# US 8,541,915 B2 · Drive module and manifold for electric motor drive assembly

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- Number: US 8,541,915 B2
- Document ID: US8541915B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/283,663
- Filed: 2011-10-28
- Published: 2012-05-03
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2010-10-28
- Assignees: Amp Electric Vehicles Inc.
- Applicants: Stephen S. Burns; Mickey W. Kowitz; Timothy J. Wieck; Donald L. Wires
- Inventors: Stephen S. Burns; Mickey W. Kowitz; Timothy J. Wieck; Donald L. Wires
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541915B2

## CPC

- B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries}
- B60L 3/0061: {relating to electrical machines}
- H02K 5/203: {specially adapted for liquids, e.g. cooling jackets}
- H02K 7/006: {Structural association of a motor or generator with the drive train of a motor vehicle}
- H02K 7/116: with gears
- H02K 9/19: for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil
- B60L 2240/36: Temperature of vehicle components or parts
- Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A coolant fluid distributing manifold for a drive module in an electric motor drive assembly includes a body and passageways in the body for distributing coolant fluid to components of the drive module. The passageways define a delivery conduit and a return conduit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A coolant fluid distributing manifold for a drive module in an electric motor vehicle drive assembly, the manifold comprising:
a body, and
passageways in the body for distributing coolant fluid to components of the drive module, the passageways defining a delivery conduit and a return conduit;
wherein the body includes a base and an arm, and the delivery conduit extends into the arm and the return conduit extends into the arm and into the base;
wherein the arm further comprises a first arm, and the body further comprises a second arm;
wherein the body is substantially Y-shaped.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The manifold of claim 1, wherein the delivery conduit further comprises a first delivery conduit that extends into the first arm, and the body also comprises a second delivery conduit extending into the second arm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The manifold of claim 2, wherein the first delivery conduit and the second delivery conduit meet at a delivery conduit junction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The manifold of claim 1, wherein the return conduit further comprises a first minor return conduit and a second minor return conduit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The manifold of claim 4, wherein the first minor return conduit extends in the first arm and the second minor return conduit extends in the second arm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The manifold of claim 1, wherein the first minor return conduit and the second minor return conduit meet at a return conduit junction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The manifold of claim 1, wherein the delivery conduit is adapted to communicate with a coolant tube for distributing coolant fluid to components of the drive module.

### Claim 8

A drive module for an electric motor vehicle drive assembly, the drive module comprising:
a generally cylindrical housing, and
a motor at least partially enclosed by the housing,
a coolant fluid distributing manifold having a body, and a delivery conduit and a return conduit defined in the body for distributing coolant fluid to components of the drive module,
wherein the delivery conduit and the return conduit are in fluid communication with the exterior of the housing;
wherein the body includes a base and an arm, and the delivery conduit extends into the arm and the return conduit extends into the arm and into the base;
wherein the body is substantially Y-shaped and the arm is a first arm, and the body further includes a second arm,
wherein the delivery conduit is a first delivery conduit that extends into the first arm and the body also includes a second delivery conduit extending into the second arm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The drive module of claim 8, further comprising a coolant tube connected to the delivery conduit for distributing coolant to components of the drive module.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The drive module of claim 8, wherein the motor further comprises a first motor and the drive module further comprises a second motor separated from the first motor by a space, and the manifold is positioned within the housing in a space between the first motor and the second motor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The drive module of claim 10, further comprising first and second coolant tubes,
wherein the first coolant tube is in fluid communication with the first delivery conduit and the second coolant tube is in fluid communication with the second delivery conduit.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The drive module of claim 11, wherein the first and second delivery conduits meet at a delivery conduit junction.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The drive module of claim 12, further comprising a first delivery port in the housing in fluid communication with the first delivery conduit and a second delivery port in the housing in fluid communication with the second delivery conduit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The drive module of claim 13, further comprising a return port in the housing in fluid communication with the return conduit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

An electric motor drive assembly having the drive module of claim 8.