Patent ID: 7462963
Filing Date: 2008-12-09
Classification: B60L,H02K,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A cooling apparatus for a motor having a rotary shaft, a rotor coupled to the rotary shaft, and a stator surrounding the outer periphery of the rotor, the cooling apparatus comprising: (a) an inner coolant path disposed in association with hot areas of the motor, the coolant path having at least one inlet and one outlet and coolant flowing therebetween; (b) a reservoir tank adapted to store coolant and having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet and the outlet of the reservoir tank positioned above the inner coolant path; (c) a coolant supply path that connects the outlet of the reservoir tank to at least one inlet of the inner coolant path; (d) a coolant return path that connects at least one outlet of the inner coolant path to the inlet of the reservoir tank; (e) at least one valve interposed between the coolant supply path and at least one inlet of the inner coolant path to stop the backflow of coolant toward the coolant supply path from the inner coolant path; and (f) a first heat-dissipating mechanism disposed in association with the coolant return path to dissipate the heat of the coolant in the coolant return path.