Patents Examined by Karl Imayoshi Tamai
  • Patent number: 7224094
    Abstract: A magnetic bearing spindle includes a radial magnetic bearing rotor fabricated by laminating a ring-like plate made of electromagnetic steel sheet, an axial magnetic bearing rotor made of magnetic material, and a main shaft motor rotor. A rotation shaft is fit rotatably in these rotors and a plurality of electromagnets are disposed around the rotation shaft. A bracket is provided with a cooling air supply port, and an air passage is provided in a frame. An outer peripheral portion of the axial magnetic bearing rotor is provided with a triangular portion. An outer peripheral portion of an axial direction positioning collar of an axial magnetic bearing stator is provided with through holes. Cooling air is supplied from the through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 7091648
    Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises a movable element provided with electrodes, and a stator provided with inductive electrodes for generating electrostatic induction in the electrodes of the movable element. The electrodes of the movable element includes a driven electrode part provided at a position opposite to the driving electrodes of the stator, and an induced electrode part provided at a position opposite to the inductive electrodes of the stator. The movable element is displaced relatively to the stator by generating electrostatic force between the driving electrodes of the stator and the driven electrode part in the movable element in which the electrostatic induction is generated, by applying a voltage to the driving electrodes of the stator, while generating electrostatic induction in the electrodes of the movable element through the induced electrode part by applying a voltage to the inductive electrodes of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Gondoh
  • Patent number: 7012346
    Abstract: An impeller and at least a portion of a cooperating peripheral volute may be integrated into, and preferably are integrally injection molded with, concentric outer rotor and inner stator assemblies, respectively, to achieve a low profile precision impeller mechanism based on an improved brushless d.c. motor with low length (L) to diameter (D) ratio and suitable for use in a variety of other applications. In one practical embodiment of such a motor, a rotating cap has an inner circumference which is molded about an outer ferromagnetic back ring that in turn supports a permanently magnetized ring shaped rotor magnet having a number of poles of alternating polarity defined about its inner circumference and separated by a relatively small cylindrical air gap from the outwardly projecting radially oriented selectively magnetized poles of a fixed stator assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the rotor may have 8 poles and the stator may have 9 poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignees: ResMed Limited, Servo Magnetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie C. Hoffman, Barton J. Kenyon, David B. Sears
  • Patent number: 6998757
    Abstract: A compact and reliable structure of a multi-rotor synchronous machine which may be employed as a generator/motor for automotive vehicles is provided. The machine includes an outer rotor having permanent magnets, an inner rotor having permanent magnets disposed to be rotatable relative to the outer rotor, a stator core having armature coils interlinking with field magnetic fluxes produced by the outer and inner rotors, and a rotor-to-rotor relative rotation controlling mechanism. A relative angle between the outer and inner rotors is controlled within a given angular range by controlling the phase and quantity of current flowing through the armature coils to rotate the inner rotor relative to the outer rotor through the rotor-to-rotor relative rotation controlling mechanism, thereby changing the magnetic fluxes interlinking with the armature coils as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Seguchi, Shigenori Yoneda
  • Patent number: 6914357
    Abstract: An electric machine for converting electrical energy to mechanical energy is disclosed. The electric machine includes a stator having an outer layer, a first intermediate layer, a second intermediate layer, and an inner layer. The electric machine further includes a rotor axially aligned and positioned within the stator. The rotor has at least one permanent magnet, and at least one busbar. The busbar is attached to the first intermediate layer. The busbar includes at least one bare power die in electrical communication therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Tabatowski-Bush, James P. Grzybowski, Prathap A. Reddy, John J. Trublowski, Vivek A. Jairazbhoy
  • Patent number: 6876124
    Abstract: An electrically actuated micro-mirror system is disclosed. The system has at least three supporting springs attached to a micro-mirror providing at least two rotational degrees of freedom thereof. At least two optional enhancement springs are fanned out from an associated supporting spring to secure the micro-mirror, and the micro-mirror is electro-statically actuated to rotate while the supporting springs and the enhancement springs operate primarily in a tensile mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Tera FiberOptics
    Inventors: Andrew T. H. Lin, Edward W-Y Shih, Richard Yeh
  • Patent number: 6166462
    Abstract: A bypass motor/fan assembly for use in applications where moisture laden air is encountered. A motor with a motor cooling fan has a fan end bracket received at one end thereof to isolate the motor and motor cooling fan from a working air fan received on the opposite side of the fan end bracket. A diffuser matingly engages with the fan end bracket. The diffuser and fan end bracket have ramped surfaces thereon which are circumferentially aligned with the working air fan. The ramped surfaces define air flow paths of uniform cross section which pass to exhaust ports which are circumferentially spaced about a fan shell which is received over the fan end brackets, diffuser and working air fan. The fan shell has an air intake aperture at an end thereof. Air passes from the air intake aperture, into the eye of the work air fan, and out of the fan at the circumference thereof into the air paths of uniform cross section and to the exhaust ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Ametek, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Finkenbinder, Jeffrey D. Marsden
  • Patent number: 6133669
    Abstract: A low-loss magnetic core of the claw-pole type for use in generating electrical power with a high frequency alternator is disclosed. A rotor, driven by a shaft, is made of pairs of individual poles of alternating polarity nested radially around a shaft. The rotor poles overlap each other axially and interleave circumferentially. The rotor poles are excited by a common field coil. The pairs of individual poles are made from laminated electrical steel or magnetic steel, with laminate shapes bent and bundled together to form an open three dimensional shape vaguely similar to one and one quarter turns of a spiral shape. A stator is made of ring bundles of laminated electrical steel or magnetic steel, with internal teeth. Various arrangements of windings on the stator teeth create armature poles for multiple phases of output voltage. The low loss magnetic core allows for efficient operation at high shaft speed and allows for efficient AC excitation of the rotor for special applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Christopher N. Tupper
  • Patent number: 6093988
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotating electric machine including (a) a rotor having a rotating shaft; (b) a bearing for supporting the rotating shaft; (c) a radiation resistant grease applied to the bearing; and (d) a shield layer for shielding the grease from radiation. The shield layer is made of lead and surrounds the bearing. The shield layer includes (1) a first cylindrical shield member that is positioned to cover the bearing, such that the bearing is shielded from a first radiation that is in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the rotating shaft, and (2) second and third disk shield members that are positioned to interpose therebetween the bearing in a direction along the axis of the rotating shaft, such that the bearing is shielded from a second radiation that is in a direction substantially along the axis of the rotating shaft. Thus, the rotor of this rotating electric machine is stably supported in the bearing for a long time even under a highly radioactive environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha, Kandenko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinao Okawa, Yoshihiro Murano, Isao Ito, Kenichi Okada, Kazuo Funabashi, Masanori Miyamoto, Kiyohito Mizuide, Hirotugu Kinoshita, Fumihiro Itano, Takeshi Uesugi
  • Patent number: 6087747
    Abstract: An electromechanical device includes a first frame having a first aperture therein, a second frame suspended in the first frame wherein the second frame has a second aperture therein, and a plate suspended in the second aperture. A first pair of beams support the second frame along a first axis relative to the first frame so that the second frame rotates about the first axis. A second pair of beams supports the plate along a second axis relative to the second frame so that the plate rotates about the second axis relative to the frame. The first and second axes preferably intersect at a 90.degree. angle. A first actuator provides mechanical force for rotating the second frame relative to the first frame about the first axis. A second actuator provides mechanical force for rotating the plate relative to the second frame about the second axis. Accordingly, the plate can be independently rotated relative to the first axis and the second axis. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: MCNC
    Inventors: Vijayakumar R. Dhuler, David A. Koester, Mark D. Walters, Karen W. Markus
  • Patent number: 6054791
    Abstract: A direct current motor for use in a closed-loop control system is disclosed that includes a rotating commutator having a plurality of slots, a plurality of windings, the number of windings that conduct current corresponding to one less than the number of slots of the commutator, and a plurality of brushes that are configured so that application of a direct current voltage across the brushes results in a current flow in at least one of the windings which causes the commutator to rotate. Continuous application of the direct current voltage across the brushes causes the current to flow in a varying number of the current conducting windings as the commutator continues to rotate, the number periodically varying from all of the current conducting windings to the at least one current conducting winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard
    Inventor: Daniel Lander
  • Patent number: 6028385
    Abstract: A switched reluctance motor having a stator with a plurality of radially oriented stator poles. Windings for three phases are wound about the stator poles wherein a stator pole of a first phase is disposed circumferentially between a winding and an associated stator pole of a second phase and a winding and an associated stator pole of a third phase. A rotor is mounted for rotation relative to the stator. The rotor has a wide rotor pole and a narrow rotor pole. The rotor poles are distributed on the rotor wherein a narrow rotor pole is disposed to each side of a wide rotor pole in a direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Tridelta Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Pengov, Douglas L. Carr
  • Patent number: 6020671
    Abstract: A thermoelectric module with a plurality of electricity generating units each having a first end and a second end, the units being arranged first end to second end along an in-line axis. Each unit includes first and second elements each made of a thermoelectric material, an electrically conductive hot member arranged to heat one side of the first element, and an electrically conductive cold member arranged to cool another side of the first element and to cool one side of the second element. The hot member, the first element, the cold member and the second element are supported in a fixture, are electrically connected respectively to provide an electricity generating unit, and are arranged respectively in positions along the in-line axis. The individual components of each generating unit and the respective generating units are clamped in their in-line positions by a loading bolt at one end of the fixture and a stop wall at the other end of the fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Robert Pento, James E. Marks, Clifford D. Staffanson
  • Patent number: 5986364
    Abstract: A housing member for an actuator assembly for adjusting the orientation of a mirror element in a mirror assembly provides integral weather seals and noise dampeners. The weather seals and noise dampeners are injection molded with or onto a base wall of the housing member to thereby form seals and dampeners that have superior adhesion or mechanical retention to the housing member and, therefore, are not subject to degradation from noise. In addition, the integral seals and dampeners reduce the time and cost of assembling and servicing the actuator assembly. The housing member includes a base wall, and a sidewall which connects to the base wall and extends around the perimeter of the base wall. The side wall includes connectors for securing the first housing to the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Lee Bingle, David Kevin Willmore, Robert E. Schnell
  • Patent number: 5977680
    Abstract: An improved method for stator of a motor, which is related to a shape of a stator made of laminated silicon steel in a motor; the prime of the method is to reduce the cogging torque upon the motor running so as to reduce the vibration of motor, and to increase the performance of the motor as well; the result of such method can be used for a stator made of laminated silicon steel in a motor so as to improve the structure of a stator in conventional motor, which used to generate a cogging torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Yung-Ping Lin
  • Patent number: 5969457
    Abstract: A flywheel energy conversion device provides highly efficient conversion between kinetic and electrical energy. The flywheel produces increased output by providing armature coils in an air gap formed about the flywheel (both radial and axial embodiments are described). In preferred embodiments, field coils of a magnetic circuit are energized with DC drive current that creates homopolar flux within a rotating solid rotor having teeth cut from a flat disk. The total reluctance of the magnetic circuit and total flux remain substantially constant as the rotor rotates. The flux may travel radially outward and exit the flat disk through the teeth passing across an armature air gap. Airgap armature coils are preferably utilized in which the changing flux density (due to the rotating teeth) induces an output voltage in the coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Active Power, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Clifton, Joseph F. Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 5952748
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to design a rotary electric machine, in particular a high-speed motor, whose cooling system ensures that the heat generated is eliminated without a non-uniform heat distribution building up in the motor. The motor has cooling ducts (5) in the stator (2), between the bundle of laminations (3) and the housing (4). Located on the housing (4) are connections (6) for the supply of the coolant and connections (7) for the discharge of the coolant. A two-phase mixture is used as the coolant for the housing. If the bundle of laminations (3) gives out heat uniformly in all directions, evaporation will take place continuously round the whole of the casing. The motor also has as second coolant circuit. Gaseous coolant is fed in through another set of connections (8) to cool the rotor. This gaseous coolant passes through ducts (9) in the bundle of laminations (3) and into the air gap (10) between the rotor (1) and the bundle of laminations (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Elin Motoren GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Georg Boldlehner
  • Patent number: 5945766
    Abstract: A double rotor-type brushless direct-current motor includes first and second annular-shaped rotors each having a plurality of north and south-polar magnets which are alternately disposed at a predetermined distance; a rotating shaft connected to a central portion of the rotors thorough a bushing; upper and lower cases receiving and rotatably supporting opposite ends of the rotating shaft; an annular-shaped stator having a plurality of stator coils supported by a molding filler to apply electromagnetic force to the first and second rotors in an opposite direction to each other, the stator being mounted between the first and second rotors at a predetermined clearance; and a control printed circuit board for applying a driving current with respect to the stator, the control printed circuit board being mounted one of the upper and lower cases; wherein the upper and lower cases, the control printed circuit board, the first and second rotors have a plurality of ventilating holes for circulating air from the outer s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Amotron Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byungkyu Kim, Joon Kim, Boris Bazarov, Donghoon Kim
  • Patent number: 5898254
    Abstract: Electrostatic linear motor comprising a planar stator having a capacitive structure formed by a metal layer and a layer of dielectric material and a runner movable parallel to stator and carrying resiliently deformable projecting feet formed by a thin conductive film, arranged in rolling contact with the layer of dielectric material of the stator. The layer of dielectric material has a non-linear polarization versus the electric field applied by a source for supplying voltage pulses, and is preferably constituted by a film of ferroelectric material with a high value of dielectric permittivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: CRF Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Edward Kostov, Vinceslao Dyatlov, Piero Perlo
  • Patent number: 5844346
    Abstract: A switched reluctance motor includes a stator defining a plurality of radially-inwardly-extending poles and a rotor defining a plurality of radially-outwardly-extending poles. The poles of the stator define a shape in radial cross-section characterized by a generally rectangular body portion, and a tip portion which tapers at an angle no greater than 40.degree. relative to the sides of the rectangular body portion. The nominal width of the rectangular body portion of each stator pole is at least 1.3 times the nominal (chordal) dimension across the arcuate, radially-innermost surface on the tip portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Sergei F. Kolomeitsev, K. Fred Brodsky