Abstract: A progressive die for shaping a consecutive series of discs from a strip of relatively stiff material, comprising a series of adjacent die stations including a slot cutting station, a plurality of intermediate stations, and a cut off station, the slot cutting station including cutting means for forming at least one laterally extending slot between adjacent discs while leaving at least one narrow deformable bridge connecting the adjacent discs, the intermediate stations including cutting means for shaping the discs, and the cut off station including cutting means for severing the bridge. A strip of relatively stiff material includes a series of consecutive discs formed along the length thereof, at least two adjacent discs having at least one laterally extending slot therebetween and at least one narrow deformable bridge connecting the adjacent discs.

Abstract: A submersible motor is disclosed. The motor comprises a combination stator core/end bell assembly comprising a stator core encapsulated in a polymeric material and a first end bell integrally molded to a first end of the stator core, the stator core having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a stator bore. The motor may further include a rotor disposed within the stator bore, a thrust bearing axially supporting the rotor, and a structural portion to absorb axial loads applied to the stator core by the thrust bearing.

Abstract: A single-phase motor (10) particularly for submersed pumps, characterized in that it comprises an annular capacitor (14) interposed between the pump coupling head (15) and the stator winding pack (12).

Abstract: A slinger seal for a submersible motor having a shaft is disclosed. The seal comprises a cup having an inner cup surface and a slinger disposed on the shaft and axially spaced from the cup. The slinger has a lower portion defining a cavity proximate to the cup and a seal having a first seal portion engaging the cup inner surface and a second seal portion engaging the shaft. The first seal portion includes a member for maintaining the first seal portion into engagement with the cup inner surface and the second seal includes a spring for biasing the second seal portion into engagement with the shaft.

Abstract: A submersible pump, and method of making the submersible pump, is disclosed. The pump comprises a housing, a plurality of impeller stages serially disposed in the housing from a bottom impeller stage to a top impeller stage, an impeller bypass hole extending through one of the impeller stages and a housing bypass hole extending through the housing radially outwardly from one of the impeller stages.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump includes plural pump stages, each comprising an impeller assembly, a stationary disc assembly and a diffuser assembly, all disposed about an impeller shaft. A floating impeller hub seal is supported by a diffuser assembly to minimize fluid recirculation. A thrust washer is disposed around the impeller shaft and is engageable with an impeller hub and the hub seal. A wear ring is secured to a disc assembly and engageable with a wear surface on the impeller.

Abstract: An end bell for a motor has a base plate, a bearing and a molded insert to couple the bearing to the base plate. The end bell with molded insert is durable, light weight and has good anti-corrosion properties. The bearing is held in relation to the base plate while the molded insert is disposed. A post-mold machining operation can be used to both size the bearing hole to the motor shaft but also to align the hole in relation to the base plate. Bushings and fasteners for assembly of the end bell to the motor housing and supplemental supports may be pre-attached to the base plate, molded into the molded insert or added in a post-mold operation. Deformations in the end bell may be used to couple the molded insert to the end bell.

Abstract: A pump-motor assembly includes a housing and a lead protector sleeve to protect leads disposed along an exterior surface of the housing. The housing and the lead protector sleeve include first and second cooperating snap-fit connection elements, respectively, to secure the lead protector sleeve in position along the exterior surface of the housing via a snap-fit connection. The lead protector sleeve may include a first portion spaced from the exterior surface to form a conduit along the exterior surface to accommodate the leads, and a second portion extending from the first portion to engage the pump-motor housing. The second portion may include a projection or depression to secure the lead protector in position along the exterior surface of the pump-motor assembly via snap-fit interaction with the housing. In one embodiment, the second portion may include a resiliently deformable tab.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a motor casing, a stator assembly, a rotor shaft assembly, first and second end bells, respectively, attached to each end of the motor casing, and an electrical inlet in the motor casing for supplying power to the motor. The motor further includes a first bearing assembly housed in the first end bell and a second bearing assembly housed in the second end bell. Both bearing assemblies and support the rotor shaft assembly and seal the interior of the motor casing from moisture. The motor also includes a heat-conductive solid resin that encapsulates the stator assembly.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a motor casing, a stator assembly, a rotor shaft assembly, first and second end bells, respectively, attached to each end of the motor casing, and an electrical inlet in the motor casing for supplying power to the motor. The motor further includes a first bearing assembly housed in the first end bell and a second bearing assembly housed in the second end bell. Both bearing assemblies and support the rotor shaft assembly and seal the interior of the motor casing from moisture. The motor also includes a heat-conductive solid resin that encapsulates the stator assembly.

Abstract: An end bell for a motor has a base plate, a bearing and a molded insert to couple the bearing to the base plate. The end bell with molded insert is durable, light weight and has good anti-corrosion properties. The bearing is held in relation to the base plate while the molded insert is disposed. A post-mold machining operation can be used to both size the bearing hole to the motor shaft but also to align the hole in relation to the base plate. Bushings and fasteners for assembly of the end bell to the motor housing and supplemental supports may be pre-attached to the base plate, molded into the molded insert or added in a post-mold operation. Deformations in the end bell may be used to couple the molded insert to the end bell.

Abstract: A rotating machine has a case with an exterior surface, a pulley end, an opposite end, and an interior working chamber. A rotary shaft is mounted for rotation within the interior working chamber between the pulley end and the opposite end. At least one machine component is supported for rotation on the rotary shaft. At least one air inlet and at least one air outlet are formed through the case. A first fan is supported for rotation on the rotary shaft within the interior of the case and is arranged for pulling air through the air inlet into the interior working chamber of the case and for pushing air out the air outlet from the interior working chamber of the case. A cowl is received over the opposite end of the case. The cowl defines a plenum between an interior surface of the cowl and the case and also defines an annular air opening around a perimeter of the cowl and the case.

Abstract: A liquid pump system for providing liquid to a tank includes a variable-speed motor drive and a control circuit coupling the variable-speed motor drive to a power source. The control circuit has a switch that may be disposed in a state according to the amount of liquid in the tank. The control circuit provides for supplying power to the variable-speed motor drive from the power source regardless of the state of the switch. The control circuit may include a transmitter that generates a high frequency signal representative of the state of the switch. In that embodiment, a detector coupled to the variable-speed motor drive receives the high frequency signal to control operation of the liquid pump system.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a flow carrier connectable in a liquid flow system including an electric motor-pump unit and a conduit for conveying a pumped liquid to a liquid utilization apparatus. The flow carrier is connectable in the conduit and includes an opening which exposes the liquid flowing through the carrier. A heat sink or cold plate is located on the carrier over the opening, the heat sink covering the opening and having a wet side exposed to the liquid. The heat sink further includes a dry side, and heat generating control components are secured to the dry side. A sensor is also mounted on the heat sink and responds to a characteristic, such as the pressure, of the liquid. The sensor and the control components are operable to control the motor-pump unit. In a domestic water supply system, for example, the liquid utilization apparatus includes the plumbing in a building. In a gasoline supply system, the liquid utilization apparatus comprises a gasoline dispenser.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a vapor recovery unit of a fuel dispenser, and comprises a vapor pump, a variable speed electric motor coupled to drive the pump, and an electric control package connected to control the speed of the motor, the foregoing components being located in an integrated unit housing. The pump comprises a positive displacement vapor pump such as a vane pump; the motor comprises a variable speed induction motor; and the control package is operable to receive fuel-flow representative pulses from one or two flow meters, and to vary the pump-motor speed to recover substantially all of the displaced vapor during fueling. The unit housing is preferably installed in a dispenser cabinet and hydraulically coupled in a vapor flow pipe and electrically connected to receive the fuel flow pulses from one or two fuel flow meters. The vapor recovery unit is useful as original equipment (OEM) and/or as a retrofit component.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a flow carrier connectable in a liquid flow system including an electric motor-pump unit and a conduit for conveying a pumped liquid to a liquid utilization apparatus. The flow carrier is connectable in the conduit and includes an opening which exposes the liquid flowing through the carrier. A heat sink or cold plate is located on the carrier over the opening, the heat sink covering the opening and having a wet side exposed to the liquid. The heat sink further includes a dry side, and heat generating electrical control components are secured to the dry side. A sensor is also mounted on the heat sink and responds to a characteristic, such as the pressure, of the liquid. A heat insulating layer extends around the control components and the sensor and covers the dry side of the heat sink, the layer preventing condensation. The sensor and the control components are operable to control the motor-pump unit.

Abstract: An oil-filled, submersible electric motor which contains features designed to prevent both the ingress of well fluid into the motor interior, and the leakage of fluid from the motor interior. The motor contains a liquid-filled top chamber, above the motor's stator and rotor. This top chamber connects, via a tube, with a pressure-relief chamber at the bottom of the motor so that any liquid which migrates into the top of the motor is channeled away from the stator and rotor. The relief chamber also serves as a reservoir to replace any liquid which seeps out of the top chamber. The motor also incorporates a pressure-equalization chamber, beneath the stator and rotor, to accommodate thermal expansion of the dielectric fluid in the motor interior. A bladder in the equalization chamber expands and contracts to keep the motor interior and the well fluid in pressure equilibrium.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to bearing support comprising a relatively rigid collar ring for direct support of a bearing. The relatively rigid collar ring is press fit inside a bearing supporting hub of a nonmetal (such as a composite polymer) bearing support. The design of the relatively rigid collar ring and the composite polymer bearing support is such that the stresses in the construction are satisfactory for long-term performance and reliability. The bearing supporting hub includes discrete supporting hub panels and there are axial slots between the hub panels. The supporting hub panels further include radial rib sections extending axially for strengthening the supporting hub panels and for adding support for the relatively rigid collar ring. The inside diameter of the supporting hub panels is tapered to provide stress relief clearance. Contacts between the inside of the supporting hub panels and the collar ring are limited to discrete locations.

Abstract: A circuit regulates charging of a rechargeable storage device having a pair of device terminals by a photovoltaic cell having a pair of cell terminals. The circuit has a pair of input terminals for coupling to the cell terminals and a pair of output terminals for coupling to the device terminals. The circuit includes a switch for selectively establishing and breaking an electrical connection between the input terminals and the output terminals and a variable resistor coupled to the device terminals for providing a signal proportional to a terminal voltage across the output terminals. The circuit also includes first and second operational amplifiers responsive to the signal and respective first and second voltage limits, each operational amplifier causing the switch to establish an electrical connection between the input terminals and the output terminals when the signal is equal to a predetermined proportion of the respective voltage limit.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a power supply circuit for converting AC energy from an AC source to DC energy for powering a load. The circuit comprises first and second circuit lines and a full wave rectifier connectable to the AC source and to the circuit lines for providing a rectified input voltage on the circuit lines. An inductor is connected in one of the circuit lines and an output capacitor is connected across the circuit lines between the inductor and the load. A control switch including two power terminals and a control terminal has the two power terminals connected across the circuit lines between the inductor and the output capacitor. A sensor responsive to current flow through the inductor provides a current representative signal. A relatively high fixed frequency oscillator closes the control switch in each cycle thereof.