Patent Description:
An electric motor is known for example from <CIT> and <CIT>. The electric motor usually comprises a rotor and a stator, which interact with one another electromagnetically. Usually, the electric motor also comprises an inverter, which is electrically connected with the stator. For this, the electric motor has phase terminals which are directed from the stator to the inverter. The inverter usually comprises here a capacitor plate with capacitors, a transistor plate with transistors and a control board, and converts the direct current into the three-phase current for the stator. Disadvantageously, the conventional phase terminals do not enable a secure and simple connecting between the stator and the inverter.

<CIT> discloses an electric motor with phase terminals. The phase terminals are arranged in a support member on a holder. The axial position of the phase terminal in the support member is given by engaging of a protrusion formed on the phase terminal and a stopping member formed on the support member.

<CIT> discloses a stator for a motor. In the stator, coil ends are welded with a module member and the module member is welded to phase terminals via a busbar.

<CIT> discloses a bus holder for a stator of an electric motor. On the bus holder, phase terminals and busbars are clamped. Stator coil ends are welded to the busbars and the busbars are welded to the phase terminals.

<CIT> and <CIT> discloses other forms of phase terminals.

It is therefore the object of the invention to indicate for an electric motor of the generic type an improved or at least alternative embodiment, in which the described disadvantages are overcome.

This problem is solved according to the invention through the subject of the independent Claim <NUM>. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

An electric motor comprises a rotor, rotatable about a rotation axis, and a stator, which interact with one another electromagnetically. The stator comprises a plurality of stator coils, wherein at least some of the stator coils are electrically contacted via their coil wires directly with three electric phases. The electric motor further comprises for the respective phase at least one electrically conductive <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> discloses other forms of phase terminals.

An electric motor comprises a rotor, rotatable about a rotation axis, and a stator, which interact with one another electromagnetically. The stator comprises a plurality of stator coils, wherein at least some of the stator coils are electrically contacted via their coil wires directly with three electric phases. The electric motor further comprises for the respective phase at least one electrically conductive phase terminal, which is connected with the associated coil wire in an electrically conductive manner. The phase terminals are secured on a stator housing of the stator. According to the invention, an elastically deformable base i.e. an elastically deformable underlay plate is directly clamped between the respective phase terminal and the stator housing of the stator. The base biases the respective phase terminal towards an associated contact of an inverter which can be positioned on the stator housing and can be electrically contacted with the stator. In other words, the base is used as biasing means to achieve adequate pressure for contact the respective phase terminal with the inverter. In this way, the contact between the stator and the inverter can be simplified.

According to the invention, the respective phase terminal can comprise a contact region projecting axially from the stator for contacting an inverter, and a securing region for securing on the stator housing. The securing region and the contact region can be formed integrally with respect to one another i.e. in one piece from a single folded piece of sheet metal. The securing region is aligned transversely to the rotation axis, and the contact region projects perpendicularly from the securing region. The respective phase terminal can therefore be formed in an L-shaped manner. Advantageously, the axially width of the contact region can grow in direction to the securing region to achieve an adequate pressure by contact the respective phase terminal with the inverter. Furthermore, the phase terminal can comprise a clamping region for securing the associated coil wire. The clamping region is then suitably formed integrally on the securing region. Advantageously, the phase terminals can be secured on the stator housing in a symmetrically distributed manner around the rotation axis.

According to the invention, the electric motor has a pressure ring which is secured on the stator housing. The pressure ring then presses the respective phase terminal against the stator housing and thereby secures the respective phase terminal on the stator housing. The pressure ring can have two position projections for the respective phase terminal and two position openings can be formed in the respective phase terminal. The position terminals then engage into the position openings and thereby the phase terminals are secured in the correct position on the stator housing.

Advantageously, the respective phase terminal can lie radially externally from the associated coil wire and thereby the associated coil wire can engage radially into the respective phase terminal. Advantageously, a secure and simple connecting of the stator with an inverter can be thereby achieved.

In an advantageous embodiment of the electric motor, provision is made that the electric motor has an inverter. The inverter comprises here a capacitor plate with a plurality of capacitors, a plurality of transistor plates with respectively a plurality of transistors, a cooling plate, and a control board. The inverter is fastened axially on the stator and facing the phase terminals, wherein the phase terminals engage axially into the inverter and are electrically contacted with the transistor plates of the inverter. Advantageously, the control board can be arranged facing the stator, and the capacitor plate can be arranged between the control board and the transistor plates. The phase terminals are then directed axially into the inverter and past the control board and the capacitor plate to the transistor plates.

Advantageously, the inverter can comprise a hollow-cylindrical carrier with a central axis, which carrier carries the transistor plates, the capacitor plate and the control board and surrounds them to the exterior in circumferential direction. The respective transistor plates, the capacitor plate and the control board lie in the carrier axially one over another and are electrically connected with one another. The carrier is fastened here on the stator, wherein the central axis of the carrier coincides with the rotation axis of the rotor. In connection with the present invention, the term "carry" means that the capacitor plate, the transistor plates and the control board are aligned to each other via the carrier. The carrier is preferably formed from plastic and is not electrically conductive. The carrier protects the capacitor plate, the transistor plates and the control board with to the exterior and aligns these with respect to one another. The inverter here is a cohesive and ready-to-fit assembly unit with the carrier, the capacitor plate, the transistor plates, the cooling plate, and the control board. The inverter can thereby be finish-mounted independently of further elements of the electric motor.

Advantageously, provision can be made that a carrier ring is integrally formed in the carrier. The carrier ring here is ring-shaped and is aligned transversely to the central axis. The carrier ring divides an interior of the carrier into two axially adjacent regions, wherein in the first region the transistor plates are received and secured, and in the second region the capacitor plate and the control board are received and secured. The carrier ring is configured in a ring-shaped manner so that an opening, lying centrally, is formed in the carrier ring.

The transistor plates are then fastened on the carrier ring facing away from the stator and distributed running around the central axis, and in a clamping manner. For this, provision can be made that on the carrier ring at least one undercut securing element and at least one clip are formed for the respective transistor plate. The respective transistor plate is then fastened by means of the at least one securing element and of the at least one clip on the carrier ring in a clamping manner. Appropriately, the at least one securing element and the at least one clip are arranged lying opposite one another or respectively the at least one securing element is associated with one side and the at least one clip is associated with an opposite side of the respective transistor plate. The respective transistor plate can then be directed under the at least one securing element and can be clipped on the carrier ring by the at least one clip. Preferably, two securing elements and two clips are formed on the carrier ring for the respective transistor plate, so that a tilting of the respective transistor plate on the carrier ring is prevented.

In an advantageous embodiment of the electric motor, provision is made that a plurality of contact pins is cast into the carrier ring. The contact pins are aligned axially from the transistor plates to the control board and to the stator. The respective transistor plate is wire bonded via electrically conductive wires with the respective associated contact pins and thereby contacted electrically with the contact pins. The contact pins can be arranged here in the second axial region of the carrier and can be contacted with the respective transistor plates via respectively a contact opening in the carrier ring. The respective contact pin has an end-side thickening towards the control board, and the control board has respectively a receiving opening for the respective thickening. The respective thickening engages into the respective receiving opening and thereby the contact pin is fastened in the control board in a clamping manner and is electrically contacted with the control board.

It shall be understood that an electrically conductive contact point is formed on the control board around or in the receiving opening, so that the respective contact pin is electrically contacted via the respective contact point with the electronic elements of the control board. The control board is arranged here spaced apart from and parallel to the transistor plates. The distance between the control board and the transistor plates corresponds here approximately to the axial height of the contact pins. The contact pins are arranged here suitably distributed around the central axis of the carrier, so that all transistor plates can be contacted with the control board.

Appropriately, the carrier and therefore the carrier ring are formed of plastic and are not electrically conductive. The respective contact pin can be metallic, for example. It shall be understood that at least some regions of the respective contact pins are not cast into the carrier ring or respectively are open towards the exterior and serve for a contacting with the control board and with the respective transistor plate. It shall also be understood that a plurality of contact pins can also be associated with the respective transistor plate. It shall also be understood that the contact pin is electrically contacted with transistors of the respective transistor plate via electrically conductive lines. Through the cast-in contact pin, its position in the carrier is predefined, so that the contacting of the respective transistor plate with the control board is simplified.

In an advantageous embodiment of the electric motor, provision is made that the capacitor plate, an elastically deformable foam plate and a pressure plate are arranged on the carrier ring, facing away from the transistor plates. In the carrier ring in addition a plurality of axial slots is formed, in which respectively a contact busbar is received. The pressure plate is firmly connected with the cooling plate and presses the capacitor plate against the contact busbars via the foam plate. The respective contact busbar is pressed here between the respective transistor plate and the capacitor plate and thereby the transistor plates are electrically contacted with the capacitor plate. Through the foam plate and the pressure plate, the respective contact busbar is secured reliably between the capacitor plate and the respective transistor plate. The contact busbar appropriately has electrically conductive paths or is formed entirely of an electrically conductive material.

In an advantageous embodiment of the electric motor, provision is made that the cooling plate is ring-shaped and is able to be flowed through by a cooling fluid. The cooling plate is fastened here on the pressure plate and facing away from the stator, and lies against the transistor plates in a heat-transferring manner. The capacitors of the capacitor plate are directed axially through a central opening of the ring-shaped cooling plate and are pressed radially against the cooling plate in a heat-transferring manner. Thereby, the transistors and the capacitors can be cooled effectively. In order to increase the cooling capacity of the cooling plate, ribs can be formed in a cooling channel of the cooling plate, which channel is able to be flowed through. The cooling fluid can be water, for example.

In an advantageous embodiment of the electric motor, provision is made that the inverter comprises two battery clamps, which are identical to one another, with respectively three pole contacts for contacting with the capacitor plate. The battery clamps are fastened centrally on the capacitor plate and are aligned axially to the transistor plates. The respective battery clamp is formed here by a connecting piece with a dielectric casing and with internal electrically conductive lines. The pole contacts of the one battery clamp and the pole contacts of the other battery clamp are arranged here on the capacitor plate in a circle and alternating with respect to one another in a circle. Advantageously, provision can be made that the battery clamps are directed outwards through an opening of the ring-shaped carrier ring and between the transistor plates which are distributed around the central axis.

The identical battery clamps simplify the structure of the inverter. Through the central arrangement of the battery clamps, in addition negative effects and losses in the inverter can be minimized. Appropriately, the one battery clamp is associated with the plus pole and the other battery clamp is associated with the minus pole. The pole contacts of the one battery clamp are then the plus pole contacts and the pole contacts of the other battery clamp are then the minus pole contacts. On the capacitor plate, the plus pole contacts and the minus pole contacts then alternate with respect to one another in a circle. Through this advantageous configuration of the battery clamps, negative effects in the inverter can be minimized.

Advantageously, the respective battery clamp can have a first bridge, parallel to the capacitor plate, which bridge connects the central pole contact with one lateral pole contact in an electrically conductive manner. The respective battery clamp can, furthermore, have a second bridge, parallel to the capacitor plate, which bridge connects the central pole contact with the other lateral pole contact in an electrically conductive manner. The first bridge and the second bridge are offset axially with respect to one another and are aligned at an angle with respect to one another. Advantageously, the first bridge of the one battery clamp respectively bridges the second bridge of the other battery clamp, so that the pole contacts of the one battery clamp and the pole contacts of the other battery clamp are arranged alternating with respect to one another in a circle. The battery clamps can be positioned here in a particularly space-saving manner on the capacitor plate and through the produced symmetry, negative effects and losses in the inverter can be minimized.

Further important features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated figure description, with the aid of the drawings.

It shall be understood that the features mentioned above and to be explained further below are able to be used not only in the respectively indicated combination, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Preferred example embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained further in the following description, wherein the same reference numbers refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

There are shown, respectively diagrammatically.

<FIG> shows an exploded view of an inverter <NUM> according to the invention for an electric motor. The inverter <NUM> comprises here a carrier <NUM> with a central axis <NUM>. The carrier <NUM> has here a wall <NUM> and a ring-shaped carrier ring <NUM>. The wall <NUM> runs around the central axis <NUM> and is aligned axially. The carrier ring <NUM> is formed integrally on the wall <NUM> and is aligned radially inwards. The carrier ring <NUM> divides the carrier <NUM> into a first region 6a and into a second region 6b, which are axially adjacent. From the first region 6a a plurality of transistor plates <NUM> with transistors <NUM>, a cooling plate <NUM> and a cover <NUM> of the inverter <NUM> are mounted. From the second region 6b a capacitor plate <NUM> with capacitors <NUM>, two battery clamps <NUM>, a foam plate <NUM>, a pressure plate <NUM>, a control board <NUM> and several iron cores <NUM> are mounted. The transistor plates <NUM> are electrically contacted with the capacitor plate <NUM> by means of a plurality of contact busbars <NUM> through the carrier ring <NUM>. In addition, a connection <NUM> for the control board <NUM> is formed on the carrier <NUM>. The inverter <NUM> further comprises a screw assembly 10a for the cover <NUM>, a screw assembly 13a for the battery clamps <NUM>, a screw assembly 15a for the pressure plate <NUM> and a screw assembly 16a for the control board <NUM>. Further structure of the inverter <NUM> is explained in more detail with the aid of <FIG>.

<FIG> show views of the assembled inverter <NUM> from a side facing the first region 6a of the carrier <NUM>. In the inverter <NUM> the carrier <NUM> carries all further elements of the inverter <NUM>, so that the inverter <NUM> forms a cohesive and ready-to-fit mounting unit. In other words, the inverter <NUM> can be assembled independently of further elements of the electric motor - see in this respect also <FIG>. As can be seen in <FIG>, the two battery clamps <NUM> - which are appropriately associated with the plus pole and the minus pole - project out from the cover <NUM>. The cooling plate <NUM> is able to be flowed through by a cooling fluid - water, for example - and has an inlet 9a and an outlet 9b for the cooling fluid. In addition, a plurality of screw openings <NUM> for securing the inverter <NUM> in the electric motor <NUM> is formed on the cooling plate <NUM> - see <FIG> with regard to this.

<FIG> shows a view of the carrier <NUM> from a side facing the first region 6a of the carrier <NUM>. Here, the contact busbars <NUM> are already received in the carrier ring <NUM> of the carrier <NUM>. For this, a plurality of slots is formed in the carrier ring <NUM>, in which the contact busbars <NUM> are received and axially aligned.

<FIG> shows a view of the carrier <NUM> with the transistor plates <NUM> from a side facing the first region 6a of the carrier <NUM>. The transistor plates <NUM> are arranged here running around the central axis <NUM> and in a distributed manner, and are secured on the carrier ring <NUM> in a clamping or respectively force-fitting manner. For this, on the carrier ring <NUM> for the respective transistor plate <NUM> respectively two undercut securing elements <NUM> and two clips <NUM> are formed. The respective securing elements <NUM> are arranged here radially outwardly and the respective clips <NUM> are arranged radially inwardly. On the securing of the respective transistor plate <NUM>, the latter is pushed with one side under the securing elements <NUM> and on an opposite side is clipped with the carrier ring <NUM> via the clips <NUM>.

<FIG> now shows a view of the carrier <NUM> with the transistor plates <NUM> from a side facing the second region 6b of the carrier <NUM>. <FIG> shows an enlarged cutout of <FIG>. The carrier ring <NUM> has a contact opening <NUM> for the respective transistor plate <NUM>, so that contact points of the respective transistor plate <NUM> are able to be reached from a side of the carrier ring <NUM> facing the second region 6b. Furthermore the inverter <NUM> has a plurality of electrically conductive contact pins <NUM>, which are cast into the carrier ring <NUM>. The contact pins <NUM> are arranged around the contact opening <NUM> and are electrically contacted with contact points of the respectively transistor plate <NUM> via respectively an electrically conductive wire <NUM>. The respective wire <NUM> is wire bonded here with the associated contact point and with the associated contact pin <NUM>. The respective contact pin <NUM> is L-shaped here and extends in certain areas axially from the carrier ring <NUM> to the control board <NUM>. On the respective contact pin <NUM> a thickening <NUM> is formed, facing the control board <NUM>, which thickening then engages into a receiving opening <NUM> of the control board <NUM> - see also <FIG> in this respect - and secures the contact pin <NUM> in the control board <NUM> in a clamping manner. The contact busbars <NUM> arranged in the slots of the carrier ring <NUM> are electrically contacted with the circuit boards <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an exploded view and <FIG> shows a view of the mounted state of the capacitor plate <NUM>, of the battery clamps <NUM> and of the screw assembly 13a. The battery clamps <NUM> are configured identically to one another and are fastened centrally on the capacitor plate <NUM> by the screw assembly 13a. The respective battery clamp <NUM> is formed by a connecting piece with a dielectric casing and internal electrically conductive lines. The respective battery clamp <NUM> has here a total of three pole contacts <NUM>, which are electrically contacted with the capacitors <NUM> of the capacitor plate <NUM> by means respectively of an associated screw of the screw assembly 13a and via electrically conductive lines. The pole contacts <NUM> of the battery clamps <NUM> are arranged here in a circle and centrally on the capacitor plate <NUM>. The capacitors <NUM> surround the pole contacts <NUM> of the battery clamps and are arranged symmetrically on the capacitor plate <NUM>. One battery clamp <NUM> is associated here with the minus pole and the other battery clamp <NUM> is associated with the plus pole.

<FIG> now shows a view of the individual battery clamp <NUM>. <FIG> show views of the battery clamps <NUM>. The respective battery clamp <NUM> has here a first bridge 29a parallel to the capacitor plate <NUM>, and a second bridge 29b parallel to the capacitor plate <NUM>. The first bridge 29a and the second bridge 29b are formed here offset axially with respect to one another. The respective bridge 29a or respectively 29b connects here two of the pole contacts <NUM> of the respective battery clamp <NUM> with one another in an electrically conductive manner. As can be seen in <FIG>, the first bridge 29a of the one battery clamp <NUM> bridges the second bridge 29b of the other battery clamp <NUM>, so that the pole contacts <NUM> of the battery clamps <NUM> are arranged in a circle and alternating with respect to one another in a circle.

<FIG> shows a view of the carrier <NUM> with the transistor plates <NUM> and the cooling plate <NUM> from a side facing the second region 6b of the carrier <NUM>. As can be seen here, the ring-shaped cooling plate <NUM> lies in the first region 6a of the carrier <NUM> against the transistor plates <NUM> in a heat-transferring manner. <FIG> shows a view of the cooling plate <NUM> with transistors <NUM> of the respective transistor plates <NUM>. The transistor plates <NUM> are illustrated transparent here, for clarity.

<FIG> shows a view of the cooling plate <NUM> from a side facing the carrier <NUM>, and <FIG> shows a view of the cooling plate <NUM> from a side facing away from the carrier <NUM>. The cooling plate <NUM> - as is already explained above - has the inlet 9a and the outlet 9b and is able to be flowed through by the cooling fluid. In <FIG> and <FIG> in addition a circumferential groove <NUM> can be seen, in which the wall <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> is received in a form-fitting and non-displaceable manner.

<FIG> shows a view of the carrier <NUM> with the foam plate <NUM> and <FIG> shows a view of the carrier <NUM> with the pressure plate <NUM> from a side facing the second region 6b of the carrier <NUM>. The pressure plate <NUM> is connected here through the screw assembly 15a with the cooling plate <NUM> through the carrier ring <NUM> and presses the foam plate <NUM> against the capacitor plate <NUM>, and the capacitor plate <NUM> against the contact busbars <NUM>. Thereby, the contact busbars <NUM> are also pressed between the transistor plates <NUM> and the capacitor plate <NUM> and connect the transistor plates <NUM> and the capacitor plate <NUM> with one another in an electrically conductive manner. As can be seen in <FIG>, the iron cores <NUM> are arranged in mounts <NUM> of the carrier ring <NUM>. The mounts <NUM> are provided for receiving phase terminals <NUM> of the electric motor <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a view of the carrier <NUM> with the control board <NUM> from a side facing the second region 6b of the carrier <NUM>. The thickenings <NUM> of the contact pins <NUM> engage here into the receiving openings <NUM> of the control board <NUM>, whereby the contact pins <NUM> are secured in a force-fitting manner in the control board <NUM>. The control board <NUM> is screwed to the pressure plate <NUM> via the screw assembly 16a.

<FIG> shows a view of the inverter <NUM> without the cover <NUM>, and <FIG> shows a view of the inverter <NUM> with the cover <NUM> from a side facing the first region 6a of the carrier <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG>, the battery clamps <NUM> project through the carrier ring <NUM> and the cooling plate <NUM> axially outwards, and the capacitors <NUM> are arranged on the capacitor plate <NUM> symmetrically around the battery clamps <NUM>. In <FIG> it can be seen that the cover <NUM> is screwed to the cooling plate <NUM> by means of the screw assembly 10a, and the battery clamps <NUM> project outwards through the cover <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a sectional view of the inverter <NUM>. The capacitor plate <NUM> lies in the second region 6b of the carrier <NUM> against the carrier ring <NUM>, and the capacitors <NUM> of the capacitor plate <NUM> project through an opening of the carrier ring <NUM> into the first region 6a of the carrier <NUM>. The pressure plate <NUM> is firmly connected to the cooling plate <NUM>, so that the foam plate <NUM>, the capacitor plate <NUM>, the contact busbars <NUM>, and the transistor plates <NUM> are pressed together i.e. are sandwiched between the pressure plate <NUM> and the cooling plate <NUM>. The capacitor plate <NUM> is pressed here by the foam plate <NUM> and the pressure plate <NUM> against the contact busbars <NUM>. The transistor plates <NUM> are secured in the first region 6a of the carrier <NUM> on the carrier ring <NUM> and are distributed around the opening of the carrier ring <NUM> and therefore around the capacitors <NUM>. The contact busbars <NUM> are pressed here between the capacitor plate <NUM> and the transistor plates <NUM> and thereby the transistor plates <NUM> and the capacitor plate <NUM> are electrically contacted with one another. The battery clamps <NUM> are fastened centrally on the capacitor plate <NUM> and project through the opening of the carrier ring <NUM> out from the second region 6b into the first region 6a of the carrier <NUM>. Furthermore, the battery clamps <NUM> are guided axially outwards through the cover <NUM> of the inverter. The control board <NUM> is arranged in the second region 6b of the carrier <NUM> and screwed with the pressure plate <NUM>. The control board <NUM> is electrically contacted with the transistor plates <NUM> via the contact pins <NUM> in the carrier <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an exploded view and <FIG> shows a sectional view of an electric motor <NUM> according to the invention. The electric motor <NUM> comprises a rotor <NUM> and a stator <NUM>, which interact with one another electromagnetically. The rotor <NUM> is rotatable here about a rotation axis <NUM>, which coincides with the central axis <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> or respectively of the inverter <NUM>. The stator <NUM> comprises a plurality of coils <NUM> and a stator housing <NUM> which receives the coils <NUM>. The rotor <NUM> is arranged in the stator <NUM>, so that the coils <NUM> and the stator housing <NUM> surround the rotor <NUM>. The inverter <NUM> is arranged axially to the stator <NUM> and is securely connected with the stator housing <NUM> via a screw assembly 36a. For this, the continuous screw openings <NUM> are provided in the cooling plate <NUM> of the inverter <NUM>. The stator <NUM> is electrically contacted with the inverter <NUM> via several phase terminals <NUM>, for which the phase terminals <NUM> engage into the mounts <NUM> of the inverter <NUM> and are connected with the transistor plates <NUM> of the inverter <NUM> in an electrically conductive manner. The phase terminals <NUM> are symmetrically distributed here around the rotation axis <NUM> and arranged radially externally on associated coil wires <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a view of the electric motor <NUM> without the inverter <NUM>. <FIG> show views of the individual phase terminal <NUM> in the electric motor <NUM>. The phase terminals <NUM> are arranged radially externally on the associated coil wires <NUM> and are connected with these in an electrically conductive manner. The respective coil wire <NUM> engages here radially into the respective phase terminal <NUM>. The respective phase terminal <NUM> is L-shaped here and pressed with a pressure ring <NUM> against the stator <NUM> or respectively against the stator housing <NUM>. The respective phase terminal <NUM> comprises a contact region <NUM> projecting axially from the stator <NUM> and a securing region <NUM> aligned transversely to the rotation axis <NUM>. The contact region <NUM> of the phase terminal <NUM> changes axially in width in direction to the securing region <NUM>, so that an adequate pressure can achieve by contact the respective phase terminal <NUM> with the inverter <NUM>. The contact region <NUM> and the securing region <NUM> are integrally formed on each other. In other words, the phase terminal <NUM> is formed in one piece from a single folded piece of sheet metal. The phase terminal <NUM> further comprises a clamping unit <NUM> which is integrally formed out on the securing region <NUM>.

Between the respective phase terminal <NUM> and the stator <NUM> or respectively the stator housing <NUM>, an elastically deformable base i.e. an elastically deformable underlay plate <NUM> is respectively arranged. As can be seen particularly well in <FIG>, the pressure ring <NUM> for the respective phase terminal <NUM> has two position projections <NUM>. The position projections <NUM> engage in position openings <NUM> of the respective phase terminal <NUM>, whereby the phase terminals <NUM> are secured in the correct position on the stator <NUM>. Advantageously, the respective phase terminal <NUM> is biased by the base <NUM> towards the contact surface of inverter <NUM>, so that the contact surface of the respective phase terminal <NUM> is pressed onto the contact surface on the respective transistor board <NUM>. The transistor boards <NUM> do not therefore require any special contact components.

Claim 1:
An electric motor (<NUM>),
- wherein the electric motor (<NUM>) comprises a rotor (<NUM>), which is rotatable about a rotation axis (<NUM>), and a stator (<NUM>) which interact with one another electromagnetically,
- wherein the stator (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of stator coils (<NUM>), wherein at least some of the stator coils (<NUM>) are electrically contacted via their coil wires (<NUM>) directly with three electric phases,
- wherein the electric motor (<NUM>), for each phase, comprises at least one electrically conductive phase terminal (<NUM>), which is connected with the associated coil wire (<NUM>) in an electrically conductive manner,
- wherein the phase terminals (<NUM>) are secured on a stator housing (<NUM>) of the stator (<NUM>),
- that the respective phase terminal (<NUM>) comprises a contact region (<NUM>) projecting axially from the stator (<NUM>) for contacting an inverter (<NUM>), and a securing region (<NUM>) arranged transversely to the rotation axis (<NUM>) on the stator housing (<NUM>),
characterized in
- that an elastically deformable underlay plate (<NUM>) is directly clamped between the respective phase terminal (<NUM>) and the stator housing (<NUM>) of the stator (<NUM>),
- that the electric motor (<NUM>) has a pressure ring (<NUM>) which is secured on the stator housing (<NUM>) of the stator (<NUM>), and
- that the pressure ring (<NUM>) presses the respective phase terminal (<NUM>) against the stator housing (<NUM>) of the stator (<NUM>) and thereby secures the respective phase terminal (<NUM>) on the stator housing (<NUM>) of the stator (<NUM>).