# US 2021/0242753 A1 · Electric motor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0242753 A1 - Document ID: US20210242753A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/049,622 - Filed: 2019-04-17 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-27 - Assignees: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Applicants: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Inventors: Sandro Lauer; Friedrich Schuler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210242753A1 ## CPC - H02K 11/33: Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics (H02K11/38 takes precedence) - H02K 5/1735: {radially supporting the rotary shaft at only one end of the rotor (H02K5/1737 takes precedence)} - H02K 5/225: {Terminal boxes or connection arrangements (specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132)} - H02K 7/085: {radially supporting the rotary shaft at only one end of the rotor (H02K7/086, H02K7/09 take precedence)} - H02K 9/223: {Heat bridges} - F01L 1/34: characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening {and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift} - F01L 2013/103: {Electric motors} - H02K 9/227: {Heat sinks} - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES ## Abstract The disclosure relates to an electric motor comprising a base motor module and a plug module which is electrically and mechanically connected to the base motor module and is designed as an electronics module. The electronics module comprises a power electronics system, a driver electronics system and a control electronics system, and the electronics module and the base motor module each dissipate heat via separated heat paths. The disclosure further relates to an electric motor arrangement and also to a construction kit for electric motors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electric motor comprising: a base motor module; and a plug module electrically and mechanically connected to the base motor module, the plug module configured as an electronics module including: a power electronics system; a driver electronics system; and, a control electronics system; and, the base motor module configured to dissipate heat via a first heat path, and the electronics module configured to dissipate heat via a second heat path, the first heat path separate from the second heat path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electric motor of claim 1, wherein the base motor module includes a housing and a heat-conducting plate attached to the housing, the housing and heat-conducting plate forming at least a portion of the first heat path, and the heat-conducting plate configured to conduct heat from the base motor module to a heat sink. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electric motor of claim 2, wherein the heat-conducting plate has a first flat surface configured to contact a component adjacent to the electric motor, the component configured as the heat sink. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electric motor of claim 3, wherein the component has a second flat surface configured to engage the heat-conducting plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The electric motor of claim 2, wherein the heat-conducting plate forms a press fit with the housing of the electric motor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electric motor of claim 1, wherein the electronics module comprises an electronics housing and dissipates heat via the second heat path, wherein the second heat path is configured to flow through the electronics housing to an external heat sink. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electric motor of claim 1, wherein the first and second heat paths are separated from one another by an insulating air space, and the insulating air space is formed between the base motor module and the electronics module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electric motor of claim 1, wherein the base motor module comprises: a housing pot; a stator; and, a rotor mounted in the housing pot via a rolling bearing, and the base motor module is inserted in the plug module, and electrical connections between the plug module and the base motor module are formed by joining the plug module and the base motor module together in an axial direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An electric motor arrangement for a variable valve train of an internal combustion engine, the arrangement comprising two electric motors, at least one of the two electric motors configured according to claim 1, and the two electric motors interconnected in a master-slave configuration. ### Claim 10 An electric motor construction kit, comprising a base motor module and a plurality of selectable plug modules, each one of the plurality of selectable plug modules configured to be electrically and mechanically connected to the base motor module, and each one of the plurality of selectable plug modules being different from one another, wherein each one of the plurality of selectable plug modules is configured as an electronics module including: a power electronics system; a driver electronics system; and, a control electronics system, and, the base motor module configured to dissipate heat via a first heat path, and each one of the plurality of selectable plug modules configured to dissipate heat via a second heat path, the first heat path separate from the second heat path. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electric motor of claim 1, wherein the first heat path exits a first axial end of the electric motor and the second heat path exits a second axial end of the electric motor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electric motor of claim 11, wherein the first heat path resides solely within the base motor module and the second heat path resides solely within the plug module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The electric motor construction kit of claim 10, wherein each one of the plurality of selectable plug modules and the base motor module form an insulating air space, the insulating air space defining a beginning of the second heat path. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electric motor construction kit of claim 13, wherein the base motor module includes a housing and a heat-conducting plate attached to the housing, the housing and heat-conducting plate forming at least a portion of the first heat path, and the heat-conducting plate configured to conduct heat from the base motor module to a heat sink. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The electric motor of claim 7, wherein the insulating air space defines a beginning of the second heat path.