Patent ID: 7443062
Filing Date: 2008-10-28
Classification: H02K

Abstract:
1. A rotor for an electric motor, comprising: a plurality of laminations having a substantially circular cross section, wherein the plurality of laminations are substantially aligned and adjacently placed with respect to one another; end members disposed at ends of the plurality of laminations and which cooperate to secure the plurality of laminations to form the rotor; a plurality of electrically conductive members extending through the plurality of laminations, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive members and the end members cooperate to form at least one closed electrical pathway; and a plurality of heat-removing members extending through the plurality of laminations in a straight line from one end of the rotor to an opposite end of the rotor, each heat-removing member having a central axis offset from the rotor central axis in a manner such that the heat-removing members together describe a conical shape within the rotor laminations when rotating about the rotor central axis; wherein the plurality of heat-removing members comprise a plurality of heat pipes each having a sealed inner volume partially-filled with a liquid; wherein at least one heat pipe-interior volume has a substantially triangular cross-section; wherein the interior volume comprises an arcuate surface; and wherein the arcuate surface corresponds to a radius of rotation of the heat-removing member about the rotor central axis.