Nidec Motor Corporation

Emerson Electric Company

Payman Rassoolkhani

Paul G Michaels

Chetan O Modi

Kent A Sheeran

Charles L Geiler

Robert J Ploof, Jr

Philip Stephen Johnson

William D Moore

Joshua M Biro

Jeffrey Scott Sherman

Michael T Collins

Craig E Wallace

Electric motors are disclosed. The motors are preferably for use in an automated vehicle, although any one or more of a variety of motor uses are suitable. The motors include lift, turntable, and locomotion motors.

Staked rotor core for retaining magnets

A motor or generator assembly including a motor or generator machine and mounting structure supporting the machine on an appliance is provided. The machine presents an axially extending, radially outermost circumferential face and a pair of axially spaced apart, radially projecting axial margins. The mounting structure includes a pair of at least substantially radially extending plates and a base configured for connection to the appliance. The plates extend at least in part adjacent respective ones of the axial margins and at least in part define a machine-receiving space therebetween. The machine is mounted on the brackets so as to be positioned at least in part in the machine-receiving space. The base is positioned at least substantially radially outside the circumferential face of the machine and presents a pair of axially spaced apart side faces, with each of the plates being secured against a respective one of the side faces.

Mounting base for motor/generator

A motor programming tool is disclosed for associating with a connection block of a motor and sending signals to a programmable controller of the motor, where the connection block includes a plurality of terminals coupled to the controller. The programming tool includes a tool body with an interface generally corresponding with the connection block of the motor, wiring operable to carry the signals, and a plurality of terminal connecting assemblies to associate with the motor terminals. The programming tool includes circuitry disposed in the tool body. The circuitry is electrically connected to the wiring and includes a power transmission portion and a data transmission portion.

Motor programming tool with handle-mounted PCB

A motor programming tool is disclosed for associating with a connection block of a motor and sending signals to a programmable controller of the motor, where the connection block includes a plurality of terminals coupled to the controller. The programming tool includes a tool body with an interface generally corresponding with the connection block of the motor, wiring operable to carry the signals, and a plurality of terminal connecting assemblies to associate with the motor terminals. The tool body includes a shiftable locking mechanism operable to selectively secure the tool body relative to the electrical connection block of the motor. The locking mechanism includes a pivotable latch moveable between an open position, wherein the connecting assemblies are freely moveable into and out of contact with the motor terminals, and a closed position, wherein at least a portion of the pivotable latch is in contact with the motor and the connecting assemblies are restricted from moving out of contact with the motor terminals.

Motor programming tool

A motor programming tool is disclosed for associating with a connection block of a motor and sending signals to a programmable controller of the motor, where the connection block includes a plurality of terminals coupled to the controller. The programming tool includes a tool body with an interface generally corresponding with the connection block of the motor, wiring operable to carry the signals, and a plurality of terminal connecting assemblies to associate with the motor terminals. In one embodiment, each connecting assembly includes a mounting element connected to end of the wiring and a plunger element shiftable relative to the mounting element while maintaining electrical connection therewith. Each plunger is biased toward an extended condition and is yieldably retracted inwardly relative thereto when the tool body is associated with the connection block. Embodiments of the programming tool also include circuitry connected to the wiring and including a time-delay relay element.

A stator assembly has discrete stacks of laminations. A plurality of nonmagnetic containment structures define pockets. The stacks are at least partially received in the pockets and coupled to one another by the containment structure. The containment structures are moveable between a first configuration in which the stacks are separate from one another and a second configuration in which yokes of adjacent stacks are in physical contact with one another. In a method of making a stator assembly, a plurality of stator segments are positioned so each is received in one of a plurality of pockets in a containment structure. Coils are wound around each stator segment while the containment structure prevents the stator segment from having direct physical contact with another stator segment. The containment structure is reconfigured to bring the wound stator segments into contact with one another, thereby forming a closed magnetic circuit.

Segmented stator with improved handling and winding characteristics

A stator segment for a stator assembly includes a stack of substantially identical laminations and a containment structure receiving a portion of the stacked laminations. The containment structure includes a flexible hinge element. The containment structure can include a first containment structure member having a first pocket for receiving a portion of the stack of substantially identical laminations and a second containment structure member having a second pocket for receiving a different portion of the stack of substantially identical laminations than the first pocket. In some embodiments, the stack of substantially identical laminations includes two ends and a middle portion extending between the ends. The containment structure can include a first containment structure member for capping one end of the stack of substantially identical laminations and a second containment structure member for capping the other end of the stack of substantially identical laminations.

A stator assembly that may be rounded into an annular form is disclosed that includes a plurality of stator segments where each stator segment defines a yoke portion and a stator tooth and a containment structure configured to position the stator segments relative to one another such that the stator segments do not physically touch one another and such that no magnetic circuit between adjacent stator segments is formed. Also disclosed is a method for forming a segmented stator, involving the steps of positioning a plurality of stator segment in a containment structure such that no magnetic circuit between adjacent stator segments is formed, forming a winding coil about at least some of the stator segments; and deforming the containment structure to form an annular stator and to establish a magnetic circuit between adjacent stator segments.

Method for forming an annular stator assembly

A shroud is provided for a dynamoelectric device such as an electric motor comprising a rotor and a wire wound stator, where the shroud fully contains the end turns of the stator wire windings, provides terminal connections for winding leads, and includes a circuitry compartment to house a temperature and current protective device.

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Payman Rassoolkhani