Electrostatic air filter for electric vehicle motors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11986759-B2
Application number	US-202017107504-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2020
Priority date	Nov 30, 2020
Publication date	May 21, 2024
Grant date	May 21, 2024

Abstract

Disclosed is a vehicle comprising a wheel with an associated air-cooled motor, and a ventilation path for passing outside air from outside the vehicle into the motor. An electrostatic device is disposed proximate to the ventilation path. When the electrostatic device is energized, particles or debris in the outside air are attracted toward or repelled from the electrostatic device, such that the particles or debris are removed from the outside air before the outside air enters the motor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A motor, comprising:
an inlet through which cool air enters the motor;
an outlet through which hot exhaust exits the motor; and
an electrostatic chuck disposed proximate to a ventilation path of the inlet,
wherein, when the electrostatic chuck is energized, particles or debris in the cool air are attracted toward the electrostatic chuck,
such that the particles or debris are removed from the cool air before the cool air enters the motor,
wherein the particles or debris comprise metal oxide, semiconductor, semiconductor oxide, or organic material.

2. The motor of claim 1 , wherein the motor is a wheel motor of a vehicle.

3. The motor of claim 1 , wherein the electrostatic chuck comprises an a base plate covered by an insulator in which electrodes are embedded.

4. The motor of claim 1 , wherein the electrostatic chuck comprises a Coulomb-force electrostatic chuck or a Johnsen-Rahbek electrostatic chuck.

5. The motor of claim 1 , further comprising wiring, wherein the wiring operably couples the electrostatic chuck to an electrical system of the motor.

6. The motor of claim 1 , wherein the particles or debris further comprise metal.

7. The motor of claim 1 , wherein the electrostatic chuck is configured to be energized while the motor is running and de-energized while the motor is stopped.

8. A method, comprising:
providing an air inlet to a motor, through which air enters the motor;
providing a ventilation path to the air inlet; and
providing an electrostatic chuck proximate to the ventilation path,
such that, when the electrostatic chuck is energized, particles or debris in the air are attracted toward the electrostatic chuck,
such that the particles or debris are removed from the air before the air enters the motor,
wherein the particles or debris comprise metal oxide, semiconductor, semiconductor oxide, or organic material.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the motor is a wheel motor of a vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the electrostatic chuck comprises a Coulomb-force electrostatic chuck or a Johnsen-Rahbek electrostatic chuck.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the particles or debris comprise metal.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the electrostatic chuck is energized while the motor is running and de-energized while the motor is stopped.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the electrostatic chuck comprises a base plate covered by an insulator in which electrodes are embedded.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Joshi Shailesh N
• Tsuruta Ryohei
• Gandhi Umesh

Classifications

• B01D46/0032 Primary

  using electrostatic forces to remove particles, e.g. electret filters · CPC title

• B01D46/4245

  Means for power supply or devices using electrical power in filters or filter elements · CPC title

• B60K7/0007 Primary

  the motor being electric · CPC title

• B60K13/02

  concerning intake · CPC title

• B60K13/04

  concerning exhaust · CPC title