Lubricant supported electric motor

Abstract

A lubricant supported electric motor includes a static member and a movable member movably disposed within the static member to define a gap therebetween. The static member may be configured as a stator and the movable member may be configured as a rotor. The movable member may also be configured to move relative to the static member. The static member and movable member are configured to exert an electromagnetic force therebetween and convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and move the movable member. A lubricant is disposed in the gap between the static member and the movable member to support the movable member relative to the static member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric motor comprising:
 a static member configured as a stator;   a movable member configured as a rotor and moveable disposed within the stator to define a gap therebetween, the static member and movable member configured to exert an electromagnetic force therebetween and convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and move the movable member; and   a lubricant disposed in the gap between the static member and the movable member to support the movable member relative to the static member.   
     
     
         2 . The electric motor of  claim 1 , wherein one of the stator or the rotor defines a passageway disposed in fluid communication with the gap for introducing the lubricant. 
     
     
         3 . The electric motor of  claim 2 , wherein the stator defines the passageway. 
     
     
         4 . The electric motor of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member is operably connected to a final drive device that is interconnected to a wheel of a vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The electric motor of  claim 2 , further comprising a pump disposed in fluid communication with the passageway for introducing the lubricant into the gap through the static member. 
     
     
         6 . The electric motor of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a heat exchanger, a heat sink, and a radiator in fluid communication with the lubricant. 
     
     
         7 . An electric motor comprising:
 a static member configured as a plurality of stator coils;   a movable member, the movable member configured as a band and as a rotor and movably disposed within the stator to define a gap therebetween, the static member and movable member configured to exert an electromagnetic force therebetween and convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and move the movable member; and   a lubricant disposed in the gap between the plurality of stator coils of the static member and the band of the movable member to support the movable member relative to the static member.   
     
     
         8 . The electric motor of  claim 7 , wherein one of the stator or the rotor defines a passageway disposed in fluid communication with the gap for introducing the lubricant. 
     
     
         9 . The electric motor of  claim 8 , wherein the stator defines the passageway. 
     
     
         10 . The electric motor of  claim 7 , wherein the movable member is operably connected to at least one of a crankshaft and a camshaft of an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         11 . The electric motor of  claim 7 , wherein the band is configured as at least one of a drive belt, a drive chain, a timing belt, and a timing chain of an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         12 . The electric motor of  claim 7 , further comprising a pump disposed in fluid communication with the passageway for introducing the lubricant into the gap. 
     
     
         13 . The electric motor of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one of a heat exchanger, a heat sink, and a radiator in fluid communication with the lubricant. 
     
     
         14 . An electric motor comprising:
 a static member configured as a stator;   a movable member, the movable member configured as a drive chain and as a rotor and movably disposed within the stator to define a gap therebetween, the static member and movable member configured to exert an electromagnetic force therebetween and convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and move the movable member; and   a lubricant disposed in the gap between the plurality of stator coils of the static member and the band of the movable member to support the movable member relative to the static member.   
     
     
         15 . The electric motor of  claim 14 , wherein one of the stator or the rotor defines a passageway disposed in fluid communication with the gap for introducing the lubricant. 
     
     
         16 . The electric motor of  claim 15 , wherein the stator defines the passageway. 
     
     
         17 . The electric motor of  claim 14 , wherein the movable member includes a connection to at least one of a wheel-end spindle and an idler gear of a trailing arm suspension of a vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The electric motor of  claim 14 , wherein the drive chain is configured as at least one of a drive belt and a drive chain of a trailing arm suspension of a vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The electric motor of  claim 14 , further comprising a pump disposed in fluid communication with the passageway for introducing the lubricant into the gap. 
     
     
         20 . The electric motor of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one of a heat exchanger, a heat sink, and a radiator in fluid communication with the lubricant.