Electric Machine Stator Winding Overhang Sealing for Heat Dissipation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing winding head casting process for electrical machines is complex, costly, and inefficient in heat dissipation, leading to hotspots and reduced performance due to poor thermal connection between the winding head and the aluminum housing.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the application of a polymer layer to span the gaps between the winding ends and the laminated core, preventing the flow of liquid medium and allowing for a simplified winding head casting process without additional tools, using a thermoplastic hot melt adhesive applied in a network structure to ensure effective thermal conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the winding head is left with air gaps for standard manufacturing, then the manufacturing process is simple, but heat dissipation is poor causing hotspots

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The polymer layer is applied to the stator before the winding head casting process, preliminarily sealing the gaps between winding ends. This preliminary action prevents liquid casting compound from penetrating into the stator interior and creates a controlled pathway for heat dissipation, eliminating the need for complex internal mandrels and multiple processing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The polymer layer acts as an intermediary substance between the winding ends and the liquid casting compound. It selectively allows the liquid medium to flow through designated paths while blocking unwanted penetration, thereby controlling the casting process and enabling simplified manufacturing without compromising heat dissipation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If impellers are installed for heat dissipation, then cooling is improved, but the motor performance and efficiency are negatively impacted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidmotor performance and efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the impeller component from the motor design. Instead of using mechanical impellers to drive air convection, the polymer layer creates passive thermal pathways that allow heat dissipation without rotating parts, thereby maintaining motor performance and efficiency while achieving effective cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The polymer layer enables the winding head to self-regulate heat dissipation through its inherent structure. The material's properties allow it to conduct heat away from hotspots and distribute thermal energy passively, eliminating the need for active cooling mechanisms like impellers that would interfere with motor performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Temperature

If winding head encapsulation with thermally conductive molding material is used, then heat dissipation is improved, but material and process costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidprocess cost and complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The polymer layer serves as a cost-effective, disposable sealing layer that is applied once before casting. It performs its function of preventing liquid compound penetration and facilitating heat dissipation without requiring expensive thermally conductive molding materials or complex encapsulation processes, thereby significantly reducing material and process costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the approach to thermal management by using a polymer layer with specific thermal properties rather than expensive thermally conductive molding compounds. This parameter change in material selection and application method achieves effective heat dissipation while dramatically reducing both material costs and process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This approach simplifies the winding head casting process, enhances heat dissipation by thermally connecting the winding head to the housing, reduces material and energy costs, and improves the performance class of the motor by minimizing hotspots and extending the service life.

Implementation Method 1

at least one of the intermediate spaces is spanned with a polymer layer in such a way that a flow of liquid medium through the at least one spanned intermediate space is prevented

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

A method involving the application of a polymer layer to span the gaps between the winding ends and the laminated core, preventing the flow of liquid medium and allowing for a simplified winding head casting process without additional tools, using a thermoplastic hot melt adhesive applied in a network structure to ensure effective thermal conductivity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4248552B1Stator for an electric rotating machine
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 INNOMOTICS GMBH
  • EP4248552B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4248552B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4248552B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a stator of an electric machine, the stator (1) comprising: - a laminated core (2) having grooves (21); and - a winding overhang (4); wherein: windings (22) are inserted into the grooves (21); the winding overhang (4) is formed from winding ends (23) protruding from the grooves (21) and has a distance (5) from a laminated core end (24); in a region between the laminated core end (24) and the winding overhang (4), the winding ends (23) run in such a way that, in said region, intermediate spaces (6) are formed between the winding ends (23); at least one of the intermediate spaces (6) is spanned by a polymer layer (7) such that the flow of liquid medium through the at least one covered intermediate space (6) is prevented.