US 12,015,331 B2
Electric motor rotor with conformal heat pipes
Alireza Fatemi, Canton, MI (US); Chih-hung Yen, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US); SeungHwan Keum, Northville, MI (US); Farzad Samie, Franklin, MI (US); Thomas W Nehl, Shelby Township, MI (US); Taeyoung Han, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US); and Ronald O Grover, Jr., Northville, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/647,049.
Prior Publication US 2023/0216379 A1, Jul. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. H02K 9/22 (2006.01); H02K 1/276 (2022.01); H02K 9/20 (2006.01)
CPC H02K 9/225 (2021.01) [H02K 1/276 (2013.01); H02K 9/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotor for an electric machine comprising:
a rotor core having at least one cavity internal to the rotor core, the at least one cavity surrounded by a wall defined by the rotor core;
a magnetic element disposed in the at least one cavity leaving a void in the at least one cavity between the magnetic element and the wall; and
a heat pipe evaporator disposed in the void and contacting the magnetic element and the wall to remove heat from the rotor core, wherein the heat pipe evaporator comprises a case and a working fluid in the case that is configured for heat movement, wherein the heat pipe evaporator conforms to the wall and to the magnetic element, filling the void.