Abstract: An aerodynamically effective device for a motor vehicle has an air guide element that can be moved between a position of rest and at least one operating position, a drive unit for moving the air guide element, and a control unit. The control unit is adapted to instruct the drive unit to move the air guide element from the position of rest into the operating position, on reaching a first vehicle speed threshold value. Furthermore, the control unit is adapted to carry out a function test of the drive unit below the first vehicle speed threshold value.

Abstract: An aerodynamically effective device for a motor vehicle has an air guide element that can be moved between a position of rest and at least one operating position, a drive unit for moving the air guide element, and a control unit. The control unit is adapted to instruct the drive unit to move the air guide element from the position of rest into the operating position, on reaching a first vehicle speed threshold value. Furthermore, the control unit is adapted to carry out a function test of the drive unit below the first vehicle speed threshold value.

Abstract: A brush assembly (10) for a miniature electric motor has a beryllium copper strip brush arm (14) and a graphite material brush head (12) moulded to an end thereof. The brush arm (14) has a number of apertures. The brush head (12) has a number of projections which pass through the apertures and form one or more caps (24) on the reverse side of the brush arm to secure the brush head (12) to the brush arm (14). A method of forming the brush assembly is also provided.

Abstract: An oscillating motor has a rotor rotation of about ±15° from a rest position. The rotor has two salient poles which face a respective permanent magnet across a small air gap. The stator has a laminated stator core supporting the magnets and also two salient poles each supporting a stator coil. The stator poles confront the rotor across a small air gap between the rotor poles. When no current is flowing through the coils, the rotor rests in a rest position with the poles aligned between the north and south poles of the magnets. During operations, the stator coils induce like magnetic poles in the stator poles which in turn induce like magnetic poles in the rotor poles causing the rotor to swing towards opposite magnetic poles of the permanent magnets. When current flows in the reverse direction, the rotor swings to the opposite poles of the magnets.

Abstract: An electric motor comprises a stator 13, a rotor 11, windings on tlhe stator, a sleeve 15 at one end of the motor for supporting or defining a bearing for the rotor and for attachment to a fuel pump. The sleeve 15 forms the sole means of aligning the rotor 11 and an impeller of the pump. The motor may be a brushless D.C. motor having sensors for sensing the position of the rotor relative to the stator, electronic circuitry for switching the current in the windings in response to outputs from the sensors so as to cause the rotor to rotate relative to the stator.

Abstract: A brush assembly (10) for a miniature electric motor has a beryllium copper strip brush arm (14) and a graphite material brush head (12) moulded to an end thereof. The brush arm (14) has a number of apertures. The brush head (12) has a number of projections which pass through the apertures and form one or more caps (24) on the reverse side of the brush arm to secure the brush head (12) to the brush arm (14). A method of forming the brush assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A brush assembly (10) for a miniature electric motor has a beryllium copper strip brush arm (14) and a graphite material brush head (12) moulded to an end thereof. The brush arm (14) has a number of apertures. The brush head (12) has a number of projections which pass through the apertures and form one or more caps (24) on the reverse side of the brush arm to secure the brush head (12) to the brush arm (14). A method of forming the brush assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A brush assembly (10) for a miniature electric motor has a beryllium copper strip brush arm (14) and a graphite material brush head (12) moulded to an end thereof. The brush arm (14) has a number of apertures. The brush head (12) has a number of projections which pass through the apertures and form one or more caps (24) on the reverse side of the brush arm to secure the brush head (12) to the brush arm (14). A method of forming the brush assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A brush assembly (10) for a miniature electric motor has a beryllium copper strip brush arm (14) and a graphite material brush head (12) moulded to an end thereof The brush arm (14) has a number of apertures. The brush head (12) has a number of projections which pass through the apertures and form one or more caps (24) on the reverse side of the brush arm to secure the brush head (12) to the brush arm (14). A method of forming the brush assembly is also provided.

Abstract: An oscillating motor 10 has a rotor rotation of about ±15° from a rest position. The rotor 11 has two salient poles 12 which face a respective permanent magnet 13 across a small air gap 14. The stator has a laminated stator core 15 supporting the magnets 13 and also two salient poles 16 each supporting a stator coil 17. The stator poles 16 confront the rotor across a small air gap 18 between the rotor poles. When no current is flowing through the coils, the rotor 11 rests in a rest position with the poles 12 aligned between the north and south poles of the magnets 13. During operation, the stator coils 17 induce like magnetic poles in the stator poles 16 which in turn induce like magnetic poles in the rotor poles 12 causing the rotor 11 to swing towards opposite magnetic poles of the permanent magnets 13. When current flows in the reverse direction, the rotor 11 swings to the opposite poles of the magnets 13.

Abstract: A planar carbon segment commutator includes a commutator base of insulating material. The base has a rotational axis and front and rear surfaces extending, at least in part, transversely to the rotational axis. A plurality of apertures extends through the base. The commutator also includes a plurality of commutator terminals, each terminal having a terminal portion and a contact portion. Each contact portion extends through one of the apertures and is bent to lie against or in close proximity to the front surface of the base. Each terminal portion has two cutting edges for cutting insulation on a connector portion of a winding and a slot which, in use, straddles and grips the connector portion. The commutator also includes a plurality of carbon segments formed on the front surface of the base and over the contact portions, respectively, of the terminals and a housing having a plurality of housing recesses for receiving the terminal portions.

Abstract: An electric motor comprises a stator 13, a rotor 11, windings on the stator, a sleeve 15 at one end of the motor for supporting or defining a bearing for the rotor and for attachment to a fuel pump. The sleeve 15 forms the sole means of aligning the rotor 11 and an impeller of the pump. The motor may be a brushless D.C. motor having sensors for sensing the position of the rotor relative to the stator, electronic circuitry for switching the current in the windings in response to outputs from the sensors so as to cause the rotor to rotate relative to the stator.

Abstract: A brush assembly (10) for a miniature electric motor has a beryllium copper strip brush arm (14) and a graphite material brush head (12) moulded to an end thereof The brush arm (14) has a number of apertures. The brush head (12) has a number of projections which pass through the apertures and form one or more caps (24) on the reverse side of the brush arm to secure the brush head (12) to the brush arm (14). A method of forming the brush assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A planar carbon segment commutator comprises a commutator base 10 of insulating material. The base has a rotational axis and front and rear surfaces, extending, at least in part, transversely to the rotational axis. A plurality of apertures 16 extend through the base. The commutator also comprises a plurality of commutator terminals 20 each of which comprises a terminal portion 21 and a contact portion 22. The contact portion 22 of each terminal extends through a respective aperture 16 and is bent to lie against or in close proximity to the front surface of the base 10. The terminal portion of each terminal has two cutting edges for cutting insulation on a connector portion of a winding and a slot which in use straddles and grips the connector portion. The commutator also comprises a plurality of carbon segments 30 formed on the front surface of the base and over the contact portions 22, respectively, of the terminals 20 and a housing (FIG.

Abstract: A rotor for a fuel pump motor has a shaft and a rotor core fitted to the shaft. A commutator is located on the shaft adjacent one end of the rotor core. Windings wound around poles of the rotor core are connected to terminals of segments of the commutator. A cover is fitted to the other end of the rotor core covering the ends of the windings protruding from the core. The cover has axially extending legs which are pressed into gaps between adjacent heads of the rotor poles. The commutator has an integral shroud in the form of a radially outer peripheral skirt extending axially from a radial wall of the commutator base towards the rotor core to cover the terminals and the ends of the windings protruding from the commutator end of the rotor core. A gap is left between the rotor core and the skirt and there are holes in the cover and radial wall of the commutator for the passage of fuel to cool the rotor.

Abstract: Carbon segments (7) of a planar commutator are molded over contact members (5). Anchor means (8), integral with each carbon segment (7) have an interlocking part (11) engaging the rear surface (6) of the contact member (5) and fit into a first blind hole (4) in the form of a recess of uniform transverse cross-section extending rearwardly of the front end (3) of a molded plastic base member (1). The contact members (5) are each attached to the base member (1) by means of locking portions (15) which project into second blind holes (14) having internal surfaces which grip the locking portions (15).

Abstract: A bearing assembly 10 comprising an oil impregnated sintered bushing 15 supported by a bearing retainer 20 and a sintered oil collector 14 disposed in direct physical contact with an external surface of the bushing 15 to remove excess oil from the bushing. The oil collector 14 is preferably substantially oil free or non-impregnated, has a volume at least 10% that of the bushing and has a porosity which is 5 to 10% greater than the porosity of the bushing.

Abstract: An assembled commutator has a segment support portion and a housing portion. The housing portion has housing members formed with axially extending "T"-shaped recesses and transversely extending slots for receiving armature leads. Insulation displacing terminals are inserted in the "T"-shaped recesses and formed with slots which cooperate with the transversely extending housing slots to grip and contact the armature leads. The terminals may also be formed with recesses for receiving armature leads after the terminals have been placed in the housing portion and during the winding of the rotor. The terminals are held in place by commutator segments and include recesses for receiving retainers located on the commutator segments. The commutator segments may also include a carbon portion which surrounds a copper connection strip for connecting the terminals to the carbon portion of the commutator segment.

Abstract: Carbon segments (7) of a planar commutator are moulded over contact members (5). Anchor means (8), integral with each carbon segment (7) have an interlocking part (11) engaging the rear surface (6) of the contact member (5) and fit into a first envelope (4) in the form of a recess of uniform transverse cross-section extending. rearwardly of the front end (3) of a moulded plastic base member (1). The contact members (5) are each attached to the base member (1) by means of locking portions (15) which project into second envelopes (14) having internal surfaces which grip the locking portions (15).

Abstract: Choke coils (5) are attached to the inner part (1) of a two-part end cap assembly by means of first and second leads (9 and 30). Contact means (10) attached to the outer part (6) of the assembly are provided with two slotted plugs which each have two legs. On insertion of each slotted plug in a respective slot formed in the external surface of the inner part (1) of the assembly, the two legs of the slotted plug engage opposite sides of a first lead (9) of one choke coil (5) extending transversely across the slot and bite the opposite sides so as to make good electrical and mechanical contact with the first lead. Both legs of each slotted plug are formed with retaining teeth for engagement with the end walls of the slot into which the slotted plug is inserted, to resist withdrawal of the slotted plug from the slot. This helps secure the inner and outer parts in axial engagement.