Molon Motor and Coil Corporation

Medela Holding Ag

Emilio A Ramirez, Jr

Athanase N Tsergas

Ralph A Bley

David Cho

Shay Shalmon

Sarah Loeffel

Larry Gebhardt

The present disclosure relates to mechanical braking mechanisms used in electric motor applications. The present braking mechanisms may be configured as non-back-drivable mechanical brakes and provide immediate braking of the motors. According to one embodiment, a mechanical brake assembly for an electric motor may include a female disk including a groove and an abutment and a male disk including a projection, the male disk being in mechanical communication with a rotor of the electric motor. When the electric motor is energized, the projection of the male disk is configured to rotate with the rotation of the rotor of the electric motor, but when the electric motor is de-energized, the projection of the male disk is configured to travel within the groove of the female disk and abut the abutment of the female disk, thereby reducing the rotation of the rotor of the electric motor.

Mechanical brake for an electric motor

The present disclosure relates to mechanical braking mechanisms used in electric motor applications. The present braking mechanisms may be configured as non-back-drivable mechanical brakes and provide immediate braking of the motors. According to one embodiment, a mechanical brake assembly for an electric motor may include a female disk having a curved groove and an abutment. The mechanical brake assembly further includes a male disk having a projection, the male disk being attached to a rotor of the electric motor. When the electric motor is energized, the projection of the male disk is allowed to rotate uninterrupted with the rotation of the rotor. However, when the electric motor is de-energized, the projection of the male disk travels within the curved groove of the female disk and abuts the abutment of the female disk, thereby stopping the rotation of the rotor of the electric motor.

The present invention relates to a compact, dual compartment gear motor assembly for use primarily in operating appliances and/or components of appliances. The compact nature of the dual compartment gear motor assembly makes it useful in many residential and commercial appliances, including ice making machines, automatic dishwashing machines, laundry machines and vending machines. The dual compartment configuration separates a gear train assembly and motor into a housing compartment separate from a power source, such as printed circuit board or control board, and further secures the gear motor assembly components within the housing compartments without the need for fasteners.

Dual compartment gear motor assembly

The present disclosure relates to miniaturized motor assembly for use in an appliance, for example, an ice maker for a commercial or residential refrigerator. The miniaturized motor assembly includes an electric motor, such as a permanent magnet direct current (PMDC) motor, and a printed circuit board operable to control power to the electric motor, wherein the printed circuit board is connected to the motor as a component of the assembly. At least one electrically-conductive connection device acts as a terminal, providing multiple points of contact between the printed circuit board and the motor, forming both an improved, reliable mechanical connection and an effective electrical connection between the circuit board and the motor. Use of the electrically-conductive connection device of the present disclosure eliminates the need for tedious and inconsistent soldering connections, while providing multiple points of contact and improved electrical contact over other forms of connecting devices.

Electrically-conductive connection device for use in a compact miniaturized motor assembly

A compact, miniaturized motor assembly for use in an ice making and harvesting device in an appliance is provided. The miniaturized motor assembly includes a gear train assembly having an output shaft engaged with an ice receiving and storage component. A DC motor powers the gear train assembly, which rotates the output shaft in a plurality of directions to effectively loosen and release ice from an ice making device while offering less stress on the ice making device. A method for releasing ice from an ice making device and completing an ice harvesting cycle using the miniaturized motor assembly is also provided.

Miniaturized motor assembly

A compact gear motor pump assembly is disclosed. The gear motor pump assembly includes a motor driving a gear train and an output shaft in a first direction and a second direction, creating a pumping action. The present gear motor pump assembly offers an efficient and quiet operation through incorporation of springs within the assembly. The present assembly is designed for use with devices, specifically medical devices requiring a pumping action, for example, breast pumps.

Gear motor pump assembly

A peristaltic pump for dispensing liquid includes a front casing portion, a rear casing snap-fitted together with the front casing portion, a rotor confined between the front casing portion and the rear casing portion, a plurality of rollers mounted in the rotor, and a flexible tube compressed at equally spaced intervals by the plurality of rollers. The pump is resistant to constant torques and vibrations caused by a machine to which it is attached so that the pump does not become loose and fall apart. In a first embodiment for low torque and low vibration operations, the pump is screwless. In a second embodiment for high torque and high vibration operations, two screws secure a synchronous gear motor to the pump.

Peristaltic pump that is resistant to torques and vibrations

A peristaltic pump for dispensing liquid is described and includes a front housing and a rear housing snap-fitted together to define a chamber having a recessed area and a rotor confined therein, a plurality of rollers mounted in the rotor, and a flexible tube compressed at equally spaced intervals by the plurality of rollers. The rotor undergoes a gradual increase in torque as a benefit of the recessed area, rather than an immediate high-torque load at the start of each pump cycle. Further, the pump is resistant to constant torques and vibrations caused by a machine to which it is attached so that the pump does not become loose and fall apart.

Peristaltic pump with torque relief

Peristaltic pump front housing

Peristaltic pump rotor

A gear box has a housing and a direct current motor inside of the housing. A rotatable output shaft extends through a wall of the housing and is rotatably driven by the motor via a gear train. The gear box can be used to dispense ice from a refrigerator/freezer. The motor drives the output shaft in one direction to dispense ice cubes. The motor also drives the output shaft in an opposite direction to crush ice and dispense the crushed ice. The gear box has a low-profile height. The gear train is located in front of a motor shaft of the motor and has a maximum height which does not exceed a maximum height of the motor. The motor shaft is perpendicular to the input gear of the gear train and to the output shaft of the gear box.

Gear box for ice dispenser

A three-wire reversing system for a permanent magnet, reversible, brush-type, direct current (DC) motor has a three-wire alternating current (AC) input voltage source which supplies electrical current to at least one capacitive element. This capacitive element and the DC motor replace a permanent split capacitor (PSC) and an AC motor in a prior art three-wire reversing system.

Three-wire reversing system

In an electronic system, motor braking is accomplished by applying direct current (DC) voltage, developed across a capacitive element during a run mode operation, across terminals of an alternating current (AC) or an induction motor. While the motor is ON, i.e. during the run mode operation, a diode rectifies an AC input voltage applied across a capacitor for charging thereof. Resistive elements in series with the capacitor control a charging rate thereof. When a relay or switch flips over to a STOP or OFF mode, i.e. a braking mode operation, all of the stored DC voltage, which was charged across the capacitor during the run mode operation, is dropped across a coil of the motor. This DC voltage creates an electric force applied to stop quickly and efficiently the motor shaft rotation. In preferred embodiments of the invention, it was found that the higher the capacitance of the electrolytic capacitor, the faster and more efficient the stopping action will be for the motor.

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Roselle, IL, United States of America

Emilio A Ramirez, Jr