Electric motor assembly with stator mounted in vehicle powertrain housing and method
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsGrantland I. Kingman, Alan G. Holmes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electric motor assembly in a vehicle powertrain is provided with a generally annular stator fit within an interior cavity of the powertrain defined by a housing. Roll pins are fit between the housing and the stator. The stator may have a plurality of first geometric features and the housing a plurality of second geometric features. The first geometric features are be configured to align with the second geometric features when the stator is fit within the cavity, with the roll pins fit between the housing and the stator at the aligned first and second geometric features. A method of assembling the electric motor assembly is also provided.
Claims13
An electric motor assembly in a vehicle powertrain, comprising:
- a motor housing defining an interior cavity within the powertrain;
- a generally annular stator fit within the cavity;
- and
- a plurality of roll pins fit between the housing and the stator;
- wherein the roll pins are configured to expand and contract to maintain contact with both the motor housing and the stator given the different rates of thermal expansion;
- wherein the roll pins are configured to expand and contract to maintain contact with both the motor housing and the stator during thermal expansion of the motor housing and stator.
A method of assembling an electric motor with a housing of a vehicle powertrain, comprising:
- configuring an annular stator with a plurality of first geometric features on an outer surface of the stator;
- configuring the housing with a plurality of second geometric features on an inner surface of the housing;
- aligning the first geometric features with the second geometric features;
- press-fitting the annular stator into the housing;
- and
- inserting a respective roll pin between the stator and the housing at the respective aligned features.
An electrically-variable transmission comprising:
- a transmission housing defining an interior cavity;
- an electric motor/generator having a stator;
- wherein the stator is press-fit to the transmission housing within the interior cavity;
- a plurality of roll pins supported by the transmission housing and stator between the transmission housing and the stator;
- wherein the transmission housing and the stator are characterized by different rates of thermal expansion;
- and wherein the roll pins are configured to maintain contact with the housing and the stator over a predetermined gap distance between the stator and housing caused by the different rates of thermal expansion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.