Abstract: Various embodiments of an electric motor and electronic control for an electric motor are disclosed. An exemplary electric motor comprises a single-phase brushless permanent magnet electric motor. In exemplary embodiments, the electronic motor control is configured to commutate an electric motor at a frequency other than line frequency, perform pulse width modulation, and drive the electric motor with a drive waveform that approximates the counter-electromotive force of the motor.

Abstract: An HVAC system includes a heating/cooling element; an electric motor; a speed sensor; and a control device. The heating/cooling element includes a heating element, a cooling element, and heat exchangers. The motor has a rotatable shaft coupled with a blower wheel. The speed sensor senses a rotational speed of the motor shaft and the blower wheel and includes a magnet coupled with the motor shaft for rotation therewith; and a coil assembly mounted concentrically over the magnet and operable to generate an alternating signal when the magnet rotates relative to the coil. The alternating signal has an electrical characteristic that is generally proportional to the rotational speed of the shaft. The control device determines a rotational speed of the motor shaft and disables operation of the heating/cooling element when the alternating signal indicates that the rotational speed of the shaft drops below a minimum threshold speed.

Abstract: A rotor is provided for use in an electric motor. The rotor includes a shaft assembly rotatable about an axis, a plurality of magnets arranged arcuately about the shaft assembly, and a plurality of pole segments arranged arcuately about the shaft assembly. The pole segments alternate with the magnets, such that each of the magnets is at least in part interposed between adjacent pole segments. The pole segments are magnetically isolated from each other. Furthermore, the shaft assembly is electrically isolated from the pole segments.

Abstract: A drying device has been developed having a single electric motor configured to drive a drum and directly drive an air blower. The single electric motor is a non-line frequency electric motor. The drum is coupled to a support frame to enable rotation of the drum relative the support frame. The drum has an interior space for holding a load of articles, such as clothing. The motor includes a controller configured to regulate the angular velocity of the output shaft of the motor with reference to the current drawn by the motor.

Abstract: An electric motor is provided. The electric motor comprises a stator and a rotor rotatable about an axis and spaced at least in part radially outside the stator. The rotor includes a plurality of arcuately spaced apart pole segments, a plurality of arcuately spaced apart magnets alternately arranged with the pole segments such that each of the pole segments is positioned between an adjacent pair of the magnets, a rotor can at least in part supporting the pole segments and the magnets, and a plurality of pegs. Each of the pole segments defines an opening therethrough and includes a generally arcuately extending wall structure positioned radially outside of and at least in part defining the opening. Each of the pegs extends through a corresponding one of the openings to secure a corresponding one of the pole segments relative to the can.

Abstract: An electric fan includes blades and an outer rotor motor for rotating the blades. The motor includes a rotor rotatable about an axis and a generally toroidal stator including a core and electrically conductive wiring wound about the core. The rotor is rotatable about an axis. The rotor includes a rotor can and a plurality of arcuately arranged magnets fixed relative to the can. The blades are mounted to the can. The core includes a yoke and a plurality of arcuately spaced apart teeth extending from the yoke. The teeth cooperatively present an outer radial margin of the core. Each of the magnets is spaced radially outwardly from the radial margin such that the core and the magnets cooperatively define a circumferentially extending radial gap therebetween. The motor defines at least ten poles. Each of the coils has an axial thickness of about 5 mm or less.

Abstract: An electric motor is provided. The electric motor comprises a stator and a rotor rotatable about an axis and spaced at least in part radially outside the stator. The rotor includes a plurality of arcuately spaced apart pole segments, a plurality of arcuately spaced apart magnets alternately arranged with the pole segments such that each of the pole segments is positioned between an adjacent pair of the magnets, a rotor can at least in part supporting the pole segments and the magnets, and a plurality of pegs. Each of the pole segments defines an opening therethrough and includes a generally arcuately extending wall structure positioned radially outside of and at least in part defining the opening. Each of the pegs extends through a corresponding one of the openings to secure a corresponding one of the pole segments relative to the can.

Abstract: A stator formed of a dual-out stator lamination is disclosed. The stator comprises a generally annular core including a plurality of arcuately spaced apart teeth. Each of the teeth includes a generally radially extending leg and a head extending generally arcuately relative to the leg to present opposite head ends spaced from the leg. The head presents a tooth head height measured in at least a substantially radial direction. Each adjacent pair of said heads is spaced apart by a generally arcuate slot opening distance defined between the adjacent ends of the pair of heads. The ratio of each tooth head height to each adjacent slot opening distance is at least about twenty-eight hundredths (0.28).

Abstract: A stator for use in an electric motor is disclosed. The stator comprises an annular core, a plurality of wedges, and a plurality of wedge-retaining structures. The core includes a plurality of arcuately spaced apart teeth. Each of the teeth includes a generally radial leg and a head projecting from the leg to present a pair of arcuately spaced apart head ends. A slot opening is defined between the opposed head ends of each adjacent pair of teeth. Each of the wedges is received within a corresponding slot opening. Each wedge-retaining structure is at least in part fixed relative to the core and cooperates with a respective one of the wedges to compressibly retain the respective wedge between the head ends.

Abstract: An overmolded stator for use in an electric motor is disclosed. The stator core includes a yoke and a plurality of arcuately spaced apart teeth extending at least substantially radially from the yoke. Each of the teeth presents opposite axially spaced apart endmost surfaces, a leg extending generally radially from the yoke, and a head extending generally arcuately relative to the leg to present opposite head ends spaced from the leg. A pair of wire retention wings extend at least substantially circumferentially outwardly relative to each of the teeth.

Abstract: A motor assembly comprises an electric motor and a motor controller. The motor includes a stator; a rotor; a main winding; a first auxiliary winding; a second auxiliary winding; a capacitor; a first tap point between the main winding and the first auxiliary winding; and a second tap point between the first and second auxiliary windings. The motor controller may energize the first tap point so that the first and second auxiliary windings are in series with the capacitor and the first and second auxiliary windings and the capacitor are in parallel with the main winding to provide a relatively higher motor speed or may energize the second tap point so that only the second auxiliary winding is in series with the capacitor and the second auxiliary winding and the capacitor are in parallel with the main winding to provide a relatively lower motor speed.

Abstract: An electric motor or generator machine is provided. The machine includes a rotor rotatable about an axis, as well as a stator. The stator includes a stator core and wiring wound around the stator core. The stator core includes a plurality of arcuately spaced apart alternating primary teeth and secondary teeth, such that each secondary tooth is spaced between a corresponding pair of primary teeth. The wiring is wound about the primary teeth to form a plurality of coils. The plurality of coils includes an A-phase coil, a B-phase coil, and a C-phase coil. Each of the primary teeth includes a generally radially extending primary arm and a generally arcuately extending primary crown. Each of the primary crowns spans one hundred sixty (160) to two hundred (200) electrical degrees.

Abstract: A drying device has been developed having a single electric motor configured to drive a drum and directly drive an air blower. The single electric motor is a non-line frequency electric motor. The drum is coupled to a support frame to enable rotation of the drum relative the support frame. The drum has an interior space for holding a load of articles, such as clothing. The motor includes a controller configured to regulate the angular velocity of the output shaft of the motor with reference to the current drawn by the motor.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an electric motor and electronic control for an electric motor are disclosed. An exemplary electric motor comprises a single-phase brushless permanent magnet electric motor. In exemplary embodiments, the electronic motor control is configured to commutate an electric motor at a frequency other than line frequency, perform pulse width modulation, and drive the electric motor with a drive waveform that approximates the counter-electromotive force of the motor.

Abstract: A drying device has been developed having a single electric motor configured to drive a drum and directly drive an air blower. The single electric motor is a non-line frequency electric motor. The drum is coupled to a support frame to enable rotation of the drum relative the support frame. The drum has an interior space for holding a load of articles, such as clothing. The motor includes a controller configured to increase gradually the angular velocity of the drum to provide a “soft start” for the dryer.

Abstract: An electric motor is provided. The electric motor comprises a stator and a rotor rotatable about an axis and spaced at least in part radially outside the stator. The rotor includes a plurality of arcuately spaced apart pole segments, a plurality of arcuately spaced apart magnets alternately arranged with the pole segments such that each of the pole segments is positioned between an adjacent pair of the magnets, a rotor can at least in part supporting the pole segments and the magnets, and a plurality of pegs. Each of the pole segments defines an opening therethrough and includes a generally arcuately extending wall structure positioned radially outside of and at least in part defining the opening. Each of the pegs extends through a corresponding one of the openings to secure a corresponding one of the pole segments relative to the can.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an electric motor and electronic control for an electric motor are disclosed. An exemplary electric motor comprises a single-phase brushless permanent magnet electric motor. In exemplary embodiments, the electronic motor control is configured to commutate an electric motor at a frequency other than line frequency, perform pulse width modulation, and drive the electric motor with a drive waveform that approximates the counter-electromotive force of the motor.

Abstract: An interior permanent magnet machine has non-contiguous, non-magnetic radial slots between the magnets and the cylindrical periphery and the magnets have non-magnetic radial end slots.

Abstract: An HVAC system includes a heating/cooling element; an electric motor; a speed sensor; and a control device. The heating/cooling element may include a heating element, and/or a cooling element, and associated heat exchangers. The electric motor has a rotatable shaft coupled with a blower wheel for blowing air over the heating/cooling element. The speed sensor is provided for sensing a rotational speed of the motor shaft and thus the blower wheel. The speed sensor comprises a magnet coupled with the motor shaft for rotation therewith; and a coil assembly mounted concentrically over the magnet and operable to generate an alternating signal when the magnet rotates relative to the coil. The alternating signal has an electrical characteristic that is generally proportional to the rotational speed of the shaft.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an electric motor and electronic control for an electric motor are disclosed. An exemplary electric motor comprises a single-phase brushless permanent magnet electric motor. In exemplary embodiments, the electronic motor control is configured to commutate an electric motor at a frequency other than line frequency, perform pulse width modulation, and drive the electric motor with a drive waveform that approximates the counter-electromotive force of the motor.