Abstract: A motor includes a shaft rotatable about an axis, an engaged component engaged by the shaft, a sleeve fixed to the shaft to rotate therewith, and a seal at least partly circumscribing the shaft. The shaft includes an engagement region presenting a substantially variable outer shaft surface that at least in part engages the engaged component. The sleeve includes a first section that at least partly circumscribes and engages the engagement region of the shaft. The first section of the sleeve presents an outer seal-engaging surface and an outer bearing-engaging surface. The seal and the bearing each at least partly circumscribe the engagement region of the shaft and the first section of the sleeve to engage the seal-engaging surface and the bearing-engaging surfaces, respectively, of the sleeve.

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.

Abstract: A rotating element for a dynamo-electric machine such as an electric induction motor. The rotating element includes a plurality of axially stacked laminations cooperatively defining a plurality of arcuately spaced bar slots. The rotating element also includes a plurality of bars, with each bar extending through one of the bar slots. Each of the bars comprises copper-impregnated polymer.

Abstract: A mounting system for mounting a pressure switch to a mounting body without using screws or brackets. The mounting system includes a support physically supporting the pressure switch on the mounting body, a conduit carrying a pressure signal from the mounting body to the pressure switch, and a connector extending between and connecting the support to the conduit. The support and conduit may have ends constructed of synthetic rubber to frictionally engage support and conduit mounts, and the support and conduit may have approximately the same length and/or the same cross-sectional shape. The mounting body may be a draft inducer, a condensate collector box, or a drain trap in a furnace.

Abstract: A gearmotor assembly for use with a conveyor system has a rotatable conveyor roller extending laterally between spaced conveyor side rails. The gearmotor assembly includes an electric motor with a rotatable motor output shaft. The gearmotor assembly further includes a gear train drivingly connected to the motor output shaft. The gear train includes a train output shaft axially offset from the motor output shaft, with the train output shaft being drivingly connectable to the conveyor roller, so that rotation of the motor output shaft produces corresponding rotation of the conveyor roller.

Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for controlling wireless access to the operations of communicative electric motors. An electronic processing element receives an authentication request from a remote access device via a wireless transceiver, approves the authentication request, including determining an associated access level from among a hierarchy of access levels, and grants access to a motor controller to perform actions allowed by the associated access level. Approving the request may be based on receiving a valid password, which may be calculated on the remote access device by a computer program using an electronic key, or by receiving information from an authentication hardware component associated with the device. The various access levels may allow for shutting off, read-only monitoring (of, e.g., temperature, vibration), controlling (e.g., speed), and programming (e.g., tap settings) operation of the motor, and controlling the authentication process (e.g.

Abstract: Electric motors are disclosed. The motors are preferably for use in an automated vehicle, although any one or more of a variety of motor uses are suitable. The motors include lift, turntable, and locomotion motors.

Abstract: A motorized pump assembly includes a pump and a motor for driving the pump. The pump includes a pump housing that at least in part defines a pump chamber. The motor includes a stator, a rotor rotatable about an axis, a motor housing, and a bearing assembly. The rotor includes a motor shaft extending along the axis. The motor housing includes an endshield that at least in part defines a motor chamber in which the stator and the rotor are at least substantially received. The bearing assembly rotatably supports the motor shaft on the endshield. The pump housing and the endshield are fixed to one another and cooperatively at least in part define an overflow chamber adjacent the pump chamber. The endshield defines a drainage channel fluidly interconnected with the overflow chamber and configured to direct fluid from the overflow chamber away from the bearing assembly.

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.

Abstract: A motor includes a shaft rotatable about an axis, an engaged component engaged by the shaft, a sleeve fixed to the shaft to rotate therewith, and a seal at least partly circumscribing the shaft. The shaft includes an engagement region presenting a substantially variable outer shaft surface that at least in part engages the engaged component. The sleeve includes a first section that at least partly circumscribes and engages the engagement region of the shaft. The first section of the sleeve presents an outer seal-engaging surface and an outer bearing-engaging surface. The seal and the bearing each at least partly circumscribe the engagement region of the shaft and the first section of the sleeve to engage the seal-engaging surface and the bearing-engaging surfaces, respectively, of the sleeve.

Abstract: A rotor is provided for use in an electric motor. The rotor is rotatable about an axis. The rotor includes a core including a plurality of arcuately arranged pole segments arranged arcuately the axis. The rotor further includes a plurality of arcuately arranged magnets alternating with the pole segments, such that each of the magnets is at least in part interposed between a pair of adjacent pole segments. Still further, the rotor includes a support structure at least in part supporting the pole segments. The core further includes a plurality of bridges. Each of the bridges extends between and interconnects a corresponding one of the pole segments to the support structure. Each of the bridges includes a plurality of axially spaced apart bridge segments.

Abstract: A sensor module for obtaining sensor data relevant to a piece of equipment. The sensor module comprises a housing including a base. The base includes a mounting assembly for securing the sensor module to the piece of equipment. The sensor module additionally comprises a processing assembly at least partially enclosed within an interior space presented by the housing. The processing assembly includes a first temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the interior space of the housing. The processing assembly additionally includes a second temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature external to the housing. The processing assembly additionally includes a vibration sensor configured to measure vibrations experienced by the sensor module. The processing assembly further includes a communication element for wirelessly transmitting the sensor data.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring health of equipment. One step of the method includes securing a plurality of sensor modules on to a plurality of pieces of equipment. Each sensor module is secured on to a separate piece of equipment. An additional step includes generating, by each sensor module, sensor data related to the piece of equipment on to which the sensor module is secured. The sensor data includes vibration data for the piece of equipment, temperature data for the piece of equipment, and temperature data for a location exterior to the piece of equipment. An additional step includes processing, by each sensor module, the sensor data generated by the sensor module into a data packet, with the data packet including the sensor data. An additional step includes transmitting the data packet from each sensor module to a gateway over a local communications network. A further step includes transmitting the sensor data from the gateway to a server device.

Abstract: A motor assembly broadly includes an electric motor and a clamp. The electric motor includes a motor housing and a shaft rotatably supported relative to the motor housing to rotate about a shaft axis, with part of the shaft being exposed relative to the motor housing. The motor housing includes a mounting base. The clamp is connected between the exposed part of the shaft and the mounting base. The clamp is selectively adjustable to apply a variable off-axis load to the exposed part of the shaft.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a longitudinally extending cable comprises a gland shiftable between an unsealed position and a sealed position, and a receiver including an inner portal-defining wall that defines a portal configured to receive at least a portion of the cable. The gland is at least in part received within the portal when in the sealed position. The receiver defines a radially extending, annular receiver face. The gland includes a tapered body configured to circumscribe the cable. The gland further includes a head including an outwardly extending flange. The flange presents a radially extending, annular seal face that engages the receiver face when the gland is in the sealed position. The tapered body presents an axially tapering outer wall that is spaced in its entirety radially inwardly from the portal-defining wall when the gland is in the sealed position, such that an annular buffer is defined therebetween.

Abstract: A gearmotor assembly includes a housing, a rotatable shaft, a bearing, a retaining member, and a seal. The housing defines a gear chamber configured to contain a lubricant. The bearing rotatably supports the shaft. The bearing is disposed between the housing and the shaft. The retaining member at least in part restricts axial shifting of the bearing. The retaining member presents a plurality of retaining member threads. The housing defines a plurality of housing threads threadably engaging the retaining member threads. The retaining member and the housing cooperatively at least in part define an interface. The interface includes a threaded portion and an additional portion. The threaded portion is cooperatively defined by the retaining member threads and the housing threads. The additional portion is fluidly interconnected to the threaded portion. The seal is disposed along the interface to prevent lubricant escaping the gear chamber past the interface.

Abstract: A blower motor assembly includes a blower wheel and a motor. The blower wheel includes an integrally formed hub. The motor includes a shaft rotatable about an axis. The hub presents a radially inner hub surface that at least in part defines a hub opening. The inner hub surface defines an inner cross-sectional dimension. The shaft is axially received within the hub opening, such that the blower wheel is supported by the shaft for rotational movement. The shaft includes a toothed region defining a plurality of arcuately spaced apart teeth. Each of the teeth includes a cutting edge. The teeth present an outer cross-sectional dimension that is great than the inner cross-sectional dimension of the inner hub surface, such that the cutting edges of the teeth cut a plurality of grooves in the inner hub surface as the shaft is axially received in the hub opening.

Abstract: A rotor includes a plurality of arcuately arranged magnets and a core including a plurality of arcuately arranged pole segments alternating with the magnets, such that each of the magnets is at least in part interposed between adjacent pole segments. The pole segments at least in part cooperatively present an annular core face at least in part defining a core envelope. Each of the pole segments includes a main body and a pair of ears. The main body presents a body face extending concentrically with the axis, disposed along the envelope, and presenting a pair of arcuately spaced apart body edges. The ears each extend generally arcuately outwardly from a corresponding body edge and present a substantially flat ear face extending directly from the body edge. Each of the ear faces is disposed radially inside the envelope.

Abstract: A tool for programming a controller of an electric motor by engaging a connection block of the motor and providing high voltage power and communicating programming signals to the controller. The tool includes a body having an interface for engaging the connection block, and internal wiring presenting tool terminals at the interface for making contact with corresponding motor terminals to allow for providing power and communicating signals between the tool and the controller. An energy-limited transformer having an isolated high impedance secondary winding provides both electrical isolation to protect against shock and low energy output to protect against arc flash. Redundant interlocks include a software interlock which allows the power to be present at the interface only during actual programming of the controller. A light ring encircling the body indicates the presence of high voltage and is visible from multiple directions.

Abstract: A rotor is provided for use in an electric motor. The rotor is rotatable about an axis. The rotor includes a core including a plurality of arcuately arranged pole segments arranged arcuately the axis. The rotor further includes a plurality of arcuately arranged magnets alternating with the pole segments, such that each of the magnets is at least in part interposed between a pair of adjacent pole segments. Still further, the rotor includes a support structure at least in part supporting the pole segments. The core further includes a plurality of bridges. Each of the bridges extends between and interconnects a corresponding one of the pole segments to the support structure. Each of the bridges includes a plurality of axially spaced apart bridge segments.