Abstract: A speed reduction device for cooperation with a mechanical power source and with a mechanical power load is described. The device includes a housing an input shaft and a second shaft. The device also includes a first pulley a second pulley and a belt. The input shaft is rotatably supported by the housing and located at least partially within the housing. The second shaft is rotatably supported by the housing and located at least partially within the housing. The first pulley is operably associated with the input shaft and located within the housing. The second pulley is operably associated with the second shaft and located within the housing and the belt connects the first pulley to the second pulley and is located within the housing.

Abstract: A wire assembly for use in an electric machine is provided. The assembly includes a member and a wire. The wire conducts electrical current. At least a portion of the wire is adapted to be wrapped at least partially around the member. The member defines a periphery of the member. At least a portion of the periphery of the member is conformable when the wire is wrapped at least partially around the member.

Abstract: A furnace assembly comprising a non-condensing furnace with a draft inducer. The draft inducer includes a permanent magnet electrically commutated motor and a draft inducer blower fan. The motor includes a stator, a rotor, a motor cooling fan, and a controller. The rotor being rotatable relative to the stator, the fan being operatively coupled to the rotor such that rotation of the rotor causes rotation of the fan, the controller being configured to selectively operate the motor in first and second different torque ranges of the rotor, with the first and second torque range operating within a fixed percentage and within a fixed percentage of each other. The controller being configured such during normal operation, the motor is not operable at any torques between the first torque range and the second torque range except during transitionary periods.

Abstract: Methods and a voltage regulator are provided for distributing power sourcing in a hybrid power plant system. The voltage regulator is configured to monitor an output power of a generator and control an excitation signal provided to the generator based at least in part on the generator output power.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and a voltage regulator are provided for tuning reactive droop compensation of a generator in a parallel power generation system. The voltage regulator is configured to compute a simulated droop compensation voltage for the generator and control an excitation signal to the generator based at least in part on the simulated droop compensation voltage.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a permanent magnet rotor is provided. The permanent magnet rotor includes a substantially cylindrical rotor core including an outer edge, an inner edge, and opposed first and second ends. The rotor further includes a first wall and a second wall defining at least one radial aperture extending radially through the rotor core. The rotor further includes at least one permanent magnet positioned within the at least one radial aperture. A first indentation is formed in one of the at least one permanent magnet and the first wall, the first indentation defining a first space between the at least one permanent magnet and the radial aperture first wall. The rotor further includes a first material positioned within the first space, the material configured to substantially prevent movement of the permanent magnet relative to the at least one radial aperture.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an electric machine is provided. The electric machine includes a machine housing and a stator disposed at least partially within the housing, the stator comprising a plurality of teeth and an aluminum winding wound around at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth. The electric machine further includes a radially embedded permanent magnet rotor disposed at least partially within the housing, the rotor comprising at least one radially embedded permanent magnet and configured to provide increased flux to reduce motor efficiency loss compared to a copper winding.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a permanent magnet rotor is provided. The rotor includes at least one permanent magnet and a substantially cylindrical rotor core including a plurality of stacked laminations, a hub having an inner edge defining a central opening, and a shaft inserted through the central opening, the shaft magnetically isolated from the hub. The rotor includes at least one connected pole piece coupled to the hub and at least one independent pole piece separated from the hub. The at least one permanent magnet is disposed between the at least one connected pole piece and the at least one independent pole piece.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a permanent magnet rotor is provided. The permanent magnet rotor includes a shaft comprising an outer diameter, a first hub coupled about the shaft outer diameter, and a first plurality of pole pieces positioned radially about the hub. The rotor further includes a plurality of permanent magnets positioned radially about the hub. The plurality of pole pieces and the plurality of permanent magnets define a rotor outer diameter, and the rotor outer diameter is magnetically isolated from shaft.

Abstract: Start capacitor assemblies and methods for operating electric motors are described. In one example, a start capacitor assembly for connection to an electric motor includes a film capacitor and a resistor. The film capacitor has a first terminal and a second terminal.

Abstract: A blower assembly having a blower housing, an impeller fan within the blower housing, the impeller fan being adapted for rotation about an axis and having a plurality of impeller blades and having an axial length, a motor having a stator and a rotor, the motor having an axial length, the rotor being configured to rotate relative to the stator for rotation about the axis, the rotor and the impeller fan being coupled so that the impeller fan rotates with the rotor about the axis, wherein a ratio of the axial length of the motor to the axial length of the impeller fan is less than 0.3, and a motor support bracket operatively securing the stator to one of the first and second side walls of the blower housing.

Abstract: A blower assembly includes a centrifugal fan and a motor assembly. The centrifugal fan has a plurality of axially extending impeller blades, a first axial end, and an air inlet. The air inlet is at the first axial end of the centrifugal fan. The motor assembly comprises a stator, a rotor, and an air directing surface. The air directing surface is shaped and configured to direct air drawn into the air inlet radially outwardly toward the impeller blades. The air directing surface extends generally along the rotor axis from its first end to its second end. At least a surface region of the air directing surface generally circumscribes the rotor axis and diverges radially outwardly as such surface region of the air directing surface extends away from the first end toward the second end.

Abstract: An electric machine stationary assembly is described. The stationary assembly includes a plurality of stacked laminations each comprising a first end and a second end. The stationary assembly also includes a mechanically deformable first fastening feature positioned at the first end of each lamination. The stationary assembly also includes a second fastening feature positioned at the second end of each lamination and configured to cooperate with the first fastening feature to couple the first end to the second end.

Abstract: A motor control system for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications is described. The motor control system includes a thermostat and an electronically commutated motor (ECM) coupled to the thermostat. The ECM is configured to retrofit an existing non-ECM electric motor included in an HVAC application and to operate in one of a plurality of HVAC modes. The HVAC modes include at least one of a heating mode, a cooling mode, and a continuous fan mode. The HVAC mode is determined based at least partially on outputs provided by the thermostat.

Abstract: A method for monitoring input power to an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The method includes determining, with a processing device, an average input current to the motor, the average input current based on a voltage drop across a shunt resistor in series with the motor, measuring an average input voltage applied to the motor utilizing the processing device, multiplying the average input current by the average voltage to determine an approximate input power, and communicating the average input power to an external interface.

Abstract: A motor control system for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications is described. The motor control system includes a thermostat and an electronically commutated motor (ECM) coupled to the thermostat. The ECM is configured to retrofit an existing non-ECM electric motor included in an HVAC application and to operate in one of a plurality of HVAC modes. The HVAC modes include at least one of a heating mode, a cooling mode, and a continuous fan mode. The HVAC mode is determined based at least partially on outputs provided by the thermostat.

Abstract: A method for supplying a plurality of capacitance values to a plurality of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) components is provided. The method includes configuring a first set of terminals of a connection device to couple a first capacitor to the connection device and configuring the connection device to couple the first capacitor to at least one of the plurality of HVAC/R components. The method further includes configuring a second set of terminals of the connection device to couple a second capacitor to the connection device and configuring the connection device to selectively couple the second capacitor to at least one of the plurality of HVAC/R components.

Abstract: A motor controller includes a first circuit board having a top side, a bottom side, and a first edge. The first circuit board includes a power module extending from the top side of the first circuit board. The motor controller also includes a second circuit board having a top side, a bottom side, and a first edge. The second circuit board includes a plurality of electrical components extending from the top side of the second circuit board. The second circuit board is electrically coupled to the first circuit board by at least one conductor. The first circuit board is physically coupled to the second circuit board such that the bottom side of the second circuit board is adjacent the bottom side of the first circuit board.

Abstract: A unit for recording operating information of an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The unit includes a system controller communicatively coupled to an ECM. The system controller includes a processing device configured to control the unit. The unit also includes a memory device communicatively coupled to the system controller. The memory device is configured to receive and store ECM operating information provided by the processing device.