Abstract: A commercial vehicle backup trainer and method for enabling drivers to practice backing up and to provide the drivers with real-time feedback during backup training.

Abstract: A ratcheting chain binder including a mechanical release to allowing the body to be freely moveable up to a fully extended position.

Abstract: A blower assembly includes a fan including a front plate that defines a fan inlet. The blower assembly also includes an inlet plate positioned adjacent the fan such that the inlet plate and the front plate define a cavity therebetween that extends circumferentially about the fan inlet. A motor is coupled to the fan and to the inlet plate and configured to rotate about the rotational axis. The motor is positioned within the cavity.

Abstract: A pump assembly includes a pump housing having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid channel defined therebetween. The pump assembly also includes an impeller positioned within the fluid channel and configured to channel a fluid between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The pump assembly also includes a motor assembly having a shaft coupled to the rear plate, wherein the shaft defines a first fluid cavity coupled in flow communication with an opening in the rear plate to enable fluid flow into the shaft. The motor assembly also includes a motor housing having a back plate positioned relative to the impeller rear plate to define a second fluid cavity therebetween. The motor assembly further includes a stator assembly coupled to the back plate and positioned opposite the second fluid cavity such that the fluid facilitates cooling the stator assembly.

Abstract: A fluid circulating assembly having a rotation axis is provided. The fluid circulating assembly includes a fan impeller including an inlet ring and a rear plate that together define a central fan chamber. The fluid circulating assembly also includes an electrical machine having a rotor assembly, a stator assembly, and at least one bearing assembly. The rotor assembly is coupled to the rear plate such that the electrical machine is located entirely outside the central fan chamber. The rotor assembly includes a hub portion having a radially inner wall that at least partially defines a central opening extending entirely through the electrical machine and oriented about the rotation axis such that the central opening does not include a shaft extending therethrough.

Abstract: A pump includes a housing including a first portion thereof defining opposed parallel spaced apart internal and exterior generally planar surfaces. The pump also includes a first impeller rotatably secured to the housing and positioned within the housing. The pump also includes a first axial flux motor connected to the first impeller and at least partially positioned within the housing. The first axial flux motor includes a first motor rotor fixedly secured to the first impeller. The first motor rotor has a generally planar surface thereof positioned adjacent to and parallel to the internal generally planar surface of the first portion of the housing. The first axial flux motor includes a first motor stator fixedly secured to the housing. The first motor stator has a generally planar surface thereof positioned adjacent to and parallel to the external generally planar surface of the first portion of the housing.

Abstract: A blower includes an impeller housing, an impeller rotatably secured to the housing and an electric motor. The motor has a motor housing with a central portion and a radially extending portion extending from the central portion, a venturi chamber adjacent the motor housing and opposed to the impeller housing, a stator secured to the central portion of the motor housing, a rotor rotatably secured to the central portion of the housing, and at least one heat generating electrical component secured to the radially extending portion of the motor housing. The impeller housing has a first air pressure therein and the motor housing has a second air pressure therein different that the first air pressure. The venturi housing and the motor housing define a passageway therebetween whereby the difference in air pressure generates air flow within the motor housing to cool the at least one heat generating electrical component.

Abstract: A stator assembly for use in an axial flux electric motor includes at least one tooth tip and at least one stator tooth coupled to the at least one tooth tip, wherein the at least one stator tooth includes an insertable portion. The stator assembly also includes at least one stator base including at least one receiving slot configured to receive the insertable portion to form a mechanical joint between the at least one stator base and the at least one stator tooth.

Abstract: A method for making a component for use in an electric machine is provided. The method includes applying first and second portions of a first material to a first surface, applying a second material to the first portion of first material; bonding the second material to the first portion of the first material, removing the second portion of the first material to form a void defined by the first portion of the first material, applying a conductive material in the void, and applying an insulating layer to the second material, wherein the process for preparing the component further comprising the steps of: applying first and second portions of a third material to the insulating layer; applying a fourth material to the first portion of third material, and bonding the fourth material to the first portion of the third material.

Abstract: An electric motor assembly for pumping a fluid through a fluid cavity includes a stator assembly including a plurality of conduction coils configured to transmit heat energy to the fluid within the fluid cavity and a rotor assembly positioned adjacent the stator assembly to define an axial gap therebetween. The stator assembly is configured to impart a first axial force on the rotor assembly. The electric motor assembly also includes an impeller directly coupled to the rotor assembly opposite the stator assembly such that the rotor assembly and the impeller are configured to rotate about an axis. A fluid channeled by the impeller imparts a second axial force on the impeller. The rotor assembly and the impeller are configured to be submerged in the fluid within the fluid cavity.

Abstract: An electric motor assembly for pumping a fluid through a fluid cavity includes a stator assembly including a plurality of conduction coils configured to transmit heat energy to the fluid within the fluid cavity. The electric motor assembly also includes a rotor assembly positioned adjacent the stator assembly to define an axial gap therebetween. The electric motor assembly also includes an impeller directly coupled to the rotor assembly opposite the stator assembly such that the rotor assembly and the impeller are configured to rotate about an axis. The rotor assembly and the impeller are configured to be submerged in the fluid within the fluid cavity.

Abstract: An electric motor assembly includes a bearing assembly including a rotating component and at least one stationary component. The electric motor assembly also includes an impeller coupled to the rotating component. The impeller includes an inlet and an outlet and is configured to direct a fluid between the inlet and the outlet. The electric motor assembly also includes a rotor assembly directly coupled to the impeller. A fluid flow channel is defined between the rotating component and the at least one stationary component. The flow channel includes a first end proximate the impeller outlet and a second end proximate the impeller inlet.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing assembly includes a first member including a first engaging surface. The first member is stationary in a non-operating mode of the bearing assembly and rotates about an axis in an operational mode of the bearing assembly. The first member includes a first bore and a shaft positioned within the first bore and including an end surface. The hydrodynamic bearing assembly also includes a second member including a second bore and a second engaging surface positioned adjacent the first engaging surface. The second member is stationary in both the non-operating mode and the operational mode of the bearing assembly. The hydrodynamic bearing assembly further includes a spacer member positioned within the second bore and is configured to engage the first member to define a first gap between the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface in the non-operational mode.

Abstract: An electric motor assembly includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly positioned adjacent the stator assembly to define an axial gap therebetween. The stator assembly is configured to induce a first axial force on the rotor assembly. The electric motor assembly also includes an impeller directly coupled to the rotor assembly opposite the stator assembly such that the rotor assembly and the impeller are configured to rotate about an axis. A fluid channeled by the impeller induces a second axial force on the impeller. The electric motor assembly further includes a hydrodynamic bearing assembly including a rotating member coupled to the rotor assembly and stationary member at least partially circumscribing the rotating member such that rotation of the rotating member with respect to the stationary member is configured to induce a third axial force on the rotor assembly.

Abstract: An end cap for use with a stator assembly is provided. The end cap includes a tooth portion, a yoke portion, and a lip. The tooth portion includes a first end and an opposite second end and the yoke portion is formed at the first end of the tooth portion. The yoke portion includes at least one arm that extends from the tooth portion. The lip is defined along at least one of the tooth portion and the at least one arm portion.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing assembly includes a first stationary component, a shaft coupled to the first stationary component, and a second stationary component coupled to the shaft opposite the first stationary component. The hydrodynamic bearing assembly also includes a rotating component coupled to the shaft between the first stationary component and the second stationary component. The rotating component includes a first end surface including a first diameter and an opposing second end surface including a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter.

Abstract: A pump assembly includes a pump housing having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid channel defined therebetween. The pump assembly also includes an impeller positioned within the fluid channel and configured to channel a fluid between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The pump assembly also includes a motor assembly having a shaft coupled to the rear plate, wherein the shaft defines a first fluid cavity coupled in flow communication with an opening in the rear plate to enable fluid flow into the shaft. The motor assembly also includes a motor housing having a back plate positioned relative to the impeller rear plate to define a second fluid cavity therebetween. The motor assembly further includes a stator assembly coupled to the back plate and positioned opposite the second fluid cavity such that the fluid facilitates cooling the stator assembly.

Abstract: A stator assembly for use in an axial flux electric motor includes at least one tooth tip and at least one stator tooth coupled to the at least one tooth tip, wherein the at least one stator tooth includes an insertable portion. The stator assembly also includes at least one stator base including at least one receiving slot configured to receive the insertable portion to form a mechanical joint between the at least one stator base and the at least one stator tooth.

Abstract: A client computing device comprising an indicia sensor and a processor coupled to the indicia sensor is described. The processor is configured to receive identification data for an original motor through the indicia sensor, identify a replacement motor based at least in part on the identification data, and identify a local seller of the replacement motor based at least in part on a first location associated with the client computing device and a second location associated with the local seller.

Abstract: A fluid circulating assembly having a rotation axis is provided. The fluid circulating assembly includes a fan impeller including an inlet ring and a rear plate that together define a central fan chamber. The fluid circulating assembly also includes an electrical machine having a rotor assembly, a stator assembly, and at least one bearing assembly. The rotor assembly is coupled to the rear plate such that the electrical machine is located entirely outside the central fan chamber. The rotor assembly includes a hub portion having a radially inner wall that at least partially defines a central opening extending entirely through the electrical machine and oriented about the rotation axis such that the central opening does not include a shaft extending therethrough.