Electric machine including a shaft having a pump vane

Abstract

An electric machine includes an electric machine housing having a first end, a second end, and an interior. A stator is fixedly mounted relative to the electric machine housing. A pump housing is provided at one of the first and second ends. A rotor is rotatably supported relative to the stator. The rotor includes a shaft having a first end that extends to a second end through an uninterrupted intermediate portion having an outer surface. One of the first and second ends extends into the pump housing. At least one vane element projects from the outer surface and is arranged in the pump housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric machine comprising:
 an electric machine housing having a first end, a second end and an interior;   a stator fixedly mounted relative to the electric machine housing;   a pump housing provided at one of the first and second ends;   a rotor rotatably supported relative to the stator, the rotor including a shaft having a first end portion, that extends to a second end portion through an uninterrupted intermediate portion having an outer surface, one of the first and second ends extends into the pump housing; and   at least one vane element projecting from the outer surface and arranged in the pump housing.   
     
     
         2 . The electric machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump housing includes a center axis, the rotor shaft extending into the pump housing off-set from the center axis. 
     
     
         3 . The electric machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump housing is provided at the second end. 
     
     
         4 . The electric machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a cover extending across the pump housing. 
     
     
         5 . The electric machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump housing includes an inlet fluidically exposed to the interior of the electric machine housing. 
     
     
         6 . The electric machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump housing includes an outlet fluidically exposed to the interior of the electric machine housing. 
     
     
         7 . The electric machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vane element comprises a plurality of vane elements. 
     
     
         8 . The electric machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor shaft includes a slot extending through the intermediate portion, the at least one vane element being arranged in the slot. 
     
     
         9 . The electric machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one vane element is slidingly received in the slot. 
     
     
         10 . The electric machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one vane element comprises a first vane element slidingly received in the slot and a second vane element slidingly received in the slot. 
     
     
         11 . The electric machine according to  claim 10 , further comprising: a biasing member positioned between the first vane element and the second vane element. 
     
     
         12 . A method of pumping liquid in an electric machine, the method comprising:
 driving a rotor shaft having a first end portion that extends to a second end portion through an uninterrupted intermediate portion;   rotating at least one vane element projecting outward from the uninterrupted outer surface in a pump housing provided in an electric machine housing;   generating a fluid pressure in the pump housing; and   urging the fluid from the pump housing.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein rotating the at least one vane element includes rotating the rotor shaft along a shaft axis that is off-set from a central axis of the pump housing. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein rotating the at least one vane element includes rotating at least one vane element that extends through a slot extending through the intermediate portion of the rotor shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: sliding the at least one vane element along the slot into contact with an inner wall of the pump housing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein sliding the at least one vane element along the slot includes sliding a first vane element along the slot and a second vane element along the slot. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: biasing the first vane element relative to the second vane element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein rotating the at least one vane element includes rotating multiple vane elements in the pump housing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein urging fluid from the pump housing includes guiding fluid into the electric machine housing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: passing fluid from the electric machine housing into the pump housing.