be expressed in terms of the rotation direction and the absolute value of the angle. The value of the centerline slope RB can be considered as a real number including positive and negative values, or as the absolute value of the angle (a positive real number) relative to the direction of rotation. If the value of the centerline slope RB is considered as a real number including positive and negative values, one circumferential direction is positive, and the opposite direction of one circumferential direction is negative. In addition, in this disclosure, in order to clarify the direction of rotation, the direction of rotation may be indicated with "+" or "-", followed by the absolute value of the angle. Naturally, the centerline slope RB will have different angles if the direction of rotation is different.

[0019] In Figure 1, the rotating electric machine 1 is an example of a rotor 12 with embedded permanent magnets and eight magnetic poles. However, the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 may have a number of magnetic poles other than eight, or it may be a rotor 12 of a relacrance motor that has through holes 28 but no permanent magnets.

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the lamination of annular steel plates 22 in the laminated core 21 of the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment. The annular steel plate 22 has a structure in which it is divided into segmented steel plates 27 by a cutting line LC that connects the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the annular shape. In the laminated core 21 of the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment, adjacent annular steel plates 22 in the axial direction of the rotation axis A have the same shape overall, but the arrangement of the cutting lines LC is different from each other. That is, annular steel plates 22 divided into two different shapes of segmented steel plates 27 are alternately laminated to constitute the laminated core 21. In this example, the shapes of multiple segmented steel plates 27 belonging to one annular steel plate 22 are the same, and are different from the shapes of segmented steel plates belonging to another annular steel plate 22 adjacent to that annular steel plate in the direction of the rotation axis A. Furthermore, the range in which the segmented steel plates 27 exist in the circumferential direction is smaller than twice the inter-pole circumferential angle RA, and may be 1.5 times or less, or even 1 time. This example shows that the number of divisions of the annular steel plate 22 into divided steel plates 27 corresponds to the number of magnetic poles.

[0021] Herein, in this disclosure, an angle sequence is introduced, which is an ordered collection of angles obtained by arranging the angles of the centerline inclination RB of each through-hole 28 in the order in which the multiple through-holes 28 provided in a single divided steel plate 27 are arranged in one circumferential direction. The rotation direction of each angle is the rotation direction when the line LE is rotated so that it overlaps with the line LF, with the intersection of the line LE and the line LF as the axis of rotation. In this angle sequence, as described above, the rotation direction may be represented by the sign "+" for one circumferential direction and "-" for the rotation direction opposite to one circumferential direction. This notation is the same as the centerline inclination RB described above.

[0022] For example, if a divided steel plate 27 has two through holes 28y and 28z, and these two through holes 28 (28y, 28z) are aligned in one circumferential direction, and the absolute value of the angle of the centerline inclination RB of the through hole 28y is RByy and the rotation direction is one circumferential direction, and the absolute value of the angle of the centerline inclination RB of the through hole 28z is RBz and the rotation direction is the opposite direction to one circumferential direction, then the angle sequence of the two through holes 28y and 28z of the divided steel plate 27 shall be expressed as (+RBy, -RBz) using the sign of the rotation direction and the absolute value of the angle of the centerline inclination RB. In the above example, if the absolute value of the angle of the centerline inclination RBz of the through hole 28z of the divided steel plate 27 is less than or equal to half of the inter-pole circumferential angle RA, the centerline inclination RBz is considered to be 0, and the angle sequence of the centerline inclination RB of the divided steel plate 27 may be expressed as (+RBy, 0).

[0023] In this disclosure, the angle sequence obtained by arranging the angles of the centerline inclination RB of the through holes 28 of the divided steel plate 27 in the order in which the through holes are arranged in one circumferential direction is different from the angle sequence of the centerline inclination RB of adjacent divided steel plates 27 in the direction of the rotation axis A of the divided steel plate 27.

[0024] In this disclosure, the cutting line LC is defined as a line connecting the outer circumference to the inner circumference of an annular shape that divides the annular steel plate 22 into divided steel plates 27. More precisely, it can be considered as the contour of the cut surface obtained by cutting the line with a plane swept in the direction of the rotation axis A. Therefore, the cutting line LC is not only found on a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A, but also includes lines found on the outer and inner surfaces of the laminated core 21.

[0025] In addition, similar to the inner and outer circumferences of the annular steel plate 22 described above, the parts of the outline of a single divided steel plate 27 that constitute the outer circumference and inner circumference of the annular steel plate 22, including the divided steel plate 27, are referred to as the outer circumference and inner circumference of the divided steel plate 27, respectively.

[0026] In the example shown in Figure 2, when considering the divided steel plates 27 stacked in the direction of the rotation axis A, the shapes of adjacent divided steel plates 27 in the direction of the rotation axis A of adjacent annular steel plates 22 are different. To explain this, one is called the first layer annular steel plate 22A, and the other is called the second layer annular steel plate 22B. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the laminated core 21 of the rotor 12, in which the first layer annular steel plates 22A and the second layer annular steel plates 22B are stacked alternately. Figure 2 shows the state in which the uppermost layer, the second layer annular steel plate 22B, and the first layer annular steel plate 22A, which is adjacent to the second layer annular steel plate 22B on the lower side in the axial direction of the rotation axis A, are separated upward one layer at a time. As in this example, the divided steel plates 27 that make up one layer annular steel plate 22 may be multiple plates of the same shape arranged in the circumferential direction, but in this case, the shapes of the divided steel plates 27 that make up adjacent laminated steel plates (22A, 22B) are different. In the example shown in Figure 2, the divided steel plates 27 of the first layer annular steel plate 22A and the divided steel plates of the second layer annular steel plate 22B have the same shape. That is, the shape of the divided steel plates 27 belonging to one annular steel plate 22 is the same, and the shape of the divided steel plates 27 belonging to an adjacent annular steel plate 22 is different, but this disclosure is not limited to this.

[0027] Figure 2 shows an example of a 10-layer annular steel plate 22 (22A, 22B), including the layer shown detached. However, the number of layers of the annular steel plate 22 in the laminated core 21 of this disclosure can be any integer of 2 or more. Furthermore, the ratio of the outer circumference, inner circumference, and thickness of the annular steel plate 22 (22A, 22B) is not limited to the ratio of dimensions exemplified in Figure 2.

[0028] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of the first layer of annular steel plate 22A in this embodiment. In the figure, the first layer of annular steel plate 22A forms magnetic poles around the rotation axis A, with the magnetic pole centerline LA at the center. Here, the magnetic pole centerline LA of one magnetic pole region 30 of the laminated iron core 21 is shown, and the other magnetic pole centerlines LA are omitted.

[0029] In the figure, the first layer of annular steel plate 22A is divided into eight segmented steel plates 27 (27a to 27h), each having two through holes 28, by a cutting line LC that connects the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the annular shape. In this example, the cutting line LC (LCa to LCh) of the first layer of annular steel plate 22A coincides with the magnetic pole boundary line LB. Alternatively, the cutting line LC (LCa to LCh) may be configured to pass between the nearest through holes 28 of circumferentially adjacent segmented steel plates 27 (for example, 27a and 27b) without cutting through the through holes 28. Furthermore, in this example, the magnetic pole center line LA passes between two through holes 28 of the segmented steel plates 27 (27a to 27h). Also, the two through holes 28 of the segmented steel plates 27 (27a to 27h) are located on both sides of the magnetic pole center line LA in the circumferential direction, and the circumferential distance between the two through holes 28 widens from the inner circumference to the outer circumference.

[0030] In this embodiment, the number of through holes 28 in one divided steel plate 27 and the number of divided steel plates 27 into which the annular steel plate 22A is divided are not limited to the numbers described above. Also, the number of divided steel plates 27 in the first layer annular steel plate 22A illustrated in Figure 2 is 8, which matches the number of magnetic poles, but these do not have to match. Furthermore, the cutting lines LC at both ends of all the divided steel plates 27 in the first layer annular steel plate 22A illustrated in Figure 3 are radial lines centered on the rotation axis A, and the angles of their spread in the circumferential direction are equal, but the cutting lines LC do not have to be radial lines, and the angles of their spread in the circumferential direction do not have to be equal.

[0031] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of the second layer annular steel plate 22B. The annular steel plate 22 has the same shape as in Figure 3, but the configuration of the divided steel plates 27 is different. In the figure, the second layer annular steel plate 22B is divided into eight divided steel plates 27 (27i to 27p), each having two through holes 28, by a cutting line LC that connects the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the annular shape. The cutting line LC (LCi to LCp) of the second layer annular steel plate 22B coincides with the magnetic pole center line LA. In this example, the magnetic pole boundary line LB passes between the two through holes 28 of the divided steel plates 27 (27i to 27p). The two through holes 28 within the divided steel plates 27 (27i to 27p) are located on both sides of the magnetic pole boundary line LB in the circumferential direction, and the circumferential distance between the two through holes 28 narrows from the inner circumference to the outer circumference. Therefore, the relative positional relationship of the two through holes 28 in each divided steel plate 27 differs between the divided steel plates 27 (27a to 27h) of the first annular steel plate 22A and the divided steel plates 27 (27i to 27p) of the second annular steel plate 22B. As a result of the stacking of the divided steel plates 27, the through holes 28 of the divided steel plates 27 are aligned in the axial direction of the rotation axis A, forming holes that penetrate the stacked iron core 21 in the axial direction of the rotation axis A.

[0032] In this embodiment, the number of divided steel plates 27 into which the annular steel plate 22B is divided is not limited to the number described above. Also, the number of divided steel plates 27 in the second layer annular steel plate 22B illustrated in Figure 4 is 8, which matches the number of magnetic poles, but these do not have to match.

[0033] In this embodiment, one segmented steel plate 27 of the first annular steel plate 22A is adjacent to two segmented steel plates 27 of the second annular steel plate 22B in the axial direction of the rotation axis A. In this example, the first segmented steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A is adjacent to the first segmented steel plate 27i and the second segmented steel plate 27j of the second annular steel plate 22B in the axial direction of the rotation axis A.

[0034] Figure 5 shows an example of a top view of the first divided steel plate 27a obtained by dividing the first annular steel plate 22A in this embodiment (a top view when the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper is the axial direction of the rotation axis A of the rotating electric machine 1, and the front side of the plane of the paper is the upper side of the rotating electric machine 1; the same applies hereinafter). In this example of the embodiment, the first divided steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A has two through holes 28 (28a1 and 28a2). The two through holes 28 of the divided steel plate 27 (27a to 27h) are located on both sides in the circumferential direction of the magnetic pole center line LA, which is in the circumferential center, and the circumferential distance between the two through holes 28a1 and 28a2 widens from the inner side to the outer side. The through hole 28a1 has a constant width with respect to the center line LDa1 except at both ends, and has a rectangular cross-sectional shape overall. Here, the cross-sectional shape is the shape of the outline of the through hole 28 provided on a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A of the divided steel plate 27. The center line LDa1 intersects the through hole 28a1 at two points. The straight line connecting these two intersecting points is defined as the straight line LFa1 representing the center line. The through hole 28a2 has a constant width relative to the center line LDa2, except for both ends, and has a rectangular cross-sectional shape overall. The center line LDa2 intersects the through hole 28a2 at two points. The straight line connecting these two points is defined as the straight line LFa2 representing the center line.

[0035] In this example, the centerlines LDa1 of the through-hole 28a1 and LDa2 of the through-hole 28a2 in the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer of annular steel plate 22A are line segments, and the line LFa1 representing the centerlines coincides with the centerline LDa1, and the line LFa2 representing the centerlines coincides with the centerline LDa2. Furthermore, in the figure, only the outer parts of the line LFa1 and line LFa2 representing the centerlines that are outside of the through-hole 28a1 or through-hole 28a2 are shown as solid lines, and the centerlines LDa1 and LD2 are shown as dashed lines.

[0036] The straight line LFa1 representing the centerline of the through hole 28a1 has a centerline inclination RBa1 in the positive direction (clockwise) with respect to the straight line LEa perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAa. Similarly, the straight line LFa2 representing the centerline of the through hole 28a2 has a centerline inclination RBa2 in the negative direction (counterclockwise) with respect to the straight line LEa perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAa.

[0037] Here, the angle sequence introduced in this disclosure is used to represent the centerline inclination RB of the divided steel plate 27a described above. The two through holes 28a1 and 28a2 in the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer of annular steel plate 22A are arranged in the order of through hole 28a1 and through hole 28a2 when viewed in one circumferential direction (clockwise in the circumferential direction), and the angle sequence including the order of the angles of the centerline inclination RB of the two through holes 28a1 and 28a2 is represented as (+RBa1, -RBa2). Note that if the positive or negative value of the centerline inclination RB represents information about the direction of the inclination (clockwise, counterclockwise), the angle sequence becomes (RBi1, RBi2).

[0038] Next, specific examples will be given for the through holes 28 in the first divided steel plate 27i and the second divided steel plate 27j of the second layer annular steel plate 22B, which are adjacent to the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A in the direction of the rotation axis A, similar to the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A. After that, an angle sequence including the order of angles of the centerline inclination RB in each of these two divided steel plates 27 will be described.

[0039] Figure 6 shows an example of a top view of a first divided steel plate 27i obtained by dividing the second layer of annular steel plate 22B. The first divided steel plate 27i has two through holes 28 (28i1 and 28i2). The through hole 28i1 has a constant width relative to the center line LDi1 except at both ends, and has a rectangular cross-sectional shape overall. The center line LDi1 intersects the through hole 28i1 at two points. The straight line connecting these two intersecting points is defined as the straight line LFi1 representing the center line. The through hole 28i2 has a constant width relative to the center line LDi2 except at both ends, and has a rectangular cross-sectional shape overall. The center line LDi2 intersects the through hole 28i2 at two points. The straight line connecting these two points is defined as the straight line LFi2 representing the center line.

[0040] Note that the centerlines LDi1 of the through-hole 28i1 and LDi2 of the through-hole 28i2 are line segments, and the line LFi1 representing the centerlines coincides with the centerline LDi1, and the line LFi2 representing the centerlines coincides with the centerline LDi2. Furthermore, in the figure, only the parts of the line LFi1 and LFi2 representing the centerlines that are outside the through-holes 28i1 and 28i2 are shown as solid lines, and the centerlines LDi1 and LDi2 are shown as dashed lines.

[0041] The straight line LFi1 representing the center line of the through hole 28i1 has a center line inclination RBi1 in the negative direction (counterclockwise, left-handed) with respect to the straight line LEi perpendicular to the magnetic pole center line LAi. Similarly, the straight line LFi2 representing the center line of the through hole 28i2 has a center line inclination RBi2 in the positive direction (clockwise, right-handed) with respect to the straight line LEj perpendicular to the magnetic pole center line LAj.

[0042] Here, in the present disclosure, an angle sequence is introduced to represent the center line inclination RB of the above-described split steel plate 27j. The two through holes 28i1 and 28i2 provided in the first split steel plate 27i of the second-layer annular steel plate 22B are arranged in the order of the through hole 28i1 and the through hole 28i2 when viewed in one circumferential direction (clockwise in the circumferential direction), and the angle sequence including the order of the angles of their center line inclinations is represented as (−RBi1, +RBi2).

[0043] Next, the second split steel plate 27j of the second-layer annular steel plate 22B will be described. FIG. 7 shows an example of a top view of the split steel plate 27j extracted from the second-layer annular steel plate 22B.

[0044] In FIG. 7, the second split steel plate 27j of the second-layer annular steel plate 22B has the same shape as the above-described first split steel plate 27i, and in the figure, the arrangement angle, auxiliary line, and reference numerals are different. Similar to the first split steel plate 27i, the second split steel plate 27j includes two through holes 28 (28j1 and 28j2). The through hole 28j1 has a cross-sectional shape with a width centered on the center line LDj1 and is represented by a straight line LFj1 representing the center line in the figure. Further, the through hole 28j2 has a cross-sectional shape with a width centered on the center line LDj2 and is represented by a straight line LFj2 representing the center line in the figure.

[0045] The straight line LFj1 representing the centerline of the through hole 28j1 has a centerline inclination RBj1 in the negative direction with respect to the straight line LEj perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAj. Similarly, the straight line LFj2 representing the centerline of the through hole 28j2 has a centerline inclination RBj2 in the positive direction with respect to the straight line LEj perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAj. Using the angle sequence introduced in this disclosure, the centerline inclination RB of the divided steel plate 27j described above can be expressed as follows: The two through holes 28j1 and 28j2 in the second divided steel plate 27j of the second annular steel plate 22B are arranged in the order of through hole 28j1, through hole 28j2 when viewed in one circumferential direction, and the angle sequence including the order of the angles of their centerline inclinations can be expressed as (-RBj1, +RBj2).

[0046] As described above, in this embodiment, the first divided steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A is adjacent to the first divided steel plate 27i and the second divided steel plate 27j of the second annular steel plate 22B in the axial direction of the rotation axis A. Furthermore, with respect to the angle sequence including the order of the angles of the centerline inclination, the first divided steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A is (+RBa1, -RBa2). The first divided steel plate 27i of the second annular steel plate 22B, which is adjacent to the first divided steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate in the axial direction of the rotation axis A, is (-RBi1, +RBi2), and the second divided steel plate 27j of the second annular steel plate 22B is (-RBj1, +RBj2). Therefore, the angle arrangement of the first segmented steel plate 27i of the second layer annular steel plate 22B and the second segmented steel plate 27j of the second layer annular steel plate 22B is different from that of the first segmented steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A.

[0047] Therefore, the signs of the rotation direction of the angle sequence of the divided steel plate 27a on the first layer side are + and -, whereas the signs of the rotation direction of the angle sequence of the divided steel plates 27i and 27j on the second layer side are - and +, so they are different and their rotation directions are opposite.

[0048] As described above, the rotor 12 of the rotating electrical machine 1 in the present embodiment has a plurality of divided steel plates 27 in which the annular steel plate 22 has at least two through holes 28 formed by a cutting line LC that extends from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side of the annular shape. The angle sequence of the center line inclination RB of the through holes 28 of the divided steel plates 27 arranged in the order in which the through holes are arranged in one circumferential direction is different from the angle sequence of the center line inclination RB of the adjacent divided steel plates in the axial direction of the rotation axis A of the divided steel plate. Even when a laminated core is formed using the divided steel plates, the rigidity of the laminated core can be increased as a whole. In addition, the material yield of the steel plate is increased compared to taking out an annular shape from the steel plate during manufacturing.

[0049] Also, in a permanent magnet embedded type rotating electrical machine, a reluctance motor, etc., the laminated core 21 includes through holes 28 that form a through hole group 24 for forming magnetic poles, and the through holes 28 penetrate in the axial direction of the rotation axis A. In this case, if similar through holes 28 are provided at the same positions of the divided steel plates 27 obtained by dividing the annular steel plate 22 as in the conventional case, structurally weak portions will appear at the same portions in each of the divided steel plates 27. Even if these are arranged in the circumferential direction and further laminated in the axial direction of the rotation axis A, the structurally weak portions will be at the same positions, particularly at the same distances from the rotation axis A, resulting in having weak portions as a whole.

[0050] In the present embodiment, as described above, the angle sequence including the order of the angles of the center line inclination RB of the through holes 28 arranged in one circumferential direction of the divided steel plates 27 adjacent in the axial direction of the rotation axis A is configured to be different from the angle sequence of the center line inclination RB of the through holes 28 of the divided steel plates 27 adjacent in the axial direction of the rotation axis A of the divided steel plate 27. Therefore, in the divided steel plate 27 having a weak portion such as between the cutting line LC and the through hole 28, a different arrangement of the through holes 28 is arranged at the corresponding portion of the divided steel plate 27 adjacent in the axial direction of the rotation axis A, resulting in higher rigidity as a whole.

[0051] Also, the rotor 12 of the rotating electrical machine 1 in the present embodiment may have a feature regarding the arrangement of the following maximum inscribed rectangle. At this time, in addition to the feature regarding the arrangement of the above-described through holes 28, the rotor 12 may have a feature regarding the arrangement of the maximum inscribed rectangle.

[0052] Figure 8 shows an example of a top view of the first divided steel plate 27a extracted from the first layer of annular steel plate 22A. In this embodiment, the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer of annular steel plate 22A has through holes 28a1 and 28a2.

[0053] Here, in the divided steel plate 27, a maximum inscribed rectangle 31 is introduced, which is the largest area among the rectangles inscribed within the contour line of the divided steel plate 27, the cutting line LC, and the contour line of the through hole 28. The maximum inscribed rectangle 31 is a part of the divided steel plate 27 that is not divided by the through hole 28 and the cutting line LC and is a single unit, and is highly rigid. When the rotating electric machine 1 is operated and the rotor 12 rotates, the centrifugal force generated creates a moment of force around this maximum inscribed rectangle, which causes the divided steel plates 27 to separate from each other.

[0054] In the figure, the largest inscribed rectangle 31 of the first divided steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A has its vertices tangent to the cutting lines LC located at both ends around the axis of rotation A, its sides inscribed to the inner circumferential contour line LG of the annular shape of the first annular steel plate 22A and the through holes 28a1 and 28a2, and has a centroid point 32a.

[0055] Next, we will describe the positional relationship of the centroid 32 of the largest inscribed rectangle 31 of the through holes 28 of the first divided steel plate 27i and the second divided steel plate 27j of the second annular steel plate 22B, which are adjacent to the first divided steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A in the direction of the rotation axis A.

[0056] Figure 9 shows a top view of the first divided steel plate 27i and the second divided steel plate 27j extracted from the second layer of annular steel plate 22B. As described above, the first divided steel plate 27i and the second divided steel plate 27j are adjacent to the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer of annular steel plate 22A in the axial direction of the rotation axis A.

[0057] First, the first segmented steel plate 27i of the second layer annular steel plate 22B has through holes 28i1 and 28i2. In the figure, the largest inscribed rectangle 31i of the first segmented steel plate 27i has its vertices tangent to the cutting lines LC located at both ends around the axis of rotation A and to the through holes 28i1 and 28i2, its sides tangent to the inner circumferential contour line LG of the annular shape of the second layer annular steel plate 22B, and has a centroid point 32i.

[0058] Next, similar to the first segmented steel plate 27i, the second segmented steel plate 27j of the second annular steel plate 22B has through holes 28j1 and 28j2. The largest inscribed rectangle 31j of the second segmented steel plate 27j has its vertices tangent to the cutting lines LC located at both ends around the axis of rotation A and to the through holes 28j1 and 28j2, its sides tangent to the inner circumferential contour line LG of the annular shape of the second annular steel plate 22B, and has a centroid point 32j.

[0059] Figure 10 shows an example of displaying the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A and the first divided steel plate 27i and the second divided steel plate 27j of the second layer annular steel plate 22B superimposed on a single top view. In Figure 10, the outline and maximum inscribed rectangle 31a of the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A are shown with dashed lines. The outline and maximum inscribed rectangle 31i of the first divided steel plate 27i of the second layer annular steel plate 22B, and the outline and maximum inscribed rectangle 31j of the second divided steel plate 27j of the second layer annular steel plate 22B are shown with solid lines.

[0060] In the figure, the largest inscribed rectangle 31a of the first layer's divided steel plate 27a is compared with the largest inscribed rectangles 31i and 31j of the second layer's divided steel plates 27i and 27j, which are adjacent to the second layer's divided steel plate 27a in the direction of the rotation axis A. The points obtained by projecting the centroid points 32a of each onto a (virtual) reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A, in the axial direction of the rotation axis A, are positioned at different locations in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the projected points are different. Furthermore, the dimensions of each side of the largest inscribed rectangle 31 on the first layer side and the second layer side are different because the vertices and sides of the tangent rectangles and the tangent shapes on the divided steel plate 27 side are different. Therefore, the shapes of the largest inscribed rectangle 31a and the largest inscribed rectangles 31i and 31j are different. Furthermore, in comparing the maximum inscribed rectangle 31a with the maximum inscribed rectangles 31i and 31j regarding the circumferential position of the centroid point 32, it is conceivable to consider the position within the shape of each second layer's divided steel plate 27a, divided steel plate 27i, and 27j, and for example, compare the relative positions of each divided steel plate 27 with respect to its circumferential centerline.

[0061] In other words, the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment is equipped with a laminated iron core 21, which is constructed by laminating annular steel plates 22 such that adjacent divided steel plates 27 in the axial direction of the rotation axis A have different centers of gravity 32 of the maximum inscribed rectangle 31, which is the maximum area of ​​the rectangle inscribed in the contour lines, cutting lines LC, and contour lines of the through holes 28 of both divided steel plates 27, when projected in the axial direction of the rotation axis A onto a reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A.

[0062] By configuring the divided steel plates 27 as described above, the moment of the surrounding force acting on the maximum inscribed rectangle 31 differs between adjacent divided steel plates 27 in the axial direction of the rotation axis A. As a result, they reinforce each other, and the overall rigidity of the laminated iron core 21 is increased.

[0063] Although the diagram is omitted, for adjacent segmented steel plates in the axial direction of the rotation axis A, the centroid point 32 of the largest inscribed rectangle projected onto a reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A in the axial direction of the rotation axis A is the same. Even when the shapes of the largest inscribed rectangles are different, the moment of force acting on each of the largest inscribed rectangles around the rotation axis A is different. Therefore, they similarly reinforce each other, resulting in an overall increase in the rigidity of the laminated core 21.

[0064] Furthermore, the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment may have the following features relating to the rotational symmetry of the shape of the divided steel plates 27. In this case, the rotor 12 may have features relating to the rotational symmetry of the shape of the divided steel plates 27, in addition to the features relating to the arrangement of the through holes 28 described above, or the features relating to the arrangement of the largest inscribed rectangle described above.

[0065] The characteristic of the rotational symmetry of the shape of the divided steel plate 27 is that the shape obtained by rotating the divided steel plate 27 in the circumferential direction by an integer multiple of the angle obtained by dividing 360° by the number of divisions (n) from a single annular steel plate 22 into divided steel plates 27 matches the shape of another divided steel plate 27 belonging to the same annular steel plate 22. Alternatively, this characteristic can be said to mean that the annular steel plate 22 is divided into n divided steel plates 27, and the shape obtained by rotating one of the divided steel plates 27 in the circumferential direction by an integer multiple of the angle obtained by dividing 360° by n matches the shape of another of the divided steel plates. Here, n is an integer of 2 or more. As a premise for the above characteristic, it may be assumed that the shapes of the divided steel plates 27 belonging to a single (layer) annular steel plate 22 are the same. The above n may be the number of divided steel plates 27 that make up a single annular steel plate 22.

[0066] The above features will be explained below using Figure 3 as an example. The first layer of annular steel plate 22A is divided into eight segmented steel plates 27 (27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, 27e, 27f, 27g, 27h). These eight segmented steel plates 27 have the same shape and are arranged in the circumferential direction. If the shape of segmented steel plate 27a of the first layer of annular steel plate 22A is rotated by 45° in one circumferential direction (360° divided by the cutting line LC and the number of segmented steel plates 27, which is 8), it will match the shape of the adjacent segmented steel plate 27b in one circumferential direction. Furthermore, if the shape of segmented steel plate 27a is rotated by twice, three times, ... seven times (integer multiples) of 45°, it will match the shapes of the other segmented steel plates 27 (27c, 27d, 27e, 27f, 27g, 27h) belonging to the first layer of annular steel plate 22A. Furthermore, rotating the shape of each divided steel plate 27 (27a to 27h) by 45° (or an integer multiple thereof) in one circumferential direction results in a shape that matches that of another divided steel plate 27 (27a to 27h).

[0067] Similarly, in the example shown in Figure 4, the second layer of annular steel plate 22B consists of eight divided steel plates 27 (27i, 27j, 27k, 27l, 27m, 27n, 27o, 27p), all of the same shape and arranged circumferentially. The shape obtained by rotating each divided steel plate 27 of the second layer of annular steel plate 22B by an integer multiple of 45° in one circumferential direction matches the shape of another divided steel plate 27.

[0068] By configuring the divided steel plates 27 to have the above-mentioned rotational symmetry characteristics, the centrifugal force acting radially from the rotation axis A due to the rotation of the rotor 12 is applied equally to each divided steel plate 27, thereby improving the overall rigidity.

[0069] In this embodiment, the number of rotational symmetries with respect to the axis of rotation A is 8, and the number of magnetic poles of the rotor are equal, but these numbers may be different.

[0070] Furthermore, the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment may have the following features relating to the positions of the cutting lines LC of adjacent annular steel plates 22 in the direction of the rotation axis A. In this case, the rotor 12 may have features relating to the positions of the cutting lines LC of adjacent annular steel plates 22, in addition to the features relating to the arrangement of the through holes 28 described above, or the features relating to the arrangement of the largest inscribed rectangle described above.

[0071] A characteristic of the position of the cutting lines LC of adjacent annular steel plates 22 is that the line projected in the direction of the rotation axis A onto a reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A coincides with the line projected in the direction of the rotation axis onto the reference plane, which is obtained by rotating the cutting line LC of another annular steel plate 22 adjacent to the annular steel plate 22 in the direction of the rotation axis A by half an odd multiple of the inter-pole circumferential angle RA in one circumferential direction. Here, the inter-pole circumferential angle RA is the distance between the magnetic poles, and is the angle obtained by dividing 360° by the number of magnetic poles.

[0072] The characteristics regarding the position of the cutting lines LC of the adjacent annular steel plates 22 described above will be explained using Figure 10, which was shown in the description of the largest inscribed rectangle 31. Figure 10 shows superimposed top views of the first divided steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A and the first divided steel plate 27i and the second divided steel plate 27j of the second annular steel plate 22B. In the figure, the first divided steel plate 27a has a cutting line LCa at one circumferential end and a cutting line LCh at the opposite circumferential end (shown as a dashed line). The first divided steel plate 27i of the second annular steel plate 22B has a cutting line LCi at one circumferential end and a cutting line LCp at the opposite circumferential end, and the second divided steel plate 27j of the second annular steel plate 22B has a cutting line LCj at one circumferential end and a cutting line LCi at the opposite circumferential end.

[0073] For example, the line obtained by projecting the cutting line LCa of the first segmented steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A onto the reference plane coincides with the line obtained by projecting the cutting line LCi of the first segmented steel plate 27i of the second annular steel plate 22B adjacent to the first annular steel plate 22A onto the reference plane, which is rotated circumferentially around the rotation axis A by half the inter-pole circumferential angle RA (45°), i.e., 360° / 8 / 2 = 22.5°. Similarly, the lines obtained by rotating the line obtained by projecting the cutting line LCa of the first segmented steel plate 27a onto the reference plane by angles that are half of odd multiples of the inter-pole circumferential angle RA, namely 3 / 2, 5 / 2, 7 / 2, 9 / 2, 11 / 2, 13 / 2, and 15 / 2 times, respectively, around the rotation axis A, coincides with the line obtained by projecting any of the cutting lines LC (LCi to LCp) of the second annular steel plate 22B onto the reference plane.

[0074] By configuring the annular steel plate 22 as described above, the cutting lines LC of adjacent segmented steel plates 27 in the axial direction of the rotation axis A are spaced at least half of an odd multiple of the inter-pole circumferential angle RA and do not intersect. Therefore, it forms a so-called brickwork, and the cutting lines LC of the segmented steel plates 27 are reinforced by other segmented steel plates 27 adjacent in the axial direction of the rotation axis A, thereby improving the rigidity of the laminated core 21.

[0075] Furthermore, as a feature similar to the feature relating to the positions of the cutting lines LC of adjacent annular steel plates 22 described above, the rotor 12 may also have a feature relating to the positional relationship between the cutting line LC of adjacent annular steel plates 22 and the magnetic pole boundary line LB or magnetic pole center line LA. The above feature can also be considered as a type of feature relating to the positions of the cutting lines LC of adjacent annular steel plates 22 described above. The rotor 12 may have this feature relating to the positional relationship between the cutting line LC of adjacent annular steel plates 22 and the magnetic pole boundary line LB or magnetic pole center line LA in addition to the feature relating to the arrangement of the through holes 28 described above, or the feature relating to the arrangement of the largest inscribed rectangle described above. The feature relating to the positional relationship between the cutting line LC of adjacent annular steel plates 22 and the magnetic pole boundary line LB or magnetic pole center line LA is that an annular steel plate 22 having a portion where the cutting line LC intersects or overlaps with the magnetic pole boundary line LB and an annular steel plate having a portion where the cutting line LC intersects or overlaps with the magnetic pole center line LA are adjacent in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0076] Figure 11 shows superimposed top views of the first segmented steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A and the first segmented steel plate 27i and the second segmented steel plate 27j of the second annular steel plate 22B. In addition to the overlap of the segmented steel plates 27a, 27i, and 27j, Figure 11 shows the positional relationship between the cutting lines LC (LCa, LCh, LCi, LCj, LCp) provided at both circumferential ends of each of these segmented steel plates 27, the magnetic pole center line LA, and the magnetic pole boundary line LB. In the figure, the cutting lines LCa and LCh of the first segmented steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A completely overlap with the magnetic pole boundary line LB. Note that the cutting lines LC and the magnetic pole boundary line LB may intersect or partially overlap. Furthermore, the cutting line LCi of the first segmented steel plate 27i of the second annular steel plate 22B adjacent to the first annular steel plate 22A coincides with the magnetic pole center line LA. As described above, the cutting line LC and the magnetic pole center line LA may intersect or partially overlap.

[0077] By configuring the annular steel plate 22 as described above, the phases of the magnetic pole boundary line LB and the magnetic pole center line LA are synchronized with the phase of the cutting line LC of the annular steel plate 22. As a result, the magnetic force acting between the magnetic poles of the rotor 12 and the magnetic poles of the stator and the respective cutting lines LC are symmetrical, improving the rigidity of the laminated core 21.

[0078] Furthermore, the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment may have the following features relating to the relationship between the shape of the divided steel plate 27 and the rolling direction DA (described later). In this case, the rotor 12 may have this feature in addition to the features relating to the arrangement of the through holes 28 and the arrangement of the largest inscribed rectangle described above.

[0079] Here, the rolling direction DA of each divided steel plate 27 will be explained. The annular steel plate 22 of the laminated iron core 21 of the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 is conventionally made from a rolled plate-shaped base material 60. When the base material 60, which is the material of the annular steel plate 22, is a rolled steel plate, the direction in which this base material was rolled is the rolling direction DA. A method for determining the rolling direction DA of the base material of the steel plate constituting the rotor 12 is, for example, a method of determining the rolling direction DA by the pattern formed on the surface of the steel plate, as shown in paragraph 0087 of Japanese Patent Publication No. 7303476.

[0080] Figure 12 is Figure 10 with the rolling direction DA added, and this figure will be used to explain the characteristics of the relationship between the shape of the divided steel sheet 27 and the rolling direction DA (described later). In the figure, the first divided steel sheet 27a of the first annular steel sheet 22A and the first divided steel sheet 27i and the second divided steel sheet 27j of the second annular steel sheet 22B are shown superimposed on a single top view. The rolling directions DAa, DAi, and DAj are shown radially from the axis of rotation A, respectively, for these divided steel sheets 27a, 27i, and 27j.

[0081] Each of the segmented steel plates 27a, 27i, and 27j has its own maximum inscribed rectangle 31a, 31i, and 31j. Furthermore, each of the maximum inscribed rectangles 31a, 31i, and 31j has its own individual centroid points 32a, 32i, and 32j. If we define a hypothetical straight line passing through the centroid point 32 and perpendicular to the rotation axis A of the rotor 12 as the representative radiation LI of the segmented steel plate 27, then each of the segmented steel plates 27a, 27i, and 27j has its own representative radiation LIa, LIi, and LIj, respectively.

[0082] Here, on a reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A of the divided steel plate 27, the maximum angle between straight lines that intersect the rotation axis A and are tangent to or intersect the cutting lines LC at both ends of the divided steel plate 27 in the circumferential direction is defined as the maximum occupancy angle RC. Then, it is preferable that the angle between the rolling direction DA and the representative radiation LI be smaller than the maximum occupancy angle RC. For example, in Figure 12, the angle between the cutting lines LC at both ends of the first divided steel plate 27a in the circumferential direction is 360° / 8 = 45°, and this is the maximum occupancy angle RCa of the first divided steel plate 27a. Similarly, the maximum occupancy angle RCi of the first divided steel plate 27i and the maximum occupancy angle RCj of the second divided steel plate 27j of the second annular steel plate 22A are 45°. It is preferable that the angle between the rolling direction DA and the representative radiation LI of each divided steel plate 27 be smaller than the maximum occupancy angle RC of 45°.

[0083] By configuring the divided steel plates 27 as described above, the rolling direction DA of each divided steel plate 27 is aligned with respect to the centrifugal force acting radially from the rotation axis A due to the rotation of the rotor 12. As a result, the centrifugal force is applied more uniformly to the rolled material, which has anisotropic material properties, thus improving the rigidity of the laminated iron core 21.

[0084] In this embodiment, the rolling direction DA can also be set perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the centerline of the corner formed by the cutting lines LC at both circumferential ends in the sector shape formed by the rotation axis A of the divided steel sheet 27, as illustrated in Figure 13. In this case, it is preferable to make the angle between the direction perpendicular to the rolling direction DA and the representative radiation LI of each divided steel sheet 27 smaller than the maximum occupied angle RC.

[0085] Next, the method for manufacturing the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment will be described.

[0086] The method for manufacturing the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment includes a punching step in which multiple shapes of multiple divided steel plates 27, which are divided by a cutting line LC connecting the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the annular shape of the annular steel plate 22, are punched out from a base material 60 that has been rolled into a plate shape, and a lamination step in which the divided steel plates 27 are arranged in the circumferential direction to form an annular steel plate 22, and the annular steel plates 22 are stacked in the axial direction of the rotation axis A.

[0087] Here, as described above, the laminated core 21 has a plurality of through holes 28 that penetrate in the direction of the rotation axis A, with a cross-sectional shape having a width centered on a line segment or curve, in a magnetic pole region 30 that extends circumferentially on both sides of the magnetic pole centerline LA, with the distance between the magnetic poles being the circumferential angle between the magnetic poles. The centerline inclination RB of at least two through holes 28 in the magnetic pole region 30 has an inclination angle where the rotation directions are opposite to each other. Furthermore, the punching process punches out the divided steel plates 27 so that each divided steel plate 27 has at least two through holes 28. The lamination process stacks a plurality of divided steel plates 27 such that the angle rows of the divided steel plates 27 and the angle rows of other divided steel plates 27 adjacent to the divided steel plate 27 in the direction of the rotation axis A are different. That is, the lamination process arranges the divided steel plates 27 in the circumferential direction to form an annular steel plate 22, while stacking divided steel plates 27 of different shapes adjacent to each other in the direction of the rotation axis A to form the laminated core 21. As mentioned above, the shapes of the divided steel plates 27 that make up one annular steel plate 22 may be the same or different.

[0088] Furthermore, after the punching process, a step may be provided to prepare the punched-out divided steel plates 27 so that they can be smoothly carried out in the lamination process.

[0089] Next, an example of a manufacturing method for the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment will be explained using the flowchart in Figure 14. Here, an example is shown in which a divided steel sheet 27 is created by punching out a base material 60 that has been rolled into a sheet shape using a die mounted on a press forming machine.

[0090] In Figure 14, step S1 is to set the base material 60 in a press molding machine equipped with a die, step S2 is to punch out the divided steel plate 27 from the base material 60 set in step S1 using a die mounted on the press molding machine (punching process), step S3 is to create a stack of the divided steel plate 27 punched out in step S2 by inserting pins through the through holes 28, etc., to make them easy to handle in subsequent processes, and step S4 is to take the stack created in step S3 and... Step S5 involves taking out the required number of divided steel plates 27 needed to form one layer of annular steel plate 22 and separating them into layers. Step S5 involves arranging the divided steel plates 27 taken out of the stack in step S4 in an annular shape. Steps S6 to S9 involve stacking the annular steel plates 22 arranged in step S5, alternating between the first layer annular steel plate 22A and the second layer annular steel plate 22B, until a predetermined number of plates are reached. Step S10 involves fixing the gaps between the layers of the annular steel plates 22 that have been stacked up to step S9. Note that the fixing of the gaps between layers in step 10 may be performed after each layer is stacked.

[0091] The divided steel plates 27 punched out in step S2 are, for example, the divided steel plates 27 (27a to 27h) of the first layer annular steel plate 22A and the divided steel plates 27 (27i to 27p) of the second layer annular steel plate 22B. That is, the magnetic pole region 30 has two through holes 28, and the centerline inclination RB has an inclination angle such that the rotational directions are opposite to each other.

[0092] In step S3, when creating the stack, holes for inserting pins may be provided in the divided steel plate 27 separately from the through holes 28. Also, since the divided steel plate 27 has multiple different shapes, separate stacks may be created for each shape in step S3.

[0093] The divided steel plate 27 is formed between the first annular steel plate 22A and the second annular steel plate 22B with the cutting line position shifted circumferentially (phase shifted). Steps S6 and S8 take this shift into consideration and appropriately arrange the divided steel plates 27 to form the annular steel plate 22, which is then laminated to form the laminated core 21.

[0094] Step S6 involves laminating another annular steel plate 22 (second layer) adjacent to the annular steel plate 22 (first layer) arranged in a ring shape in step 5, in the direction of the rotation axis. Step S7 determines whether a predetermined number of plates have been laminated. If the predetermined number has already been laminated, the process moves to step S10. If the predetermined number has not been reached, the process moves to step S8. Step S8 involves laminating another annular steel plate 22 (first layer) adjacent to the annular steel plate 22 (second layer) laminated in step S6, in the direction of the rotation axis. Step S9 determines whether a predetermined number of plates have been laminated in step S8. If the predetermined number has already been laminated, the process moves to step S10. If the predetermined number has not been reached, the process moves to step S6. Steps S6 to S9 are repeated until a predetermined number of plates have been laminated.

[0095] In step S10, methods for fixing the interlayers of the annular steel plate 22 include riveting, welding, and bonding.

[0096] Furthermore, Figure 15 shows a flowchart illustrating a modified method for manufacturing the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment. In the figure, although the above example of manufacturing method involves stacking the punched-out segmented steel plates 27 according to their shape, here, instead of creating stacks, the segmented steel plates 27 are arranged in a ring shape on one annular steel plate 22 to form the other annular steel plate 22.

[0097] In the figure, steps S21, S22, and S29 are the same as steps S1, S2, and S9, respectively, of the manufacturing method described above. Step S23 involves taking out and separating the required number of divided steel sheets 27 having the necessary shapes to form the first layer annular steel sheet 22A and the second layer annular steel sheet 22B from the punched divided steel sheets 27. Step S24 involves arranging the divided steel sheets 27 constituting the first layer annular steel sheet 22A in an annular shape, and step S25 involves arranging the divided steel sheets 27 constituting the second layer annular steel sheet 22B in an annular shape on top of the first layer annular steel sheet 22A arranged in step S24, and steps S26 to S28 involve stacking the first layer annular steel sheet 22A and the second layer annular steel sheet 22B alternately on top of the first layer annular steel sheet 22A arranged in step S25 until a predetermined number is reached.

[0098] In steps S24, S25, and S27, a stage may be used that can be stacked on the top surface with a surface perpendicular to the rotation axis A horizontal. This stage has protrusions that project vertically from the top surface, which can be inserted through holes such as through holes 28 provided in the divided steel plates 27, so that the positions of the multiple annular steel plates 22 do not easily shift. In addition, the rotation angle of the top surface of the stage around the rotation axis A may be adjusted just before placing the divided steel plates 27 to facilitate the placement of the divided steel plates 27.

[0099] With the above configuration, the manufacturing method involves laminating multiple divided steel plates 27 in such a way that the angular arrangement of one divided steel plate 27 differs from the angular arrangement of another divided steel plate 27 adjacent to the divided steel plate 27 in the direction of the rotation axis A. This makes it possible to increase the rigidity of the laminated core constructed using the divided steel plates 27. Specifically, for a divided steel plate 27 that has a weak area, such as between the cutting line LC and the through hole 28, a different arrangement of through holes 28 is arranged in the same area of ​​the divided steel plate 27 adjacent to it in the axial direction of the rotation axis A, thereby increasing the overall rigidity.

[0100] Furthermore, in the manufacturing method of the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment, the arrangement of the punched shapes of the multiple divided steel plates 27 on the base material 60 in the punching process may be such that the inner circumference side of the annular shape of one divided steel plate 27 and the outer circumference side of the annular shape of another divided steel plate 27 are adjacent and facing each other. Moreover, the arrangement of the punched shapes of two adjacent divided steel plates 27 on the base material 60 may be such that the direction from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side of the annular shape of the divided steel plate 27 is opposite, and the cutting lines LC may be adjacent and facing each other.

[0101] The arrangement of the punched shapes of the multiple divided steel plates 27 on the base material 60 is achieved by the arrangement of the dies mounted on the press molding machine in steps S2 and S22, which perform punching in the above manufacturing method flow.

[0102] Next, specific examples of the arrangement of the punched shapes of multiple divided steel plates 27 on the base material 60 will be explained using Figures 16 to 20. In the figures, the vertical direction of the paper is the longitudinal direction of the base material 60, and the front side of the paper is the upper side of the base material 60. The base material 60 has an elongated rectangular shape with the rolling direction DA as the longitudinal direction, and although the base material 60 in each figure has three divided steel plates 27, it is not limited to this. The base material 60 is fed in the longitudinal direction by the feed mechanism of the press molding machine, and the shape of the divided steel plates 27 is punched out from the base material 60 by pressing a die against it. The geometric relationship between the arrangement of the shapes of the divided steel plates 27 on the base material 60 and the rolling direction DA of the base material is determined by the positional relationship between the longitudinal direction of the base material 60 and the die that punches out the divided steel plates 27.

[0103] Figure 16 shows an example where the inner circumference of the annular shape of one divided steel sheet 27 is adjacent to and opposite the outer circumference of the annular shape of another divided steel sheet 27. Divided steel sheets 27 arranged in the longitudinal direction of a single base material 60 have their inner circumference contour line LG adjacent to and opposite the outer circumference contour line LH of another divided steel sheet adjacent to it on the base material 60. The left side of Figure 16 shows an example where the first divided steel sheet 27a of the first layer annular steel sheet 22A is punched out, and the right side shows an example where the first divided steel sheet 27i of the second layer annular steel sheet 22B is punched out. Here, a single-strip cut is illustrated, in which the shape of one row of divided steel sheets 27 is arranged in the width direction perpendicular to the rolling direction DA of the base material 60, but the number of cuts can be increased to two or more.

[0104] Figure 17 shows a modified version of the above, in which the first divided steel plates 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A and the divided steel plates 27i of the second annular steel plate 22B are arranged alternately on a single base material 60, and the inner circumference contour line LG of the first divided steel plate 27a and the outer circumference contour line LH of the first divided steel plate 27i of the second layer, which is arranged adjacent to it, are adjacent and facing each other. In Figures 16 and 17, the radial direction passing through the centroid of the divided steel plate 27 is the rolling direction DA. As in this example, divided steel plates 27a in which the rotation direction order of the angle sequence of the centerline inclination is + (clockwise), - (counterclockwise) and divided steel plates 27i in which the order is - (counterclockwise), + (clockwise) may be mixed on a single base material. When two types of divided steel plates, 27a and 27i, are arranged alternately on the base material 60, the base material 60 will have alternating arrangements of divided steel plates where the distance between the two through holes widens and divided steel plates where the distance between the two through holes narrows, from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the divided steel plates 27.

[0105] Figures 18 and 19 show an example where the punched shapes of two adjacent divided steel plates 27 on the base material 60 are arranged in opposite directions from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the annular shape of the divided steel plate 27, and the cutting lines LC are adjacent and facing each other. In the figures, if each divided steel plate 27 is constructed as an annular steel plate 22, the center of the annular shape, i.e., the point where the axis of rotation A is located, is represented as point A in the figure, and represents the inner circumference of each divided steel plate 27. As shown in the figures, point A for each divided steel plate 27 is arranged alternately on the left and right sides of the paper, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base material 60. Figure 18 shows the case where the first divided steel plate 27a is punched out, and Figure 19 shows an example where the first divided steel plate 27i of a second layer of divided steel plates, which is a different layer, is punched out. In this example, the radial direction passing through the centroid of the divided steel plate 27 is perpendicular to the rolling direction DA.

[0106] Figure 20 shows an example of punching out the first divided steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A and the first divided steel plate 27i of the second annular steel plate 22B from the base material 60 by arranging them alternately. In the figure, as described above, the arrangement of the punched shapes of two adjacent divided steel plates 27 on the base material 60 is such that the direction from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the annular shape of the divided steel plate 27 is opposite, and the cutting lines LC are adjacent and facing each other.

[0107] Figure 21 is an example of a side view of a part of a laminated core 21 formed by the lamination process. In the figure, two annular steel plates 22 (22A and 22B) and the adhesive layer 50 between the divided steel plates 27 of these two annular steel plates 22 are shown. The adhesive layer 50 adheres and fixes the first annular steel plate 22A and the second annular steel plate 22B, that is, between the divided steel plates 27 adjacent in the axial direction of the rotation axis A. In the figure, two annular steel plates 22 and the adhesive layer 50 between them are shown from the laminated core 21, and the rest are omitted. The adhesive layer 50 is interposed between the divided steel plates 27 adjacent in the axial direction of the rotation axis A, and the divided steel plates 27 adjacent in the axial direction of the rotation axis A are bonded and joined by the adhesive layer 50. Therefore, the lamination process joins the divided steel plates 27 adjacent in the axial direction of the rotation axis A by bonding their opposing surfaces together.

[0108] By configuring the divided steel plates 27 as described above, the cutting line LC of the divided steel plates 27 is bonded across the surface by the divided steel plates 27 adjacent to and straddling the cutting line LC in the axial direction of the rotation axis A. As a result, the cutting line LC is reinforced, and the overall rigidity of the laminated iron core 21 of the rotor 12 is improved.

[0109] <Modification 1> Next, Modification 1 of the rotating electric machine of this embodiment will be described. Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the rotation axis A showing the rotating electric machine 1 of Modification 1. In the following, unless otherwise specified, parts with the same name and reference numerals will represent the same parts as described above. The differences from the rotating electric machine described above will be the main focus of this description.

[0110] The rotating electric machine described above was of the permanent magnet embedded type, but in Modification 1, the rotating electric machine 1 is a reluctance motor in which the through holes 28 do not have permanent magnets inserted but are filled with a non-magnetic material. In this example, the rotor 12 uses air as the non-magnetic material provided in the through holes 28 of the laminated iron core 21. Also, the rotor 12 of Modification 1 has 6 magnetic poles. Furthermore, the multiple through holes 28 of Modification 1 are arranged in mirror image (line) symmetry with respect to the magnetic pole center line LA in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis A. Here, three through holes 28 are provided on the inner circumference side, outer circumference side, and intermediate between the two on one side of the magnetic pole center line LA of the annular steel plate 22. If the through holes 28 on the inner circumference side and intermediate of the annular steel plate 22 on one side of the magnetic pole center line LA are considered as a pair of through holes with respect to the magnetic pole center line LA, then the pair of through holes has an arc shape that is convex toward the inner circumference. Three through holes 28, along with six through holes 28 including their mirror images, form a group of through holes 24 that constitute a magnetic pole.

[0111] The laminated iron core 21 of the modified example 1, as described above, has a plurality of through holes 28 that penetrate in the direction of the rotation axis, with a cross-sectional shape having a width with a line segment or curve as the center line LD, in a magnetic pole region 30 that extends in the circumferential angle between magnetic poles with respect to the magnetic pole center line LA of each magnetic pole. The two through holes 28, which are a pair of through holes 28 arranged symmetrically in the magnetic pole region 30 with respect to the magnetic pole center line LA, have inclination angles such that the inclination of their center lines is an angle in which their rotational directions are opposite to each other.

[0112] Figure 23 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the lamination of annular steel plates 22 constituting the laminated core 21 of Modification 1. In the figure, the laminated core 21 has a first layer of annular steel plate 22A comprising six divided steel plates 27 (27a to 27f), and a second layer of annular steel plate 22B comprising six divided steel plates 27 (27g to 27l). In this example, 10 layers of annular steel plates 22 (22A, 22B) are shown, including the detached layers, but the number of layers in the laminated core 21 of this disclosure can be two or more.

[0113] Figure 24 is a cross-sectional view showing the first layer of annular steel plates 22A among the multiple annular steel plates 22 constituting the laminated iron core 21 of Modification 1, and Figure 25 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the second layer of annular steel plates 22B. In each figure, the first layer of annular steel plates 22A comprises six divided steel plates 27 (27a to 27f), and the second layer of annular steel plates 22B comprises six divided steel plates 27 (27g to 27l). The number of divisions in the divided steel plates 27 of each layer of annular steel plates 22 is not limited to six.

[0114] As shown in Figures 23, 24, and 25, one segmented steel plate 27 of the first layer of the annular steel plate 22A in Modification 1 is adjacent to two segmented steel plates 27 of the second layer of the annular steel plate 22B in the axial direction of the rotation axis A. More specifically, for example, one segmented steel plate 27a of the first layer of the annular steel plate 22A is adjacent to the first segmented steel plate 27i and the second segmented steel plate 27j of the second layer of the annular steel plate 22B in the axial direction of the rotation axis A. In the annular steel plate 22, where the first and second layers are alternately stacked except at both ends in the rotation axis direction, one segmented steel plate 27 of one layer (e.g., the first layer) of the annular steel plate 22 is adjacent to and fixed to two segmented steel plates of another layer (e.g., the second layer) of the annular steel plate 22 on both sides in the direction of the rotation axis A.

[0115] Figure 26 shows a top view of an example of a first divided steel plate 27a obtained by dividing the first annular steel plate 22A in this modified example. In the figure, the first divided steel plate 27a has six through holes 28 (28a1, 28a2, 28a3, 28a4, 28a5, 28a6), which are arranged from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the first annular steel plate 22A (first divided steel plate 27a) in the order of through holes 28a1, 28a2, and 28a3 on one side of the magnetic pole centerline LAa, or in the order of through holes 28a6, 28a5, and 28a4 on the other side of the magnetic pole centerline LAa. Furthermore, the through holes 28a1, 28a2, and 28a3 on one side of the magnetic pole centerline LAa and the through holes 28a6, 28a5, and 28a4 on the other side are symmetrical with respect to the magnetic pole centerline LAa.

[0116] The through holes 28 (28a1, 28a2, 28a3, 28a4, 28a5, 28a6) of the first divided steel plate 27a have the largest width perpendicular to the center line LDa3 at the end closer to the magnetic pole center line LAa, and the width decreases as it moves away from the magnetic pole center line LAa. Furthermore, the center lines LD (LDa1, LDa2, LDa6, LDa5) of the through holes 28a1 and 28a2 on one side of the magnetic pole center line LAa, and the through holes 28a6 and 28a5 on the other side, are curved in the shape of a convex arc towards the inner circumference of the divided steel plate 27a.

[0117] The straight line LF representing the centerlines described above is, for example, a straight line connecting the two intersection points of the outer shape of the through-hole 28 and each centerline LD of the through-hole 28, and is shown as the straight lines LFa1, LFa2, LFa5, and LFa6 in the example in Figure 26. Alternatively, the straight line LF representing the centerlines can be considered as a straight line passing through the midpoint of the centerline LD and having a centerline inclination RB with respect to a straight line LE perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LA. Here, as described above, the divided steel plate 27a has multiple (four) through-holes 28 (28a1, 28a2, 28a6, 28a5) in which the centerline inclination RB is acute and greater than half of the inter-pole circumferential angle RA. Specifically, through-hole 28a1 has a centerline inclination RBa1 with a positive rotation angle relative to a straight line LEa2 perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAa, and through-hole 28a6, which is symmetrical to through-hole 28a1, has a centerline inclination RBa6 with a negative rotation angle relative to a straight line LEa6 perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAa. Similarly, through-hole 28a2 has a centerline inclination RBa2 with a positive rotation angle relative to a straight line LEa2 perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAa, and through-hole 28a5 has a centerline inclination RBa5 with a negative rotation angle relative to a straight line LEa5 perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAa.

[0118] Furthermore, since the centerlines LDa3 and LDa4 of the through holes 28a3 and 28a4 are perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAa, the centerline inclination is 0.

[0119] Here, the centerline slope RB is defined as the angle between the straight line LF, which represents the centerline, and the straight line LE, which is perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LA. However, the centerline slope RB can also be defined as the average value of the angles that each infinitesimal line segment makes with respect to the straight line LE, after dividing the curved centerline LD into infinitesimal line segments.

[0120] The angle sequence introduced in this disclosure will now be explained using the centerline inclination RB described above. The six through holes 28 (28a1 to 28a6) in the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A are arranged in the order 28a1, 28a2, 28a3, 28a4, 28a5, and 28a6 when viewed in one circumferential direction. The angle sequence, including the order of the angles of the centerline inclination RB of the six through holes 28 (28a1 to 28a6), is expressed as (+RBa1, +RBa2, 0, 0, -RBa5, -RBa6). For clarity, positive rotation angles are denoted as + and negative rotation angles as -.

[0121] Next, we will describe the through holes 28 in the first divided steel plate 27g and the second divided steel plate 27l of the second layer of the annular steel plate 22B, which are adjacent to the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer of the annular steel plate 22A in the direction of the rotation axis A.

[0122] Figure 27 shows an example of a top view of the first divided steel plate 27g obtained by dividing the second layer annular steel plate 22B. In the figure, the first divided steel plate 27g has six through holes 28 (28g1, 28g6), arranged from the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the second layer annular steel plate 22B (first divided steel plate 27g) in the order of through holes 28g1, 28g2, and 28g3 on one side of the magnetic pole boundary line LBg, and through holes 28g6, 28g5, and 28g4 on the other side of the magnetic pole boundary line LBg. Furthermore, the through holes 28g1, 28g2, and 28g3 on one side of the magnetic pole boundary line LBg and the through holes 28g6, 28g5, and 28g4 on the other side are symmetrical with respect to the magnetic pole boundary line LBg.

[0123] The through holes 28g1, 28g2, and 28g3 provided in the first segmented steel plate 27g of the second layer annular steel plate 22B are adjacent to the through holes 28a4, 28a5, and 28a6 provided in the first segmented steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A, respectively, in the axial direction of the rotation axis A. Furthermore, the shapes obtained by projecting the contours of the through holes 28g1, 28g2, and 28g3 of the second layer annular steel plate 22B in the axial direction of the rotation axis A onto a reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A coincide with the shapes obtained by similarly projecting the contours of the through holes 28a4, 28a5, and 28a6 of the first layer annular steel plate 22A in the axial direction. This can also be seen from Figure 23, where moving the contour of the through hole in segmented steel plate 27g in the direction of the rotation axis A results in a shape that overlaps with the contour of the through hole in segmented steel plate 27a.

[0124] The straight line LF representing the above center line is shown in the example in Figure 27 as the straight lines LFg2, LFg3, LFg4, and LFg5, which are straight lines connecting the two intersection points of the outer shape of the through hole 28 and each center line LD of the through hole 28. Here, as described above, the divided steel plate 27g has a plurality (four) of through holes 28 (28g2, 28g2, 28g4, 28g5) in which the center line inclination RB is acute and greater than half of the inter-pole circumferential angle RA. Specifically, the through hole 28g2 has a center line inclination RBg2 with a rotation angle in the negative direction with respect to the straight line LEg2 perpendicular to the magnetic pole center line LAg, and the through hole 28g5, which is symmetrical to the through hole 28g2, has a center line inclination RBg5 with a rotation angle in the positive direction with respect to the straight line LEg5 perpendicular to the magnetic pole center line LAh. Similarly, the through hole 28g3 has a centerline inclination RBg3 with a negative rotation angle relative to a straight line LEg3 perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAg, and the through hole 28g6 has a centerline inclination RBg6 with a positive rotation angle relative to a straight line LEg6 perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAh.

[0125] Furthermore, since the centerlines LDg1 and LDg6 of the through holes 28g1 and 28g6 are perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerlines LAg and LAh, the centerline inclination is 0.

[0126] The six through holes 28 (28g1 to 28g6) in the first divided steel plate 27g of the second layer annular steel plate 22B are arranged in the order 28g1, 28g2, 28g3, 28g4, 28g5, and 28g6 when viewed in one circumferential direction. The angle sequence, including the order of the angles of the centerline inclination RB of the six through holes 28 (28g1 to 28g6), is represented as (0, -RBg2, -RBg3, +RBg4, +RBg5, 0).

[0127] Next, we will describe the second segmented steel plate 27l of the second annular steel plate 22B, which is adjacent to the first segmented steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A in the direction of the rotation axis A. The second segmented steel plate 27l is adjacent to the first segmented steel plate 27g in the circumferential direction.

[0128] Figure 28 shows an example of a top view of the second divided steel plate 27l of the second layer annular steel plate 22B. In the figure, the second divided steel plate 27l is provided with six through holes 28 (28l1 to 28l6), arranged from the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the second layer annular steel plate 22B (second divided steel plate 27l) in the order of through holes 28l6, 28l5, and 28l4 on one side of the magnetic pole boundary line LBl, and through holes 28l1, 28l2, and 28l3 on the other side of the magnetic pole boundary line LBl. Furthermore, the through holes 28l6, 28l5, and 28l4 on one side of the magnetic pole boundary line LBl and the through holes 28l1, 28l2, and 28l3 on the other side are symmetrical with respect to the magnetic pole boundary line LBl.

[0129] The through holes 28l6, 28l5, and 28l4 provided in the second segmented steel plate 27l of the second annular steel plate 22B are adjacent to the through holes 28a3, 28a2, and 28a1 provided in the first segmented steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A, respectively, in the axial direction of the rotation axis A. Furthermore, the shapes obtained by projecting the contours of the through holes 28l6, 28l5, and 28l4 of the second annular steel plate 22B in the axial direction of the rotation axis A onto a reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A coincide with the shapes obtained by similarly projecting the contours of the through holes 28a3, 28a2, and 28a1 of the first annular steel plate 22A in the axial direction.

[0130] The straight line LF representing the above center line is shown in the example in Figure 28 as the straight lines LFl5, LFl4, LFl2, and LFl3, which are straight lines connecting the two intersection points of the outer shape of the through hole 28 and each center line LD of the through hole 28. Here, as described above, the divided steel plate 2lg has multiple (four) through holes 28 (28l5, 28l4, 28l2, 28l3) in which the center line inclination RB is acute and greater than half of the inter-pole circumferential angle RA. Specifically, the through hole 28l5 has a center line inclination RBl5 with a negative rotation angle with respect to the straight line LEl5 perpendicular to the magnetic pole center line LAl, and the through hole 28l2, which is symmetrical to the through hole 28l5, has a center line inclination RBl2 with a positive rotation angle with respect to the straight line LEl2 perpendicular to the magnetic pole center line LAk. Similarly, the through-hole 28l4 has a centerline inclination RBl4 with a negative rotation angle relative to a straight line LEl4 perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline Lak, and the through-hole 28l3 has a centerline inclination RBl3 with a positive rotation angle relative to a straight line LEg3 perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline Lak.

[0131] The six through holes 28 (28l1 to 28l6) in the second divided steel plate 27l of the second layer annular steel plate 22B are arranged in the order 28l1, 28l2, 28l3, 28l4, 28l5, and 28l6 when viewed in one circumferential direction. The angle sequence, including the order of the angles of the centerline inclination RB of the six through holes 28 (28l1 to 28l6), is represented as (0, -RBl2, -RBl3, +RBl4, +RBl5, 0).

[0132] In the modified example 1, the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A is adjacent to the first divided steel plate 27g and the second divided steel plate 27l of the second layer annular steel plate 22B in the axial direction of the rotation axis A. The angle sequence, including the order of the angles of the centerline inclination, for the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A is (+RBa1, +RBa2, 0, 0, -RBa5, -RBa6). The first divided steel plate 27g of the second layer annular steel plate 22B, which is adjacent to it in the axial direction of the rotation axis A, is (0, -RBg2, -RBg3, +RBg4, +RBg5, 0), and the second divided steel plate 27l is (0, -RBl2, -RBl3, +RBl4, +RBl5, 0). Therefore, the angle arrangement of the first divided steel plate 27g of the second layer annular steel plate 22B and the second divided steel plate 27l of the second layer annular steel plate 22B is different from that of the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A.

[0133] Furthermore, when considering the rotation direction of the rotation angle of the centerline inclination of the angle sequence, the signs of the rotation direction of the angle sequence for the divided steel plate 27a on the first layer side are +, +, 0, 0, -, -, whereas the signs of the rotation direction of the angle sequence for the divided steel plates 27g and 27l on the second layer side are 0, -, -, +, +, 0, so they are different. Moreover, the absolute value of the angle of the centerline inclination RB is RBa2 = RBa5 = RB2 = RB5 = RBl2 = RBl5 = RBg2 = RBg5 < RBa1 = RBa6 = RB3 = RB4 = RBl3 = RBl4 = RBg3 = RBg4, so in terms of angle as well, there is a difference between the divided steel plate 27a on the first layer side and the divided steel plates 27g and 27l on the second layer side.

[0134] The above modification 1 is an example applied to a reluctance motor, and has the characteristic that the sequence of angles including the order of the angles of the centerline inclination RB of the through holes 28 arranged in one circumferential direction of the divided steel plate 27 has different characteristics from the sequence of angles of the centerline inclination RB of adjacent divided steel plates 27 in the axial direction of the rotation axis A of the divided steel plate 27. For this reason, as described above, it has the effect of increasing the yield of the plate material and the effect of increasing the rigidity of the operation and overall.

[0135] Furthermore, in the above modified example 1, adjacent segmented steel plates 27 in the axial direction of the rotation axis A are provided with a laminated core 21, which is constructed by laminating annular steel plates 22 such that the centroid 32 of the maximum inscribed rectangle 31, which is the maximum area of ​​the rectangle inscribed in the contour lines, cutting lines LC, and contour lines of the through holes 28 of both segmented steel plates 27, is projected in the axial direction of the rotation axis A onto a reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A, and the points of projection of the centroid 32 in the axial direction of the rotation axis A onto the reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A are different. For this reason, as described above, the moment of the surrounding force acting on the maximum inscribed rectangle 31 is different between adjacent segmented steel plates 27 in the axial direction of the rotation axis A, so they reinforce each other and the overall rigidity of the laminated core 21 is increased.

[0136] Embodiment 2. This embodiment shows an example in which one annular steel plate 22 is composed of multiple combinations of divided steel plate groups 29, which are sets of a series of divided steel plates 27 having multiple types of shapes. In this embodiment, the types of shapes of the multiple divided steel plates 27 provided in the divided steel plate group 29 of one annular steel plate 22 may be the same type of shape between adjacent annular steel plates 22 in the axial direction of the rotation axis A. That is, one annular steel plate 22 is composed of divided steel plate groups 29, which are connected divided steel plates 27 including divided steel plates of different shapes, arranged repeatedly in the circumferential direction, and another annular steel plate 22 adjacent to the annular steel plate in the direction of the rotation axis A may be composed of divided steel plate groups 29 with the same shape as the above divided steel plate group 29. In this embodiment, the same terms and reference numerals used in the above embodiment mean the same things unless otherwise specified.

[0137] Figure 29 shows a cross-sectional view of the rotating electric machine 1 in Embodiment 2. The rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment, like Embodiment 1 (including Modification 1), has a rotor 12 and a stator 11. The rotor 12 comprises a shaft 40 and a laminated core 21 in which annular steel plates 22 are stacked. The laminated core 21 has a plurality of through holes 28, and the inclination RB of the centerlines of at least two through holes 28 in the magnetic pole region 30 has an inclination angle such that the rotational directions are opposite to each other. The annular steel plate 22 is divided by a cutting line LC into a plurality of divided steel plates 27, each having at least two through holes 28. The angle sequence obtained by arranging the angles of the centerline inclination RB of the through holes 28 of the divided steel plates 27 in the order in which the through holes are aligned in one circumferential direction is different from the angle sequence of the centerline inclination RB of adjacent divided steel plates 27 in the direction of the rotation axis A of the divided steel plate 27.

[0138] Furthermore, the laminated iron core 21 constitutes multiple magnetic poles by inserting permanent magnets into the through holes 28. Note that a rotor 12 of a Relacrance motor with through holes 28 but without permanent magnets is also acceptable. In this example, the rotor 12 has four through holes 28 belonging to a group of through holes 24 that form magnetic poles within one magnetic pole region 30. Permanent magnets are inserted into the through holes 28 at both ends in the circumferential direction and the through holes 28 on the inner circumference side of the circumferential center. Here, each magnetic pole region 30 has at least one pair of through holes 28 where the rotation directions of their respective centerline inclinations RB are at opposite angles. In the figure, at both ends in the circumferential direction of the magnetic pole region 30, there are through holes 28 having a centerline LF representing a centerline LD that forms an angle with a straight line perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LA. This pair of through holes 28 is symmetrical with respect to the magnetic pole centerline LA, and the rotation directions of their respective centerline inclinations RB are at opposite angles. Here, the spacing between the through holes 28 at both ends in the circumferential direction is greater on the outer circumference side than on the inner circumference side, and they are arranged to widen from the inner circumference towards the outer circumference. Furthermore, the two through holes 28 have a centerline inclination RB that is greater than half of the circumferential angle RA between magnetic poles, and the angle is 90° or less.

[0139] Figure 30 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the lamination of annular steel plates 22 in the laminated core 21 of the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1. The first layer of annular steel plate 22A comprises 12 segmented steel plates 27 (27a to 27l), and the second layer of annular steel plate 22B comprises 12 segmented steel plates 27 (27m to 27x).

[0140] Figure 31 shows an example of a cross-sectional view of the first layer of annular steel plates 22A, which constitutes the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation A. Figure 32 shows an example of a cross-sectional view of the second layer of annular steel plates 22B, which is adjacent to the first layer of annular steel plates 22A in the direction of the axis of rotation A, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation A.

[0141] In Figure 31, the first layer of annular steel plate 22A is divided into four regions by cutting lines LCc, LCf, LCi, and LCl that overlap with the magnetic pole boundary lines LB, and each region has two magnetic pole regions. Each region is cut into three divided steel plates, and the three divided steel plates of each region form a set of three divided steel plates of different shapes. Four of these sets of divided steel plates are connected in the circumferential direction to form the first layer of annular steel plate. Here, the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 has eight magnetic pole boundary lines LB, but only the four that overlap with the aforementioned cutting lines LC are shown in the figure, and the other four magnetic pole boundary lines LB are omitted.

[0142] Here, a set of divided steel plates is referred to as a divided steel plate group 29. Then, the divided steel plate group 29 consists of divided steel plates of three different shapes, A, B, and C, which are connected in the same order, A, B, and C, when viewed in a circumferential direction. That is, the first layer of annular steel plate 22A is constructed by rotating four sets of divided steel plate groups 29 around the rotation axis A by an angle of (360° / 4) and connecting them. Here, an example of four divided steel plate groups 29 is shown, but the number of divided steel plate groups 29 can be a divisor of the number of magnetic poles, which is two or more and less than the number of magnetic poles. For example, if the number of magnetic poles is 8, then 2 or 4 groups are possible. Note that in Figure 31, the divided steel plate groups 29 are indicated by the cutting lines LCl and LCc, but there are three other divided steel plate groups 29.

[0143] Furthermore, the divided steel plate group 29 separated by the cutting lines LCl and LCc is further divided into divided steel plates 27a, 27b, and 27c by the cutting lines LCa and LCb. Similarly, other divided steel plate groups 29 include divided steel plates 27d, 27e, and 27f between the cutting line LCc and LCf, divided steel plates 27g, 27h, and 27i between the cutting line LCf and LCi, and divided steel plates 27j, 27k, and 27l between the cutting line LCi and LCl. With this configuration, the first layer annular steel plate 22A is divided into 12 divided steel plates 27 (27a to 27l) each having two or three through holes 28, by the cutting line LC connecting the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the annular shape. In addition, a divided steel plate group 29, which is a series of sets of three divided steel plates, constitutes two magnetic pole regions. Here, an example is shown in which a group of divided steel plates constitutes two magnetic pole regions, but the group of divided steel plates may constitute two or more magnetic pole regions. However, the number of group of divided steel plates that constitute one layer of annular steel plate must be two or more.

[0144] The divided steel plate 27a constituting the divided steel plate group 29 has three through holes 28 arranged in the figure in the circumferential direction: through holes 28 at both ends in the circumferential direction (opposite sides of the circumferential direction), through holes 28 on the outer circumference of the circumferential center on the magnetic pole centerline LAa, and through holes 28 on the inner circumference of the circumferential center on the magnetic pole centerline LAa. The absolute value of the angle of the centerline inclination RB of the through holes 28 at both ends in the circumferential direction (opposite sides of the circumferential direction) of the divided steel plate 27a is RBX, and the direction of rotation is positive.

[0145] Furthermore, when viewed in the circumferential direction in the figure, the divided steel plate 27b has two through holes 28, arranged in the following order: through holes 28 at both ends in the circumferential direction (on the circumferential side) and through holes 28 at both ends in the circumferential direction of the magnetic pole region 30 adjacent to the magnetic pole region 30 in the circumferential direction (on the opposite side of the circumferential direction). The absolute value of the angle of the centerline inclination RB of the two through holes 28 of the divided steel plate 27b is RBX for both, and the rotation direction of each angle is negative, followed by positive.

[0146] Furthermore, when viewed in the circumferential direction in the figure, the divided steel plate 27c has three through holes 28 arranged in the following order: an outer through hole 28 in the circumferential center on the magnetic pole centerline LAc, an inner through hole 28 in the circumferential center on the magnetic pole centerline LAc, and through holes 28 at both ends (the circumferential side). The absolute value of the angle of the centerline inclination RB of the through holes 28 at both ends (the circumferential side) of the divided steel plate 27c is RBX, and the rotation direction is negative. Note that the divided steel plate 27a and the divided steel plate 27c have opposite front and back shapes, but they are treated as different shapes here.

[0147] The divided steel plates 27a, 27b, and 27c, each having the shape described above, are arranged in this order in the figure when viewed in one circumferential direction to form a group of divided steel plates 29. This group of divided steel plates 29, while maintaining the order of the divided steel plates 27, are connected in one circumferential direction in the figure to form the first annular steel plate 22A, arranged in the order of divided steel plates 27d, 27e, 27f, 27g, 27h, 27i, 27j, 27k, and 27l. Therefore, divided steel plates 27a and 27d, 27g, and 27j have the same shape, divided steel plates 27b and 27e, 27h, and 27k have the same shape, and divided steel plates 27c and 27f, 27i, and 27l have the same shape.

[0148] As described above, the two magnetic pole regions formed by the divided steel plate group 29 are cut in one circumferential direction into a part of one magnetic pole region, the remaining part of the one magnetic pole region and a part of the other magnetic pole region, and the remaining part of the other magnetic pole region, resulting in divided steel plates 27a, 27b, and 27c, respectively.

[0149] Figure 32 is a cross-sectional view of the first annular steel plate 22A and the second annular steel plate 22B adjacent to it in the direction of the rotation axis A. The second annular steel plate 22B, like the first annular steel plate 22A, is divided into 12 segmented steel plates 27 (27m to 27x) each having two or three through holes 28 by a cutting line LC that runs from the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the annular shape. Of the cutting lines LC (LCm to LCx) of the second annular steel plate 22B, LCo, LCr, LCu and LCx overlap with the magnetic pole boundary line LB of the rotor 12. The cutting lines LCo, LCr, LCu and LCx of the second annular steel plate 22B overlap with a different magnetic pole boundary line LB than the one that overlaps with the cutting line of the first annular steel plate 22A.

[0150] The cutting lines LCo, LCr, LCu, and LCx of the second layer annular steel plate 22B that overlap with the magnetic pole boundary line LB are positioned in the figure rotated by an angle in the circumferential direction between magnetic poles relative to the cutting lines (LCc, LCf, LCi, and LCl) that overlap with the magnetic pole boundary line LB of the first layer. Similarly, the other cutting lines LC are positioned in the figure rotated clockwise by an angle equal to the magnetic pole pitch relative to the cutting lines of the first layer. In other words, the cutting lines LC (LCm to LCx) of the second layer annular steel plate 22B are each positioned in the figure rotated by an angle in the circumferential direction between magnetic poles relative to the cutting lines LC (LCa to LCl) of the first layer.

[0151] Because the cutting line LC is provided in this manner, the divided steel plate group 29 and divided steel plates 27 (27m to 27x) of the second annular steel plate 22B have a shape that is rotated clockwise by an angle equal to the magnetic pole pitch relative to the divided steel plate group 29 and divided steel plates 27 (27a to 27l) of the first annular steel plate 22A, as shown in the figure.

[0152] Focusing on the shapes of each of the segmented steel plates 27 (27m to 27x) of the second annular steel plate 22B, they are the same as the shapes of the segmented steel plates 27 (27a to 27l) of the first annular steel plate 22A. That is, segmented steel plates 27m, 27p, 27s, and 27v of the second annular steel plate 22B are the same shape as segmented steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A. Similarly, segmented steel plates 27n, 27q, 27t, and 27w of the second annular steel plate 22B are the same shape as segmented steel plate 27b of the first annular steel plate 22A, and segmented steel plates 27o, 27r, 27u, and 27x of the second annular steel plate 22B are the same shape as segmented steel plate 27c of the first annular steel plate 22A. The number of through holes 28 in one divided steel plate 27 and the number of divided steel plates into which the second layer of annular steel plate 22B is divided are not limited to the numbers mentioned above.

[0153] As can be seen from Figures 30 to 32 and their descriptions above, the first divided steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A is adjacent to the first divided steel plate 27n and the second divided steel plate 27o of the second annular steel plate 22B in the axial direction of the rotation axis A.

[0154] Next, the angle sequence of the centerline inclination of each divided steel plate 27 in this embodiment will be described. Figure 33 shows an example of a top view of the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A. The first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A is provided with three through holes 28 (28a1, 28a2, and 28a3). Here, the through hole 28a1 corresponds to the through hole at both ends in the circumferential direction (on the opposite side of one circumferential direction), the through hole 28a2 corresponds to the through hole on the inner side of the circumferential center of the magnetic pole centerline LA, and the through hole 28a3 corresponds to the through hole on the outer side of the circumferential center of the magnetic pole centerline LA.

[0155] The through-hole 28a1 has a constant width centered on a straight line, LDa1, and has a rectangular cross-sectional shape overall. The center line LDa1 intersects the through-hole 28a1 at two points. The straight line connecting these two points is the straight line LFa1 that represents the center line. In the figure, the part of the straight line LFa1 that represents the center line that is outside the through-hole 28a1 is represented by a solid line, and the center line LDa1 is represented by a dashed line. Similarly, the through-hole 28a2 has a center line LDa2 centered on the straight line LFa2 that represents the center line. In this example, the center line LDa1 of the through-hole 28a1 and the center line LDa2 of the through-hole 28a2 of the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A of this embodiment are line segments, the straight line LFa1 that represents the center line overlaps with the center line LDa1, and the straight line LFa2 that represents the center line overlaps with the center line LDa2.

[0156] The through-hole 28a3 has an arc shape in which the center line LDa3 opens on the outer circumference side of the divided steel plate 27a and is convex on the inner circumference side, and has a constant width overall with respect to the center line LDa1. The center line LDa3 intersects the through-hole 28a3 at two points. The straight line connecting these two points is the straight line LFa3 that represents the center line.

[0157] First, let's explain the centerline inclination RB of the through-hole 28a1. The rotation angle from the straight line LEa, which is perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAa of the magnetic pole region to which the through-hole 28a1 belongs, toward the straight line LFa1 that represents the centerline of the through-hole 28a1, is the centerline inclination RBa1 of the through-hole 28a1. Here, it is a positive rotation angle, which is clockwise rotation. As shown in the figure, the absolute value of the centerline inclination RBa1 of the through-hole 28a1 is greater than half of the inter-pole circumferential angle RA.

[0158] The centerline inclination RB of the through-hole 28a2 is 0 because the centerline LDa2 is perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAa. Similarly, the centerline inclination RB of the through-hole 28a3 is 0 because the straight line LFa3 representing the centerline is perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAa.

[0159] Then, the angle sequence of the divided steel plate 27a is the order of the angles of the centerline inclination RB of the three through holes 28 (28a1 to 28a3), so it becomes (+RBa1, 0, 0).

[0160] Next, we will describe the angular arrangement of through holes 28 in the first divided steel plate 27n and the second divided steel plate 27o of the second layer annular steel plate 22B, which are adjacent to the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A in the direction of the rotation axis A.

[0161] Figure 34 shows a top view of the first divided steel plate 27n, the second divided steel plate 27o, and the third divided steel plate 27m of the second layer of annular steel plate 22B.

[0162] The first segmented steel plate 27n of the second layer annular steel plate 22B has two through holes 28 (28n1, 28n2). The through hole 28n1 has a constant width relative to the center line LDn1 and has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The center line LDn1 intersects the through hole 28n1 at two points. The straight line connecting these two points is the straight line LFn1 representing the center line. The through hole 28n2 also has a constant width relative to the center line LDn2 and has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The center line LDn2 intersects the through hole 28n2 at two points. The straight line connecting these two points is the straight line LFn2 representing the center line. In the figure, the center line LDn1 of the through hole 28n1 and the center line LDn2 of the through hole 28n2 are line segments, the straight line LFn1 representing the center line coincides with the center line LDn1, and the straight line LFn2 representing the center line coincides with the center line LDn2.

[0163] In the figure, of the two through holes 28 in the divided steel plate 27n, the through hole 28n1 located on the opposite side of the circumferential direction in the figure belongs to the magnetic pole region 30 on the opposite side of the circumferential direction in the figure, among the two magnetic pole regions of the group of divided steel plates to which the divided steel plate 27n belongs. The rotation angle from the magnetic pole centerline LAm of this magnetic pole region 30 on the opposite side of the circumferential direction to the straight line LFn1 representing the centerline of the through hole 28n1 on the circumferential side is a counterclockwise negative centerline inclination RBn1. Similarly, the rotation angle from the straight line LEo perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAo of the magnetic pole region 30 on the circumferential side to the straight line LFn2 representing the centerline of the through hole 28n2 is a clockwise positive centerline inclination RBn2. The two through holes 28n1 and 28n2 in the first divided steel plate 27n of the second layer annular steel plate 22B are arranged in the order of through hole 28n1, through hole 28n2 when viewed in one circumferential direction, and the sequence of angles including the order of angles of their centerline inclination RB is (-RBn1, +RBn2).

[0164] Figure 35 also shows a top view of the second segmented steel plate 27o of the second annular steel plate 22B. The second segmented steel plate 27o of the second annular steel plate 22B has three through holes 28 (28o1, 28o2, 28o3). The second segmented steel plate 27o of the second annular steel plate 22B is exactly the same shape as the first segmented steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A, but inverted. Similar to the segmented steel plate 27a, the straight line LFo3 representing the center line of the through hole 28o3 has a center line inclination RBo3 in the negative counterclockwise direction with respect to the straight line LEo perpendicular to the magnetic pole center line LAo of the magnetic pole region 30 to which the through hole 28o3 belongs. Furthermore, since the straight lines LFo1 and LFo2 representing the respective centerlines of the through holes 28o1 and 28o2 are approximately perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline LAo, the respective centerline inclination RB is 0. Thus, the angle sequence of the divided steel plate 27o is the order of the angles of the centerline inclination RB of the three through holes 28 (28o1 to 28o3), which is (0, 0, -RBo3).

[0165] As described above, the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A and the first divided steel plate 27n and the second divided steel plate 27o of the second layer annular steel plate 22B are adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the rotation axis A. Furthermore, with respect to the angle sequence including the order of the angles of the centerline inclination, the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A is represented as (+RBa1, 0, 0), the first divided steel plate 27n of the second layer annular steel plate 22B is represented as (-RBn1, +RBn2), and the second divided steel plate 27o of the second layer annular steel plate 22B is represented as (0, 0, -RBo3). Therefore, the angle sequence of the first divided steel plate 27n of the second layer annular steel plate 22B and the second divided steel plate 27o of the second layer annular steel plate 22B is different from that of the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer annular steel plate 22A.

[0166] Therefore, the sign of the rotation direction of the angle sequence of the divided steel plate 27a on the first layer side is positive, whereas the signs of the rotation direction of the divided steel plate 27n on the second layer side are negative and positive, and the sign of the rotation direction of the angle sequence of 27o is negative, so they are different. The absolute value of the angle of the centerline inclination RB is RBa1 = RBn1 = RBn2 = RBo3 = RBX, and in terms of angle, it is the same for the divided steel plate 27a on the first layer side and the divided steel plates 27n and 27o on the second layer side.

[0167] As described above, in this embodiment, the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 has a sequence of angles in which the centerline inclination RB of the through-holes 28 of the divided steel plates 27 are arranged in a circumferential direction, and this sequence of angles is different from the sequence of angles in which the centerline inclination RB of adjacent divided steel plates 27 in the direction of the rotation axis A of the divided steel plates 27.

[0168] The above features are common to Embodiment 1 (including Modification 1). Therefore, this embodiment, like Embodiment 1 (including Modification 1), has the effect and function of increasing the yield of the sheet material and the effect and function of increasing the overall rigidity.

[0169] Furthermore, the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment may have the same features as in Embodiment 1 regarding the arrangement of the largest inscribed rectangle. In this case, the rotor 12 may have, in addition to the features of the angular sequence of the through holes 28 described above, or separately from the features of this angular sequence, a feature that defines the shape of the divided steel plate 27 by the largest inscribed rectangle.

[0170] Figure 36 shows a top view of the first segmented steel plate 27a extracted from the first layer of annular steel plate 22A of the laminated iron core 21 of the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1. The first segmented steel plate 27a of the first layer of annular steel plate 22A has through holes 28a1, 28a2, and 28a3.

[0171] The largest inscribed rectangle of Embodiment 1 is applied to the first divided steel plate 27a of this embodiment. Then, the largest inscribed rectangle 31 is the rectangle with the largest area among the rectangles inscribed by the inner diameter contour line of the divided steel plate 27a, the magnetic pole boundary line LB (cutting line LC) at the circumferential end in the direction opposite to one direction, the cutting line LC at the circumferential end in one direction, and the contour line of the inner circumference through hole 28a2. In the figure, the largest inscribed rectangle 31 is a part of the divided steel plate 27 that is not divided by the through hole 28 and the cutting line LC and is a single unit, and is highly rigid. The centroid point 32a of the largest inscribed rectangle 31a is, in the radial direction, midway between the inner circumference contour line of the first divided steel plate 27a and the inner circumference contour line of the through hole 28a2, and in the circumferential direction, it is located closer to the direction opposite to one direction from the magnetic pole center line LA. When the rotating electric machine 1 is operated and the rotor 12 rotates, the centrifugal force generated creates a moment of force around this largest inscribed rectangle, which causes the divided steel plates 27 to separate from each other.

[0172] Figure 37 shows a top view of the first divided steel plate 27n and the second divided steel plate 27o extracted from the second layer of annular steel plate 22B. The first divided steel plate 27n and the second divided steel plate 27o of the second layer of annular steel plate 22B are adjacent to the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer of annular steel plate 22A in the axial direction of the rotation axis A.

[0173] The above maximum inscribed rectangle is applied to the first divided steel plate 27n and the second divided steel plate 27o. Then, the maximum inscribed rectangle 31n of the first divided steel plate 27n has its vertices tangent to the cutting line LC located at both ends around the axis of rotation A and the outer contour line LH of the annular shape, and its sides are inscribed to the inner contour line LG of the annular shape, the through hole 28n1 and the through hole 28n2. Furthermore, the centroid point 32 of the maximum inscribed rectangle 31n is located at the center of the first divided steel plate 27n in the circumferential direction and the center in the radial direction. Furthermore, the maximum inscribed rectangle 31o of the second divided steel plate 27o has its vertices tangent to the cutting line LC located at the circumferential end opposite to one direction, the magnetic pole boundary line LB (cutting line LC) located at the circumferential end in one direction, the contour line of the inner through hole 28o1, and the inner contour line of the second divided steel plate 27o. The centroid 32o of the largest inscribed rectangle 31o is located radially midway between the inner circumferential contour line of the second divided steel plate 27o and the inner circumferential contour line of the through hole 28o1, and circumferentially, it is located in a direction one away from the magnetic pole center line LA.

[0174] Figure 38 shows the first segmented steel plate 27a extracted from the first annular steel plate 22A superimposed on the first segmented steel plate 27n and the second segmented steel plate 27o extracted from the second annular steel plate 22B. In the figure, the outline of the first segmented steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A and the largest inscribed rectangle 31a are shown by dashed lines.

[0175] In the figure, the points obtained by projecting the centroids 32a and 32n of the largest inscribed rectangle of the first divided steel plate 27a of the first annular steel plate 22A and the first divided steel plate 27n of the second annular steel plate 22B onto a reference plane (virtual) perpendicular to the axis of rotation A, in the axial direction of the axis of rotation A, are different in the radial and circumferential directions. Similarly, the points obtained by projecting the centroids 32a and 32o of the largest inscribed rectangle of the first divided steel plate 27a and the second divided steel plate 27o of the second annular steel plate 22B onto a reference plane (virtual) perpendicular to the axis of rotation A, in the axial direction of the axis of rotation A, are different in the circumferential direction. That is, the points onto which each centroid 32 is projected are in different positions. Furthermore, the dimensions of each side of the largest inscribed rectangle 31 on the first layer side and the second layer side are different because the vertices and sides of the tangent rectangles and the tangent shapes on the divided steel plate 27 side are different, resulting in different shapes and positions of the largest inscribed rectangle 31. In other words, when each maximum inscribed rectangle 31 is projected onto a (virtual) reference plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation A in the axial direction of the axis of rotation A, they do not coincide and are misaligned. Furthermore, when comparing the circumferential position of the centroid 32 between the maximum inscribed rectangle 31a and the maximum inscribed rectangles 31n and 31o, it is possible to consider the position within the shape of each divided steel plate 27a, 27n, and 27o, and for example, compare the relative positions of each divided steel plate 27 with respect to its circumferential centerline. Even when considered in this way, since the shapes of each divided steel plate 27a and 27o are significantly different, it is considered that the circumferential position of the centroid 32 in each divided steel plate is also different.

[0176] Thus, the feature of defining the shape of the divided steel plate 27 by the largest inscribed rectangle 31 in the divided steel plate 27 is common to that described in Embodiment 1. Furthermore, since the moment of the surrounding force acting on the largest inscribed rectangle 31 differs between adjacent divided steel plates 27 in the axial direction of the rotation axis A, they reinforce each other, and the overall rigidity of the laminated iron core 21 is increased.

[0177] The rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment may have the following features relating to the rotational symmetry of the shape of the divided steel plate 27. In this case, the rotor 12 may have features relating to the rotational symmetry of the shape of the divided steel plate 27, in addition to the features relating to the angular sequence of the through holes 28 described above, or the feature defining the shape of the divided steel plate 27 by the largest inscribed rectangle 31 in the divided steel plate 27.

[0178] The rotational symmetry of the shape of the divided steel plates 27 is characterized in that (1) the annular steel plate 22 is divided into multiple divided steel plates 27 of different shapes adjacent in the circumferential direction, and (2) the shape obtained by rotating a divided steel plate by an integer multiple of the angle obtained by dividing 360° by n in one circumferential direction matches the shape of another divided steel plate. Here, n is an integer of 2 or more. Also, n is a divisor of the number of magnetic poles that the annular steel plate 22 has. Furthermore, the number of divided steel plates 27 belonging to one annular steel plate 22 may be an integer multiple of n of 1 or more. If the number of divided steel plates 27 belonging to one annular steel plate 22 is n or more, a group of multiple divided steel plates 27 adjacent in the circumferential direction can be considered as a divided steel plate group 29. In this case, the number of divided steel plates 27 belonging to the divided steel plate group 29 is the number of divided steel plates 27 belonging to one annular steel plate 22 divided by n. The number of divided steel plates 27 in one group of divided steel plates 29 is greater than the number of magnetic poles included in the group of divided steel plates 29.

[0179] For example, in the example shown in Figures 31 and 32, (1) the annular steel plate 22A and the annular steel plate 22B are divided into 12 circumferentially adjacent divided steel plates 27 of different shapes, and (2) the shape obtained by rotating a divided steel plate in one circumferential direction by an integer multiple of the angle obtained by dividing 360° by n=4 (90°) (90°) corresponds to the shape of another divided steel plate 27. Also, when the first layer annular steel plate 22A is rotated 90°, 180°, and 270° in one circumferential direction around the rotation axis A, the shape corresponds to the shapes of the respective divided steel plate groups 29 of 3 divided steel plates 27 (27d, 27e, 27f), 3 divided steel plates 27 (27g, 27h, 27i), and 3 divided steel plates 27 (27j, 27k, 27l). The same applies to the second ring-shaped steel plate 22B.

[0180] By configuring the annular steel plate 22 as described above, the centrifugal force acting radially around the rotation axis A due to the rotation of the rotor 12 is applied uniformly to each of the group of divided steel plates 27, thereby improving the rigidity of the laminated iron core 21.

[0181] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 may have the following characteristics between the cutting lines LC at the circumferential ends of adjacent divided steel plate groups 29 in the direction of the rotation axis. In this case, in addition to the characteristics relating to the rotational symmetry of the shape of the divided steel plate 27 described above, it may also have the following characteristics.

[0182] The characteristics of the cutting lines LC at the circumferential ends of the divided steel plate group 29 are that (1) the circumferential boundary (cutting line LC) of the divided steel plate group 29 coincides with the magnetic pole boundary line, which is the boundary of the magnetic pole region extending radially from the rotation axis A, and that it has multiple magnetic pole regions; and (2) the line obtained by projecting the boundary of the circumferential end of one divided steel plate group 29 onto a reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A coincides with the line obtained by projecting the boundary of another divided steel plate group 29 adjacent to the said divided steel plate group 29 in the direction of the rotation axis onto the reference plane after rotating it by an inter-pole circumferential angle around the rotation axis A. Here, the reference plane is a virtual plane perpendicular to the rotation axis A.

[0183] For example, in the examples shown in Figures 30 to 32, the rotor 12 has 8 magnetic poles, and the inter-pole circumferential angle RA is 360° / 8 = 45°. The cutting line LCc, which is the circumferential boundary of the first layer of divided steel plate group 29, coincides with the magnetic pole boundary line LB, and the line projected onto the reference plane coincides with the line projected onto the reference plane after rotating the cutting line LCo(LCr), which is the circumferential boundary of the second layer of divided steel plate group 29 adjacent in the direction of the rotation axis, by an inter-pole circumferential angle RA (45°) around the rotation axis A. Each divided steel plate group 29 is valid if the shapes of the divided steel plates 27 that constitute each layer are corresponding and have 2 magnetic pole regions. If the divided steel plate group 29 has 3 or more magnetic pole regions, the angle of rotation around the rotation axis A may be an integer multiple of the inter-pole circumferential angle RA. Furthermore, although the above explanation was given using the cutting line LC at the circumferential end of the divided steel plate group 29, a similar relationship may exist between the cutting line LC of a divided steel plate 27 constituting the divided steel plate group 29 and the cutting line LC of a corresponding divided steel plate 27 within an adjacent divided steel plate group 29 in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0184] By configuring the annular steel plates 22 as described above, the cutting lines LC that overlap the magnetic pole boundary line LB, which are present in each annular steel plate 22 adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the rotation axis A, are phase-shifted in the circumferential direction, forming a so-called brickwork, thereby improving the rigidity of the laminated iron core 21.

[0185] Furthermore, the features relating the shape of the divided steel sheet 27 to the rolling direction DA in Embodiment 1 can also be similarly present in this embodiment. Multiple divided steel sheets 27 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction constitute a divided steel sheet group 29, and the multiple divided steel sheets 27 included in this divided steel sheet group 29 have the same rolling direction DA, and the angle between the representative radiation LI of each and the rolling direction DA is smaller than the maximum occupied angle RC of each divided steel sheet 27.

[0186] Figure 39 shows a top view of three divided steel plates 27 (27a, 27b, 27c) of the first layer of annular steel plate 22A. In the figure, the rectangle with the largest area that is inscribed in the contour line, cutting line LC, and contour line of the through hole 28 formed on the surface of the first divided steel plate 27a is the maximum inscribed rectangle 31a. The line perpendicular to the axis of rotation A passing through the centroid point 32a of the maximum inscribed rectangle 31a is the representative radiation LIa. Furthermore, on one surface of the divided steel plate 27a perpendicular to the axis of rotation A, the maximum angle between lines that intersect the axis of rotation A and are tangent to or intersect the cutting lines LC at both ends in the circumferential direction of the divided steel plate 27a is the maximum occupied angle RCa. Similarly, the second divided steel plate 27b has a representative radiation LIb and a maximum occupied angle RCb, and the third divided steel plate 27c has a representative radiation LIc and a maximum occupied angle RCc.

[0187] Furthermore, if the material of each divided steel plate 27 is a sheet rolled in one direction, and the direction in which the sheet material of each divided steel plate 27 was rolled is defined as the rolling direction DA, then the first divided steel plate 27a of the first layer of annular steel plate 22A has a rolling direction DAa, the second divided steel plate 27b and the third divided steel plate 27c have rolling directions DAb and DAc, respectively, and these rolling directions DA are in the same direction. In this example, the rolling directions DAa, DAb, and DAc are parallel to the centerlines of the corners formed by the cutting lines LC at both ends of the circumferential direction of the sector formed by the group of divided steel plates 29 centered on the axis of rotation A.

[0188] Here, the rolling direction DA of each divided steel plate 27 should be such that the angle it makes with the representative radiation LI is smaller than the maximum occupancy angle RC. That is, if ζ is the angular range that extends from the longitudinal direction of the representative radiation LI in both directions by the maximum occupancy angle RC, then the angle between the rolling direction DA and the representative radiation LI should fall within the angular range ζ. In the figure, the angle between the rolling direction DAa and the representative radiation LIa should be within the angular range ζa of the maximum occupancy angle RCa, the angle between the rolling direction DAb and the representative radiation LIb should be within the angular range ζb of the maximum occupancy angle RCb, and the angle between the rolling direction DAc and the representative radiation LIc should be within the angular range ζc of the maximum occupancy angle RCc.

[0189] The above describes one group of segmented steel plates 29 composed of segmented steel plates 27 (27a, 27b, 27c), but the geometric relationship between the angle made by the representative radiation LI with respect to the rolling direction DA and the maximum occupied angle RC is the same for other groups of segmented steel plates 29 composed of segmented steel plates 27 (27d, 27e, 27f), segmented steel plates 27 (27g, 27h, 27i), and segmented steel plates 27 (27j, 27k, 27l). Furthermore, each segmented steel plate 27 of the second layer annular steel plate 22B can be constructed in the same manner.

[0190] By configuring it as described above, the rolling direction DA of each divided steel plate 27 is aligned with respect to the centrifugal force acting radially from the rotation axis A due to the rotation of the rotor 12. As a result, the centrifugal force is applied more uniformly to the rolled material, which has anisotropic material properties, thus improving the rigidity of the laminated iron core 21.

[0191] Furthermore, similar to Embodiment 1, in the sector formed by the divided steel plate group 29, the cutting lines LC at both circumferential ends may be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the center line of the corner formed. An example of this is shown in Figure 40. In the figure, the rolling direction DA (DAa, DAb, DAc) is perpendicular to that of the example in Figure 39.

[0192] Furthermore, the rolling direction DA does not have to be horizontal or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the center line of the angle formed by the cutting lines LC at both ends of the circumferential direction in the sector formed by the rotation axis A of the divided steel plate group 29. As described above, it may be any direction as long as the angle it makes with the representative radiation LI of each divided steel plate 27 or the straight line LJ perpendicular to the representative radiation LI is smaller than the maximum occupied angle RC of each divided steel plate 27.

[0193] Next, the method for manufacturing the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment will be described. The method for manufacturing the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment includes the same punching process (step S2 or S22) and lamination process (steps S6 to S9 or S25 to S28) as the method for manufacturing the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in Embodiment 1. Basic points are the same as in Embodiment 1, so the description will be omitted, and the differences will be explained in detail. This embodiment can also be considered as replacing the divided steel plate 27 of Embodiment 1 with a group of divided steel plates 29.

[0194] In the same punching process (step S2 or S22) as in the manufacturing method of the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment, the arrangement of the punched shapes of the multiple divided steel plates 27 on the base material 60 is such that the divided steel plate group 29, which is composed of multiple divided steel plates 27 arranged continuously on the annular steel plate 22, is arranged with spacing in the same order as the arrangement on the annular steel plate. Furthermore, the arrangement of the divided steel plate group 29 (the divided steel plates 27 that make up the group) on the base material 60 in the punching process (step S2 or S22) is such that (1) the outer circumference of the annular shape of the divided steel plate group 29 is adjacent to and facing each other, or (2) the cutting lines LC of the ends of the divided steel plate group 29 in one direction on the annular steel plate 22 are adjacent to and facing each other.

[0195] Specifically, (1) the inner circumference of the annular shape of the annular steel plate 22 and the outer circumference of the annular shape of another group of divided steel plates 29 are adjacent and facing each other, or (2) the direction from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the group of divided steel plates 29 in the annular steel plate 22 is opposite to that of the group of divided steel plates 29, and the cutting lines of the ends of the annular steel plate 22 in one circumferential direction are adjacent and facing each other.

[0196] Figure 41 is an example of a top view showing the arrangement of punched shapes of divided steel plates 27 on a base material 60 in the manufacturing method of the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment. This arrangement appears in the punching process (step S2 or S22). In the figure, a group of divided steel plates 29, consisting of three divided steel plates 27 (27a, 27b, and 27c), is arranged in a direction parallel to the rolling direction DA of the base material 60. Here, the divided steel plates 27 constituting the group of divided steel plates 29 are arranged in the same order and arrangement as those arranged on the annular steel plate 22. However, there is a gap between the divided steel plates 27. Furthermore, the centerlines of the corners formed by the cutting lines LC at both circumferential ends of the sector shape formed by the group of divided steel plates 29 around the rotation axis A are parallel to the rolling direction DA of the base material 60. Furthermore, the groups of divided steel plates 29 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the base material 60 are positioned such that the inner circumferential contour line LG and the outer circumferential contour line LH of each group of divided steel plates 29 are adjacent to and facing each other.

[0197] In other words, in the punching process (S2 or S22), the arrangement of the punched shapes of the multiple divided steel plates 27 on the base material 60 is such that each divided steel plate 27 of the divided steel plate group 29, which is composed of multiple divided steel plates 27, is arranged so that its inner and outer circumferences are the same and its cutting lines LC are adjacent to and facing each other. In addition, the inner circumference contour line LG of the annular shape of one divided steel plate group and the outer circumference contour line LH of the annular shape of another divided steel plate group 29 are arranged adjacent to and facing each other.

[0198] Furthermore, the arrangement of the punched shapes of the multiple divided steel plates 27 on the base material 60 is such that the divided steel plate groups 29, which are composed of multiple divided steel plates 27 arranged continuously on the annular steel plate 22, are arranged in the same order and with spacing between them as on the annular steel plate 22. The arrangement of the divided steel plate groups on the base material 60 can also be described as the inner circumference side of the annular steel plate 22 and the outer circumference side of the annular shape of another divided steel plate group being adjacent and facing each other.

[0199] In addition, regarding the arrangement of the punched shapes of the group of divided steel plates 29 described above, any punched shapes of divided steel plates 27 that are not arranged adjacent to each other when forming the annular steel plate 22 may be arranged adjacent to each other in the short-side direction of the base material 60.

[0200] As described above, by configuring the arrangement of the shapes on the base material 60 when punching out the shapes of the divided steel plates 27 as described above, the amount of waste of the base material 60 that occurs between the punched shapes of the multiple divided steel plates 27 is reduced, and the yield of the base material 60 is improved.

[0201] Furthermore, when using rolled material with anisotropic material properties, if the arrangement of the punched shapes of the above-mentioned group of divided steel plates 29 is such that the divided steel plates 27 that are arranged adjacent to each other when forming the annular steel plate 22 are arranged adjacent to each other in the short-side direction of the base material 60, then the rolling direction DA on the annular steel plate 22 becomes horizontal to the longitudinal direction of the center line of the angle formed by the cutting lines LC at both ends in the circumferential direction in the sector formed by the group of divided steel plates 29 centered on the rotation axis A. Then, the angle between the rolling direction DA and the representative radiation LI of each divided steel plate 27 becomes smaller than the maximum occupied angle RC of each divided steel plate 27. At this time, the rolling direction DA of each divided steel plate 27 is aligned with respect to the centrifugal force acting radially from the rotation axis A due to the rotation of the rotor 12, and the way in which the centrifugal force is applied to the rolled material with anisotropic material properties becomes more uniform, thus improving the rigidity of the completed laminated core 21.

[0202] As described above, the divided steel sheet group 29 of the first layer annular steel sheet 22A and the divided steel sheet group 29 of the second layer annular steel sheet 22B in the embodiment have the same shape in units of divided steel sheet group 29. Therefore, in step S2 or step S22 of the above manufacturing method, the punched shape from the base material 60 of the divided steel sheet group 29 composed of divided steel sheets 27a, 27b, and 27c can be used as the divided steel sheet group 29 of the first layer annular steel sheet 22A and the second layer annular steel sheet 22B.

[0203] Next, using Figure 42, we will explain an example in which the divided steel plates 27 belonging to the divided steel plate group 29 in the annular steel plate 22 described in (2) above have opposite directions from the inner circumference to the outer circumference, and the cutting lines of the circumferential ends of the divided steel plate group 29 (divided steel plates 27a, 27b, and 27c belonging to it) in the annular steel plate 22 are adjacent to each other and arranged opposite to each other. In the figure, the direction from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the divided steel plate group 29 in the annular steel plate 22 is to the left on the plane of the paper for the upper divided steel plate group 29. In other words, the central axis A1 (which can be considered as the center point) of the annular shape of the upper divided steel plate group 29 is on the left side of the base material 60 on the plane of the paper, and is the center of the annular shape of the contour lines of the divided steel plates 27a, 27b, and 27c. In contrast, the direction from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the lower group of divided steel plates (divided steel plates 27a, 27b, and 27c) adjacent to the upper group of divided steel plates 29 is to the right on the plane of the paper. In other words, the central axis A2 of the annular shape of the lower group of divided steel plates 29 is on the right side of the base material 60 on the plane of the paper and is the center of the annular shape of the contour lines of the divided steel plates 27a, 27b, and 27c. Consequently, the central axis A1 of the upper group of divided steel plates 29 and the central axis A2 of the adjacent lower group of divided steel plates 29 are located on opposite sides of the shorter side of the base material 60.

[0204] Furthermore, the cutting lines LC (LC1, LC2) at one circumferential end of the annular steel plate 22 of the divided steel plate group 29 are arranged on the base material 60 so as to be adjacent and facing each other. Here, the cutting lines LC at one circumferential end of the annular steel plate 22 of the divided steel plate group 29 are the cutting lines LC1, LC2 that form the ends of the divided steel plate group of the divided steel plate 27c. In the manufacturing method of this embodiment, the rotation axis A in the arrangement of the shapes of the divided steel plates 27 lined up on the base material 60 indicates the position that becomes the rotation axis A when the divided steel plate 27 is incorporated into the rotor 12.

[0205] In the manufacturing method of the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1, by configuring the arrangement of the shapes on the base material 60 when punching out the shapes of the divided steel plates 27 as described above, the amount of waste of the base material 60 generated between the punched shapes of the multiple divided steel plates 27 is reduced, and the yield of the base material 60 is improved.

[0206] In Figures 41 and 42, the rolling direction DA of the base material 60 is the longitudinal direction of the base material 60 (up and down direction in the figures). When the above-described group of divided steel plates 29 or divided steel plates 27 are arranged on the base material 60, the rolling direction DA on the annular steel plate 22 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the center line of the angle formed by the cutting lines LC at both ends in the circumferential direction in the sector formed by the group of divided steel plates 29 with respect to the rotation axis A. Furthermore, the angle that the rolling direction DA makes with the straight line LJ perpendicular to the representative radiation LI of each divided steel plate 27 described above is smaller than the maximum occupied angle RC of each divided steel plate 27.

[0207] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 may be joined by bonding the opposing surfaces of adjacent divided steel plates 27 in the axial direction of the rotating shaft A, similar to the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in Embodiment 1 (including Modification 1) (see Figure 21). This configuration has the effect of improving the rigidity of the laminated iron core 21, similar to the rotor 12 of the rotating electric machine 1 in Embodiment 1.

[0208] 1 Rotating electric machine, 11 Stator, 12 Rotor, 21 Laminated iron core, 22 Annular steel plate, 27 Divided steel plate, 28 Through hole, 29 Group of divided steel plates, 30 Magnetic pole region, 31 Maximum inscribed rectangle, 32 Centroid of maximum inscribed rectangle, 50 Adhesive layer, 60 Base material, A Rotation axis, DA Rolling direction, LA Magnetic pole centerline, LB Magnetic pole boundary line, LC Cutting line, LD Centerline, LE Straight line perpendicular to magnetic pole centerline, LI Representative radiation, RA Inter-pole circumferential angle, RB Centerline inclination, RC Maximum occupancy angle, S2 Punching process, S22 Punching process, S6-S9 Lamination process, S25-S28 Lamination process.

Claims

1. The rotating electric machine comprises a laminated core in which annular steel plates are stacked and fixed in the direction of the rotation axis, with the rotation axis at a central point, and magnetic poles are arranged at equal intervals around the rotation axis, wherein the laminated core has a plurality of through holes in the direction of the rotation axis, each having a cross-sectional shape with a width centered on a line segment or curve, extending in the direction of the rotation axis, within a magnetic pole region that extends circumferentially to both sides of the magnetic pole centerline at an inter-pole circumferential angle which is the distance between the magnetic poles, centered on a magnetic pole centerline, and the average rotation angle from a straight line perpendicular to the magnetic pole centerline of the magnetic pole region to which the through hole belongs toward the centerline of the through hole, then the centerline inclinations of at least two of the through holes in the magnetic pole region have inclination angles such that their rotation directions are opposite to each other, and the annular steel plate is divided into a plurality of segmented steel plates, each having at least two of the through holes, by a cutting line connecting the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the annular shape. The rotor of a rotating electric machine, wherein the angle of the centerline inclination of the through holes in the divided steel plate, arranged in the order in which the through holes are aligned in the circumferential direction, is different from the angle of the centerline inclination of adjacent divided steel plates in the rotation axis direction of the divided steel plate.

2. The rotor of a rotating electric machine according to claim 1, wherein adjacent divided steel plates in the direction of the rotation axis are such that the shape obtained by projecting the maximum inscribed rectangle, which is the maximum area of ​​the rectangle inscribed in the contour lines of both divided steel plates, the cutting lines, and the contour lines of the through holes, in the direction of the rotation axis onto a reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis, is different from either the projected shape or the center of gravity of the projected shape, or both.

3. The rotor of a rotating electric machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shape obtained by rotating the divided steel plate in the circumferential direction by an integer multiple of the angle obtained by dividing 360° by the number of divisions obtained by dividing the annular steel plate into the divided steel plate, matches the shape of another divided steel plate belonging to the same annular steel plate.

4. The rotor of a rotating electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the line obtained by projecting the cutting line of the annular steel plate in the direction of the rotation axis onto a reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis coincides with the line obtained by projecting the cutting line of another annular steel plate adjacent to the annular steel plate in the direction of the rotation axis onto the reference plane, which is obtained by rotating the cutting line of that annular steel plate in the first circumferential direction by half an odd multiple of the inter-pole circumferential angle by half.

5. The rotor of a rotating electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the range in which the divided steel plate exists in the circumferential direction is smaller than a range of twice the circumferential angle between the magnetic poles, and the line obtained by projecting the cutting line of the annular steel plate in the direction of the rotation axis onto a reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis coincides with the line obtained by projecting the cutting line of another annular steel plate adjacent to the annular steel plate in the direction of the rotation axis, rotated in the circumferential direction by half the circumferential angle between the magnetic poles, onto the reference plane in the direction of the rotation axis.

6. The rotor of a rotating electric machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the shape of the divided steel plates belonging to one annular steel plate is the same, and differs from the shape of the divided steel plates belonging to an annular steel plate adjacent to the annular steel plate in the direction of the rotation axis, and the number of divisions of the annular steel plate into divided steel plates is the number of magnetic poles.

7. The rotor of a rotating electric machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the annular steel plate having a portion in which the cutting line intersects or overlaps with a magnetic pole boundary line which is the boundary line of the magnetic pole region, and the annular steel plate having a portion in which the cutting line intersects or overlaps with the magnetic pole center line are adjacent in the direction of the rotation axis.

8. The rotor of a rotating electric machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the annular steel plate comprises a plurality of divided steel plate groups formed by connecting a plurality of divided steel plates of different shapes adjacent in the circumferential direction, and the shape obtained by rotating the divided steel plate group by an integer multiple of the angle obtained by dividing 360° by the number of divided steel plate groups belonging to the annular steel plate in the circumferential direction matches the shape of another divided steel plate group belonging to the same annular steel plate.

9. The rotor of a rotating electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the annular steel plate is composed of a plurality of divided steel plates that are continuous in the circumferential direction, the cutting line at the circumferential end coincides with a magnetic pole boundary line which is the boundary of the magnetic pole region extending radially from the rotation axis, and there are a plurality of groups of divided steel plates having a plurality of magnetic pole regions, and the line obtained by projecting the boundary line at the circumferential end of the group of divided steel plates onto a reference plane perpendicular to the rotation axis coincides with the line obtained by rotating the boundary line of a group of divided steel plates adjacent to the group of divided steel plates in the rotation axis direction of the group of divided steel plates by an inter-pole circumferential angle around the rotation axis and projecting it onto the reference plane.

10. The rotor of a rotating electric machine according to claim 2, wherein the divided steel plate has a rolling direction, and a representative radiation is defined as a straight line perpendicular to the axis of rotation passing through the centroid of the largest inscribed rectangle, and the maximum angle between straight lines that intersect the axis of rotation on one surface of the divided steel plate perpendicular to the axis of rotation and that are tangent to or intersect the cutting lines at both ends in the circumferential direction of the axis of rotation, the angle between the representative radiation or the straight line perpendicular to the representative radiation with respect to the rolling direction of all the divided steel plates is smaller than the maximum angle of occupation.

11. The rotor of a rotating electric machine according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the divided steel plates adjacent to each other in the direction of the rotation axis are joined by bonding with an adhesive layer interposed between their opposing surfaces.

12. A rotating electric machine comprising a rotor according to any one of claims 1 to 11, and a stator provided so as to surround the outer circumference of the rotor and causing the rotor to rotate in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis by the force of the magnetic field generated between the rotor and the stator.

13. A method for manufacturing a rotor for a rotating electric machine, comprising a laminated core in which annular steel plates arranged in a state where annular steel plates are stacked in the direction of the rotation axis and fixed, thereby forming magnetic poles at equal intervals around the rotation axis, comprising: a punching step of punching out a plurality of shapes of a plurality of divided steel plates, which are divided by a cutting line connecting the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the annular shape of the annular steel plate, from a base material rolled into a plate shape; a lamination step of arranging the divided steel plates in the circumferential direction to form the annular steel plate, and stacking the annular steel plates in the direction of the rotation axis, wherein the laminated core has a plurality of through holes in the direction of the rotation axis, in a magnetic pole region in which the circumferential angle between the magnetic poles extends to both sides in the circumferential direction, which is the distance between the magnetic poles, with a cross-sectional shape having a width with a line segment or curve as the center line, and which penetrates in the direction of the rotation axis, with the magnetic pole center line as the center line, A method for manufacturing a rotor for a rotating electric machine, wherein the average angle of the center line of the through hole with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the center line of the magnetic pole region to which the through hole belongs is defined as the center line inclination, and the center line inclinations of at least two of the through holes in the magnetic pole region have inclination angles that are opposite to each other in the direction of rotation, the punched-out section of steel has at least two of the through holes, and the lamination step makes the angle sequence, which includes the order of the angles of the center line inclinations of the through holes arranged in one circumferential direction of the section of steel, different from the angle sequence of the center line inclinations of the section of steel adjacent to the section of steel in the direction of the rotation axis of the section of steel.

14. The method for manufacturing a rotating electric machine according to claim 13, wherein the punching step is such that the arrangement of the punched shapes of the plurality of divided steel plates on the base material is such that the inner circumference side of the annular shape of one divided steel plate and the outer circumference side of the annular shape of another divided steel plate are adjacent to and facing each other.

15. The method for manufacturing a rotating electric machine according to claim 13, wherein the punching step is characterized in that the arrangement of the punched shapes of two adjacent divided steel plates on the base material is such that the directions from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the annular shape of the divided steel plate are opposite to each other, and the cutting lines are adjacent to and facing each other.

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