Stator Cooling Structure with Elastic Sealing for Thermal Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling structures for stators in rotating electric machines face challenges with thermal expansion differences between housing and stator holder materials, leading to sealability issues and increased size due to large O-ring deformation, which can result in twisting and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
A cooling structure featuring a housing, stator core, stator holder, and annular sealing members with a coolant channel, where the stator holder is made of iron and the housing of aluminum, with annular sealing members that deform elastically to accommodate thermal expansion differences, preventing twisting and maintaining a sealed state through axial and radial deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If housing and stator holder are made of different materials to accommodate thermal expansion, then thermal compatibility is improved, but manufacturing precision and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes material parameters to achieve thermal compatibility by selecting aluminum for the housing and iron for the stator holder. This material selection strategy addresses thermal expansion differences while the design incorporates features like coolant channels and sealing member arrangements that facilitate precise assembly despite using different materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing members act as intermediaries between the housing and stator holder, accommodating the dimensional variations caused by different material thermal expansions. This intermediary element allows the use of dissimilar materials while maintaining assembly precision and functional reliability.
2Volume of moving object
If coolant channel size is reduced for compact design, then device size is reduced, but cooling effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested coolant channels within the stator holder structure, where coolant passages are integrated into the stator holder body itself. This nesting approach allows effective cooling functionality to be embedded within the compact stator holder, achieving both small overall device size and adequate cooling effectiveness without requiring larger external coolant channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes thin-walled coolant channels formed within the stator holder structure. These thin-film-like coolant passages provide sufficient cooling surface area and fluid flow paths while occupying minimal space, enabling compact device design without sacrificing cooling effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively maintains sealability and reduces the size of the coolant channel, allowing for a more compact design while accommodating material expansion differences, preventing twisting of sealing members during assembly and ensuring reliable cooling.
Implementation Method 1
an annular sealing member disposed between a surface of the stator holder near the other end in the axial direction and an inner wall of the housing near the other end in the axial direction. In a state in which the flange is in contact with and fixed to the surface of the housing near the one end in the axial direction by using the fastening member, the surface of the stator holder near the other end in the axial direction and the sealing member are pressed against each other in the axial direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A housing includes a housing center axis, a first end surface, a second end surface opposite to the first end surface in a direction of the housing center axis, a housing large inner peripheral surface, a housing small inner peripheral surface, and a housing step surface connecting the housing large inner peripheral surface and the housing small inner peripheral surface to face toward the first end surface. A stator holder includes an annular wall, a first flange fixed to the housing so that the first flange surface contacts the first end surface, and a second flange having a second flange second surface which faces the housing step surface. A annular sealing member is provided between the second flange second surface and the housing step surface to be pressed toward the second end surface via the second flange.