Electric machine

Abstract

A three-phase, high voltage motor for use in a scroll compressor includes a stator core having an annular rim and a plurality of teeth extending radially inward from the rim. Aluminum windings are wrapped around teeth of the plurality of teeth of the stator core. The windings are spaced 120 electrical degrees from each other. The motor further includes a rotor body that is rotatably mounted inside the stator core and includes an external surface facing the stator core.

1 . A three-phase, high voltage motor for use in a scroll compressor comprising:
 a stator core having an annular rim, a plurality of teeth extending radially inward from the rim;   windings comprising aluminum wrapped around teeth of said plurality of teeth of the stator core, the windings being spaced 120 electrical degrees from each other; and   a rotor body rotatably mounted inside the stator core including an external surface facing said stator core.   
     
     
         2 . A three-phase motor as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each adjacent pair of teeth define a slot having an area, a ratio of a sum of the slot areas being larger than with a conventional three-phase motor. 
     
     
         3 . A three-phase motor as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the stator has a motor stack height in a range from about 2¾ inches to about 6 inches. 
     
     
         4 . A three-phase motor as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the motor stack height is about 5½ inches. 
     
     
         5 . A three-phase motor as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the windings comprise aluminum magnet wire. 
     
     
         6 . A three-phase motor as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the windings comprise aluminum alloy magnet wire. 
     
     
         7 . A three-phase motor as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the motor has a voltage level in a range from about 208 V to about 575V. 
     
     
         8 . A scroll compressor system comprising:
 a scroll compressor; and   a three-phase, high voltage motor comprising:
 a stator core having an annular rim, an outer diameter, a root tooth diameter, an inner diameter, a plurality of teeth extending radially inward from the rim, each tooth of said plurality of teeth having a root, a neck extending inward from the root, and a head opposite the root, the annular rim having an outer edge defining an enclosed cross-sectional area, each adjacent pair of teeth defining a slot having an area; 
 windings comprising aluminum wrapped around teeth of said plurality of teeth of the stator core, the windings being spaced 120 electrical degrees from each other; and 
 a rotor body rotatably mounted inside the stator core including an external surface facing said stator core. 
   
     
     
         9 . A scroll compressor system as set forth in  claim 8  wherein each adjacent pair of teeth define a slot having an area, a ratio of a sum of the slot areas being larger than with a conventional three-phase motor. 
     
     
         10 . A scroll compressor system as set forth in  claim 9  the motor has stack height in a range from about 2¾ inches to about 6 inches. 
     
     
         11 . A scroll compressor system as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the motor stack height is about 5½ inches. 
     
     
         12 . A method of modifying a three-phase, high voltage motor for use in a scroll compressor, the motor including a stator core having a plurality of teeth, each pair of adjacent teeth of said plurality defining a slot having a volume, windings including copper wrapped around teeth of said plurality of teeth of the stator core, the windings being spaced 120 electrical degrees from each other; and a rotor rotatably mounted inside the stator core including an external surface facing said stator core, said method comprising:
 replacing the copper windings with aluminum windings formed from wire have a gage size at least two gages larger than that forming the copper windings and a length equal to that forming the copper windings; and   increasing the volume of the slots to accommodate the aluminum windings.   
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the volume of the slots is increased by increasing a stack height of the stator to accommodate the aluminum wire. 
     
     
         14 . A method as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the volume of the slots is increased by increasing a slot area extending between the adjacent pairs of teeth of the stator core to accommodate the aluminum wire. 
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the volume of the slots is increased by increasing a stack height of the stator and by increasing a slot area extending between the adjacent pairs of teeth to accommodate the aluminum wire.