Abstract: A set of interchangeably pairable end caps is provided for electrically insulating a variety of stator cores having differing axial stack heights. Each pair of end caps cooperatively defines a generally radially projecting, generally axially extending wire barrier including axially opposed ends. Each of the ends forms a respective rounded winding ramp configured to smoothly guide wiring into a wire trough in part defined by the wire barrier.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric motor includes a core, a plurality of magnets, and a magnet retention cap. The core is rotatable about an axis and defines a plurality of magnet-receiving slots. Each of the magnets is received in a respective one of the magnet-receiving slots. The magnet retention cap is fixed relative to the core and includes a resiliently deformable magnet retention element configured to restrict axial movement of the magnets relative to the core.

Abstract: An electric motor including a rotor defining an axis of rotation and an encoder. The encoder includes a magnetic composite part attached to the rotor, and a magnetic flux sensor positioned to detect magnetic flux resulting from movement of the magnetic composite part with rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: An electric motor assembly includes an outer rotor motor, a sensor, and a brake assembly. The outer rotor motor includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor at least partly circumscribes the stator and is rotatable relative to the stator about an axis. The rotor includes a rotor core extending radially outwardly to present axially opposite first and second sides, and a plurality of magnets supported relative to the rotor core. The sensor is operable to sense a condition associated with the electric motor assembly. The brake assembly is operably coupled to the rotor core to selectively reduce the rotational speed of the rotor. The brake assembly is positioned at least partly axially outward from the first side of the rotor core, and the sensor is positioned at least partly axially outward from the second side of the rotor core.

Abstract: A set of interchangeably pairable end caps is provided for electrically insulating a variety of stator cores having differing axial stack heights. Each pair of end caps cooperatively defines a generally radially projecting, generally axially extending wire barrier including axially opposed ends. Each of the ends forms a respective rounded winding ramp configured to smoothly guide wiring into a wire trough in part defined by the wire barrier.

Abstract: A linear actuator includes a motor, a screw mechanism, and a bearing. The motor includes a stator and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator. The rotor includes a rotor shaft element. The screw mechanism includes a screw element and a follower drivingly engaged with the screw element, with rotation of the screw element causing the follower to shift axially along the screw element. The elements are drivingly intercoupled. The bearing rotatably supports a first one of the elements. The first one of the elements provides support to a second one of the elements such that the bearing also rotatably supports the second one of the elements.

Abstract: A motor control system providing at least seventeen speed settings using industry standard control signals and an industry standard five pin speed connector. One speed monitoring pin transmits an output signal for monitoring the speed of the motor, and four speed setting pins receive input signals for setting the speed. One of the speed setting pins receives and decodes two binary states and two frequency states, thereby providing a total of thirty-two speed settings. A non-regulated isolated winding is added to an internal transformer to provide an internal isolated flyback power supply for the motor, thereby liberating a pin on the industry standard five pin speed connector to provide the fourth speed setting input pin. Transmission circuitry is associated with the speed monitoring pin, and the non-regulated isolated winding is used to provide a direct current bias to the transmission circuitry.

Abstract: A spacing-assured gas discharge tube assembly is installed on a printed circuit board, which may be part of a motor controller. The discharge tube assembly includes a tube body and an electrostatic spacing shield disposed at least partially around the tube body. The shield is configured to prevent close physical proximity of adjacent structures having electrostatic fields that may alter the breakdown voltage of the tube body.

Abstract: A rotor includes magnets and a core including arcuately arranged pole segments. Each pole segment includes first and second prongs that extend away from the rotor axis and are at least in part arcuately spaced apart to define a cutout therebetween. Each pair of arcuately adjacent pole segments defines therebetween a respective magnet-receiving slot, with the first prong of one of the pole segments and the second prong of the other of the pole segments defining the slot. The magnets are received in slots, such that each of the magnets is at least in part interposed between one of the pairs of adjacent pole segments. The magnets and the pole segments are dimensioned and configured so that at least one of the first and second prongs is deflected by the magnet received in the respective slot, such that the prongs cooperatively apply a clamping force on the magnet.

Abstract: A motor assembly includes a motor, a controller, a fan, and a shroud. The motor includes a stator and a rotor rotatable about an axis. The controller is located axially from the motor and operable to at least in part control the motor. The fan is interposed axially between the stator and the controller. The fan is configured to propel a fluid. The shroud is configured to direct the fluid propelled by the fan in an axial direction.

Abstract: A crank assembly for displacing a load includes a motor and a displacement arm assembly. The motor includes a rotatable output shaft that defines a rotation axis. The displacement arm assembly includes a swingable crank arm and a support roller bearing. The swingable crank arm is coupled to the output shaft to swing about the rotation axis when the output shaft rotates. The swingable crank arm defines a pivot end adjacent the rotation axis and an opposite displacement end. The support roller bearing is rotatably supported on the swingable crank arm proximate the displacement end. The support roller bearing is configured to engage the load. The support roller bearing defines a bearing axis, which is substantially parallel to and offset from the rotation axis.

Abstract: A motor control system providing at least seventeen speed settings using industry standard control signals and an industry standard five pin speed connector. One speed monitoring pin transmits an output signal for monitoring the speed of the motor, and four speed setting pins receive input signals for setting the speed. One of the speed setting pins receives and decodes two binary states and two frequency states, thereby providing a total of thirty-two speed settings. A non-regulated isolated winding is added to an internal transformer to provide an internal isolated flyback power supply for the motor, thereby liberating a pin on the industry standard five pin speed connector to provide the fourth speed setting input pin. Transmission circuitry is associated with the speed monitoring pin, and the non-regulated isolated winding is used to provide a direct current bias to the transmission circuitry.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying and responding to a condition in which an electric motor fails to start. A rotor core includes slots in which magnets are received to produce an electrical reluctance. A motor controller determines a position of the rotor, uses the determined position to convert a torque demand to a demanded D-axis current value, and compares the demanded value to a supplied D-axis current value. If the demanded value differs from the supplied value by at least a pre-established threshold amount, then the motor is restarted. Otherwise, the difference between the torque demand and an actual current is used to drive a voltage applied to the motor. The controller may also implement a sensorless technology, and may restart the motor if the demanded value differs from the supplied value by at least the threshold amount even if the sensorless technology determines that the motor started.

Abstract: A spoked rotor is rotatable about an axis. The rotor includes a core. The core includes a plurality of pole segments arranged arcuately about the axis. The rotor includes a plurality of arcuately arranged magnets alternating arcuately with the pole segments, such that each of the magnets is at least in part interposed between a pair of adjacent pole segments. Each of the magnets includes a curved section extending arcuately between radially inner and outer curved section ends. An effective rotor pole location is defined on each of the pole segments. Each of the pole segments has an end opposite the effective rotor pole location. A center point is defined at the pole segment end. Each of the effective rotor pole locations is arcuately offset from a corresponding one of the center points by between about five tenths (0.5) rotor poles and about two (2.0) rotor poles.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a stator, a rotor rotatable relative to the stator, a housing, and an encoder assembly. The housing defines a motor chamber in which the stator and rotor are at least partly housed. The housing includes an endshield that defines in part the motor chamber. The encoder assembly is configured to sense an operational parameter of the motor and includes an encoder and an encoder cover. The encoder is adjustably positioned within an axially recessed channel of the endshield. The encoder cover is secured relative to the endshield to at least partially overlie the encoder.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for interparty component supply chain control that includes accessing, at a computing system operated on behalf of a downstream production entity, a database containing supplied part substance data relating a substance contained in a component part to a governmental restriction. The method includes generating, at the computing system of the downstream production entity, an electronic message describing performance of an action by a further downstream entity to be taken on or relative to the component part based on the governmental restriction, and transmitting the electronic message to a computing system operated on behalf of the further downstream entity.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for an electric motor includes a rotor core and a plurality of magnets. The rotor core defines a rotation axis. Each of the magnets includes a magnet stem portion and a magnet arm portion. The magnet stem portion extends radially relative to the rotational axis to present a radially outermost stem end. The magnet arm portion is located at least in part radially outward from the stem end. In addition, the magnet arm portion extends circumferentially in opposite directions relative to the magnet stem portion.

Abstract: An electric motor assembly includes a stator, a rotor, a motor housing, a rotatable shaft, a radial fan, and an air scoop. The motor housing at least partly houses the stator and rotor and presents an exterior motor surface. The rotatable shaft is associated with the rotor for rotational movement therewith, with the rotatable shaft extending along a rotational axis. The radial fan is mounted on the rotatable shaft exteriorly of the motor housing and is rotatable with the shaft to direct airflow in a radially outward direction. The air scoop extends radially outwardly relative to the radial fan and axially to receive radial airflow from the radial fan and turn the airflow axially to flow along the exterior motor surface. The air scoop includes spaced apart axially extending airflow vanes to guide the airflow as the airflow is turned axially.

Abstract: A motor assembly for powering a fluid blower includes a stator, a rotor rotatable relative to the stator about an axis of rotation, and an inner shell. The inner shell includes axially opposite first and second shell ends and encloses, at least in part, the stator and the rotor. An outer housing at least partly surrounds the inner shell such that an axially extending fluid channel is defined between the inner shell and the outer housing. A motor controller is positioned within the outer housing and is configured to control at least one operational parameter of the motor assembly. Furthermore, the motor assembly includes a flow-directing endshield located within the outer housing and adjacent the first shell end. The rotor is supported, at least in part, by the flow-directing endshield. The flow-directing endshield is fluidly interposed between the fluid channel and motor controller and is configured to direct a fluid flow between the fluid channel and the motor controller.

Abstract: A linear actuator includes a motor, a screw mechanism, and a bearing. The motor includes a stator and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator. The rotor includes a rotor shaft element. The screw mechanism includes a screw element and a follower drivingly engaged with the screw element, with rotation of the screw element causing the follower to shift axially along the screw element. The elements are drivingly intercoupled. The bearing rotatably supports a first one of the elements. The first one of the elements provides support to a second one of the elements such that the bearing also rotatably supports the second one of the elements.