Electric Machine Cooling System and Method

An electric machine module comprising:

• an electric machine including a stator;
• and
• a housing at least partially circumscribing the electric machine, the housing including at least two housing members coupled together and substantially securing the electric machine within the housing,
• the housing including indentations positioned near axial ends of the stator and substantially along a circumference of the stator, the indentations providing an axial flow path substantially following a portion of an outer diameter of the stator and a radial flow path substantially following a portion of an axial side of the stator.

A method for cooling an electric machine module comprising:

• providing an electric machine including a stator, the stator including stator end turns;
• providing a housing defining a machine cavity and at least partially circumscribing the electric machine, the housing comprising at least two housing members coupled together, and at least one of the at least two housing members including a coolant inlet and a coolant passageway;
• providing a coolant jacket at least partially defined by an outer diameter of the stator and an inner diameter portion of the housing, the coolant passageway fluidly connecting the coolant inlet and the coolant jacket;
• positioning a plurality of apertures substantially circumferentially around the coolant jacket, the plurality of apertures in fluid communication with at least the machine cavity and the coolant jacket;
• introducing a coolant into the coolant inlet;
• circulating the coolant through the coolant passageway and into the coolant jacket;
• and
• forcing at least a portion of the coolant through the plurality of apertures into the machine cavity.