Patents by Inventor David J. Smith

David J. Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220379454
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a tool housing, a brushless DC (BLDC) motor assembly disposed within the tool housing, and a power module including a printed circuit board (PCB) and power switches mounted on the PCB and electrically coupled to the motor assembly. The PCB includes a width that is greater than a diameter of the motor assembly. A mounting bracket is secured to an end of the motor assembly and includes a mating portion arranged to mate with the end of the motor assembly, mount posts extending radially-outwardly from the mating portion, and axial walls extending between outer ends of the mount posts and at least partially housing the power module to support the PCB in a substantially parallel orientation relative to the rear end of the motor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew M. Palich, Michael R. Marjomaa, Kevin L. Pulley, David J. Smith, Dennis A. Bush, Mark T. Cherry, Scott Eshlemann, Tal Gottesman
  • Patent number: 11509193
    Abstract: A brushless direct-current (BLDC) motor is provided with a stator assembly including a stator core and stator windings wound around stator teeth, a rotor shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, and a rotor including a rotor core mounted on the rotor shaft supporting at least one permanent magnet. A circuit board is provided including a main body and at least one leg radially projecting from the main body to support at least one magnetic sensor near the permanent magnet. The leg of the circuit board oriented along a radial plane that intersects the stator windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Smith, Justin H. Ayers, Abraham Sanchez
  • Patent number: 11489396
    Abstract: A brushless motor is provided including a rotor rotating around a center axis and a stator including a stator core and stator teeth radially extending from the stator core forming stator slots therebetween. Each stator tooth includes a radial main body and a tooth tip extending substantially laterally from an end of the radial main body opposite the stator core, and stator windings are wound around the stator teeth. Winding retention wedges are axially received within the slots, each winding retention wedge comprising: a first portion received within gaps formed between tooth tips of adjacent stator teeth, and a second portion received at least partially between adjacent stator windings to apply a force substantially in a range of a radially-inward direction to a lateral direction to the adjacent stator windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Black 7 Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Marjomaa, John B. Fogle, Kevin L. Pulley, David J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220315422
    Abstract: A production system includes a first reaction chamber and a second reaction chamber. The first reaction chamber is configured to receive a first hydrocarbon stream therein through an input port and to form carbon seeds and hydrogen gas therein via hydrocarbon pyrolysis of the first hydrocarbon stream. The second reaction chamber includes a first input port and a second input port. The second reaction chamber is configured to receive the carbon seeds through the first input port and a second hydrocarbon stream through the second input port, and to form carbon product elements and additional hydrogen gas in the second reaction chamber via hydrocarbon pyrolysis of the second hydrocarbon stream. The carbon product elements represent the carbon seeds with additional carbon structure grown on the carbon seeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Louis Hart, David J. Smith, David W. Woodruff, Mark Daniel Doherty
  • Patent number: 11426855
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a brushless DC (BLDC) motor having a stator assembly and a rotor; a substantially-cylindrical motor housing having an open end for receiving the stator assembly, a rear end, a substantially-cylindrical bearing pocket formed in the rear end to receive the rear bearing of the motor therein, and a radially-extending slot formed at or near its rear end; and a positional sensor board radially received within the slot along a central receiving axis. The positional sensor board includes a curved inner edge shaped to be positioned around the bearing pocket and includes positional sensors mounted around the curved inner edge and facing the rotor to sense a rotational position of the rotor. The curved inner edge is disposed on a side corner of the positional sensor board such that the positional sensor board is asymmetrically-shape in a direction of the receiving axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Palich, Michael R. Marjomaa, Kevin L. Pulley, David J. Smith, Dennis A. Bush, Mark T. Cherry
  • Publication number: 20220247259
    Abstract: A motor assembly includes a stator having a stator core, stator windings, and a routing insulator configured to electrically insulate the stator core from the stator windings; a rotor rotatably received within the stator; and a bearing bridge received at least partially within the routing insulator and including a main body forming a center pocket arranged to support a bearing of the rotor shaft. A circuit board is provided including a circuit board, and an overmold structure forming an annular body on a surface of the circuit board arranged to mate with the main body of the bearing bridge to substantially seal the center pocket from ingress of debris particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Dustin Jefferies, David J. Smith, Marcus E. E. Rydin, Justin H. Ayers, Sumiteru Mori, Kristopher Cochran
  • Publication number: 20220247257
    Abstract: A motor is provided including a motor housing having an open end; a stator disposed within the motor housing and including a stator core, stator windings, and an end insulator that electrically insulate the stator core from the stator windings and includes an annular body; a rotor rotatably received within the stator and including a rotor shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and permanent magnets; and a bearing bridge including a center pocket arranged to support a bearing of the rotor shaft. The bearing bridge is received at least partially within the end insulator. The annular body of the end insulator includes at least one peripheral opening located within the motor housing, and the bearing bridge is radially piloted relative to the motor housing via a retaining member received through the at least one peripheral opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Dustin Jefferies, David J. Smith, Marcus E. E. Rydin, Justin H. Ayers, Sumiteru Mori, Kristopher Cochran
  • Publication number: 20220247251
    Abstract: A motor is provided including: a stator including a stator core, stator windings, and an end insulator; a rotor rotatably received within the stator; and stator terminals supported by the routing insulator and extending away from the stator. Each stator terminal includes a main body having a curved portion, a tang portion folded over the main body and receiving a portion of a magnet wire therein to make an electrical connection with at least one of the stator windings, and a terminal pin projecting axially away from the stator core. The stator core has a maximum diameter of less than or equal to approximately 34 mm defining an outer envelope of the stator, and the stator terminals are fully contained within the outer envelope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Dustin Jefferies, David J. Smith, Marcus E. E. Rydin, Justin H. Ayers, Sumiteru Mori, Kristopher Cochran
  • Publication number: 20220247258
    Abstract: A motor is provided including a motor housing having a substantially cylindrical body and at least one open end, a stator disposed within the motor housing, and a rotor rotatably received within the stator. The motor further includes a bearing bridge mounted on the open end of the motor housing and including a main body forming a center pocket arranged to support a rotor shaft, an outer ring configured to be fittingly received through the open end of the motor housing, and at least one fastening receptacle formed radially through the outer ring. The motor housing includes a side opening through which a fastener is radially fastened into the fastening receptable to secure the bearing bridge to the motor housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Dustin Jefferies, David J. Smith, Marcus E. E. Rydin, Justin H. Ayers, Sumiteru Mori
  • Publication number: 20220247269
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing including a grip portion; and a brushless direct-current (BLDC) motor at least partially disposed within the grip portion of the housing. The motor includes a stator having a rotor core, a rotor, and front and rear bearing support structures. The stator core includes a non-segmented construction with a maximum diameter of approximately smaller than or equal to 34 mm, and a ratio of a motor size (Km) constant of the motor to a length of the motor is in the range of approximately 0.39 to 0.59 (Nmm/?W)/mm. When powered by a 20V battery pack, a ratio of a maximum power output of the motor to a volume of the motor is at least approximately 0.0106 W/mm{circumflex over (?)}3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Dustin Jefferies, David J. Smith, Marcus E. E. Rydin, Justin H. Ayers, Sumiteru Mori, John B. Fogle, John D. Cox, Kristopher Cochran, Barak N. Gohn
  • Publication number: 20220247270
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing having a grip portion with a grip circumference of smaller than or equal to approximately 120 mm; and a brushless direct-current (BLDC) motor at least partially disposed within the grip portion of the housing and configured to output a maximum power output of at least 450 watts. The motor includes a stator including a stator core and stator windings; and a rotor rotatably received within the stator and including a rotor shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and a series of permanent magnet rings mounted sequentially along the longitudinal axis and surrounding the rotor shaft, each permanent magnet including a plurality of magnetic poles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Dustin Jefferies, David J. Smith, Marcus E. E. Rydin, Justin H. Ayers, Sumiteru Mori, John B. Fogle, Kristopher Cochran
  • Patent number: 11370100
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a motor housing having a substantially-cylindrical main body having an open end and a rear end. A brushless DC motor is provided including a stator assembly received through the open end of the motor housing and secured within the main body of the motor housing. A motor control and power module disposed proximate the rear end of the motor housing includes a printed circuit board (PCB) on which power switch and a controller are mounted. A mounting bracket is secured to the motor housing at the rear end to support the module such that the PCB is substantially parallel to the rear end. The mounting bracket includes a mating portion projecting axially to come to contact with the motor housing around the rear end to structurally support the mounting bracket with respect to the motor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Palich, Michael R. Marjomaa, Kevin L. Pulley, David J. Smith, Dennis A. Bush, Mark T. Cherry, Scott Eshlemann, Tal Gottesman
  • Publication number: 20220166283
    Abstract: An electric brushless DC (BLDC) motor includes a motor housing having a substantially cylindrical body including an open end and a peripheral slot formed through a circumferential surface of the cylindrical body extending from the open end; a stator having stator windings; and a rotor including a rotor shaft and rotor magnets. A series of motor terminals are provided substantially adjacent one another and extending substantially parallel to an axial direction of the rotor shaft along on an outer circumferential surface of the stator. The motor terminals are at least partially received within the peripheral slot of the motor housing so as to be accessible outside the motor housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: David J. Smith, David E. Gillespie, Merritt J. Tennison
  • Publication number: 20220158517
    Abstract: A stator assembly for a brushless DC motor includes a stator core including stator poles and an outer surface, at least one magnet wire wound on the poles forming stator windings, and a bus bar including a non-conductive mount arranged on the outer surface and conductive terminals. Each conductive terminal includes: a main portion mounted on the non-conductive mount substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor, a tang portion folded over the main portion from a first longitudinal end of the main portion, and a connection tab at a second longitudinal end of the main portion. At least a contact portion of the at least one magnet wire is wrapped around the tang portion and fused to make an electric connection to the conductive terminal, and the connection tab makes electric contact with a wire supplying electric power to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: David J. Smith, Justin H. Ayers, David E. Gillespie, Eric E. Hatfield, Earl M. Ortt, Stephen P. Osborne, Brian E. Friedman, Jarrett A. Dunston
  • Publication number: 20220158518
    Abstract: A stator assembly for a brushless DC motor includes a stator core including stator poles and an outer surface, at least one magnet wire wound on the poles forming stator windings, and a bus bar including a non-conductive mount and conductive terminals. Each conductive terminal includes: a main portion and a tang portion extending from a first longitudinal end of the main portion. At least a contact portion of the at least one magnet wire is wrapped around the tang portion and fused to make an electric connection to the conductive terminal. The tang portion has a smaller lateral width than the main portion and is folded over the main portion to capture the contact portion of the at least one magnet wire. A power wire supply electric power to the motor is coupled to the conductive terminal proximate the second longitudinal end of the main portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: David J. Smith, Justin H. Ayers, David E. Gillespie, Eric E. Hatfield, Earl M. Ortt, Stephen Osborne, Brian Friedman, Jarrett A. Dunston
  • Patent number: 11283325
    Abstract: An electric brushless DC (BLDC) motor includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor includes a rotor shaft, a rotor core, a bearing, and a sense magnet ring. And end cap is radially oriented with respect to the rotor shaft and securely disposed adjacent the stator, the end cap having a first surface facing the stator, a second surface facing away from the stator, a bearing pocket centrally disposed to receive the at least one bearing of the rotor therein to support the rotor, and at least two retention features projecting from the first surface at a distance with respect to one another to form a lateral gap therebetween. A positional sensor board is radially received from a peripheral side of the end cap in contact with the first surface of the end cap and within the lateral gap between the retention features of the end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Smith, David E. Gillespie, Merritt J. Tennison
  • Patent number: 11251676
    Abstract: A brushless motor includes a stator assembly including a generally-cylindrical stator body having a center bore, teeth extending from the stator body towards the center bore and defining slots in between, and windings wound around the teeth; and a rotor assembly rotatably received within the center bore and includes a rotor shaft and a generally-cylindrical rotor body. The motor further includes at least one rotor bearing mounted on the rotor shaft, and at least one bearing support member supporting the rotor bearing. The bearing support member includes a radial body forming a bearing pocket for receiving the rotor bearing therein, and axial post inserts received within the slots of the stator assembly between adjacent sets of windings and in contact with an inner curved surface of the stator body to support the rotor bearing with respect to the stator assembly along a center axis of the center bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Colin M. Crosby, Merritt J. Tennison, Ryan F. Schroeder, Jarrett A. Dunston, David J. Smith, Barak N. Gohn, Andrew M. Palich, Justin H. Ayers
  • Patent number: 11245306
    Abstract: A brushless motor includes a stator assembly including a generally-cylindrical stator body having a center bore, teeth extending from the stator body towards the center bore and defining slots in between, and windings wound around the teeth; and a rotor assembly rotatably received within the center bore and includes a rotor shaft and a generally-cylindrical rotor body. The motor further includes at least one rotor bearing mounted on the rotor shaft, and at least one bearing support member supporting the rotor bearing. The bearing support member includes a radial body forming a bearing pocket for receiving the rotor bearing therein, and axial post inserts received within the slots of the stator assembly between adjacent sets of windings and in contact with an inner curved surface of the stator body to support the rotor bearing with respect to the stator assembly along a center axis of the center bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Colin M. Crosby, Merritt J. Tennison, Ryan F. Schroeder, Jarrett A. Dunston, David J. Smith, Barak N. Gohn, Andrew M. Palich, Justin H. Ayers
  • Patent number: 11241781
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a tool housing including a motor housing and a handle portion; a battery receptacle disposed at an end of the handle portion opposite the motor housing, the battery receptacle being configured to receive a battery pack having a maximum voltage of at least 60 V; and a brushless DC (BLDC) motor including an electronically-commutated stator assembly and a rotor assembly magnetically interacting with the rotor assembly to rotate with respect to the stator assembly, the stator assembly comprising a stator lamination stack sized to be received within the motor housing having a circumference of approximately 140 to approximately 190 mm. The motor produces a maximum power output of at least 1600 watts for driving an output shaft at a maximum torque of at least 30 inch-pounds and a maximum speed of at least 8000 rotations-per-minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Kelleher, William F. Gallagher, Craig A. Oktavec, David J. Smith, Jarrett A. Dunston
  • Publication number: 20220024016
    Abstract: A stator for a brushless DC (BLDC) motor includes a stator core having stator teeth extending radially inwardly towards a center bore, stator windings respectively wound around the stator teeth, and insulating inserts having substantially the same longitudinal length as the stator core. The insulating inserts are longitudinally received between adjacent stator windings at or near inner tips of the adjacent stator teeth to substantially seal the center bore of the stator assembly from the stator windings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Craig A. OKTAVEC, David J. SMITH, Jarrett A. DUNSTON, Andrew M. PALICH, Michael R. MARJOMAA, Kevin L. PULLEY