Patents Assigned to Nidec Motor Corporation
  • Patent number: 11218048
    Abstract: A slinger for an electric motor broadly includes a hub and a wheel. The motor includes a housing in which a stator and rotor are at least partly housed. The motor also includes a rotatable output shaft projecting upwardly through a shaft opening in the housing. The hub is fixedly attachable to the output shaft of the motor so that the slinger rotates with the output shaft. The wheel is configured to divert liquid radially away from the shaft opening. The wheel includes a wheel plate and a plurality of radially extending blades cooperatively forming a series of passages extending radially outward relative to the shaft opening, when the hub is attached to the output shaft. The wheel plate is supported by the hub so as to be positioned above the housing when the hub is attached to the output shaft. The blades present radially inboard ends intersecting the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Eason, Chetan O. Modi, Kevin L. West
  • Patent number: 11218054
    Abstract: A gearmotor includes a motor assembly, a gear assembly, and an electronics assembly. The motor assembly includes a rotor including a rotor shaft; a stator; and a stator retention apparatus. The stator includes a core defining a core orientation feature, and a plurality of coils. The stator retention apparatus includes an apparatus orientation feature and an electronics assembly support structure. The gear assembly includes an output shaft. The electronics assembly includes a rotor shaft rotation sensor that is radially spaced from a rotor shaft position indicium, an output shaft rotation sensor that is radially spaced from an output shaft position indicium, and a magnetic sensor mounted to the electronics assembly support structure. The core orientation feature and the apparatus orientation feature engage one another to position the stator retention apparatus radially and arcuately relative to the core, such that the magnetic sensor is positioned adjacent an axial coil margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Tucker, Philip S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11183903
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an inner rotor motor and a stationary wiring conduit. The inner rotor motor includes a stator and a rotor spaced at least in part radially inside the stator. The rotor is rotatable relative to the stator about an axis. The rotor includes a rotatable shaft that presents a shaft bore extending axially therethrough. The stationary wiring conduit extends through the shaft bore and is fixed relative to the motor housing. The shaft bore rotatably receives the wiring conduit, such that the wiring conduit is permitted to remain stationary as the shaft rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew D. Allen, Aaron Davies, Daniel J. Suda, Philip S. Johnson, Michael W. Major
  • Publication number: 20210355951
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Jared Joseph Lesicko, Douglas D. Glenn, Prakash B. Shahi
  • Publication number: 20210351725
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating regenerative charging of a battery by a motor drive when the battery is properly physically connected to a drive circuitry and blocking current when the battery is improperly physically connected. The system includes drive circuitry, a battery and motor drive connected to the drive circuitry, an N-channel MOSFET connected to a high side of the drive circuitry, and a FET controller including a charge pump connected to a gate terminal of the N-channel MOSFET. When the battery is properly physically connected to the drive circuitry, the charge pump is switched on and the N-channel MOSFET allows reverse current to flow from the motor drive to recharge the battery. When the battery is improperly physically connected to the drive circuitry, the charge pump is switched off and the N-channel MOSFET blocks current from flowing and damaging the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: David E. Lass, Priscilla K. Dobbin
  • Publication number: 20210344253
    Abstract: An electric motor assembly includes a stator, rotor, housing, rotatable shaft, and cooling fan. The stator and rotor are at least partly housed in the housing. The shaft is associated with the rotor to rotate about an axis. The cooling fan is fixed to and thereby rotates with the shaft to induce airflow within the housing. The cooling fan includes a wheel plate projecting radially relative to the shaft. The cooling fan further includes a plurality of radial blades that project axially from the wheel plate. The blades define a series of radial channels. The wheel plate defines an axial plate opening therethrough in alignment with a respective one of the channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Eason, Chetan O. Modi, Kevin L. West
  • Publication number: 20210320561
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Tucker, Jeffrey M. Hutsler, Robert Teal Back
  • Publication number: 20210320553
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: David E. Lass, Gregory A. Davis, Michael E. Williams, Dale R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 11146144
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Eason, Michael L. Largent, Steven R. Palmer, Jeffrey Scott Sherman, Richard A. Belley
  • Patent number: 11111960
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotor rotatable about an axis, a housing defining a motor chamber receiving at least a portion of the rotor, and a bearing assembly rotatably supporting the rotor on the housing. The housing includes a pair of axially spaced apart endshields. The bearing assembly includes a bearing and lubricant collection structure associated with the bearing. The lubricant collection structure defines a collection chamber configured to collect lubricant from the motor chamber and direct the lubricant to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr., Lawrence J. Wittman, Andrew F. Poag
  • Publication number: 20210242737
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for an electric motor includes a rotor core that is fabricated from a plurality of stacked laminations. The rotor core has a plurality of arcuately arranged, axially extending magnet receiving slots. The rotor core includes a plurality of magnets received in respective ones of the magnet receiving slots. The laminations include radially extending deflectable magnet retaining tabs that extend into the magnet receiving slots. The magnet retaining tabs engage and are deflected by a corresponding one of the magnets to exert a reactive force against the magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Sherman, Chetan O. Modi, Steven R. Palmer, Ryan M. Bastien, Joey Mitchell Bomar, Paul G. Michaels, Daniel E. Bailey
  • Patent number: 11075552
    Abstract: A motor is cooled with a coolant. The motor includes a rotor rotatable about an axis, a stator including a stator core and windings wound about the stator core, a housing enclosing at least a portion of the stator, and a resiliently deflectable spray ring extending circumferentially relative to the axis. The spray ring defines at least one orifice configured to direct coolant on the stator. The spray ring presents first and second arcuately spaced apart ends defining a gap therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond D. Heilman, Andrew F. Poag, S. Duke Snider, John T. Scoble, III, Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11063495
    Abstract: A clamp assembly is operable to engage at least three heat-generating electrical components arranged side-by-side and clamp the electrical components relative to a heat sink. The clamp assembly includes a clamp bar and a fastener to secure the clamp bar to the heat sink. The clamp bar includes at least three spaced apart projections configured to be located in engagement with the respective electrical components. The clamp bar presents a slot positioned between a spaced apart pair of the projections and defines respective clamp bar sections on opposite sides thereof. The slot permits the clamp bar sections to shift relative to one another and thereby facilitate clamping engagement of the projections with the electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Skinner, Richard A. Belley, Michael L. Largent
  • Patent number: 11050321
    Abstract: A conduit plug for attachment to a motor case includes a base partly defining a central passage extending along a longitudinal axis of the plug. The base has a skirt extending radially with respect to the longitudinal axis and two circumferentially-spaced straight-edge segments. The plug further includes a ribbed tube cooperatively defining the central passage and extending from the skirt opposite the two straight-edge segments. Each of the two straight-edge segments includes a camming clip configured for resilient retraction toward the central passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Marc J. Corcoran
  • Publication number: 20210184531
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Bailey, Chetan O. Modi, Paul G. Michaels, Jahir Flores, Ryan M. Bastien
  • Patent number: 11014756
    Abstract: A conveyor system includes a conveyor assembly. The conveyor assembly includes a conveyor module, a power module, and a chassis supporting the conveyor module and the power module. The conveyor module includes a roller rotatable about an axis and a conveyor belt shiftable in response to rotation of the roller. The power module provides rotational power to the roller. The power module includes a power assembly and a drive configured to transmit rotational power to the roller from the power assembly. The power assembly includes a power source and a housing at least substantially surrounding the power source. The chassis integrally forms a portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Biro, William D. Moore, Richard J. Fadler
  • Publication number: 20210152058
    Abstract: A motor assembly includes a motor, a controller controlling at least one aspect of operation of the motor, and a control housing defining a control chamber. The controller is in part received within the control chamber. The controller includes a main electronics board and a modular connector assembly. The modular connector assembly includes a secondary electronics board and a connector at least in part supporting the secondary electronics board. The connector includes an inner connector portion and an outer connector portion. The connector extends through the control housing such that the inner connector portion is disposed inside the control chamber and the outer connector portion is disposed outside the control chamber. The outer connector portion defines a first access portal facilitating access to a first component of the secondary electronics board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Chetan O. Modi, Steven R. Palmer, Daniel E. Bailey, Jared Joseph Lesicko
  • Patent number: D920914
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael L. Largent, Steven R. Palmer, Jeffrey Scott Sherman
  • Patent number: D939460
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy R. Albers, Thomas Schardt, Pranesh Rao, Parijat Shrivastava
  • Patent number: D941361
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Marc J. Corcoran, L. Ranney Dohogne, Paul Vanaria