Abstract: The present invention minimizes variations in torque due to cogging in a permanent magnet brushless electric motor and, among other things, specifies a topology of a rotor and a stator in relation to one another. According to one embodiment, a permanent magnetic motor includes a housing surrounding a stator that in turn surrounds a rotor rotatably mounted to the housing. The stator has a stator cross section including a plurality of uniformly distributed and spaced apart stator poles separated by slots. The stator poles extend radially inward from the inner surface and terminate at an end defined by an inner pole face. Each end is separated from an adjacent end by a distance defined as a stator slot width W. The rotor cross section includes a plurality of spaced apart permanent magnets carried by the shaft and angularly and uniformly distributed about the shaft.

Abstract: A magnetic position sensor wheel for an angular position transducer of an electric motor is provided which includes a hub with a flange, a first ring of magnetic material disposed on one side of the flange between a hub axis and an outer periphery of the flange, and a second ring of magnetic material extending axially along the outer periphery of the flange.

Abstract: A magnetic position sensor wheel for an angular position transducer of an electric motor is provided which includes a hub with a flange, a first ring of magnetic material disposed on one side of the flange between a hub axis and an outer periphery of the flange, and a second ring of magnetic material extending axially along the outer periphery of the flange.

Abstract: A stator winding for mounting onto the stator core of an electric motor is provided with a base and a coil winding around the base and a connection portion for slidingly interengaging a corresponding slot in the stator. The base extends longitudinally between front and rear ends including a leg extending radially outwardly from a radially inner cross member to the connection portion and having circumferentially opposite sides with respect to the motor axis. A stator winding is assembled on the stator of an electric motor by providing a winding base with a connection portion adapted to engage a slot in the stator; providing a slot in the stator; winding an electrical conductor winding around the base; and slidingly interengaging the connection portion with the stator slot.

Abstract: A stator winding for mounting onto the stator core of an electric motor is provided with a base and a coil winding around the base and a connection portion for slidingly interengaging a corresponding slot in the stator. The base extends longitudinally between front and rear ends including a leg extending radially outwardly from a radially inner cross member to the connection portion and having circumferentially opposite sides with respect to the motor axis. A stator winding is assembled on the stator of an electric motor by providing a winding base with a connection portion adapted to engage a slot in the stator; providing a slot in the stator; winding an electrical conductor winding around the base; and slidingly interengaging the connection portion with the stator slot.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor utilizes alternating current including a plurality of phases of alternating current. Each phase of the plurality of phases is supplied to a respective phase winding group. Each phase winding group is wound on a stator, and each phase of the plurality of phases of alternating current is split into a plurality of subphases of alternating current subsections. Each phase winding group includes a plurality of phase winding subsections and each phase winding subsection of the plurality of phase winding subsections is supplied by a subphase of a plurality of the plurality subphases of alternating current. A means for switching current so as to conduct the alternating current through at least one of the plurality of phase winding subsections is also included.

Abstract: A low cogging torque permanent magnet rotor is provided including a shaft and a permanent magnet mounted on the shaft. A gap is provided between the shaft and the magnet near a boundary between the magnet poles thereby reducing the cogging torque as the rotor poles rotate past the poles of the motor stator.

Abstract: A brushless electric motor 26 includes a stator assembly 32 defining an interior chamber 38. The stator assembly includes a stator core 34 and windings 36. The windings and at least a portion 44 of the stator core are in open communication with the interior chamber. A rotor assembly 42 is provided in the interior chamber. An electronic control unit 60 is coupled to the stator assembly and has an upper surface 62 in communication with the interior chamber. A fluid flow path structure 64 is constructed and arranged to permit fluid to pass from an inlet in the stator assembly and enter the interior chamber so that the rotor assembly, the windings, and the portion of said stator core are submerged in the fluid for cooling the rotor assembly, the windings, and the portion of the stator core. Fluid also contacts the upper surface of the electronic control unit to cool the electronic control unit. Fluid isolating structure 74′ prevents fluid from contacting an end 81 of the windings.

Abstract: A brushless water pump motor includes a pump housing having an impeller chamber with an impeller disposed therein, and a motor assembly coupled at a first end thereof to the pump housing. The motor assembly includes a stator assembly having laminations and windings, the stator having an interior portion defining a rotor chamber in which a rotor assembly is disposed. There is a partition structure provided between the rotor assembly and the stator assembly for isolating the stator assembly from the rotor chamber, and the partition structure has a wall in communication with the rotor chamber. The pump/motor assembly further includes a hollow shaft in communication with the rotor chamber, such that the rotor assembly and impeller are mounted on the hollow shaft. A bearing structure is operatively associated with the hollow portion of the shaft for supporting the shaft for rotational movement.

Abstract: Five phase windings (P1-P5) of a motor 30 are disposed on a common stator 32. An rotor 34 contains three magnetic pole pairs (M1N, M1S, M2N, M2S, M3N, M3S). Each phase winding is energized for 72.degree. (electrical) corresponding to 24.degree. rotor rotation (mechanical). During the first half (36 electrical degrees) of each phase winding's electrical energization, the immediately preceding phase winding is simultaneously energized, and during the second half (36 electrical degrees) of each phase winding's electrical energization, the immediately succeeding phase winding is energized. At any given time, only two of the phase windings, and no others, are being simultaneously energized.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing ventilating air into a housing for an electric machine is disclosed. The apparatus includes a hub mounted to the housing with a raised center portion and a generally circular outer portion. The center portion is displaced upwardly from the outer portion to form an outer surface. The apparatus features a first plurality of main blades extending upwardly from the hub, a second plurality of auxilliary blades extending downwardly from the hub. Ventilating air is communicated through an axial aperture in the hub, the main blades guiding air at least partially into the central aperture and the auxilliary blades transmitting air through the housing. An apparatus including a blower wheel for providing ventilating air into a housing of an electric machine is also featured. The blower wheel features a generally dome-shaped hub. The blower wheel may feature a third plurality of impeller blades extending downwardly from the hub to transmit air into the housing.

Abstract: A protection system for an electric motor is disclosed. The system is adapted for providing protection to the motor in the event of a stall or reduced-speed condition. The system includes a sensor providing a first signal representative of the speed of the motor, a detection circuit receiving the first signal and providing a second signal indicative of whether the motor is in a stall or reduced-speed condition, and a switching circuit receiving the second signal and interrupting power supply to the motor when the second signal indicates that the motor is in the stall or reduced-speed condition.

Abstract: A two-speed direct-current electric motor with a high-speed rotation switch activated by a vehicular sensed parameter signal. The motor includes a motor shaft supported by at least one bearing for rotation, at least two sets of windings supported by the shaft, a contactor arrangement supported by the shaft to electrically couple the windings in first and second configurations based upon a sensed parameter signal having at least a first and a second state, and a commutator arrangement coupled to the contactor arrangement to apply electrical energy to the windings. The motor rotates at a first speed when the windings are coupled in the first configuration and rotates at a second speed when the windings are coupled in the second configuration. The high-speed rotation switch is coupled directly to a sensed parameter signal and is integral to the electric motor.