Abstract: A switch for a variable-speed induction motor includes conductive connecting pieces, a rotary member, and a driving unit. The connecting pieces are mounted in a housing, are adapted to be connected to the induction motor, and have distal contact parts that surround an axis of the housing. The distal contact parts of any two of the connecting pieces form either an angular or height difference therebetween with respect to the axis. The rotary member is rotatable about the axis inside the housing, and is formed with contacting regions that are arranged along the axis and that are in sliding contact with the distal contact parts. The driving unit is operable so as to drive rotation of the rotary member about the axis such that the connecting pieces are bridged selectively and electrically by the contacting regions of the rotary member for varying the speed of the induction motor.

Abstract: A variable speed motor includes a motor body having an axis, and a plurality of coil mounting parts that extend radially and that are angularly spaced apart relative to the axis. A run coil is mounted on the coil mounting parts. A starting winding includes first, second and third speed-changing coils mounted on the coil mounting parts, a set of first taps provided respectively on two coil terminals of the first speed-changing coil, a set of second taps provided respectively on two coil terminals of the second speed-changing coil, and a set of third taps provided respectively on two coil terminals of the third speed-changing coil. Each of the first, second and third speed-changing coils spans an angular length relative to the axis that is substantially equal to that spanned by the run coil.