Abstract: An electrical machine including a rotor rotatable about an axis and a stator adapted to magnetically interact with the rotor. The stator including (t) teeth and one or more windings with compact coils disposed around the teeth. The one or more windings having (m) phases and (p) poles, where (t) is an integer and is greater than or equal to two, where (m) is an integer and is greater than or equal to two, where (p) is an integer, is greater than or equal to two, and is an even number, and where (t/p=m/2) or (t/p=m/4).
Abstract: A pump assembly for pumping a liquid and a method of controlling the pump assembly. The pump assembly includes a motor coupled to a pump, and an electronic switch assembly electrically connected to the motor to control the current through the motor. The electronic switch assembly includes an electronic switch, a generator that provides a substantially periodic pulsing signal, a circuit control configured to provide a second signal, and decision logic connected to the generator, the circuit control, and the electronic switch. The decision logic receives the periodic pulsing and second signals and generates a control signal that selectively controls the electronic switch based on the periodic pulsing and second signals.
Abstract: An electrical machine comprises a stator and a rotor. The rotor is adapted to magnetically interact with the stator to promote rotation of the rotor about an axis. The rotor includes a rotor core and a plurality of magnetized arcs supported by the rotor core. The plurality of magnetized arcs defines an outermost circumference. The rotor and the plurality of magnetized arcs include a first magnetized arc, a discontinuity disposed adjacent to the first magnetized arc along the outermost circumference, a second magnetized arc disposed adjacent to the discontinuity along the outermost circumference, and a magnetization pattern of alternating magnetic poles formed on the plurality of magnetized arcs. The magnetization pattern includes a first magnetic pole skewed with respect to a second magnetic pole to form an arc of magnetization skew.
Abstract: A spoke permanent magnet rotor that includes a shaft defining a rotor axis. A first non-magnetic end portion is coupled to the shaft and a ferromagnetic pole piece defines an aperture therethrough. A second non-magnetic end portion is positioned to dispose the pole piece between the first end portion and the second end portion. A portion of one of the first end portion and the second end portion extends through the aperture and bonds with the other of the first end portion and the second end portion.
Abstract: An electrical machine having a machine output rating. The electrical machine including a shaft rotatable about an electrical machine axis, a rotor coupled to the shaft and rotating with the shaft, and a stator including a stator core. The rotor is configurable to include a first rotor portion having a relation to a first output rating and a second rotor portion having a relation to a second output rating. The stator core is configurable to be disposed adjacent to the first rotor portion relative to the machine axis when the machine output rating corresponds to the first output rating and adjacent to the second rotor portion when the machine output rating corresponds to the second output rating.
Abstract: An electrical machine having a stator and a rotor. The stator includes a core and a plurality of windings disposed on the core in a multiple-phase arrangement. The rotor is disposed adjacent to the stator to interact with the stator. A method of operating the motor includes applying a pulsed voltage differential to first and second terminals of the windings resulting in movement of the rotor; monitoring the back electromotive force (BEMF) of the windings to sense rotor movement; after the applying and monitoring steps, monitoring the BEMF of the windings to determine whether the rotor is rotating in a desired direction, and electrically commutating the motor when the rotor is rotating in the desired direction and zero or more other conditions exist.
Abstract: A rotor assembly for an electric motor includes a spoke permanent magnet rotor and a shaft connected thereto. The spoke permanent magnet rotor has an axis of rotation, permanent magnet material, and ferro-magnetic material. The permanent magnet material extends outwardly relative to the axis of rotation to form a plurality of outwardly extending spoke portions of permanent magnet material. The ferro-magnetic material is positioned adjacent to the outwardly extending spoke portions of permanent magnet material. The shaft supports the spoke permanent magnet rotor for rotation about the axis of rotation. The permanent magnet material may circumferentially surround the axis of rotation to form a center portion of permanent magnet material. Further, the axis of rotation may pass through the permanent magnet material. The spoke permanent magnet rotor may be formed using a compaction process and/or an injection molding process.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 23, 2003
Date of Patent:
December 12, 2006
Assignee:
A.O. Smith Corporation
Inventors:
Dan M. Ionel, Robert J. Heideman, Ronald P. Bartos
Abstract: An electrical machine having a machine output rating. The electrical machine including a shaft rotatable about an electrical machine axis, a rotor coupled to the shaft and rotating with the shaft, and a stator including a stator core. The rotor is configurable to include a first rotor portion having a relation to a first output rating and a second rotor portion having a relation to a second output rating. The stator core is configurable to be disposed adjacent to the first rotor portion relative to the machine axis when the machine output rating corresponds to the first output rating and adjacent to the second rotor portion when the machine output rating corresponds to the second output rating.
Abstract: An electric machine that includes a stator core having a stator core length, a first rotor core portion, and second rotor core portion. A spacer is coupled to the first core portion and the second core portion to at least partially define a rotor core. The rotor core has a length that is greater than the stator core length. A permanent magnet is coupled to the rotor core and has a magnet length.
Abstract: An electrical machine including a rotor rotatable about an axis and a stator adapted to magnetically interact with the rotor. The stator including (t) teeth and one or more windings with compact coils disposed around the teeth. The one or more windings having (m) phases and (p) poles, where (t) is an integer and is greater than or equal to two, where (m) is an integer and is greater than or equal to two, where (p) is an integer, is greater than or equal to two, and is an even number, and where (t/p=m/2) or (t/p=m/4).
Abstract: An electric motor that includes a stator, a rotor including a rotor shaft and a support member coupled to the stator. A first bearing is at least partially disposed within the support member and a printed circuit board is coupled to the stator. A second bearing is at least partially disposed within the printed circuit board. The first bearing and the second bearing cooperate to support the rotor shaft for rotation relative to the stator.
Abstract: A controller for an electric machine. The controller includes a first voltage input that directly provides a first voltage to the electric machine, a second voltage input configured to receive a second voltage, and an inverter coupled to the second voltage input. The inverter is configured to be activated by the second voltage, to frequency-regulate the second voltage to generate a frequency-regulated voltage, and to provide the frequency-regulated voltage to the electric machine.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 12, 2003
Date of Patent:
September 5, 2006
Assignee:
A.O. Smith Corporation
Inventors:
Brian Thomas Branecky, William L. Mehlhorn, Andrew W. Phillips, Albert Keith Pant
Abstract: An electrical machine comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth and a winding with compact coils disposed on the teeth. The winding has (m) phases and (p) poles; where (m) is an integer and is greater than or equal to two; where (p) is an integer, is greater than or equal to two, and is an even number. The rotor has a magnetization pattern can include a magnetization skew. In some constructions, each stator includes one or more channels along a surface adjacent to the rotor. The channels can be of various shapes including a trapezoidal shape or a curvilinear shape.
Abstract: An electrical-component assembly that includes a first housing portion that includes a wall. The wall includes a slot. At least a portion of the slot includes threads. An electrical component includes a body and a threaded protrusion. The threaded protrusion defines a longitudinal axis and is translational along a path that includes a portion that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to engage with the threaded portion of the slot such that the body inhibits rotation of the electrical component relative to the first housing portion.
Abstract: A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a fluid-pumping application. The pumping apparatus includes a pump having an inlet to receive a fluid and an outlet to exhaust the fluid, and the motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump. The method includes the acts of controlling the motor to operate the pump and monitoring the operation of the pump. The monitoring act includes monitoring a power of the motor, and determining whether the monitored power indicates an undesired flow of fluid through the pump. The method further includes the act of controlling the motor to cease operation of the pump when the determination indicates an undesired flow of fluid through the pump and zero or more other conditions exist.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 7, 2006
Publication date:
June 15, 2006
Applicant:
A.O. Smith Corporation
Inventors:
William Mehlhorn, Brian Branecky, Ronald Bartos, Steve O'Brien, Howard Richardson
Abstract: An electric machine assembly having an electric machine. The electric machine can include a first speed circuit and a second speed circuit. In some constructions, both speed circuits can be of a permanent split capacitor design. At least one of the speed circuits can include a switch that is controlled by the controller to limit current through an auxiliary circuit of the unused speed circuit when certain conditions exist.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 27, 2004
Date of Patent:
May 16, 2006
Assignee:
A.O. Smith Corporation
Inventors:
William Louis Mehlhorn, William James Watkins, Jevon Darvell Reynolds
Abstract: A compressor having a winding circuit and a driven member being driven in part by a winding of the winding circuit. The compressor further includes an auxiliary circuit connected in a parallel relationship with the winding circuit. The auxiliary circuit has an auxiliary circuit element and an electronic switch assembly connected in a series relationship such that the electronic switch assembly controls the current through the auxiliary circuit element.
Abstract: An assembly for moving a barrier from one of a closed position and an opened position to the other of the closed position and the opened position. The assembly includes a motor to supply one of a first power and a second power to the barrier. The assembly also includes a controller to control the motor to supply the first power to move the barrier towards the closed position from the opened position. The controller also controls the motor to supply the first power to the barrier to move towards the opened position from the closed position, and to supply the second power intermittently after the barrier has started moving towards the opened position and before arriving at the opened position.
Abstract: An electric drive includes a rotatable shaft, a first drive member, and a second drive member, and is supplied with power from a controller. The controller is operable to supply a first power from a power electronics converter, and a second power that is line power. Supplying the first power individually to the first drive member results in a first shaft speed and first output torque, supplying the second power individually to the second drive member results in a second shaft speed and second output torque, and supplying the first and the second drive members with power at the same time results in a third shaft speed and a third output torque.
Abstract: An electric machine having a stator assembly that includes a stator core and a coil supported by the stator core and a rotor assembly that includes a shaft and a rotor supported by the shaft that is in magnetic interaction with the stator core. The electric machine may include a single sensor configured to detect magnetic polarities of the rotor as the rotor rotates relative to the sensor and to generate a signal representing the detected magnetic polarities of the rotor. The signal and an inverted version of the signal are utilized to control current through the coil. The current may be controlled indirectly by controlling the application of voltage to the coil. The sensor may be encapsulated on a circuit board to positively position the sensor relative to the circuit board. The circuit board may be mounted to a bearing housing of the electric machine. The sensor may be received in a pocket of a bearing housing of the electric machine so the sensor is positively positioned relative to the rotor.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 4, 2005
Publication date:
March 23, 2006
Applicant:
A.O. Smith Corporation
Inventors:
Paul Mullin, Albert Pant, Dan Ionel, Brian Branecky, William Mehlhorn, Alan Lesak, Anthony Coloma