# US 8,786,156 B2 · Rotating electric machine for vehicular use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,156 B2 - Document ID: US8786156B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/389,774 - Filed: 2010-08-12 - Published: 2012-07-12 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-12 - Assignees: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. - Applicants: Noriaki Hino; Yutaka Matsunobu; Shinji Sugimoto; Akinori Kamiya; Yasuyuki Saito - Inventors: Noriaki Hino; Yutaka Matsunobu; Shinji Sugimoto; Akinori Kamiya; Yasuyuki Saito - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786156B2 ## CPC - H02K 1/276: Magnets embedded in the magnetic core, e.g. interior permanent magnets [IPM] - B60L 1/02: to electric heating circuits - B60L 3/0061: {relating to electrical machines} - B60L 7/14: for vehicles propelled by AC motors - B60L 7/18: Controlling the braking effect (B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence) - B60L 15/007: {Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles} - B60L 15/20: for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed - B60L 15/2009: {for braking} - B60L 50/16: with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion - B60L 50/61: by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles - B60L 2210/40: DC to AC converters - B60L 2240/12: Speed - B60L 2240/36: Temperature of vehicle components or parts - B60L 2240/421: Speed - B60L 2240/423: Torque - B60L 2270/145: Structure borne vibrations - H02K 7/006: {Structural association of a motor or generator with the drive train of a motor vehicle} - H02K 29/03: with a magnetic circuit specially adapted for avoiding torque ripples or self-starting problems - H02K 2201/06: Magnetic cores, or permanent magnets characterised by their skew - Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles - Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - 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 - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A rotating electric machine for vehicular use includes: a stator that includes a stator core and a stator winding wound at the stator core; and a rotor that is rotatably disposed relative to the stator and includes a rotor core formed by laminating a plurality of electromagnetic steel sheets with a plurality of magnet insertion holes formed therein and includes a plurality of permanent magnets each held in each of the plurality of magnet insertion holes to form a magnetic pole. Each of the plurality of permanent magnets extends along a rotor axis and is formed in a shape assuming at least two different lengths along a circumference of the rotor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotating electric machine for vehicular use comprising: a stator that includes a stator core and a stator winding wound at the stator core; and a rotor that is rotatably disposed relative to the stator and includes a rotor core formed by laminating a plurality of electromagnetic steel sheets with a plurality of magnet insertion holes formed therein and includes a plurality of permanent magnets each held in each of the plurality of magnet insertion holes to form a magnetic pole, wherein: each of the plurality of permanent magnets extends along a rotor axis and is formed in a shape assuming at least two different lengths along a circumference of the rotor; and the each of the plurality of permanent magnets is constituted with n (n is an integer equal to or greater than 2) types of magnet pieces set side-by-side along the rotor axis; and the n types of magnet pieces assume lengths along the circumference of the rotor that are different from one another by an extent equivalent to approximately 120°/n in electrical angle, and the n types of magnet pieces are disposed so that central lines running through centers of the magnet pieces, assumed along the circumference of the rotor, form a substantially single straight line running along the rotor axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A rotating electric machine for vehicular use according to claim 1, wherein: the n types of magnet pieces constituting the each of the permanent magnets each assume a substantially quadrangular shape viewed from a stator side. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A rotating electric machine for vehicular use according to claim 1, wherein: the n types of magnet pieces constituting the each of the permanent magnets all assume a form achieving symmetry relative to the central lines running through the centers of the magnet pieces. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A rotating electric machine for vehicular use according to claim 1, wherein: the magnet insertion holes are each constituted with m (m is an integer equal to or greater than 2) types of holes, assuming lengths at hole inner circumferential surfaces along the circumference of the rotor, which are different from one another, and set one after another along the rotor axis; and the lengths of the m types of holes at the hole inner circumferential surfaces along the circumference of the rotor are different from one another by an extent equivalent to approximately 120°/m in electrical angle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A rotating electric machine for vehicular use according to claim 4, wherein: differences in lengths of the magnet insertion holes at hole inner circumferential surfaces along the circumference of the rotor from on another are set within a range between a length equivalent to (120/m−5)° in electrical angle and a length equivalent to (120/m+5)° in electrical angle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A rotating electric machine for vehicular use according to claim 1, wherein: differences in lengths of the n types of magnet pieces along the circumference of the rotor from one another are set within a range between a length equivalent to (120/n−5)° in electrical angle and a length equivalent to (120/n+5)° in electrical angle. ### Claim 7 A rotating electric machine for vehicular use comprising: a stator that includes a stator core and a stator winding wound at the stator core; and a rotor that is rotatably disposed relative to the stator and includes a rotor core formed by laminating a plurality of electromagnetic steel sheets with a plurality of magnet insertion holes formed therein and includes a plurality of permanent magnets each held in each of the plurality of magnet insertion holes to form a magnetic pole, wherein: each of the plurality of permanent magnets extends along a rotor axis and is formed in a shape assuming at least two different lengths along a circumference of the rotor; and the each of the plurality of permanent magnets is constituted with n (n is an integer equal to or greater than 2) types of magnet pieces set side-by-side along the rotor axis; and the n types of magnet pieces assume lengths along the circumference of the rotor that are different from one another by an extent equivalent to approximately 60°/n in electrical angle, and the n types of magnet pieces are disposed so that central lines running through centers of the magnet pieces, assumed along the circumference of the rotor, form a substantially single straight line running along the rotor axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A rotating electric machine for vehicular use according to claim 7, wherein: the n types of magnet pieces constituting the each of the permanent magnets each assume a substantially quadrangular shape viewed from a stator side. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A rotating electric machine for vehicular use according to claim 7, wherein: the n types of magnet pieces constituting the each of the plurality of permanent magnets all assume a form achieving symmetry relative to the central lines running through the centers of the magnet pieces. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A rotating electric machine for vehicular use according to claim 7, wherein: the magnet insertion holes are each constituted with m (m is an integer equal to or greater than 2) types of holes, assuming lengths at hole inner circumferential surfaces along the circumference of the rotor, which are different from one another, and set one after another along the rotor axis; and the lengths of the m types of holes at the hole inner circumferential surfaces along the circumference of the rotor are different from one another by an extent equivalent to approximately 60°/m in electrical angle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A rotating electric machine for vehicular use according to claim 10, wherein: differences in lengths of the magnet insertion holes at hole inner circumferential surfaces along the circumference of the rotor from one another are set within a range between a length equivalent to (60/m−5)° in electrical angle and a length equivalent to (60/m+5)° in electrical angle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) A rotating electric machine for vehicular use according to claim 7, wherein: differences in lengths of the n types of magnet pieces along the circumference of the rotor from one another are set within a range between a length equivalent to (60/n−5)° in electrical angle and a length equivalent to (60/n+5)° in electrical angle. ### Claim 13 A rotating electric machine for vehicular use comprising: a stator that includes a stator core and a stator winding wound at the stator core; and a rotor that is rotatably disposed relative to the stator and includes a rotor core formed by laminating a plurality of electromagnetic steel sheets with a plurality of magnet insertion holes formed therein and includes a plurality of permanent magnets each held in each of the plurality of magnet insertion holes to form a magnetic pole, wherein: each of the plurality of permanent magnets extends along a rotor axis and is formed in a shape assuming at least two different lengths along a circumference of the rotor; and the each of the plurality of permanent magnets held in one of the magnet insertion holes assumes an isosceles trapezoid shape with an upper base thereof set on one side along the rotor axis and a lower base thereof set on another side along the rotor axis viewed from a stator side; and auxiliary magnetic poles are formed for reluctance torque generation among a plurality of magnetic poles formed with the plurality of permanent magnets. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A rotating electric machine for vehicular use according to claim 13, wherein: a difference between lengths of the upper base and the lower base of the each of the plurality of permanent magnets, which assumes the isosceles trapezoidal shape, held in each magnet insertion hole is equivalent to 120° or 60° in electrical angle; and the auxiliary magnetic poles each extend along the rotor axis so as to incline along the circumference of the rotor and a pair of auxiliary magnetic poles among the auxiliary magnetic poles, disposed on two opposite sides of one of the plurality of magnetic poles formed with the plurality of permanent magnets, are set so that the pair of auxiliary magnetic poles incline along opposite directions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A rotating electric machine for vehicular use according to claim 14, wherein: the rotor core is constituted with a plurality of stages, which are separated from one another along the rotor axis; and the plurality of stages are offset relative to one another along the circumference of the rotor so as to form the auxiliary magnetic poles on an incline along the circumference of the rotor. ### Claim 16 A rotating electric machine for vehicular use comprising: a stator that includes a stator core and a stator winding wound at the stator core; and a rotor that is rotatably disposed relative to the stator and includes a rotor core formed by laminating a plurality of electromagnetic steel sheets with a plurality of magnet insertion holes formed therein and includes a plurality of permanent magnets each held in each of the plurality of magnet insertion holes to form a magnetic pole, wherein: each of the plurality of permanent magnets extends along a rotor axis and is formed in a shape assuming at least two different lengths along a circumference of the rotor; and the plurality of permanent magnets are each constituted with a plurality of magnet pieces each forming an isosceles trapezoid shape including a first base and a second base; the plurality of magnet pieces constituting each of the plurality of permanent magnets are disposed so that first bases of the plurality of magnet pieces along the circumference of the rotor at two ends located on one side and another side faces opposite each other along the rotor axis and second bases of the plurality of magnet pieces along the circumference of the rotor faces opposite each other at a longitudinal center of the rotor axis, and the plurality of magnet pieces are disposed so that central lines running through centers of the plurality of magnet pieces assumed along the circumference of the rotor, form a substantially single straight line along the rotor axis; and auxiliary magnetic poles are formed for reluctance torque generation among the plurality of magnetic poles formed with the plurality of permanent magnets. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A rotating electric machine for vehicular use according to claim 16, wherein: a difference between lengths of the first base and the second base of each of the plurality of magnet pieces is equivalent to 120° or 60° in electrical angle.