Electric machine having multi-function cooling channels

An aircraft electric motor comprising:

• an annular rotor comprising a plurality of magnets;
• and
• an annular stator arranged relative to the annular rotor and configured to cause rotation of the annular rotor, the annular stator comprising:
• a cantilever structure having a supported end and an unsupported end, wherein the cantilever structure includes an inlet support manifold and an outlet support manifold arranged at the supported end and a plurality of cooling plates extending from the inlet support manifold and the outlet support manifold to the unsupported end;
• a plurality of coils arranged between and in thermal contact with the cooling plates;
• and
• a core passing through the plurality of coils and the plurality of cooling plates,
• wherein each cooling plate defines a cooling channel that fluidly couples the inlet support manifold and the outlet support manifold, and
• wherein the coils and the core are structurally supported by the plurality of cooling plates in a cantilevered manner at the supported end.

An aircraft comprising:

• at least one aircraft electric motor;
• at least one electrical device;
• and
• a power distribution system configured to distribute power from the at least one electric motor to the at least one electrical device,
• wherein the at least one aircraft electric motor comprises:
• a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of magnets arranged on a magnet support;
• an output shaft operably coupled to the rotor assembly;
• and
• a stator assembly arranged relative to the rotor assembly and configured to cause rotation of the rotor assembly, the stator assembly comprising:
• a cantilever structure having a supported end and an unsupported end, wherein the cantilever structure includes an inlet support manifold and an outlet support manifold arranged at the supported end and a plurality of cooling plates extending from the inlet support manifold and the outlet support manifold to the unsupported end;
• a plurality of coils arranged between and in thermal contact with the cooling plates;
• and
• a core passing through the plurality of coils and the plurality of cooling plates,
• wherein each cooling plate defines a cooling channel that fluidly couples the inlet support manifold and the outlet support manifold, and
• wherein the coils and the core are structurally supported by the plurality of cooling plates in a cantilevered manner at the supported end.