Abstract: A mechanical joint configured for providing dissipation of heat generated is provided. The mechanical joint includes a housing containing a motor assembly configured to drive a gear assembly for driving the mechanical joint, the motor assembly configured to be controlled by a control assembly for controlling rotation of a rotor of the motor assembly; wherein a brake disk of the control assembly is configured to increase air flow within the housing. A robot and a robotic system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mechanical joint configured for providing dissipation of heat generated is provided. The mechanical joint includes a housing containing a motor assembly configured to drive a gear assembly for driving the mechanical joint, the motor assembly configured to be controlled by a control assembly for controlling rotation of a rotor of the motor assembly; wherein a brake disk of the control assembly is configured to increase air flow within the housing. A robot and a robotic system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A stator arrangement particularly suitable for use in an air-cooled generator or other such electric machine includes a stator with an outer stator surface, an opening therein defining an inner stator surface, and longitudinally opposed stator end surfaces. Conductive coils are supported by the stator, and include end turns overlying the longitudinally opposed stator end surfaces. In order to block out environmental contaminants and prevent conductive coil shorting, protective barriers are mounted over the end turns and secured to the stator.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric motor with improved oscillation settling characteristics has a shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis, a rotor section, disposed on the shaft for rotation together with the shaft, and, in certain arrangements, a permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the rotor section for rotation together with the shaft. The rotor section defines a recess around the shaft, extending from an end of the rotor section axially toward the opposite end of the rotor section, or the permanent magnet, if it is provided, and at least one mass is secured to the rotor section within the recess by a layer of deformable damping material, such as a dielectric gel. The rotor is particularly appropriate for use in a hybrid stepper motor, a variable reluctance motor, or a permanent magnet brushless motor, and a process of assembling the rotor is also referred to.

Abstract: The stator of a fluid cooled electric machine, such as a motor, a generator, or a motor/generator assembly, includes an annular stator core including inwardly projecting teeth and external grooves in an outer surface of the core that are radially aligned with the teeth. Electrically conductive windings are mounted on the inwardly projecting teeth, and a pipe assembly for coolant has a pipe formed into a serpentine shape. The pipe includes axially extending pipe portions received in the external stator core grooves, and end turns interconnecting adjacent pairs of the axially extending pipe portions. Heat conduction elements are secured to the end turns of the coolant pipe, and a housing surrounding the outer surface of the stator core retains the axially extending pipe portions within the external grooves.

Abstract: A stator arrangement particularly suitable for use in an air-cooled generator or other such electric machine includes a stator with an outer stator surface, an opening therein defining an inner stator surface, and longitudinally opposed stator end surfaces. Conductive coils are supported by the stator, and include end turns overlying the longitudinally opposed stator end surfaces. In order to block out environmental contaminants and prevent conductive coil shorting, protective barriers are mounted over the end turns and secured to the stator.

Abstract: A stator arrangement for a balanced multiple voltage device operable as an electric motor, a generator, or a motor-generator includes a plurality of arc sectors configured so as to surround a rotor of the device. Each of the arc sectors includes a set of stator windings with at least one winding in each set. Those windings in pairs of the arc sectors located at diametrically opposed locations of the stator arrangement are concurrently energized and deenergized in order to eliminate load imbalance on the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device functioning as an electric motor or actuator (100, 100?) comprising: a housing (110) encapsulating a rotating member (120, 120?), one or several arrangements (130, 130?) for generating a magnetic field due to electrical current, a displaceable shaft (140, 140?) at least partly having exterior grooves (141, 141?), said rotating member having a portion (121, 121?) with inner grooves (122, 122?) corresponding to grooves on said shaft (140, 140?). The device comprises at least one magnetic element (150, 150?) arranged on an outer surface of said rotating member (120, 120?) substantially perpendicular to extension direction of said grooves (122, 122?) for interaction with said arrangement (130, 130?) and rotating said rotating member.

Abstract: A hybrid stepper motor includes a stator having a number of poles. Teeth are formed on the stator poles and separated from each other by slots. A magnet is inserted in the slots to a predetermined depth from a top surface of the stator teeth. The motor further includes a rotor that is provided coaxial with the stator. Teeth are also formed on the rotor opposite the stator teeth. The rotor teeth enable the rotor to be rotated relative to the stator in cooperation with the stator teeth.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting an electric motor, which is adapted to drive an endless belt at a predetermined tension, to a stationary frame, includes a housing that is adapted to receive the motor. A drive shaft extends from the front end of the housing and is adapted to drive the belt. An elongated base mount is integrally formed on the outside surface of the housing and extends from the front of the housing for pivotally coupling the housing to the stationary frame. The base mount has a first end and a second end, and a bore which extends longitudinally at least partially through the base mount from the first end and the second end of the base mount. A substantially rigid tab is fixedly attached to the cylindrical housing at a substantially opposite side from the base mount. The tension on the belt is set by applying a biasing force on the tab to pivot the motor about the axis of the base mount.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting an electric motor, which is adapted to drive an endless belt at a predetermined tension, to a stationary frame, includes a housing that is adapted to receive the motor. A drive shaft extends from the front end of the housing and is adapted to drive the belt. An elongated base mount is integrally formed on the outside surface of the housing and extends from the front of the housing for pivotally coupling the housing to the stationary frame. The base mount has a first end and a second end, and a bore which extends longitudinally at least partially through the base mount from the first end and the second end of the base mount. A substantially rigid tab is fixedly attached to the cylindrical housing at a substantially opposite side from the base mount. The tension on the belt is set by applying a biasing force on the tab to pivot the motor about the axis of the base mount.

Abstract: A direct drive roller motor for use in a belt drive system includes a brushless DC motor that has an external rotor that functions as a direct drive roller. The motor has stator coils mounted on a stator shaft that is physically and thermally coupled at both ends thereof to a support structure which provides in addition to support, a function of dissipating thermal energy generated by the i2R losses of the stator coils and the magnetic core losses of the stator.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for indicating the instantaneous position of a movable member along a range of motion with respect to a reference position. The apparatus includes a magnetic body that is fixedly attached to the movable member. The body has a contoured surface to control the shape of a magnetic field relative to position, and further includes at least two magnetic field sensors. Each of the sensors is disposed adjacent to the contoured surface of the magnetic body and fixed with respect to the reference position, and is positioned apart from the other sensors, so as to form a non-uniform gap between the contoured surface and each of the magnetic field sensors. Each of the sensors produces a position dependent signal corresponding to a value of the magnetic field. The apparatus further includes a decoding circuit electrically coupled to each of the magnetic field sensors so as to receive each of the position dependent signals.

Abstract: A stator lamination (20) for forming a stator assembly (82) of a permanent magnet motor (80) includes a yoke region (23) and a plurality of stator poles (22) spaced along and extending inwardly from the yoke region. The stator poles (22) are configured and arranged to define a slot (28) having a predetermined span (30) between the lateral end surfaces of adjacent stator poles. A plurality of teeth (24) are formed on the distal ends of each of the stator poles (22), and are separated from each other by a notch (26). The teeth (24) are equi-spaced and the number of notches (26) is an even number.

Abstract: A hybrid stepper motor having optimized torque per unit volume or "torque density" comprises a stator having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, and a rotor rotatably position within the stator inner diameter and being drivably coupled to a shaft. The rotor is of the permanent magnet type having at least one permanent magnet positioned on the shaft, and includes two rotor segments coupled on either end of the permanent magnet. The rotor segments each have a length which is calculated to optimize the torque density of the motor. The calculated optimization of the rotor segment length is accomplished as a function of the stator inner diameter to stator outer diameter ratio. The optimization of the rotor segment lengths allows for a range of values for a given stator inner diameter to outer diameter ratio as defined by a maximum length and a minimum length equation.

Abstract: An electrical motor and the process for forming that motor utilizes injection molding techniques to unitize the stator assembly. The stator assembly includes a stator lamination stack and preferably a metal front end cap which is secured to the lamination stack after the lamination stack is insulated and wound. The windings are terminated at a plurality of conductive pins fusion welded to the terminating ends of the windings. The stator assembly with front end cap in place is positioned in an injection molding die. Pressure is applied to the die, and molten plastic is injected under pressure to fill voids in the stator assembly, and also to form a plastic mass which will serve as the rear end cap. The rear end cap is also molded with a connector portion which fixes the conductive pins in place as a part of the connector. A bore formed in the stator assembly provides mounting surfaces for bearings on a rotor assembly.

Abstract: An electric machine, such as a motor or a generator, comprises a stator having a plurality of stator poles defining a plurality of slots, a rotor positioned within the stator, and at least a two sets of stator windings wound on the stator poles and occupying said stator slots such that the boundary windings of each set of stator windings occupies a common slot. These boundary windings of each set of stator windings are non-overlapping and include insulation positioned between them. The sets of stator windings are wound on the stator poles in a single pitch winding configuration significantly reducing the number of wire crossings resulting. In particular, the endturns defined by the individual phase coils are non-intersecting. Such a machine provides continued operation under various fault conditions.

Abstract: An electrical motor and the process for forming that motor utilizes injection molding techniques to unitize the stator assembly. The stator assembly includes a stator lamination stack and preferably a metal front end cap which is secured to the lamination stack after the lamination stack is insulated and wound. The windings are terminated at a plurality of conductive pins fusion welded to the terminating ends of the windings. The stator assembly with front end cap in place is positioned in an injection molding die. Pressure is applied to the die, and molten plastic is injected under pressure to fill voids in the stator assembly, and also to form a plastic mass which will serve as the rear end cap. The rear end cap is also molded with a connector portion which fixes the conductive pins in place as a part of the connector. A bore formed in the stator assembly provides mounting surfaces for bearings on a rotor assembly.