Thermal management system for use with an integrated motor assembly

US9030063B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Tesla Motors, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Peter Dore Rawlinson · Worcester, GB
• Nicholas John Sampson · Rancho Palos Verdes, US
• Nicholas Robert Kalayjian · Redwood City, US
• Vincent George Johnston · Rue de l'Église, US
• David F. Nelson · Springfield, US
• Gary A. Pinkley · Fremont, US
• Wulfer Adrijan de Bruijn · Redwood City, US
• Benjamin D. Dettmann · San Francisco, US
• Nicolas Verzeni · San Francisco, US
• Michael Kubba · Redwood City, US
• Edwin M. Pearce, Jr. · San Francisco, US
• Jim Robbins · San Francisco, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 15, 2011
• Grant date: May 12, 2015
• Expiry date: Jan 25, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S903/906
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An integrated drive system assembly is provided that combines an electric motor, a power inverter assembly and a gearbox into a single, multi-piece enclosure. Combining these components into a single enclosure reduces weight, reduces drive system complexity, reduces system volume, simplifies assembly integration into an electric vehicle, reduces manufacturing cost, allows the flexible and lengthy electrical cables between the power inverter and the electric motor to be replaced with short, low loss, rigid bus bars, and simplifies component cooling by allowing the use of a common thermal management system, i.e., a mutual thermal management system. The common thermal management system includes a liquid coolant loop that is thermally coupled to the electric motor, the power inverter assembly and the gearbox.