Embedded permanent magnet rotary electric machine

An embedded permanent magnet rotary electric machine comprising:

• a stator comprising:
• an annular stator core;
• and
• a stator coil that is wound onto said stator core;
• a cylindrical frame inside which said stator core is disposed, and that supports said stator;
• a first frame and a second frame that each comprise a bearing, that are disposed at first and second axial ends of said cylindrical frame, and that form a sealed space together with said cylindrical frame;
• a rotor comprising:
• a shaft that is rotatably supported by said bearings;
• a rotor core that is fixed to said shaft, and that is disposed inside said stator core;
• and
• a plurality of permanent magnets that are respectively disposed circumferentially so as to be embedded on an outer circumferential side of said rotor core so as to pass axially through said rotor core,
• said embedded permanent magnet rotary electric machine further comprising:
• a plurality of ventilation apertures that are respectively formed circumferentially so as to pass axially through an inner circumferential side of said rotor core;
• a plurality of rotor grooves that are respectively formed circumferentially on an outer circumferential surface of said rotor core so as to have groove directions in an axial direction;
• an internal fan that is fixed to said shaft at an end of said rotor core near said first frame,
• an inflow aperture that is formed on said cylindrical frame so as to have an opening near said first frame of said stator core;
• an outflow aperture that is formed on said cylindrical frame so as to have an opening near said second frame of said stator core;
• and
• an air gap portion that is formed inside said cylindrical frame so as to communicate between said inflow aperture and said outflow aperture,
• wherein the internal fan is configured to form a cyclic path in which, during operation of said internal fan, cooling air flows into said ventilation apertures from near said second frame, passes through said ventilation apertures toward said first frame and flows out near said first frame, flows radially outward near said first frame and flows into said rotor grooves, passes through said rotor grooves toward said second frame and flows out near said second frame, and flows radially inward near said second frame and flows into said ventilation apertures toward said first frame;
• wherein, during operation of said internal fan, a portion of said cooling air that has flowed radially outward near said first frame flows into said air gap portion through said inflow aperture, flows through said air gap portion, flows out through said outflow aperture, and merges with cooling air that has passed through said rotor grooves and flowed out near said second frame;
• and
• wherein steps are formed so as to project from axially outermost regions of a wall surface of said air gap portion that face said inflow aperture and said outflow aperture.