Patent ID: 8161643
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: H02K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for forming a cooling jacket for an electric motor comprising the steps of: (a) extruding a jacket body that includes an outer peripheral wall, an inner peripheral wall, and a plurality of discrete cooling passages located between the inner and the outer peripheral walls, the jacket body to substantially surround a motor component; (b) attaching a jacket end cap to each end of the jacket body; (c) forming at least one fluid inlet in the outer peripheral wall to direct cooling fluid into the jacket body; (d) forming at least one fluid outlet in the outer peripheral wall to direct heated fluid away from the jacket body such that the plurality of discrete cooling passages defines a cooling flow path that bypasses jacket end caps as fluid moves from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet; and (e) dividing the jacket body into first and second sections to form separate first and second fluid paths around opposing circumferential portions of a motor component, associating the at least one fluid inlet with one discrete cooling passage with cooling fluid being directed in opposing directions from the fluid inlet such that fluid flows initially in one direction into the first fluid path and in an opposite direction into the second fluid path, and associating the at least one fluid outlet with another discrete cooling passage such that fluid from the first and second fluid paths flows towards each other before exiting the fluid outlet.