ELECTRIC MACHINE

Abstract

An electric machine includes a stator having a winding having a first plurality of conductors, and at least one temperature sensor arrangement including a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the region of the winding. The ends of at least one part of the first plurality of conductors protrude from the winding. One part of said ends is connected to an axial or radial interconnection ring placed on the winding that includes a second plurality of conductors. The temperature sensor arrangement is arranged on or in the interconnection ring and the temperature sensor is thermally coupled to at least one conductor of the second plurality of conductors.

Claims

1. An electric machine comprising a stator having a winding including a first plurality of conductors and at least one temperature sensor arrangement comprising a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature in a region of the winding wherein ends of at least some of the conductors protrude from the winding, wherein one part of said ends is connected to an axial or radial interconnection ring placed on the winding, wherein the interconnection ring includes a second plurality of conductors and the temperature sensor arrangement is arranged on or in the interconnection ring and the temperature sensor is thermally coupled to at least one conductor of the second plurality of conductors.

2. The electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the interconnection ring has a housing in which the second plurality of conductors are received, wherein the temperature sensor arrangement is arranged on or in the housing.

3. The electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor arrangement comprises a carrier, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged in a region of a carrier side.

4. The electric machine according to claim 3, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged on a sensor carrier which is arranged on the carrier.

5. The electric machine according to claim 4, wherein a receptacle compatible with a shape of the sensor carrier is provided on the carrier.

6. The electric machine according to claim 4, wherein the carrier forms part of a housing, wherein the temperature sensor is positioned on an open side of the housing.

7. The electric machine according to claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor is spring-loaded against the second plurality of conductors via at least one spring element.

8. The electric machine according to claim 7, wherein a cover detachably connected to the carrier is provided, wherein the carrier is movable relative to the cover and the spring element is arranged between the cover and the carrier, or in that the spring element is arranged between the carrier and the sensor carrier.

9. The electric machine according to claim 7, wherein the spring element is a curved leaf spring which is fixed on the carrier.

10. The electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor arrangement is detachably arranged on the interconnection ring via a latching or clamping connection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The disclosure is explained below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings are schematic representations, wherein:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram in the form of a partial view of an electric machine according to the disclosure,

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a temperature sensor device with temperature sensor and sensor carrier,

[0021] FIG. 3 shows an exploded representation of a carrier and a spring element,

[0022] FIG. 4 shows the assembled arrangement of carrier and spring element,

[0023] FIG. 5 shows the arrangement from FIG. 4 with the temperature sensor device fastened thereto,

[0024] FIG. 6 shows an exploded representation of the arrangement from FIG. 6 with an additional cover,

[0025] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view through the mounted temperature sensor arrangement from FIG. 6 with the cover attached,

[0026] FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of the interconnection ring with the temperature sensor arrangement not yet fastened, and

[0027] FIG. 9 shows a sectional view through the arrangement from FIG. 8 with a fixed temperature sensor arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows, in the form of a partial view, a schematic diagram of an electric machine 1 according to the disclosure, comprising a stator 2 having a winding 3 comprising a plurality of conductors 4, which are assigned to three separate phases in the example shown. Each conductor 4 is designed almost like a U-shaped bracket, wherein a plurality of such U-shaped conductors, often also called hairpins, are plugged together to form the winding 3, which can also be referred to as a winding cage. The plurality of conductors 4 defines different radial planes R, as shown in FIG. 1. For this purpose, the conductors 4 extend, depending on the winding diagram, from one radial plane to another radial plane, for example an adjacent radial plane, in the region in which they are connected to the conductor ends of corresponding adjacent conductors continuing the phase conductor.

[0029] The conductors 4 are guided or bent and laid in such a way that corresponding recesses 5 result, which extend radially so that corresponding stator teeth 6 engage in these recesses 5 or the corresponding conductors 4 are wound between the grooves of the stator teeth 6. The basic structure of such a stator 2 or a winding 3 wound from the separate brackets described is basically known.

[0030] In the stator 2 according to the disclosure, the ends 7 of the conductors 4, insofar as the ends 7 terminate respectively at the inner circumference and/or the outer circumference of the annular winding 3, are axially protruding, i.e., they protrude axially from the winding 3. These ends 7 are associated with individual conductors 4, which in turn are assigned to different phases, which is why the conductor ends must be connected according to the routing diagram of the conductor 4. For this purpose, an interconnection ring 8 is used, which, in this example, is placed axially on the end face of the winding 3 and is arranged between the conductor ends 7 or engages therebetween. The interconnection ring 8 comprises, as will be discussed below, one or several corresponding conductors in the form of line bridges, and connection sections 9, which protrude to the side from the housing 10 of the interconnection ring 8 and are positioned precisely next to the corresponding conductor end 7 after the interconnection ring 8 has been inserted between the conductor ends 7 with which they are to be connected. The connection is made by simple welding so that all conductors 4 are correctly and phase-specifically interconnected when they are connected.

[0031] Furthermore, a power supply 11 is provided, which is arranged radially next to the winding 3 in the region of its axial end, i.e., of the winding head. The power supply 11, also referred to as an HV terminal, comprises a housing 12, in which corresponding busbars 13 are arranged, which protrude with their connection terminals 14 from the housing 12.

[0032] In the present case, as described, a three-phase stator is shown, which is why three such connection terminals 14 are also provided in the example shown.

[0033] Each connection terminal 14 is to be connected to one phase of the winding 3. This is implemented in a simple manner in the exemplary embodiment shown in that two conductor ends 7a per phase are guided or bent radially outwards, as FIG. 1 illustrates.

[0034] As already described, one or a plurality of conductors 15 is accommodated in the interior of the housing 10 of the interconnection ring 8, which conductors serve as line bridges and are designed in the form of conductor rails or busbars. In the example shown, only one such conductor 15 is shown in dashed lines. According to the disclosure, a temperature sensor arrangement 16 is also provided, which is received on or in the housing 10 of the interconnection ring 8, for which purpose in the example shown only a recess 17 is shown in principle, in which the temperature sensor arrangement 16 is inserted. The arrangement is such that a temperature sensor, which will be discussed below, is brought into thermal contact with a conductor 15, preferably the neutral conductor, so that its temperature is measured, which can be used to obtain information about the winding temperature. This means that the arrangement according to the disclosure of the temperature sensor arrangement 16 on or in the interconnection ring or its housing itself enables a direct temperature measurement at this location.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a temperature sensor device 18 as part of the temperature sensor arrangement 16. The temperature sensor device 18 comprises a sensor carrier 19 on which the actual temperature sensor 20, for example an NTC or PTC sensor, is fastened and is connected to a corresponding continuing cable 22 via connecting lines 21. A shrink tube 23 is pulled over the sensor carrier 19 and the temperature sensor 20 as well as the connecting line 21 in order to protect the arrangement. The sensor carrier 19 is elongated, i.e., in the form of a plate, for example it is a plastic plate.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows an exploded representation of a carrier 24 and a spring element 25 in the form of a leaf spring 26. As will be discussed below, the carrier 24 receives and holds the temperature sensor device 18 from FIG. 2.

[0037] On one side of the carrier 24, fastening means 27 are provided for the arrangement and fastening of the leaf spring 26, which likewise has corresponding fastening means 28 in the form of latching elements or corresponding form-fitting elements. As shown by the arrow P1, the leaf spring 26 is pushed onto the carrier 24 from the side so that, on the one hand, it is tensioned between the fastening means 27 there but, on the other hand, it is also locked in place, as FIG. 4 shows.

[0038] This arrangement from FIG. 4 is then equipped with the temperature sensor device 18, see FIG. 5. For this purpose, the sensor carrier 19 is passed through an insertion opening 29 provided on the carrier so that it is positioned on the outer lower side of the carrier 24, as it were, which has a corresponding recess 30 for receiving the sensor carrier. As FIG. 5 shows, the cable 22 runs out of the insertion opening 29 and can be continued. This means that after it has been arranged on the carrier 24, the temperature sensor 20 is arranged in the region of the open underside.

[0039] FIG. 6 also shows a cover 31, which is to be snapped onto the carrier 24 via a suitable latching connection, not shown in detail, in an exploded view. Like the carrier 24, the cover 31 is also made of plastic. The cover can be seen, see arrow P2, on the side on which the leaf spring 26 is arranged, so that after the cover 31 has been mounted, see FIG. 7, the leaf spring 26 is tensioned between the cover 31 and the carrier 24. The carrier 24 can be moved somewhat relative to the cover 31, as far as its latching connection permits. This is necessary because the sensor carrier 19 or the temperature sensor 20 is spring-loaded and pressed against the conductor 15 via the leaf spring 26.

[0040] On the cover 31, see FIG. 6, corresponding latching elements 32 are provided on both sides (FIG. 6 shows only one side thereof), via which latching elements 32 the cover 31 and with it the entire temperature sensor arrangement 16, as shown in FIG. 7 is fixed on the interconnection ring 8 or its housing 10.

[0041] This process is shown in FIG. 8. This shows a section of the interconnection ring 8 or its housing 10, with the recess 17 already mentioned above, into which the temperature sensor arrangement 16, as shown by the arrow P3, is inserted. In the region of the recess 17, the conductor 15, for example the neutral conductor, is exposed. If the temperature sensor arrangement 16 is now pressed into the recess 17, the latching elements 32 snap into suitable latching receptacles 33 on the housing 10 in the region of the recess 17 when the final assembly position is reached, whereby the temperature sensor arrangement 16 is fixed in position on the one hand, but also released again if necessary and can be removed or replaced for maintenance.

[0042] After the latching connection has been snapped in, the temperature sensor arrangement 16 is fixed in a reproducible manner with precise positioning, see FIG. 9. The temperature sensor device 18 or the temperature sensor 20 is spring-loaded against the conductor 15 via the leaf spring 26, as FIG. 9 clearly shows, so that there is an optimal thermal contact and thus a very good thermal coupling. By springing the temperature sensor, on the one hand, a reproducible thermal contact can be achieved, and on the other hand, corresponding geometric tolerances can easily be compensated for. At the same time, the measuring arrangement is also protected against external influences such as media flows, etc. due to the encapsulation in the housing or the corresponding arrangement on the interconnection ring housing.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0043] 1 Electric machine

[0044] 2 Stator

[0045] 3 Winding

[0046] 4 Conductor

[0047] 5 Recess

[0048] 6 Stator tooth

[0049] 7 Conductor end

[0050] 8 Interconnection ring

[0051] 9 Connection section

[0052] 10 Housing

[0053] 11 Power supply

[0054] 12 Housing

[0055] 13 Conductor rail

[0056] 14 Connection terminal

[0057] 15 Conductor

[0058] 16 Temperature sensor arrangement

[0059] 17 Recess

[0060] 18 Temperature sensor device

[0061] 19 Sensor carrier

[0062] 20 Temperature sensor

[0063] 21 Connecting line

[0064] 22 Cable

[0065] 23 Shrink tube

[0066] 24 Carrier

[0067] 25 Spring element

[0068] 26 Leaf spring

[0069] 27 Fastening means

[0070] 28 Fastening means

[0071] 29 Insertion opening

[0072] 30 Recess

[0073] 31 Cover

[0074] 32 Latching element

[0075] 33 Latching receptacle

[0076] R Radial plane

[0077] P1 Arrow

[0078] P2 Arrow

[0079] P3 Arrow