Bearing current mitigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025364864-A1
Application number	US-202418673885-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 24, 2024
Priority date	May 24, 2024
Publication date	Nov 27, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus can include a stator, a housing, and an electrical connector. The electrical connector can establish an electrical connection between the stator and the housing. The electrical connector can create a path to discharge current from a bearing via the electrical connection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a stator; a housing; and an electrical connector configured to:
establish an electrical connection between the stator and the housing; and
create a path to discharge current from a bearing via the electrical connection.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
the electrical connector disposed at least partially between the stator and the housing.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
the stator including a plurality of laminations; and the electrical connector including a connection between at least two laminations of the plurality of laminations.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
the stator including a protrusion; the electrical connector configured to surround at least a portion of a surface of an aperture of the protrusion.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
the electrical connector comprising a plurality of electrical connectors; and the plurality of electrical connectors configured to dispose between at least two laminations of a plurality of laminations of the stator.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
the stator including:
a plurality of laminations; and
a protrusion; and
the electrical connector configured to:
couple with the plurality of laminations; and
dispose at least partially between the protrusion and the housing.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
the stator including a protrusion; the protrusion including an aperture; and the electrical connector configured to dispose within the aperture.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
the electrical connector including:
a first portion configured to dispose at least partially within the housing; and
a second portion to couple with the stator.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
the electrical connector, including:
a first portion configured to couple with the housing; and
a second portion configured to contact at least a portion of a protrusion of the stator.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
the electrical connector, including:
a first portion configured to couple with a first side of the housing; and
a second portion configured to couple with a second side of the housing.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
the electrical connector, including:
a first portion configured to contact a first side of a protrusion of the stator; and
a second portion configured to contact a second side of the protrusion.

12 . A vehicle, comprising:
a drive unit assembly, including:
a stator;
a housing; and
a bearing; and
an electrical connector configured to:
establish an electrical connection between the stator and the housing; and
create a path to discharge current from the bearing via the electrical connection.

13 . The vehicle of claim 12 , comprising:
the electrical connector disposed at least partially between the stator and the housing.

14 . The vehicle of claim 12 , comprising:
the stator including a plurality of laminations; and the electrical connector including a connection between at least two laminations of the plurality of laminations.

15 . The vehicle of claim 12 , comprising:
the stator including a protrusion; and the electrical connector configured to surround at least a portion of a surface of an aperture of the protrusion.

16 . The vehicle of claim 12 , comprising:
the electrical connector comprising a plurality of electrical connectors; and the plurality of electrical connectors configured to dispose between at least two laminations of a plurality of laminations of the stator.

17 . The vehicle of claim 12 , comprising:
the electrical connector, including:
a first portion configured to dispose at least partially within the housing; and
a second portion to couple with the stator.

18 . A method, comprising:
disposing an electrical connector at least partially between a stator and a housing; establishing, by the electrical connector, an electrical connection between the stator and the housing; and creating, by the electrical connector responsive to establishing the electrical connection, a path to discharge current from a bearing via the electrical connection.

19 . The method of claim 18 , the electrical connector comprising a plurality of electrical connectors, and comprising:
disposing the plurality of electrical connectors between at least two laminations of a plurality of laminations of the stator.

20 . The method of claim 18 , the stator including a plurality of laminations and a protrusion, and comprising:
coupling the electrical connector with the plurality of laminations; and disposing the electrical connector at least partially between the protrusion and the housing.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Xie Yanyan
• Rahman Khwaja
• Hiti Silva
• Son Yo Chan
• Balliett Logan Noel
• Cooper Lon C

Classifications

• H02K2203/09

  Machines characterised by wiring elements other than wires, e.g. bus rings, for connecting the winding terminations · CPC title

• H02K5/225 Primary

  Terminal boxes or connection arrangements (specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132) · CPC title

• H02K1/12 Primary

  Stationary parts of the magnetic circuit · CPC title