Abstract: A lubricant leakage stop is provided on the shaft of a rotary device in the form of an annular groove in the shaft. In one embodiment the annular groove is formed with an annular inner surface at the bottom of the groove and with an annular intermediate surface positioned between two portions of the annular inner surface. The intermediate surface has a larger diameter dimension than the two inner surface portions on the axially opposite sides of the intermediate surface. The intermediate surface also has a smaller diameter dimension than that of the two portions of the shaft outer surface on axially opposite sides of the groove. In a second embodiment, the annular groove is formed with an annular inner surface that tapers from the bottom of the groove outwardly to the outer surface of the shaft on one side of the groove.

Abstract: The cooling of an electric motor is optimized by the housing of the motor being provided with inlet vent holes that are positioned and sized to increase a total air flow rate through the housing interior and by the interior surface of the housing being shaped to conform to the stator winding end turns of the motor to direct a flow of cooling air around a greater surface area of the winding end turns before being exhausted through outlet vent holes of the housing.

Abstract: A fluid management system provided on a housing of an electrical device includes a shelf that covers over electrical connections projecting from the housing and includes an annular flange and an annular diverging portion of the housing exterior surface that direct liquid by gravitation away from the electrical connectors projecting from the housing and away from the vent openings of the housing.

Abstract: A lubricant leakage stop is provided on the shaft of a rotary device in the form of an annular groove in the shaft. In one embodiment the annular groove is formed with an annular inner surface at the bottom of the groove and with an annular intermediate surface positioned between two portions of the annular inner surface. The intermediate surface has a larger diameter dimension than the two inner surface portions on the axially opposite sides of the intermediate surface. The intermediate surface also has a smaller diameter dimension than that of the two portions of the shaft outer surface on axially opposite sides of the groove. In a second embodiment, the annular groove is formed with an annular inner surface that tapers from the bottom of the groove outwardly to the outer surface of the shaft on one side of the groove.

Abstract: A mounting clip that attaches a circuit component to an electrical device attenuates vibration of the circuit component as the electrical device is operated. The mounting clip is designed for a thermo-protector of an electric motor and removably attaches the thermo-protector to a switch housing of the electric motor. The thermo-protector is connected in the circuit of the electric motor and wiring of the electric motor that communicates with the thermo-protector is attached to the mounting clip. The mounting clip is provided with a spring mechanism that engages an abutment provided on the switch housing and biases the mounting clip and the attached thermo-protector and thermo-protector wiring away from the switch housing and thereby attenuates vibration of the thermo-protector and its wiring.

Abstract: A bearing assembly permits one bearing bushing to be employed in both applications that permit self-aligning pivoting movement of a rotating shaft and applications that rigidly support a rotating shaft, thereby eliminating the need to inventory two different types of bearings for these two different applications.

Abstract: A reluctance machine system is provided that comprises a reluctance machine having a stator defining a plurality of stator poles, a plurality of phase windings wound around the stator poles, and a rotor defining rotor poles and inter-pole gaps. Contoured topsticks, a dust cover and an endshields are used to reduce the amount of noise in the reluctance system. A winged terminal housing is also used to allow manipulation of the terminal housing and enhance alignment while protecting critical wires.

Abstract: A bearing assembly permits one bearing bushing to be employed in both applications that permit self-aligning pivoting movement of a rotating shaft and applications that rigidly support a rotating shaft, thereby eliminating the need to inventory two different types of bearings for these two different applications.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for aligning and mounting a rotor position transducer element to the shaft of an electric motor. One embodiment of the invention is is an apparatus and method for aligning and mounting a RPT element in the form of a shutter assembly. Specifically, the shutter contains a perforated extended portion that surrounds the opening for the shaft. An annular clamp ring, made of metal or other suitable material slip fits over the protruded portion of the shutter. The clamp ring can also further comprise so-called "ears" or other non-annular portions that cause it not to be circular in cross-section. The clamp ring allows the shutter to be securely fastened to the shaft of the rotor without causing torsional force which could cause misalignment of the shutter with respect to the optical sensor, or misalignment of the rotor to the stator assembly, or both.

Abstract: A vibration absorber is provided for reducing noise and vibration emanating from an electric motor, or another vibrating object, and the surrounding structure to which it is mounted. The vibration absorber has a beam with a mass secured thereto. The vibration absorber is mounted externally to the motor, in a direction perpendicular to an axis of torsional vibration of the motor. The absorber is tuned to have a resonant frequency corresponding to the torsional vibrational frequency of the motor.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for retaining a hub-containing element such as a pulley, fan, gear or the like, on a shaft wherein the shaft has a circumferential groove formed near its end and the element has a hub to engage the shaft with a plurality of flexible fingers formed around and extending onward from the hub. The fingers have a pawl disposed to drop into the circumferential groove on the shaft and thereby secure the element in place. The pawls can be of various configurations so as to both align properly with the groove and to accommodate tolerances in the shaft assembly. A protective collar surrounds the fingers and extends axially from the hub to protect the fingers from entanglement and breakage during manufacture, storage, or transportation. The shaft also has splines formed therein proximate the groove that matingly engage corresponding keyways formed inside the hub so that the shaft positively mates with the hub.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for retaining a pulley on a motor shaft is disclosed wherein the shaft has a circumferential groove formed near its end and the pulley has a hub to engage the shaft with a plurality of flexible fingers formed around and extending outward from the hub. The fingers have a pawl disposed to drop into the circumferential groove on the shaft and thereby secure the pulley in place. The pawls can be of various configurations so as to both align properly with the groove and to accommodate tolerance in the shaft assembly. The shaft also has splines formed thereon proximate to the groove that matingly engage corresponding keyways formed inside the pulley hub so that the shaft positively mates with the pulley.

Abstract: An electric motor structure and method of assembling the same wherein such structure includes a laminated stator core with a rotor body disposed therein with a rotor shaft extending therefrom to be supported by bearing support end shield means having bearing supports tightly fastened to said stator core in a manner that resistance to bending forces is less in the laminated stator core than the resistances to bending forces of the bearing support end shield means to enhance stability and squareness of the bearing support end shield means and bearing supports of the motor assembly.

Abstract: An electric motor structure and method of assembling the same wherein such structure includes a laminated stator core with a rotor body disposed therein with a rotor shaft extending therefrom to be supported by bearing support end shield means having bearing supports tightly fastened to said stator core in a manner that resistance to bending forces is less in the laminated stator core than the resistances to bending forces of the bearing support end shield means to enhance stability and squareness of the bearing support end shield means and bearing supports of the motor assembly.

Abstract: An electric motor ventilation structure having an interior fan with a dual concentric set of radially disposed blades located within an endshield of said motor in close proximity to the end of the rotor and stator assemblies within said endshield and to the other peripheral surfaces of said stator assembly within that endshield. The disposition of said blades is such as to break the hot air boundary layer adjacent to each of said windings and cause the movement of heated air through the axial and radial endshield apertures to the external environment and replenishment with cooler air from that environment during motor operation.

Abstract: In an electric motor having a stator with end turn windings on opposed faces thereof and a rotor and shaft extending through the stator, an improved motor cooling arrangement including a baffled cage-like fan separately and proximally surrounding the end turns on one face of the stator and a particulate trap mounted on the shaft in cooperation with the baffled cage-like fan.

Abstract: An improved bearing retainer structure having a hub supporting an annular bearing in which a shaft can be journaled, a preselected space being provided between the outer periphery of the bearing and the inner wall of the hub to receive an expansible-compressible fastening device which retains the bearing in position to enhance the resistance to torsional, axial and radial thrusts.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine (e.g., an induction motor) for use in a dishwasher application or the like is disclosed, with the motor having its rotor shaft extending generally vertically, and having an endshield disposed horizontally. The endshield is so structured as to have an upwardly facing trough or the like formed in the upwardly facing surface of the endshield for channeling water which may drip down onto the endshield radially outwardly away from the rotor shaft to portions of the endshield located out beyond the stator core and windings of the motor. Drain openings or tubes are provided in portions of the endshield out beyond the stator core and windings such that the water channeled to the drain openings is prevented from coming into contact with the stator and windings of the motor.