Patents by Inventor Kirk Neet

Kirk Neet 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).

  • Patent number: 11316415
    Abstract: A method of installing a winding in a stator includes forming a first multi-conductor winding including a first plurality of terminal leads and a second plurality of terminal leads, forming a second multi-conductor winding including a third plurality of terminal leads and a fourth plurality of terminal leads, introducing the first multi-conductor winding into a plurality of stator slots of a stator body, introducing the second multi-conductor winding into the plurality of stator slots of the stator body radially inwardly of the first multi-conductor winding, and connecting the second plurality of terminal leads with the third plurality of terminal leads to form a twelve conductor stator winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventor: Kirk Neet
  • Publication number: 20220029490
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator assembly and a bus bar assembly. The stator assembly includes a core with windings positioned on the core. The windings include in-slot portions, end turns, and leads. The leads extend from the in-slot portions at one of the ends of the core with ends of the leads extending axially past the end turns. The leads include a first plurality of leads positioned on a first side of the stator opposite a second plurality of leads positioned on a second side of the stator. The bus bar is substantially circular in shape and positioned radially inward from the end turns. The bus bar assembly includes three bus bars, each bus bar connecting at least one of the first plurality of leads to at least one of the second plurality of leads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Ian N. Alsman, Christopher Bledsoe, Kirk Neet
  • Publication number: 20210359567
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator assembly having a core with windings positioned on the core. The windings including in-slot portions, end turns, and leads. The leads include a plurality of inner leads extending from conductors in an inner layer of the slots and outer leads extending from conductors in an outer layer of the slots, the inner leads and the outer leads defining a semi-cylindrical space. The stator assembly further includes a bus bar assembly connected to the leads, the bus bar assembly including a plurality of series connections and a plurality of phase leads. Each of the series connections connects one of the inner leads to one of the outer leads within the semi-cylindrical space. Each of the phase leads connects at least one of the inner leads to at least one of the outer leads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Kirk Neet, Matt Ryan Conner
  • Patent number: 11165319
    Abstract: A method of inserting a winding into a stator having skewed slots formed on an inside diameter of a stator lamination includes forming a conductor having a plurality of slot segments, loading the conductor into a plurality of skewed slot elements of a linear cartridge having a first end, a second end, and a linear axis connecting the first end and the second end, the plurality of skewed slot elements being angled relative to the linear axis, transferring the conductor from the linear cartridge to a plurality of skewed slot members formed in an outside diameter of a rotary cartridge, inserting the rotary cartridge into the inside diameter of the stator lamination, and shifting the conductor from the rotary cartridge into the skewed slots of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Kirk Neet, Seong Taek Lee
  • Patent number: 11146136
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator assembly and a bus bar assembly. The stator assembly includes a core with windings positioned on the core. The windings include in-slot portions, end turns, and leads. The leads extend from the in-slot portions at one of the ends of the core with ends of the leads extending axially past the end turns. The leads include a first plurality of leads positioned on a first side of the stator opposite a second plurality of leads positioned on a second side of the stator. The bus bar is substantially circular in shape and positioned radially inward from the end turns. The bus bar assembly includes three bus bars, each bus bar connecting at least one of the first plurality of leads to at least one of the second plurality of leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Ian N. Alsman, Christopher Bledsoe, Kirk Neet
  • Publication number: 20210305863
    Abstract: A stator includes a cylindrical core with a plurality of longitudinally extending slots, a first winding set formed as a first cascaded wire in two radial layers of the slots, a second winding set formed as a second cascaded wire in two other radial layers of the slots, and a jumper connecting the first and second wires. A first winding set may have three cascaded phase wires in first and second layers of the slots, and a second winding set may have three cascaded phase wires in third and fourth layers of the slots. A winding set of a first phase may have a first cascaded wire in two radial layers of a first one of the slots, and a winding set of a second phase may have a second cascaded wire in two other radial layers of the first one of the slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Kirk Neet
  • Patent number: 11128189
    Abstract: A stator assembly (50) includes a stator core (52) defining an outside diameter (OD) and an inside diameter (ID) with longitudinally extending slots (58) formed between the inside diameter and the outside diameter. The stator core (52) defines a core height extending longitudinally from a first end (53) to a second end (55) of the stator core (52). Distributed windings (60) are retained by the stator core (52) and include an in-slot portion (66) positioned in the slots of the stator core (52), a first end turn portion (62) adjacent to the first end (53) of the stator core, and a second end turn portion (64) adjacent to a second end (55) of the stator core. The first end turn portion (62) defines a first end turn height (h1) extending from the first end (53) of the stator core to a vertex (78) of the first end turn portion (62). A ratio of the first end turn height (h1) to the outside diameter (OD) of the stator core is less than or equal to 0.07.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Chamberlin, Kirk Neet
  • Patent number: 11081943
    Abstract: A method of forming a stator for an electric machine includes forming a first conductor and a second conductor into a plurality of bends having a first winding pitch, creating a winding layer by introducing the first conductor and the second conductor into a first pole of a stator with the second conductor being on top of the first conductor at a first end loop crossing zone. The winding pitch of the first conductor is changed to a second winding pitch and the winding pitch of the second conductor is changed to a third winding pitch. The first conductor is woven relative to the second conductor between the first pole and a second pole. The first conductor and the second conductor are introduced into the second pole of the stator with the first conductor being on top of the second conductor at a second end loop crossing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Kirk Neet, Stephen Humphrey
  • Publication number: 20210194339
    Abstract: A wire forming apparatus comprises a first rack moveable relative to a second rack in a first direction, a plurality of first forming structures provided on the first rack, and a plurality of second forming structures provided on the second rack. Each of the plurality of first forming structures is configured to move in the first direction, is separated from an adjacent first forming structure, and is configured to move in a second direction closer to the adjacent first forming structure when the first rack moves relative to the second rack. Each of the plurality of second forming structures is configured to move in the first direction, is separated from an adjacent second forming structure, and is configured to move in the second direction closer to the adjacent second forming structure when the first rack moves relative to the second rack. The second direction is different from the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: James Murphy, Kirk Neet
  • Publication number: 20210184549
    Abstract: A method of forming a winding for an electric machine includes first bending a wire between a plurality of forming structures such that the wire is bent into a zigzag shape. Thereafter, the method includes cutting the wire at a plurality of cut locations along the zigzag shape to form a plurality of segmented conductors, each of the segmented conductors including an end turn and two legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Gregory F. Geoffrion, Kirk Neet
  • Patent number: 11038391
    Abstract: A stator includes a cylindrical core with a plurality of longitudinally extending slots, a first winding set formed as a first cascaded wire in two radial layers of the slots, a second winding set formed as a second cascaded wire in two other radial layers of the slots, and a jumper connecting the first and second wires. A first winding set may have three cascaded phase wires in first and second layers of the slots, and a second winding set may have three cascaded phase wires in third and fourth layers of the slots. A winding set of a first phase may have a first cascaded wire in two radial layers of a first one of the slots, and a winding set of a second phase may have a second cascaded wire in two other radial layers of the first one of the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk Neet
  • Patent number: 11025117
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator core having a plurality of slots formed therein and a winding positioned in the slots of the stator core. The winding includes eight parallel paths distributed in layers of the stator core. The eight parallel paths include four pairs of adjacent paths. A first pair of adjacent paths crisscrosses a second pair of adjacent paths in the layers of the stator core. A third pair of adjacent paths crisscrosses a fourth pair of adjacent paths in the layers of the stator core. Neither the first pair nor the second pair of adjacent paths crisscrosses one or both of the third pair and the fourth pair of adjacent paths in the layers of the stator core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk Neet
  • Publication number: 20210159743
    Abstract: A stator for an electric machine includes a stator core with a multi-phase winding arranged on the stator core. The stator core has a plurality of slots formed therein and defines a first axial end and a second axial end. The multi-phase winding includes multiple parallel paths for each winding phase, each parallel path completing multiple revolutions around the stator core, and each parallel path comprising a series of slot segments arranged in layers of the plurality of slots and end turns alternately connecting consecutive slot segments on the first axial end and the second axial end. A pitch of the end turns connecting the slot segments for at least one parallel path alternates between a first pitch on the first axial end and a second pitch on the second axial end, the second pitch being different from the first pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventor: Kirk Neet
  • Publication number: 20210143698
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator assembly and a bus bar assembly. The stator assembly includes a core with windings positioned on the core. The windings include in-slot portions, end turns, and leads. The leads extend from the in-slot portions at one of the ends of the core with ends of the leads extending axially past the end turns. The leads include a first plurality of leads positioned on a first side of the stator opposite a second plurality of leads positioned on a second side of the stator. The bus bar is substantially circular in shape and positioned radially inward from the end turns. The bus bar assembly includes three bus bars, each bus bar connecting at least one of the first plurality of leads to at least one of the second plurality of leads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Ian N. Alsman, Christopher Bledsoe, Kirk Neet
  • Patent number: 10998788
    Abstract: An electric machine a stator having a stator core and windings positioned thereon. The stator core has a plurality of slots formed therein and a winding positioned in the plurality of slots. The winding includes at least four parallel paths distributed in slot sets of the stator core. Each slot set includes at least four contiguous slots including two left slots and two right slots. A first parallel path and a second parallel path are arranged in the two left slots for at least a first revolution of the winding around the core. The first parallel path and the second parallel path are arranged in the two right slots for at least a subsequent revolution of the winding around the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk Neet, Tausif Husain
  • Publication number: 20210126501
    Abstract: An electric machine a stator having a stator core and windings positioned thereon. The stator core has a plurality of slots formed therein and a winding positioned in the plurality of slots. The winding includes at least four parallel paths distributed in slot sets of the stator core. Each slot set includes at least four contiguous slots including two left slots and two right slots. A first parallel path and a second parallel path are arranged in the two left slots for at least a first revolution of the winding around the core. The first parallel path and the second parallel path are arranged in the two right slots for at least a subsequent revolution of the winding around the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Kirk Neet, Tausif Husain
  • Patent number: 10958142
    Abstract: A wire forming apparatus comprises a first rack moveable relative to a second rack in a first direction, a plurality of first forming structures provided on the first rack, and a plurality of second forming structures provided on the second rack. Each of the plurality of first forming structures is configured to move in the first direction, is separated from an adjacent first forming structure, and is configured to move in a second direction closer to the adjacent first forming structure when the first rack moves relative to the second rack. Each of the plurality of second forming structures is configured to move in the first direction, is separated from an adjacent second forming structure, and is configured to move in the second direction closer to the adjacent second forming structure when the first rack moves relative to the second rack. The second direction is different from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: James Paul Murphy, Kirk Neet
  • Publication number: 20200403462
    Abstract: Rectangular conductor wires are often used in alternator applications requiring a high slot fill to maximize output and efficiency. However for lower output and efficiency applications, round conductor wire may increase cost competiveness in these alternators. A common lamination for a core alternatively accommodates both rectangular conductor wires and round conductor wires for different applications without any other component changes. The lamina has a slot that aligns round wire in a single row within the slot and provides a predetermined clearance from the slot opening. A stator core formed from these laminae has a relatively high slot fill factor when wound with the round wire. The same stator core can be alternatively wound with square wire to increase the slot fill factor even higher. The common lamination results in two stator configurations: a high slot fill version (round wire) and a very high slot fill version (square wire).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Jiwon Chung, Kirk Neet
  • Publication number: 20200389076
    Abstract: A method of inserting a winding into a stator having skewed slots formed on an inside diameter of a stator lamination includes forming a conductor having a plurality of slot segments, loading the conductor into a plurality of skewed slot elements of a linear cartridge having a first end, a second end, and a linear axis connecting the first end and the second end, the plurality of skewed slot elements being angled relative to the linear axis, transferring the conductor from the linear cartridge to a plurality of skewed slot members formed in an outside diameter of a rotary cartridge, inserting the rotary cartridge into the inside diameter of the stator lamination, and shifting the conductor from the rotary cartridge into the skewed slots of the stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: KIRK NEET, SEONG TAEK LEE
  • Publication number: 20200244125
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator core having a plurality of slots formed therein and a winding positioned in the slots of the stator core. The winding includes eight parallel paths distributed in layers of the stator core. The eight parallel paths include four pairs of adjacent paths. A first pair of adjacent paths crisscrosses a second pair of adjacent paths in the layers of the stator core. A third pair of adjacent paths crisscrosses a fourth pair of adjacent paths in the layers of the stator core. Neither the first pair nor the second pair of adjacent paths crisscrosses one or both of the third pair and the fourth pair of adjacent paths in the layers of the stator core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventor: Kirk Neet