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.

Abstract: A pedestal sump pump includes a motor with a housing and a water-level-response system attached to the motor. The water-level-response system includes a connecting rod with upper and lower limit stops, a float, and a switch assembly mounted partially within the motor housing. The assembly includes a switch housing and a lever pivotably mounted to the switch housing such that the lever can be toggled between on and off positions. The lever includes an aperture in the first end of the lever and a cam surface on the second end of the lever. The assembly also includes a retainer clip removably attached to the housing to retaining the lever in place, the clip including a spring tab to force the lever into one of the on and off positions, and a microswitch removably mounted in the switch housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of maximizing the efficiency of an induction motor is claimed. Three phase AC power is supplied to energize the motor. A DC voltage and a DC current are measured and used to determine an estimated phase voltage. An actual torque producing current is determined based on the DC voltage, DC current and the estimated phase voltage. An estimating torque producing current value is determined and compared with the actual torque producing current value. An error term representing the difference between the actual and estimated torque producing current values is determined. The estimated phase voltage value is changed based on the error term. The three phase AC power supplied to the motor is adjusted based on the estimated phase voltage.

Abstract: A treadmill including a frame, a power supply, and a motor coupled to the frame and to the power supply. The motor includes a shaft and a stator fixedly coupled to the frame, at least one bearing coupled to the shaft, and a rotor coupled to the at least one bearing. The rotor includes at least a portion that surrounds at least a portion of the stator. The treadmill further includes a walking-belt assembly coupled to the frame and to the rotor.

Abstract: A rotor in which shaft portions are welded directly to the ends of a rotor stack by friction welding, which eliminates the need for a shaft hole in the rotor stack, thus providing a rotor in which each lamination has an unstamped, solid center, and the rotor has no other bores therein. As a result, no scrap is generated and motor efficiency is improved because the rotor has no bores therein. In addition, the amount of shaft material needed is also reduced because the shaft does not extend through the rotor stack.

Abstract: A counter weight system for an electric motor having a rotor with an end ring, the end ring having an outer surface, and at least one deformable lug extending from and a plurality of projections extending radially across the outer surface. The counter weight system includes a rotor counter weight having an inner surface abutting the end ring end surface; an outer surface opposite the inner surface; at least one bore through the rotor counter weight and receiving a lug, the lug being deformed to axially fix the rotor counter weight; a plurality of recesses in the inner surface, each recess receiving an end ring projection so as to prevent rotational movement of the rotor counter weight with respect to the end ring; and a plurality of rotor counter weight projections extending radially across the outer surface.

Abstract: An anti-rotational bearing assembly including a bearing positioned in a bearing bore of a bearing hub and a bearing cap connected to the bearing. The bearing cap including a projecting portion which abuts a boss extending from the bearing hub to prevent rotation of the bearing.

Abstract: A bearing shaft seal assembly for an electric motor positioned within an end frame of the motor in order to inhibit the passage of external contaminants axially along a shaft extending out of an end frame into the interior of the motor. The seal assembly including a first seal member, a second seal member and a third seal member; wherein the first seal member is a slinger washer mounted on the shaft so as to be rotatable with the shaft and which is positioned within an inner recess in the end frame, the second seal member is a concaved expansion plug positioned around the shaft and positioned within an outer recess in the end frame which is thereafter caused to be flattened so as to be in fixed relation with respect to the shaft, and the third seal member is a slinger washer mounted on the shaft so as to be rotatable with the shaft and which is positioned adjacent to the expansion plug. The seal assembly further defining a labyrinthine path designed to impede the inflow of external contaminants.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a motor. The apparatus includes a voltage input; a half-bridge inverter connected the voltage input and to the motor to provide low speed excitation to the motor; and a circuit for selectively electrically connecting the voltage input to the motor and for selectively electrically disconnecting the inverter from the motor.

Abstract: A scale-inhibiting water heater element is provided. The water heater element is coated with a diamond-like coating which has low surface tension to keep scale from forming, and is thermally conductive, which helps prevent overheating. The scale-inhibiting water heater element may be manufactured, for example, by coating a standard water heater element with an amorphous silicon adhesion layer, and then applying a diamond-like coating using a pulsed-glow discharge process.

Abstract: A floating sleeve bearing assembly for supporting the shaft of an electric motor, the shaft having an axis of rotation and the motor having a stator. The sleeve bearing assembly includes a bearing having therein a bore for receiving the shaft. The bearing has a plurality of cylindrical outer surface portions that are centered on respective axes which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation and which all lie in the same plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The sleeve bearing assembly also includes a bearing support bracket having an axis and including a main body fixable relative to the stator. The bracket further includes a plurality of circuitously spaced resilient projections extending from the main body and generally parallel to the bracket axis.

Abstract: A porcelain enamel coating suitable for use on high-carbon content, heat-rolled sheet steel is provided. The coating includes a ground coat layer for coating directly onto the steel and a cover coat layer. The ground coat layer includes a soft ground coat frit having nickelous oxide dispersed substantially uniformly throughout. The resulting porcelain enamel coating provides good resistance to boiling defects, such as pinholes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of determine rotor position for a switched reluctance motor is claimed. A phase voltage and a phase current are measured. An estimated flux voltage value is determined from the measured phase voltage and the phase current. The phase current is again measured when the estimated flux linkage value is approximately equal to a reference flux linkage value. Rotor position is determined based on the reference flux linkage value and the measured phase current value.

Abstract: A brushless permanent magnet machine that includes a combination of a fractional stator slot/rotor pole and a winding configuration to reduce cogging during operation of the machine. The stator has a series of teeth (preferably eighteen) which are surrounded by a series of coils. The coils are wound around the teeth and connected to a three-phase power supply in a manner that reduces cogging. The rotor has a series of slots (preferably sixteen). In the first embodiment, the coils are wound around every tooth, and the teeth are divided into sections of three, wherein each section of three teeth is connected to one phase of the power supply. In this embodiment, the fractional stator slot/rotor pole ratio is 18/16. In a second embodiment, the coils are wound around every other tooth, which provides for more space for winding the coils. In this embodiment, the fractional stator slot/rotor pole ratio is 9/16.

Abstract: A method of assembling a motor and pump assembly. The machine or pump assembly includes an electric motor having a housing, an end frame and a bolt extending through the housing and the end frame to secure the housing and the end frame together. The end frame includes a through-bore having an inner diameter. The bolt has a major diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the through-bore so that when the bolt is turned into the through-bore, the bolt creates threads in the through-bore of the end frame. When the electric motor is placed next to the housing, the bolt is turned to strip the threads in the through-bore and screw the bolt into the housing of the pump apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of assembling a pipe and a flanged pipe fitting. The pipe includes an end, an inner surface having an inner diameter, and an outer surface having an outer diameter. The fitting includes an inner surface defining a bore with a portion having an inner diameter larger than the pipe outer diameter. The fitting also includes a flange at least partially surrounding the bore.

Abstract: A strain relief clip for use on an electric motor including an end frame and an electrical power supply cord having an internal junction end. With the cord extending over the end frame, the clip, which includes a resilient spring tab, is mounted over the cord without feeding or inserting the cord into the clip. The clip is mounted to the end frame without the use of any other common fasteners. The cord is captured between the clip and the end frame such that the resilient spring tab engages the cord to relieve stress or strain on the internal junction end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of an induction motor used in fluid pump and blower applications including a controller that reduces the flux generated by the motor at less than maximum motor loads.

Abstract: A metathesis polymerized polyolefin article is provided which includes a flame-retarding agent. The method of making the article includes polymerizing an olefin monomer via a metathesis polymerization reaction in the presence of a one-part metathesis polymerization catalyst and a compatible flame-retarding agent.

Abstract: A bracket for attaching a capacitor with an engagement portion to a motor having therein a keyhole with a rectangular portion and a circular portion. The bracket includes a first semicylindrical member having a first downwardly extending portion and a first hinge portion and a second semicylindrical member having a second downwardly extending portion and a second hinge portion. The first hinge portion and second hinge portion are engageable to form a hinge with an axis about which the semicylindrical members are pivotable to open and closed positions. When in the open position, the semicylindrical members permit the capacitor to be removed from the bracket. When in the closed position, the semicylindrical members define a cylinder having an axis and including a capacitor engagement portion for engaging the capacitor, thereby retaining the capacitor in the bracket.