Wave-Profile Cooling Wheel for Quiet Bidirectional Stator Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling wheels for electric motors produce noise due to radially extending blade edges and are inefficient when rotated in the opposite direction, limiting their cooling effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A cooling wheel with a single, annular, wave-like cooling blade that encircles the axis of rotation, featuring a closed cooling surface with a wave-like profile that alternates in the circumferential direction, minimizing radial edges and ensuring efficient air flow generation independent of rotation direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional cooling wheels use multiple identical blades with radially extending edges, then cooling function is provided, but noise is generated by blade edges interacting with the stator
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling wheel is divided into multiple identical cooling blades arranged circumferentially, each blade being a separate element that can be independently optimized. This segmentation allows the removal of radially extending edges from each blade while maintaining the overall cooling function through the collective action of all blades.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling blades are designed with curved surfaces instead of straight radially extending edges. The blade edges follow circumferential curves that eliminate sharp radial transitions, reducing noise generation while maintaining effective air flow generation for cooling the stator.
2Productivity
If cooling wheels are designed with blades aligned in a predetermined direction, then cooling efficiency is improved in one direction, but cooling becomes extremely inefficient when rotating in the opposite direction
Solution Approach 1:
Each cooling blade is designed with asymmetric geometry relative to the rotation direction, but the overall arrangement of multiple identical blades around the circumference creates a symmetric system that functions effectively in both rotation directions. The asymmetry of individual blades optimizes air flow in the primary direction while the circumferential arrangement ensures bidirectional capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling wheel design provides universal cooling function that works effectively regardless of rotation direction. The identical circumferential arrangement of multiple blades ensures that the cooling mechanism maintains its functionality whether the rotor rotates clockwise or counter-clockwise, making the system adaptable to variable rotation directions.
3Productivity
If multiple individual cooling blades are used to generate airflow, then cooling function is achieved, but the structure becomes complex and dirt can accumulate between blades
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cooling blades are merged into a single integrated cooling wheel structure where the blades are continuously arranged around the circumference. This merging reduces structural complexity compared to separate blade assemblies and eliminates gaps between individual blades where dirt could accumulate, while maintaining the cooling function through the continuous blade structure.
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 reduces noise generation and enhances cooling efficiency by creating a continuous air flow that effectively dissipates heat from the stator, regardless of the direction of rotation, while preventing dirt accumulation and maintaining a sealed environment.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling blade has a cooling surface extending from the inner edge to the outer edge, preferably completely closed in both the circumferential and radial directions. Furthermore, the cooling surface and/or the cooling blade exhibits a predetermined, wave-like profile in the circumferential direction
Implementation Method 2
an airflow is generated which is conveyed between the individual cooling wheels
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooling wheel (1) for cooling a stator (4) of an electric motor (2), wherein the cooling wheel (1) can be fixed in a rotationally fixed manner to a rotor (3) of the electric motor (2) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (X), wherein the cooling wheel (1) has an annular cooling vane (10) extending from a radially inner inner edge (11) to a radially outer outer edge (12) and circumferentially (U) around the axis of rotation (X) for generating an airflow, wherein the cooling vane (10) has a cooling surface (13) extending from the inner edge (11) to the outer edge (12) and wherein the cooling surface (13) and/or the cooling vane (10) has a predetermined and alternating profile (V) parallel to the axis of rotation (X) in the circumferential direction (U).