Abstract: A motor comprises a stator assembly, a rotor assembly having a stator core, and a stator cup adjacent the stator core. The inside surface of the stator cup comprises a plurality of aligned regions and a plurality of pressure regions. Each of the plurality of aligned regions is axially aligned with a corresponding one of a plurality of fastener-engaging regions of the stator cup. Each of the plurality of pressure regions is spaced from each of the plurality of aligned regions. A plurality of fastening portions operatively engages the fastener-engaging regions and operatively engages the stator core in a manner urging the stator core and the stator cup toward one another. Urging of the stator core and the stator cup toward one another by the plurality of fastening portions causes the stator core to exert pressure on the plurality of pressure regions.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus, for use in a refrigeration system, comprises a first nozzle, a second nozzle, a turbine, a discharge port, and a housing. The first nozzle comprises a first passageway which is adapted to constitute a portion of a refrigerant flow path when the refrigeration system is operated in a first mode. The second nozzle comprises a second conduit which is adapted to constitute a portion of the flow path when the refrigeration system is operated in a second mode. The turbine is positioned to be driven by refrigerant discharged from either or both of the first and second passageways. The discharge port is adapted to permit refrigerant to flow out of the energy recovery apparatus. The discharge port of the energy recovery apparatus is downstream of the turbine. The turbine is within the housing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling an electric motor are provided herein. The system is configured to be coupled to a power supply. The electric motor system includes a rectifier, an electric motor, and a microcontroller. The rectifier is configured to convert an alternating current (AC) voltage input to a direct current (DC) voltage. The microcontroller is configured to extract power from a generator device.

Abstract: An air distribution blower housing for an air handler such as a residential furnace is designed with a volute-shaped outer wall that has an exponentially increasing expansion angle in the direction of air flow through the blower housing for at least a portion of the volute-shaped outer wall length. This results in the blower housing having an enlarged air outlet opening that slows down and spreads out the air flow from the blower housing over a greater area of the furnace heat exchanger. The blower housing thereby enables less air pressure drop through the heat exchanger, which increases the efficiency of the blower motor operation. The design of the blower housing also efficiently turns the velocity head of the air flow through the housing to usable static air pressure at the housing air outlet.

Abstract: An air circulator that includes an electronically commuted motor that is devoid of a transformer and utilizes line voltage as the signal voltage. The motor includes a rotatable blade assembly having at least one blade, wherein the blade assembly is connected to the electronically commuted motor, a housing that is operatively connected to the electronically commuted motor and having a line voltage input, and a switch that is secured to the housing and electrically connected to a signal voltage input of the electronically commuted motor and the line voltage input.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus adapted for use in a refrigeration system comprises a housing, a turbine, a first nozzle, and a second nozzle. The housing has a nozzle receiving opening and a discharge port. The first and second nozzles are each operably connectable to the housing in alignment with the nozzle receiving opening. Each nozzle is adapted to expand refrigerant and discharge it in a liquid-vapor state. The size or shape of the second nozzle is different from the size or shape of the first nozzle to enable a user to selectively choose one of the first and second nozzles for operable connection to the housing. The user may make the choice that accomplishes the better refrigerant flow characteristics when the passageway of the chosen nozzle is within the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A grounding device for an electric machine, having a rotating component and a stationary component, includes a core fabricated from a non-conductive material and a plurality of conductive fibers coupled to the core and extending therefrom. The plurality of conductive fibers are configured to electrically couple the rotating component with the stationary component such that an electrostatic charge on the rotating component is directed through the plurality of conductive fibers to the stationary component.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, comprises an intake port, a nozzle, a turbine and a discharge port. The intake port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a condenser of a refrigeration system. The nozzle is configured to expand refrigerant discharged from the condenser and increase velocity of the refrigerant as it passes through the nozzle. The turbine is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the nozzle. The discharge port is downstream of the turbine and is configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus, for use in a refrigeration system, comprises a first nozzle, a second nozzle, a turbine, a discharge port, and a housing. The first nozzle comprises a first passageway which is adapted to constitute a portion of a refrigerant flow path when the refrigeration system is operated in a first mode. The second nozzle comprises a second conduit which is adapted to constitute a portion of the flow path when the refrigeration system is operated in a second mode. The turbine is positioned to be driven by refrigerant discharged from either or both of the first and second passageways. The discharge port is adapted to permit refrigerant to flow out of the energy recovery apparatus. The discharge port of the energy recovery apparatus is downstream of the turbine. The turbine is within the housing.

Abstract: A blower having a blower housing having a cutoff and a top portion with an air outlet opening, a fan within the blower housing, the fan being adapted for rotation about a fan axis and having an outer diameter with a distance between the outer diameter of the fan and the top portion of the air outlet opening extending along a vertical line between the fan axis and the air outlet opening being less than seventy-five percent of the distance between the outer diameter of the fan and the cutoff of the blower housing extending along a line between the fan axis and the cutoff, and a motor having a stator and a rotor, the rotor being rotatably coupled to the stator for rotation about the fan axis, the rotor and fan being coupled such that the fan rotates with the rotor.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, comprises an intake port, a nozzle, a turbine and a discharge port. The intake port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a refrigerant cooler of a refrigeration system. The nozzle comprises a fluid passageway. The nozzle is configured to reduce temperature and pressure of refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant cooler and increase velocity of the refrigerant as it passes through the fluid passageway. The turbine is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the fluid passageway. The discharge port is downstream of the turbine and is configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A motor comprises a stator assembly, a rotor assembly having a stator core, and a stator cup adjacent the stator core. The inside surface of the stator cup comprises a plurality of aligned regions and a plurality of pressure regions. Each of the plurality of aligned regions is axially aligned with a corresponding one of a plurality of fastener-engaging regions of the stator cup. Each of the plurality of pressure regions is spaced from each of the plurality of aligned regions. A plurality of fastening portions operatively engages the fastener-engaging regions and operatively engages the stator core in a manner urging the stator core and the stator cup toward one another. Urging of the stator core and the stator cup toward one another by the plurality of fastening portions causes the stator core to exert pressure on the plurality of pressure regions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling an electric motor are provided herein. The system is configured to be coupled to a power supply. The electric motor system includes a rectifier, an electric motor, and a microcontroller. The rectifier is configured to convert an alternating current (AC) voltage input to a direct current (DC) voltage. The microcontroller is configured to extract power from a generator device.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, comprises an intake port, a nozzle, a turbine and a discharge port. The intake port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a condenser of a refrigeration system. The nozzle comprises a necked-down region and a tube portion. The nozzle is configured to expand refrigerant discharged from the condenser and increase velocity of the refrigerant as it passes through the nozzle. The turbine is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the nozzle. The discharge port is downstream of the turbine and is configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, comprises an intake port, a nozzle, a turbine and a discharge port. The intake port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a condenser of a refrigeration system. The nozzle comprises a fluid passageway. The nozzle is configured to expand refrigerant discharged from the condenser and increase velocity of the refrigerant as it passes through the fluid passageway. The turbine is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the fluid passageway. The discharge port is downstream of the turbine and is configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, comprises an intake port, a nozzle, a turbine and a discharge port. The intake port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a condenser of a refrigeration system. The nozzle is configured to expand refrigerant discharged from the condenser and increase velocity of the refrigerant as it passes through the nozzle. The turbine is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the nozzle. The discharge port is downstream of the turbine and is configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: An energy recovery apparatus for use in a refrigeration system, comprises an intake port, a nozzle, a turbine and a discharge port. The intake port is adapted to be in fluid communication with a condenser of a refrigeration system. The nozzle comprises a converging portion, a throat region and a diverging portion. The nozzle is configured to expand refrigerant discharged from the condenser and increase velocity of the refrigerant as it passes through the nozzle. The turbine is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to be driven by refrigerant discharged from the nozzle. The discharge port is downstream of the turbine and is configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A blower assembly includes a centrifugal fan and a motor assembly. The centrifugal fan has a plurality of axially extending impeller blades, a first axial end, and an air inlet. The air inlet is at the first axial end of the centrifugal fan. The motor assembly comprises a stator, a rotor, and an air directing surface. The air directing surface is shaped and configured to direct air drawn into the air inlet radially outwardly toward the impeller blades. The air directing surface extends generally along the rotor axis from its first end to its second end. At least a surface region of the air directing surface generally circumscribes the rotor axis and diverges radially outwardly as such surface region of the air directing surface extends away from the first end toward the second end.

Abstract: A blower assembly having a blower housing, an impeller fan within the blower housing, the impeller fan being adapted for rotation about an axis and having a plurality of impeller blades and having an axial length, a motor having a stator and a rotor, the motor having an axial length, the rotor being configured to rotate relative to the stator for rotation about the axis, the rotor and the impeller fan being coupled so that the impeller fan rotates with the rotor about the axis, wherein a ratio of the axial length of the motor to the axial length of the impeller fan is less than 0.3, and a motor support bracket operatively securing the stator to one of the first and second side walls of the blower housing.

Abstract: An air distribution blower housing for an air handler such as a residential furnace is designed with a volute-shaped outer wall that has an exponentially increasing expansion angle in the direction of air flow through the blower housing for at least a portion of the volute-shaped outer wall length. This results in the blower housing having an enlarged air outlet opening that slows down and spreads out the air flow from the blower housing over a greater area of the furnace heat exchanger. The blower housing thereby enables less air pressure drop through the heat exchanger, which increases the efficiency of the blower motor operation. The design of the blower housing also efficiently turns the velocity head of the air flow through the housing to usable static air pressure at the housing air outlet.