Patent ID: 8970075
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: H02K

Abstract:
1. A liquid-cooled, radial air gap electric motor comprising: a stator having motor windings; a rotor having an at least partially hollow rotor shaft configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of rotation; a housing; a coolant sump disposed at the bottom of the housing; a first and a second end-bell, the first end-bell disposed at a first end of the motor housing and the second end-bell disposed at a second end of the motor housing, the first and second end-bells carrying rotor shaft bearings supporting the at least partially hollow rotor shaft; and a coolant manifold coupled to the first end-bell and configured to receive a liquid coolant through a coolant inlet port from a liquid coolant source and to distribute the liquid in at least a the first path into the at least partially hollow rotor shaft, wherein from the at least partially hollow rotor shaft the liquid coolant may flow radially outward in operation through one or more shaft radial holes in the at least partially hollow rotor shaft and then longitudinally into a rotor coolant passage formed in the rotor, and then into the sump, the second path radially outward in operation through one or more inlet radial holes in the coolant inlet port and then longitudinally into a peripheral coolant passage formed in a gap disposed between the housing and the stator, and then into the sump.