Patents Assigned to A. O. Smith Corporation
  • Electric motor shaft access cover
    Patent number: 6800975
    Abstract: An electric motor having a shaft access cover. The electric motor includes a housing that defines an aperture, a stator fixed relative to the housing, a shaft rotatable relative to the housing so the aperture provides access to an end portion of the shaft, and a rotor connected to the shaft for rotation therewith relative to the stator. The end portion of the shaft has a surface adapted for engagement by a tool so a load drivingly connected to the electric motor can be manipulated with respect to the electric motor. The shaft access cover is attachable to the housing for pivotable movement between an unlocked position and a locked position where the shaft access cover substantially covers the aperture. The pivotable movement between the locked and the unlocked positions includes less 360 degrees of pivotable movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Norman R. Long
  • Electric motor
    Patent number: 6788022
    Abstract: An electric motor controllable to operate at a number of distinct output speeds. The electric motor includes a single set of mechanical parts in combination with a multiple sets of electromagnetic parts having different configurations, where the number of electromagnetic parts corresponds to the number of distinct output speeds of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Raymond Sopko, Jackie Earl Woody
  • Multiple-speed electric machine and method of operating the same
    Publication number: 20040169479
    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: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: William Louis Mehlhorn, William James Watkins, Jevon Darvell Reynolds
  • Electric motor bonding apparatus
    Patent number: 6766573
    Abstract: An electric motor having an integrally formed bonding apparatus that allows an installer to quickly and efficiently bond the electric motor to a bonding grid of a bonding area. A fastener having a head is inserted into an aperture of the housing of the electric motor such that a bonding conductor is captured between the housing and the head. The bonding conductor is electrically coupled to the housing via direct contact between the bonding conductor and the housing and/or via indirect contact through the fastener. An integrally formed surface of the housing prevents the bonding conductor from moving out from under the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Norman R. Long, Chih M. Lin, William J. Watkins
  • Electric motor shaft access cover
    Publication number: 20040119352
    Abstract: An electric motor having a shaft access cover. The electric motor includes a housing that defines an aperture, a stator fixed relative to the housing, a shaft rotatable relative to the housing so the aperture provides access to an end portion of the shaft, and a rotor connected to the shaft for rotation therewith relative to the stator. The end portion of the shaft has a surface adapted for engagement by a tool so a load drivingly connected to the electric motor can be manipulated with respect to the electric motor. The shaft access cover is attachable to the housing for pivotable movement between an unlocked position and a locked position where the shaft access cover substantially covers the aperture. The pivotable movement between the locked and unlocked positions includes less 360 degrees of pivotable movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: A.O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Norman R. Long
  • Apparatus and method of making a rotor core with elimination of outer periphery machining
    Patent number: 6745456
    Abstract: An apparatus and an associated method are utilized to make a rotor core. The apparatus includes a support for supporting a lamina stack that has an axis extending along the stack. The apparatus includes a plurality of collets. A collet moving mechanism moves the collets radially inward against the lamina stack. An arrangement receives casting material that is cast to the lamina stack while the collets are against the lamina stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Redmond Wood
  • Method of and apparatus for controlling the operation of an induction motor using a model of the induction motor
    Publication number: 20040085042
    Abstract: A controller for a motor and a method for controlling the operation of the motor. The controller includes a model of the motor, where the model is utilized to determine modeled values of first and second motor variables. An estimated value of slip is adjusted based at least in part on a comparison of the modeled value of the second motor variable and an estimated value of the second motor variable which is based at least in part on a value of bus voltage and a value of bus current. As the estimated value of slip is adjusted, the modeled values are updated and the voltage utilized to energize the motor is thereby updated to provide control of the motor based on the control of the first motor variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: A.O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Thomas Branecky
  • Electric motor bonding lug apparatus
    Patent number: 6725524
    Abstract: A bonding lug apparatus for devices such as electric motors installed within a distance of a fluid-holding apparatus such as pools, hot tubs, spas, and the like, is provided that includes a fastener having a head and a bonding lug having an aperture that receives the fastener such that a bonding conductor of a bonding grid of the fluid-holding apparatus area is captured between the head of the fastener and the bonding lug. The bonding lug apparatus bonds the electric motor to the bonding grid of the fluid-holding apparatus area when the bonding lug apparatus is electrically coupled to the electric motor and the bonding conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Chih M. Lin, William J. Watkins
  • Electric motor
    Publication number: 20040075415
    Abstract: An electric motor controllable to operate at a number of distinct output speeds. The electric motor includes a single set of mechanical parts in combination with a multiple sets of electromagnetic parts having different configurations, where the number of electromagnetic parts corresponds to the number of distinct output speeds of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: A.O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Raymond Sopko, Jackie Earl Woody
  • Electric motor housing
    Patent number: 6674199
    Abstract: An electric motor that can be set up for operation in one of two modes including a first mode that utilizes a power cord to removably couple the electric motor to a power source, and a second mode that utilizes a line lead to permanently couple the electric motor to a power source. The electric motor includes a housing have an aperture, and a cover plate. The cover plate is attachable to the housing in a first orientation corresponding to the first mode in which the cover plate substantially covers the aperture and leaves an opening for the power cord, and a second orientation corresponding to the second mode in which the cover plate substantially covers the aperture and does not leave an opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Norman Richard Long
  • Switched reluctance motor and method and apparatus for aligning the rotor thereof
    Patent number: 6653811
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for aligning the rotor of a switched reluctance motor includes regulating the electrical energy provided to two phases of the motor so that the rotor pole is moved to a desired position virtually without oscillation. Regulation of the electrical energy is based on an error signal produced by comparing a sensed current signal and a reference signal. If there is no overlap between the rotor pole and stator poles, the encoder is homed when the rotor is at a known position. If there is overlap, the rotor is moved to an aligned position by reducing the duty cycle command of one phase until all the electrical energy provided to the two phases is in the phase having a constant duty cycle. The rotor is then aligned with a stator pole of the phase with all the electrical energy and the encoder is homed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Thomas Branecky
  • ELECTRIC MOTOR HOUSING
    Publication number: 20030193251
    Abstract: An electric motor that can be set up for operation in one of two modes including a first mode that utilizes a power cord to removably couple the electric motor to a power source, and a second mode that utilizes a line lead to permanently couple the electric motor to a power source. The electric motor includes a housing having an aperture, and a cover plate. The cover plate is attachable to the housing in a first orientation corresponding to the first mode in which the cover plate substantially covers the aperture and leaves an opening for the power cord, and a second orientation corresponding to the second mode in which the cover plate substantially covers the aperture and does not leave an opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: A.O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Norman Richard Long
  • Fluid-holding apparatus including a sensor
    Patent number: 6632010
    Abstract: A fluid holding apparatus including a vessel capable of holding a load including a fluid and a sensor coupled to the vessel. The sensor is operable to sense the load held by the vessel and to generate a signal having a relation to the load. The fluid holding apparatus further includes a controller electrically coupled to the sensor. The controller is operable to initiate a control signal in response to a variation in the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: A.O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald P. Bartos
  • Combination shield and conduit box cover
    Publication number: 20030161742
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a driven element, a driving element operably coupled to the driven element, and a shield coupled to the driving element such that the shield at least partially covers at least one of the driven element and the driving element. The driven element includes a housing with an outer surface. The outer surface has a first raised portion and a first non-raised portion, the first non-raised portion at least partially surrounding the first raised portion, the first raised and first non-raised portions define a first surface pattern. The shield has an outer surface with a second raised portion and a second non-raised portion. The second non-raised portion at least partially surrounds the second raised portion, defining a second surface pattern substantially similar to the first surface pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Chih M. Lin, Norm R. Long, William J. Watkins, Ron Hirth
  • Method and apparatus for indirectly measuring induction motor slip to establish speed control
    Patent number: 6605919
    Abstract: A method of establishing motor speed control, the method comprising the acts of generating a desired speed command, indirectly measuring the slip of the motor, and adjusting the speed command in response to the slip to maintain a constant speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: A.O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Thomas Branecky
  • Electric motor having a rain baffle
    Patent number: 6563240
    Abstract: An electric motor having a rain baffle which is supported relative to and within the motor housing to prevent rain or the like which may enter ventilation outlets in the housing from contacting the rotor shaft bearing and the electrical components positioned within the housing. The rain baffle is also supported relative to and within the motor housing to allow air used to cool the motor to pass around the perimeter of the baffle and out the ventilation outlets in such a way as to substantially minimize the exhaust air from being recirculated back into air inlet vents in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Chih Min Lin, Ronald D. Hirth
  • Fluid-holding apparatus including a sensor
    Publication number: 20030031084
    Abstract: A fluid holding apparatus including a vessel capable of holding a load including a fluid and a sensor coupled to the vessel. The sensor is operable to sense the load held by the vessel and to generate a signal having a relation to the load. The fluid holding apparatus further includes a controller electrically coupled to the sensor. The controller is operable to initiate a control signal in response to a variation in the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: A.O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald P. Bartos
  • Pipe made from metathesis polymerized olefins
    Publication number: 20020172787
    Abstract: Thermosetting resin pipes and pipe fittings are provided which are prepared by polymerizing a cyclic olefin monomer in the presence of a ruthenium or osmium metathesis polymerization catalyst. These articles may be prepared by various methods, such as centrifugal casting. Reinforced articles may also be prepared by filament winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: Cymetech, LLC and A.O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Mark M. Warner, Steven D. Drake, Larry L. Cagle, Charles S. Woodson
  • Electric motor having a no-adjust starting switch
    Patent number: 6479913
    Abstract: An electric motor having a no-adjust starting switch. An actuator button of a starting switch assembly is slidably positioned in a switch housing mounted to an end frame of the motor. As a rotor shaft and associated centrifugal governor which engages the actuator button rotate, there is minimal wobbling of the actuator button during motor start-up and motor operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Chih Min Lin
  • ELECTRIC MOTOR HAVING A NO-ADJUST STARTING SWITCH
    Publication number: 20020163261
    Abstract: An electric motor having a no-adjust starting switch. An actuator button of a starting switch assembly is slidably positioned in a switch housing mounted to an end frame of the motor. As a rotor shaft and associated centrifugal governor which engages the actuator button rotate, there is minimal wobbling of the actuator button during motor start-up and motor operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Chih Min Lin