ELECTRIC MOTOR

摘要

An electric motor includes a rotor and a stator. The stator is fixed with respect to the drive-unit housing and includes windings, and the rotor is configured to rotate inside the stator about an axis. An air gap is defined between the rotor and the stator. The electric motor also includes an end-ring fixed to the rotor for rotation therewith. The electric motor is cooled by gravity feed via a fluid flowing onto and past the stator windings, from the windings to the rotor, and from the rotor back to the stator. The end-ring includes an annular channel configured to catch the fluid flowing from the windings to the rotor and divert the fluid away from the air gap as the fluid flows from the rotor back to the stator, thereby limiting spin losses in the electric motor. An electro-mechanical drive-unit employing the above-described electric motor is also disclosed.

主权项

1. An electro-mechanical drive-unit connectable with at least one power source for launching and propelling a vehicle, comprising:
an input member and an output member; a drive-unit housing; a gearing arrangement operatively connected to each of the output and input members; a pump configured to circulate fluid inside the drive-unit housing; and an electric motor including:
a stator fixed with respect to the drive-unit housing and having windings;a rotor operatively connected to the gearing arrangement and configured to rotate within the stator about an axis, wherein an air gap is defined between the rotor and the stator; andan end-ring fixed to the rotor for rotation therewith;wherein:
the electric motor is cooled by gravity feed via the fluid flowing onto and past the windings of the stator, from the windings to the rotor, and from the rotor back to the stator; andthe end-ring includes an annular channel configured to catch the fluid flowing from the windings to the rotor and divert the fluid away from the air gap as the fluid flows from the rotor back to the stator, thereby limiting spin losses in the electric motor.