Patent ID: 9698638
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: H02K

Claim:
1. A cooling system for an electric machine, the cooling system comprising: a stator defining at least one stator axial channel; a rotor defining at least one rotor axial channel; an inlet port in fluid communication with the stator and rotor axial channels; a rotor shaft and a plurality of fan blades, the rotation of which pulls air from the inlet port into the electric machine; a plurality of radial passages in fluid communication with the stator and rotor axial channels; an airflow diverter feature including a circular disk mounted to the housing of the electric machine, the disk defining a plurality of holes arranged circumferentially around a center of the disk such that airflow drawn in through the inlet port is separated such that a first airflow is diverted through the at least one rotor axial channel and a second airflow is diverted into the at least one stator axial channel; the plurality of radial passages including at least one interior choke and at least one exhaust choke, the interior choke and the exhaust choke being located to draw a portion of airflow from the at least one rotor axial channel and control a rate of airflow through the radial passages; wherein the at least one interior choke and the at least one exhaust choke are located such that the first airflow is divided into a radial airflow and an axial airflow; wherein the radial and axial airflows join up with the second airflow in the stator axial channel and the joined up airflow is communicated to an exhaust port.