A SEALED AXIAL FLUX MOTOR WITH INTEGRATED COOLING

摘要

Conventional axial flux motors typically include multiple rotors and stators resulting in a larger and heavier motor. Additionally, conventional axial flux motors include a housing to protect the rotors and stators, but the housing is often difficult to seal from the environment leading to risks of contaminants (e.g., dirt, water) infiltrating the motor and causing failure over time. The present invention overcomes these limitations by disclosing an axial flux motor with a single rotor and two stators. The use of a single rotor reduces the size and weight of the motor. An inboard housing and an outboard housing mechanically support the two stators and are joined together to define an interior cavity. A ring seal is disposed between the two housings to ensure the interior cavity is sealed. Additionally, the two stators may actuate multiple degrees of freedom (DOF) including the rotation of a wheel and actuation of a suspension.