Abstract:
A connection housing ( 11 ) which arranged outside on the motor housing ( 9 ), receives electrical connections as well as electronic components and, with respect to the motor axis, extends peripherally and axially of the motor housing ( 9 ). The connection housing ( 11 ) comprises two individual housings ( 12, 13 ) which are connected to one another and whose interiors are connected.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a United States National Phase Application of International Application PCT/EP2012/076493 filed Dec. 20, 2012 and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of European Patent Application EP 11195636.3 filed Dec. 23, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to an electric motor, in particular a canned motor, with a connection housing which is arranged outside on the motor housing, receives electrical connections as well as electronic components and with respect to the motor axis extends peripherally and axially of the motor housing. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Electric motors of the mentioned type are applied for the most varied of purposes and are on the market in comprehensive constructional designs. In particular, such electric motors are also applied as drive motors for centrifugal pumps and are then often designed as a canned motor, wherein the rotor runs in a can filled with fluid, and the can is filled for example with the delivery fluid of the pump, and a part flow of the delivery flow flows through this can. 
         [0004]    With electric motors, it is common for these to comprise a so-called terminal box, i.e. a connection housing which is arranged outside on the motor housing and which receives electrical connections as well as electronic components. With electric motors, it is counted as belonging to the state of the art, to arrange such a connection housing peripherally with respect to the motor axis or also axially, i.e. at an end-side of the motor. Connection housings are also known, which extend peripherally as well as on the end-side, e.g. with the heating circulation pumps marketed by Grundfos under the name Magna type 32-60. Thereby, the connection housing typically serves for connecting the motor windings to the electric supply mains, thus for connecting the motor to the supply mains as well as for receiving electronic components. In the simplest case, these can be suppression capacitors or likewise. With modern motors, this connection housing mostly yet comprises motor electronics. This on the one hand can be power electronics, and on the other hand microprocessors, and the electronic components which are common in the context of digital signal processing. In particular, with modern motors controlled by frequency converter, as are regularly applied nowadays with centrifugal pumps but also with other drive applications, it is counted as belonging to the state of the art, to arrange the frequency converter electronics completely or partly in the connection housing. 
         [0005]    It is particularly the case when the power electronics are arranged in the connection housing, that it is necessary to effectively and securely lead away the waste heat arising in the housing. In order to ensure this, the connection housings of the known construction type are mostly designed of metal and are provided with cooling ribs, or however the power electronics are cooled via a cooling body arranged outside on the housing or by way of other suitable cooling measures. These cooling bodies require a lot of space and increase the dimensions of the electric motor. It is often problematic that heat-sensitive components also need to be arranged in the connection housing. The design of the housing or housing part of metal is complicated and extensive. Different housings are always necessary for different power sizes and connection housing variants, which requires quite some effort with regard to manufacture, tooling and storage. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Against this background, it is an object of the invention to design an electric motor of the known type, such that the previously mentioned disadvantages are at least reduced, i.e. to improve the connection housing with regard to arrangement, design and accommodation of the connections and electronic components, which are arranged therein. 
         [0007]    The electric motor according to the invention, which in particular is designed and envisaged as a canned motor for the drive of a centrifugal pump, comprises a connection housing which is arranged outside on the motor housing, receives electrical connections as well as electronic components and extends peripherally and axially of the motor housing with respect to the motor axis. According to the invention, the connection housing comprises two individual housings which are connected to one another and whose interiors are connected. 
         [0008]    The basic concept of the present invention is to provide two individual housings which are connected to one another and to connect their interiors to one another, instead of providing a common connection housing for connections and electronic components, as was hitherto the case. 
         [0009]    Surprisingly, it has been found that the arrangement of two individual housings connected to one another entails numerous advantages compared to the known single individual housing. 
         [0010]    Thus, the individual housings can be of different materials and thus can be better adapted to the respective application purpose. An improved thermal separation can be effected by way of the arrangement of two individual housings. Due to the fact that the individual housings are connected to one another, these can be handled as one housing, and thus it is not the case that two housings are to be fastened separately, but as the case may be, the fastening can be effected only via an individual housing or at both individual housings. Not only can the electrical connection between the housings be provided in a practically infinite manner and in a manner which is simple with regard to design, but as will yet be explained in detail further below, one can effect a particularly advantageous utilization of space of the individual housings, without for example electronic components or likewise necessarily having to be adapted to the size of one of the two individual housings, all this due to the interiors of the individual housing being connected, in accordance with the invention. 
         [0011]    Thereby, according to the invention, advantageously an individual housing is designed as an axial housing and the other individual housing is designed as a radial housing. Axial housing within the context of the invention means that this connects to the motor housing in the axial direction, thus in the direction of the rotation axis of the motor. Radial housing in the context of the invention means that this connects radially to the motor housing, thus essentially radially to the rotation axis of the motor. By way of the radial and axial arrangement of the individual housings, on the one hand the space present on the peripheral side of the motor housing and on the other hand the space present at the end-side of the motor housing usually at one side, can be utilized, in order in this way to realize an electric motor which is built in a compact manner. 
         [0012]    Thereby, it is particularly advantageous if only one of the individual housings comprise lead feed-throughs into the outer surroundings. Typically, this is at least the lead feed-through for the electrical supply lead. However, one can also provide further lead feed-throughs, for example control leads, leads to sensors or likewise. If all these lead feed-throughs are provided in only one individual housing, the other individual housing, as the case may be, can be designed as a closed housing, thus does not compellingly need a re-openable cover. This arrangement also has the advantage that only one individual housing requires these comparatively extensive lead seals, whilst the other individual housing can be designed as a quasi closed housing. Thus, only one individual housing needs to be provided for the accessibility from the outside, for example in order to connect the supply lead within the housing. 
         [0013]    Thereby, it is particularly advantageous if the one or more lead feed-throughs are arranged in a radial peripheral wall of the axial housing. Such an arrangement is particularly useful with the use of the electric motor for the drive of a centrifugal pump, since then the electric connection leads are led out at a location which is far away from the fluid-leading pump and moreover the free end-side of the axial housing can be used for display and operating elements. Since it is particularly the case with circulation pumps that the arrangement is always such that the motor axis is arranged in a lying manner, i.e. is arranged horizontally, the lead feed-through in a radial peripheral wall of the axial housing is also advantageous with regard to the installation situation, since the leads are led out of the axial housing laterally at the end of the motor, thus where usually no high thermal and/or mechanical loading is present. 
         [0014]    The individual housings according to a further development of the invention are advantageously constructed in a multi-part manner, wherein the materials of at least two components of the individual housings differ in thermal conductivity by at least a power of ten. Due to this arrangement, one the one hand a targeted discharge of heat from the power electronics which are arranged in an individual housing, can be achieved, and on the other hand, in regions which are not burdened too much with heat, one can apply materials which are not particularly selected for design with regard to thermal conductivity, but rather with regard to manufacturing costs, weight and manufacture. Thereby, typically one of the components is designed of highly thermally conductive metal, e.g. a light metal alloy, whereas the other individual housing component or components can be inexpensively designed of plastic as plastic injection molded parts. Such a design also serves for the modular construction, to the extent that a metallic individual housing which is comparatively expensive to manufacture, is applied for a multitude of different connection housings, wherein the other components consisting of plastic can be varied. A multitude of different connection boxes, for example for electric motors of a different power or for controls of different electronic equipment, can be manufactured inexpensively by way of this, with only one individual housing part. 
         [0015]    Advantageously, the individual housings are each constructed of a base body and a cover, wherein the cover is arranged on the side of the base body which lies opposite and away from the motor housing, thus lies at the outside and is easily accessible. 
         [0016]    According to an advantageous further development of the invention, a display and/or operating unit is provided, which is arranged in the cover of an individual housing, and specifically preferably in the cover of the axial housing. This free end-side of the electric motor is particularly favourable for attaching a display and/or operating unit, since the accessibility and visibility is typically at its best in this region. It is particularly with the use of the electric motor as a centrifugal pump drive, that this side is furthest way from the piping of the pump and thus mostly easily accessible. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the connection housing of the electric motor according to the invention is envisaged and designed for receiving an electronic speed controller for the motor. Then it is particularly advantageous for the individual housing to receive the power part of the speed controller and for the other individual housing to receive the motor control, since then the motor control can be arranged in a space which is less exposed to the development of heat, compared to the power electronics. A targeted cooling of the one individual housing which receives the power part of the speed controller can then be provided, whereas the other individual housing can typically be designed without any special design measures for cooling. 
         [0018]    One embodiment variant which is particularly advantageous with regard to design, results if the radial housing extends over the axial housing, and the individual housings are connected to one another in this region. Thereby, it is useful to connect to individual housings in this region not only to one another, but in the regions, in which the individual housings connect to one another, to provide recesses which are flush with one another, in the walls of both housings, as well as sealing means which surround these, and fastening means which fix the individual housings on one another. The recesses in the housings are advantageously provided in the walls, in which the radial housing projects beyond the axial housing, thus in a radial wall of the radial housing as well as in a radial wall of the axial housing. By way of this arrangement, it is possible to fix parts having a large height on a circuit board arranged in the radial housing, on the circuit board side in the radial housing and to permit them to project to into the axial housing, without a separate circuit board having to be provided for these components in the axial housing. 
         [0019]    Advantageously, a positive-fit connection is selected for connecting the individual housings, for example one or more click connections and/or lock connections, which are provided in one of the components and which lock in the other component, for example spring tongues or likewise. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the radial housing is fastened on the motor housing and specifically is preferably fastened by screw. In order to give the axial housing an adequate fastening stability, according to a further development of the invention, one envisages providing guide means between the motor housing and the axial housing, which hold the axial housing on the motor housing with a positive fit. The stability of the fastening of the individual housings is significantly increased by way of this, without having to provide fastening means which are to be handled separately. With a suitable design and alignment of the guide means, the positive-fit fastening of the axial housing on the motor housing when sliding on the connection housing can be effected such that both individual housings are fixedly connected to the motor housing after fastening the radial housing on this motor housing. 
         [0021]    The radial housing which preferably receives the power electronics of the electronic speed controller, advantageously comprises a metallic base body which is provided with cooling ribs and on which a circuit board having power electronics is arranged, of which power components are connected to the base body in a heat-conducting manner, wherein the power components are arranged on the base of the base body in the regions which are lateral with respect to the longitudinal axis of the motor. The heat of the power electronics can be reliably dissipated via this base body provided with cooling means. 
         [0022]    With regard to the cooling effect, it is particularly advantageous if the cooling ribs of the radial housing are directed towards the motor housing and preferably transversely to the motor axis. In particular, with the use of highly effective permanent magnet motors, as are preferably applied for the present invention, the waste heat produced by the electric motor is typically less than that produced by the power electronics of the speed controller. For this reason, it makes sense to transversely rib the radial housing, preferably in a manner such that the cooling ribs on the motor housing are continued, so that an intensive convection flow results when the motor is arranged in a lying manner and in particular when the radial housing is arranged on the upper side. Thereby, the cooling ribs of the radial housing advantageously extend in a free space formed between the base of the base body of the radial housing and the motor housing, thus utilise the free space formed between the essentially cylindrical motor housing and the base body, in order to achieve a particularly intensive convection cooling there. 
         [0023]    Since permanent magnet motors are designed in a compact manner, depending on the power stage, it can be the case that a convection cooling by way of cooling ribs on the lower side of the base body of the radial housing which are arranged preferably transversely to the motor axis, are not sufficient in order to cool the power electronics of the speed controller, and then, according to an advantageous further development of the invention, the radial housing can be extended in the axial direction of the motor beyond the base body and be designed as a cooling body in the extended region. With this arrangement too, a free space which is present in any case may be utilized in order to provide the necessary cooling surfaces for convection cooling on the radial housing. 
         [0024]    Advantageously, not only the base body of the radial housing, but also the motor housing carrying this can be designed in a metallic manner, wherein the motor housing is also provided with cooling ribs which are arranged radially and transversely to the motor axis and which are preferably arranged flush with the cooling ribs of the radial housing. 
         [0025]    Usefully, a circuit board which carries the electric components e.g. of the speed controller, is arranged within the radial housing, and this circuit board extends through the radial housing in a surfaced manner, and specifically advantageously to into the part of the radial housing which projects beyond the axial housing or, if the axial housing connects to the radial housing in a plane transverse to the motor housing, to into the axial housing. In this manner, despite the arrangement of two individual housings, one can use a common, large circuit board which would not thus be able to be accommodated in one of the individual housings, at least when equipped. 
         [0026]    Thus according to a further development of the invention, one envisages the circuit board in the region of the axial housing being provided with one or more electronic components which on the one hand have a construction size which could not be accommodated in the radial housing or only with difficulty, and on the other hand in the most favourable case are accommodated in a cooler housing part. This component can thus have a constructional height perpendicular to the circuit board, which is greater that the height of the space formed between the circuit board and the base or circuit board and cover of the radial housing, in which space this component or these components project through the flush recesses in the walls which are adjacent one another, into the other housing. Thus, thermal, as well as spatial, advantages are achieved by way of this. 
         [0027]    If the radial housing, at least the base body consists of a metallic material, then a metallic wall which extends from the base of the base body to the circuit board and thus forms a part of an electromagnetic shielding can be formed in this radial housing or base body. A metallic shielding results for the components on the circuit board which are enclosed by this wall, due to the fact that this wall is advantageously designed as one piece with the base body. It is thus not necessary to envisage a separate shielding component here. 
         [0028]    The electric motor according to the invention is basically available as a dry-runner for a multitude of applications, but is particularly advantageously applied as a wet-running motor for the drive of a centrifugal pump, thus forms part of a centrifugal pump assembly. 
         [0029]    The invention is hereinafter explained in more detail by way of embodiment examples represented in the drawings. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    In the drawings: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  is a partly sectioned representation, in a simplified perspective, of a pump assembly; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is an exploded representation of the connection housing of the electric motor of the pump assembly according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a perspective representation of the base housing of the radial housing; 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is a representation from a different perspective from that according to  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a perspective representation showing the connection housing according to  FIG. 2 , in the assembled condition; 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is an exploded representation of another embodiment of the connection housing; 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  is an exploded representation of a further embodiment of a connection housing; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  is a an exploded representation of the connection housing according to  FIG. 7 , with a removed cover of the axial housing. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]    Referring to the drawings in particular, the pump assembly which is represented by way of  FIG. 1  comprises a centrifugal pump  1  which is driven by an electric motor  2 . The centrifugal pump  1  comprises a pump housing  3  with a suction union  4  and a pressure union  5 . An impeller  6  is rotatably mounted within the pump housing  3  and is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a rotor  7  of a permanent magnet motor  2  which connects to the impeller in the axis direction, and the stator  8  of this permanent magnet motor is surrounded by a motor housing  9 . The rotor  7  is which is seated in a canned pot and runs in fluid, is rotatably arranged within the stator  8 . The motor housing  9  is releasably connected to the pump housing  3  and has an essentially cylindrical shape. It is formed of metal as a die-cast component and comprises cooling rings  10  running radially at a distance to one another and surrounding the motor housing  9  by somewhat more than 180° of the periphery. 
         [0040]    A connection housing  11  which consists of two individual housing parts, specifically of an axial housing  12  and a radial housing  13 , is attached on the motor housing  9 . The axial housing  12  seen in the direction of the rotation axis of the motor connects axially onto the motor housing  9 , thus onto the free end-side  14  of the motor housing  9  which lies opposite and away from the pump housing. The radial housing  13  extends essentially in the radial direction to the motor axis, thus connects radially onto the motor housing  9 , and specifically in the region in which the motor housing  9  is not ribbed. 
         [0041]    Each of the individual housings  12  and  13  consists of a base body and a cover. 
         [0042]    The base body  15  of the radial housing  13  consist of a light metal alloy and is designed as a die cast component. The base body  15  is designed in a trough-like manner and with its base is screw-fastened on the motor housing  9 . The base body  15  is designed in a ribbed manner towards the motor housing  9 , wherein the cooling ribs  16  are likewise arranged transversely to the rotation axis of the motor, distanced to one another, in a manner such that they continue the cooling ribs  10  of the motor housing  9  in a flush manner. A larger distance between the base body  15  and the motor housing  9  and which is filled by the cooling ribs  16  which have a significantly greater height in this region, results in the side regions, since the base body  15  is only partly adapted to the rounding of the motor housing  9 . The base body  15  has a projection  17 , with which this extends beyond the axial end of the motor housing  9  into the region of the axial housing  12 . The base body  15  in this region projecting beyond the axial housing  12 , comprises a elongate-hole-like recess  18  in the base, said recess extending almost over the whole projecting region and being arranged flush to a recess  19  in a side wall of a base body  20  of the axial housing  12  connecting onto the motor housing  9  at the end-side which is opposite and away from the pump housing  3 . This axial housing  12  continues the outer contour of the motor housing and radial housing  13  in the region of the motor in the axial direction and is closed off at one side by the projection  17  of the radial housing  13 . 
         [0043]    The base body  15  of the radial housing  13  is closed off by a cover  21  which is designed as a plastic injection molded part and closes off the trough-like base body  15  including the projection  17 , to the outside in a sealed manner. The cover  21  comprises an integrally formed seal and is releasably fastened on the base body  15  by way of screws. 
         [0044]    The base body  20  of the axial housing  12  also comprise a cover  22  which is screw-fastened in a releasable manner on the base body  20  likewise formed in an essentially trough-like manner and closes this base body in a sealed manner via an integrally formed seal. 
         [0045]    The cover  22  and also the base body  20  are designed as plastic injection molded parts. The cover  22  contains all display and operating elements  23  of the complete assembly. 
         [0046]    The axial housing  12  contains the motor control as well as all lead feed-throughs into the connection housing  11 . In the represented embodiment example, a central lead feed-through  24  for a mains supply lead is provided, as well as four lead feed-throughs  25  which can be used only when required for control leads, sensor leads or likewise, but are otherwise closed in a sealed manner by a plug. The lead leading to the supply mains is connected within the axial housing  12 . 
         [0047]    The axial housing  12  and radial housing  13  are connected to one another with a positive fit via their base bodies  20  and  15 , and specifically in the region of the recesses  17  and  18 . The axial housing  12  in the region of its recess  19  comprises spring-elastic tongues which are led through the recess  18  in the base of the radial housing  13  and spring back behind the recess  18  in the manner of a barb, by which means these housings are connected to one another with a positive fit by way of simply putting them together. An integrally formed seal in this region ensures a hermetic closure to the outside. 
         [0048]    The base bodies  15  and  20  thus after being equipped are connected to one another by way of simply sticking or putting together, whereupon the connection housing joined together in such a manner is placed radially onto the motor housing  9  and fastened on this. Guides  20   b  which fix the axial housing with a positive fit when placing onto the motor housing  9  and which engage behind, between the end-side  14  of the motor housing  9  and the base of the base body  20   a  connecting thereof, are provided in order to also fix the axial housing  12  on the motor housing  9  with a positive fit. These positive-fit means have the effect that with a force action on the axial housing  12 , the positive-fit connection with the base body  20  and the recess  18  remain practically unloaded, but the external forces acting on the axial housing  12  are accommodated directly by the motor housing  9 . 
         [0049]    The base body  15  of the radial housing  13  on account of its material consisting of a light metal alloy has a thermal conductivity which is greater than that of the remaining housing parts of the connection housing  11  by more than a power of ten. The power components of the speed controller are therefore built in the base body  15 . A circuit board is arranged within the radial housing  13  and extends almost over the entire length and width of the housing and the projection  17 . 
         [0050]    A central plug  27  engages into this circuit board  26  and is led in a sealing manner through a central recess  28  in the base of the base body  15  and contacts the windings of the motor via a recess which is provided flush to this in the motor housing  9 . 
         [0051]    Connection surfaces  29  and  30  are formed in the lateral regions of the radial housing  13 , thus where the cooling rids  16  have their furthest extension, and these connection surfaces are connected in a thermally conductive manner to the power components arranged on the circuit board. 
         [0052]    Moreover, a perpendicular wall  31  is formed within the base body  15  and in the installed position reaches to the circuit board  26  and together with the base and a side wall of the base body  15  forms an enclosure for electronic components which by way of this enclosure are encapsulated in a manner protected from spurious radiation. 
         [0053]    Whilst the heat-producing power components of the rotational speed controller are arranged in the region of the trough-like base body  15 , the components which due to their constructional size, in particular height in the installed condition, would not fit in the free space formed between the circuit board  26  and the base body  15 , are led through the recess  18  so that these project into the axial housing  12 . Hereby, it is also the case of components which are to be advantageously arranged in a cooler environment than that of the power electronics. Two capacitors  32  which are arranged in the region of the projection  17  on the circuit board  26 , pass through the recesses  18  and  19  and project to into the axial housing  12 , are clearly visible in  FIG. 2 . The inside of the axial housing  12  although being connected via the recesses  18 ,  19  to the housing inside of the radial housing  13 , however has a significantly lower temperature level in operation. The electric connections between the individual housings  12  and  13  are also led through these recesses  18 ,  19 . 
         [0054]    With the embodiment represented by way of  FIG. 6  and which differs from the previously described embodiment only with regard to the base body  15 , the base body  15  is designed in a manner extended by a cooling body  33 , at its side which is opposite and away from the axial housing  12 , thus directed towards the pump housing  3 . With otherwise the same housing components, this connection housing can be applied for an electric motor of a greater nominal power by way of the integrally formed cooling body  33 , since the speed controller which is then likewise dimensioned accordingly larger and is to be accommodated in the connection housing, can be accordingly cooled in a more intensive manner. 
         [0055]    With the embodiment represented by way of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the radial housing  13  is identical to that represented by way of  FIGS. 1 to 5 , but the axial housing is designed in a significantly shorter manner. This axial housing consists of a base body  34  and a cover  35 . The base body  34  is co-fastened on the projection  17  of the radial housing  13  in the same manner as that described previously, but here axial housing extends practically only axially flush with the radial housing  13 , so that the axial end-side of the motor housing  9  remains almost completely free. This embodiment variant can be provided if an external motor control or a simplified motor control is applied, with which for example one makes do without display and operating elements  23 . Here, as the case may be, a wireless transmission to a display and operating unit which is not mechanically connected to the connection housing can be provided. 
         [0056]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.