Patents by Inventor John C. Morgante

John C. Morgante 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: 20240087997
    Abstract: An electric drive unit having a stator body, a plurality of sets of field windings mounted to the stator body, a rotor received in the stator body and rotatable relative to the stator body, a plurality of phase terminals, and a current sensor assembly. Each of the phase terminals is coupled to an associated one of the sets of field windings. The current sensor assembly has a plurality of current sensor laminations, and a sensor. The current sensor laminations are generally C-shaped and are abutted against one another to form a sensor lamination stack. The sensor lamination stack defines a gap. The current sensor laminations are disposed about a corresponding one of the phase terminals. The sensor is disposed in the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: James P. DOWNS, David CRECELIUS, Jeffrey J. RONNING, Paul J. VALENTE, John C. MORGANTE
  • Publication number: 20240063672
    Abstract: A motor drive system has a rotor assembly that is rotatable about an axis and includes a hollow shaft, a tube, and one or more fin sets. The tube is received in the shaft and defines a first passage. The fin sets are disposed about the tube and are engaged to the shaft. Each fin set defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart fins that are coupled to the shaft and the tube. The first passage is configured to discharge fluid communicated therethrough into a return chamber that is formed in the rotor assembly. A plurality of second passages are formed between the shaft and fins and are in fluid communication with the return chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. RONNING, James P. DOWNS, John C. MORGANTE, Peter D. FISCHER, David CRECELIUS, Zugang HUANG, Paul J. VALENTE
  • Patent number: 11862543
    Abstract: An electric drive unit having a stator, a rotor received in the stator and rotatable about a central longitudinal axis, and an inverter assembly that includes a plurality of power semiconductors, a plurality of heat sinks and an end plate. The power semiconductors are thermally coupled to the heat sinks. Each of the heat sinks has a plurality of fins that extend into a flow channel that is coaxial with the plurality of sets of field windings. The end plate is coupled to the power semiconductors and has a projection, which is sealingly coupled to the stator and which and partly defines an annular cavity, and a coolant port that is coupled in fluid communication with the annular cavity. The flow channel is in fluid communication with and disposed in a flow path between the annular cavity and the cooling channels in the stator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, David Crecelius, Jeffrey J. Ronning, Paul J. Valente, John C. Morgante
  • Patent number: 11863046
    Abstract: An electric drive unit having a multi-phase electric motor and an inverter with a plurality of power semiconductors, an inverter mount, and a plurality of busbars. The power semiconductors are mounted to the base of the inverter mount in an annular arrangement and with the terminals of the power semiconductors extending through the base. Each of the busbars has a first busbar portion, which includes a first body and a set of first fingers that are fixedly coupled to the first body, and a second busbar portion that includes a second body and a set of second fingers that are fixedly coupled to the second body. Associated fingers in the first and second sets of fingers of each bus bar are mechanically and electrically coupled to opposite sides of a corresponding one of the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, Paul J. Valente, Jeffrey J. Ronning, John C. Morgante, David Crecelius, Zugang Huang
  • Patent number: 11660968
    Abstract: A drive system with one or more electrically driven axles, a transmission subsystem, which is drivingly coupled to a drive gearbox of each of the electrically driven axles, first and second motors, which are each drivingly coupled to the transmission subsystem and have different motor characteristics, and a controller. The drive gearbox of each axle transmits rotary power to an associated set of vehicle wheels. The controller controls the first and second motors responsive to at least a torque request. Over a significant portion of the operating range of the drive system, the controller is configured to vary the respective magnitudes of the rotary power provided by the first and second motors to satisfy the torque request in a manner that maximizes a combined efficiency of the motors in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Ronning, John C. Morgante
  • Patent number: 11632005
    Abstract: An electric motor with a stator that is formed of a plurality of distinct laminations. Each of the distinct laminations has a radially inner lamination edge, which borders a rotor aperture configured to receive a rotor therein, a radially outer lamination edge and a plurality of cooling apertures formed there through that are disposed radially between the radially inner and outer lamination edges. Each cooling aperture in a lamination forms part of a separate and distinct cooling channel that extends helically through the laminations about a rotational axis of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Ronning, John C. Morgante
  • Publication number: 20220385146
    Abstract: An electric drive unit having a multi-phase electric motor and an inverter with a plurality of power semiconductors, an inverter mount, and a plurality of busbars. The power semiconductors are mounted to the base of the inverter mount in an annular arrangement and with the terminals of the power semiconductors extending through the base. Each of the busbars has a first busbar portion, which includes a first body and a set of first fingers that are fixedly coupled to the first body, and a second busbar portion that includes a second body and a set of second fingers that are fixedly coupled to the second body. Associated fingers in the first and second sets of fingers of each bus bar are mechanically and electrically coupled to opposite sides of a corresponding one of the terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: James P. DOWNS, Paul J. VALENTE, Jeffrey J. RONNING, John C. MORGANTE, David CRECELIUS, Zugang HUANG
  • Publication number: 20220310493
    Abstract: An electric drive unit having a stator, a rotor received in the stator and rotatable about a central longitudinal axis, and an inverter assembly that includes a plurality of power semiconductors, a plurality of heat sinks and an end plate. The power semiconductors are thermally coupled to the heat sinks. Each of the heat sinks has a plurality of fins that extend into a flow channel that is coaxial with the plurality of sets of field windings. The end plate is coupled to the power semiconductors and has a projection, which is sealingly coupled to the stator and which and partly defines an annular cavity, and a coolant port that is coupled in fluid communication with the annular cavity. The flow channel is in fluid communication with and disposed in a flow path between the annular cavity and the cooling channels in the stator body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: James P. DOWNS, David CRECELIUS, Jeffrey J. RONNING, Paul J. VALENTE, John C. MORGANTE
  • Patent number: 11456239
    Abstract: An electric drive module having a motor and an inverter that are disposed in a housing The motor includes a stator, which has a plurality of sets of windings. The inverter has a plurality of power semiconductors, which are mounted into a retaining member, an end plate, which is sealingly coupled to the retaining member, and an inlet port that extends through the end plate. Sets of the semiconductor devices are electrically coupled to corresponding sets of the windings. Power terminals on the semiconductor devices are coupled to a heat sink. Fins on the heat sinks extend into an annular region that is adjacent to axial ends of the windings. At least one of the retaining member and the end plate is sealingly coupled to the housing assembly. The inlet port, the annular region and cooling passages in the stator are coupled in fluid communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, David Crecelius, Jeffrey J. Ronning, Paul J. Valente, John C. Morgante
  • Publication number: 20220199501
    Abstract: An electric drive module having a motor and an inverter that are disposed in a housing The motor includes a stator, which has a plurality of sets of windings. The inverter has a plurality of power semiconductors, which are mounted into a retaining member, an end plate, which is sealingly coupled to the retaining member, and an inlet port that extends through the end plate. Sets of the semiconductor devices are electrically coupled to corresponding sets of the windings. Power terminals on the semiconductor devices are coupled to a heat sink. Fins on the heat sinks extend into an annular region that is adjacent to axial ends of the windings. At least one of the retaining member and the end plate is sealingly coupled to the housing assembly. The inlet port, the annular region and cooling passages in the stator are coupled in fluid communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: James P. DOWNS, David CRECELIUS, Jeffrey J. RONNING, Paul J. VALENTE, John C. MORGANTE
  • Patent number: 11303183
    Abstract: An electric drive module having a motor and an inverter that are disposed in a housing The motor includes a stator, which has a plurality of sets of windings. The inverter has a plurality of power semiconductors, which are mounted into a retaining member, an end plate, which is sealingly coupled to the retaining member, and an inlet port that extends through the end plate. Sets of the semiconductor devices are electrically coupled to corresponding sets of the windings. Power terminals on the semiconductor devices are coupled to a heat sink. Fins on the heat sinks extend into an annular region that is adjacent to axial ends of the windings. At least one of the retaining member and the end plate is sealingly coupled to the housing assembly. The inlet port, the annular region and cooling passages in the stator are coupled in fluid communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Downs, David Crecelius, Jeffrey J. Ronning, Paul J. Valente, John C. Morgante
  • Publication number: 20220032784
    Abstract: A drive system with one or more electrically driven axles, a transmission subsystem, which is drivingly coupled to a drive gearbox of each of the electrically driven axles, first and second motors, which are each drivingly coupled to the transmission subsystem and have different motor characteristics, and a controller. The drive gearbox of each axle transmits rotary power to an associated set of vehicle wheels. The controller controls the first and second motors responsive to at least a torque request. Over a significant portion of the operating range of the drive system, the controller is configured to vary the respective magnitudes of the rotary power provided by the first and second motors to satisfy the torque request in a manner that maximizes a combined efficiency of the motors in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. RONNING, John C. MORGANTE
  • Publication number: 20220037954
    Abstract: An electric drive module having a motor and an inverter that are disposed in a housing The motor includes a stator, which has a plurality of sets of windings. The inverter has a plurality of power semiconductors, which are mounted into a retaining member, an end plate, which is sealingly coupled to the retaining member, and an inlet port that extends through the end plate. Sets of the semiconductor devices are electrically coupled to corresponding sets of the windings. Power terminals on the semiconductor devices are coupled to a heat sink. Fins on the heat sinks extend into an annular region that is adjacent to axial ends of the windings. At least one of the retaining member and the end plate is sealingly coupled to the housing assembly. The inlet port, the annular region and cooling passages in the stator are coupled in fluid communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: James P. DOWNS, David CRECELIUS, Jeffrey J. RONNING, Paul J. VALENTE, John C. MORGANTE
  • Publication number: 20210184518
    Abstract: An electric motor with a stator that is formed of a plurality of distinct laminations. Each of the distinct laminations has a radially inner lamination edge, which borders a rotor aperture configured to receive a rotor therein, a radially outer lamination edge and a plurality of cooling apertures formed there through that are disposed radially between the radially inner and outer lamination edges. Each cooling aperture in a lamination forms part of a separate and distinct cooling channel that extends helically through the laminations about a rotational axis of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. RONNING, John C. MORGANTE
  • Patent number: 10923972
    Abstract: An electric motor with a stator that is formed of a plurality of laminations. Each of the laminations has a radially inner lamination edge, which borders a rotor aperture configured to receive a rotor therein, and a radially outer lamination edge. Each of the laminations has a plurality of cooling apertures formed there through. The cooling apertures formed in a given one of the laminations are disposed radially between the radially outer lamination edge and the radially inner lamination edge. Each of the laminations is sealingly coupled to at least one other lamination. Each cooling aperture in a lamination forms part of a distinct cooling channel that extends along an axial length of the stator. At least a portion of the cooling apertures in each of the cooling channels are staggered circumferentially about a motor axis of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Ronning, John C. Morgante
  • Publication number: 20190173332
    Abstract: An electric motor with a stator that is formed of a plurality of laminations. Each of the laminations has a radially inner lamination edge, which borders a rotor aperture configured to receive a rotor therein, and a radially outer lamination edge. Each of the laminations has a plurality of cooling apertures formed there through. The cooling apertures formed in a given one of the laminations are disposed radially between the radially outer lamination edge and the radially inner lamination edge. Each of the laminations is sealingly coupled to at least one other lamination. Each cooling aperture in a lamination forms part of a distinct cooling channel that extends along an axial length of the stator. At least a portion of the cooling apertures in each of the cooling channels are staggered circumferentially about a motor axis of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. RONNING, John C. MORGANTE
  • Patent number: 9866092
    Abstract: A method of forming a rotor includes inserting a conductor bar into a slot defined by a lamination stack to define a gap between the conductor bar and the lamination stack. The method further includes, after inserting, swelling the conductor bar within the slot to fill the gap and form the rotor. A rotor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Hanna, James G. Schroth, John S. Agapiou, John C. Morgante
  • Publication number: 20150333606
    Abstract: A method of forming a rotor includes inserting a conductor bar into a slot defined by a lamination stack to define a gap between the conductor bar and the lamination stack. The method further includes, after inserting, swelling the conductor bar within the slot to fill the gap and form the rotor. A rotor is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Hanna, James G. Schroth, John S. Agapiou, John C. Morgante
  • Publication number: 20140319957
    Abstract: A BAS machine that includes a specific combination of the number of stator slots to the number of rotor bars to reduce torque ripple without the need for skewing the rotor bars. Particularly, the ratio of the number of stator slots to the number of rotor bars is selected to prevent first and second order harmonics between the stator slots and the rotor bars, where the ratio includes 36/26, 54/44, 72/56, 72/58 or 72/62 for a six pole machine, 48/36, 72/52, 72/58 or 84/86 for an eight pole machine, and 60/44 or 60/46 for a ten pole machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Lei Hao, Chandra S. Namuduri, Thomas Wolfgang Nehl, John C. Morgante
  • Patent number: 8860278
    Abstract: A stator assembly comprises a stator defining S slots. First and second windings are arranged in each of the S slots. The two windings have a width in a radial direction and a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction. A ratio of the width to the thickness is between 3.0:1 and 4.5:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: John C. Morgante