Magnet support and retention system for hybrid rotors
AssigneeRemy Technologies, L.L.C.
InventorMichael D. Bradfield
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a rotor assembly for an electric machine includes a rotor core. The rotor core has at least one magnet slot with an increasing slot width as radial distance from a rotor shaft increases, and at least one slot lip extending at least partially across the slot width. The rotor assembly also includes at least one permanent magnet located in at least one magnet slot, the magnet having an increasing magnet width as radial distance from a rotor shaft increases. The rotor assembly further includes a retainer disposed in the magnet slot radially between the magnet and the at least one slot lip. Also disclosed is a method of securing at least one permanent magnet in a rotor assembly of an electric machine.
Claims19
A rotor assembly for an electric machine comprising:
- a rotor core including:
- at least one magnet slot, the magnet slot having an increasing slot width as radial distance from a rotor shaft increases;
- and
- at least one slot lip extending at least partially across the slot width;
- at least one permanent magnet disposed in the at least one magnet slot, the magnet having an increasing magnet width as radial distance from a rotor shaft increases;
- and
- a retainer disposed in the at least one magnet slot radially between the magnet and the at least one slot lip, the retainer configured to urge the magnet into contact with sidewalls of the magnet slot and to allow radial movement of the magnet relative to the magnet slot during operation of the electric machine.
A method of securing at least one permanent magnet in a rotor assembly of an electric machine comprising:
- inserting at least one permanent magnet into at least one magnet slot in the rotor assembly, the magnet having an increasing magnet width as radial distance from a rotor shaft increases, the magnet slot having an increasing slot width as radial distance from the rotor shaft increases;
- and
- inserting a retainer into the magnet slot radially between the magnet and the at least on slot lip, the retainer configured to urge the magnet into contact with sidewalls of the magnet slot and to allow radial movement of the magnet relative to the magnet slot during operation of the electric machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.