Abstract: Presented are electric motors and apparatuses thereof for discharging an electric charge buildup on the rotor. In an embodiment, an electric motor apparatus includes a case, a stator arranged within the case, a rotor, a motor shaft extending longitudinally through the rotor to include an axial end, a grounding brush having an outer surface and an elliptical surface, and a spring including one portion maintaining slidable contact with the case and another portion coupled to an outer surface of the brush, the elliptical surface attached to the axial end of the motor shaft for causing a current flow via the brush through the case, which can act as system ground, for discharging an electric charge buildup on the stator due to a parasitic capacitance between the stator and rotor.

Abstract: An electrically conductive aluminum diecast alloy and an induction motor rotor made of the diecast aluminum alloy. The aluminum alloy includes commercially pure aluminum and a sufficient weight percent (wt%) of Copper (Cu), Magnesium (Mg), and Silicon (Si) to precipitate a 0.1 wt% to 5.0 wt% of a thermally stable Q-phase precipitate, AlwCuxMgySiz, after age hardening. Wherein w = about 14.3 at% to about 23.82 at% of Al; x = about 5.90 at% to about 9.52 at% of Cu; y = about 35.30 at% to about 42.85 at% of Mg; and z = about 28.57 at% to about 35.30 at% of Si. The induction motor rotor includes an aluminum squirrel cage rotor diecast onto a laminated electrical steel. The aluminum diecast squirrel cage rotor includes about 1.0 wt% of thermally stable Al5Cu2Mg8Si6 after age hardening.

Abstract: An electric motor is provided for use in an electromechanical transmission that utilizes automatic transmission fluid. The electric motor includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor includes a plurality of permanent magnets can include magnetic particles coated with hydrogen impermeable material. According to an alternative embodiment, the entire permanent magnet or the rotor itself can be coated with hydrogen impermeable material. According to a further alternative embodiment, the permanent magnet particles can be secured by a binder that includes a hydrogen storage compound that prevents hydrogen from affecting magnetic properties of the permanent magnet.

Abstract: An electric motor is provided for use in an electromechanical transmission that utilizes automatic transmission fluid. The electric motor includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor includes a plurality of permanent magnets can include magnetic particles coated with hydrogen impermeable material. According to an alternative embodiment, the entire permanent magnet or the rotor itself can be coated with hydrogen impermeable material. According to a further alternative embodiment, the permanent magnet particles can be secured by a binder that includes a hydrogen storage compound that prevents hydrogen from affecting magnetic properties of the permanent magnet.

Abstract: Integrated devices and methods for compensating electric grade steel lamination stack height for use in a conventional two-plate high pressure die cast tool used for casting aluminum induction rotors. These devices and methods allow for significant variation in the lamination stack height without associated failures related to stack height variation, and also ensure constant and accurate clamping pressure on both the OD and ID of the steel lamination stack which prevents electric insulation damage, metal flow between laminations, large casting metal flash, and tool damage for excessive height laminations stacks. The clamping pressure is adjustable and is actuated from a single hydraulic cylinder which allows for a wide range of pressures to accommodate fine adjustment of clamping pressure to insure no damage occurs to the laminations.

Abstract: Integrated devices and methods for compensating electric grade steel lamination stack height for use in a conventional two-plate high pressure die cast tool used for casting aluminum induction rotors. These devices and methods allow for significant variation in the lamination stack height without associated failures related to stack height variation, and also ensure constant and accurate clamping pressure on both the OD and ID of the steel lamination stack which prevents electric insulation damage, metal flow between laminations, large casting metal flash, and tool damage for excessive height laminations stacks. The clamping pressure is adjustable and is actuated from a single hydraulic cylinder which allows for a wide range of pressures to accommodate fine adjustment of clamping pressure to insure no damage occurs to the laminations.

Abstract: A metal alloy which when oxidized forms a highly conductive surface oxide layer. Alloy compositions such as, but not limited to, Ti—Nb, Ti—Ta, La—Sr—Cr, and La—Sr—Co are known to form oxide passivation layers which are highly conductive. Such alloys are useful in electrical contact apparatus. An electrical contact element formed of the alloy has a contact surface which when oxidized forms a highly conductive surface layer, thus maintaining electrical conductivity and continuity through the element. The oxide layer may be formed in situ after assembly of the electrical contact or may be provided in an oxidative step during manufacture. The electrical contact may be formed entirely of one or more of such alloys; or may be formed of an inexpensive substrate base metal, such as steel, having one or more of the alloys coated thereupon; or may be formed of a mixture of the base metal and the alloy.

Abstract: Device quality, single crystal film of cubic zinc-blende aluminum nitride (AlN) is deposited on a cubic substrate, such as a silicon (100) wafer by plasma source molecular beam epitaxy (PSMBE). The metastable zinc-blende form of AlN is deposited on the substrate at a low temperature by a low energy plasma beam of high-energy activated aluminum ions and nitrogen ion species produced in a molecular beam epitaxy system by applying a pulsed d.c. power to a hollow cathode source. In this manner, films having a thickness of at least 800 ? were produced. The lattice parameter of as-deposited films was calculated to be approximately 4.373 ? which corresponds closely to the theoretical calculation (4.38 ?) for cubic zinc-blende AlN. An interfacial layer of silicon carbide, specifically the cubic 3C—SiC polytype, interposed between the epitaxial film of zinc-blende AlN and the Si(100) wafer provides a template for growth and a good lattice match.

Abstract: A metal alloy which when oxidized forms a highly conductive surface oxide layer. Alloy compositions such as, but not limited to, Ti—Nb, Ti—Ta, La—Sr—Cr, and La—Sr—Co are known to form oxide passivation layers which are highly conductive. Such alloys are useful in electrical contact apparatus. An electrical contact element formed of the alloy has a contact surface which when oxidized forms a highly conductive surface layer, thus maintaining electrical conductivity and continuity through the element. The oxide layer may be formed in situ after assembly of the electrical contact or may be provided in an oxidative step during manufacture. The electrical contact may be formed entirely of one or more of such alloys; or may be formed of an inexpensive substrate base metal, such as steel, having one or more of the alloys coated thereupon; or may be formed of a mixture of the base metal and the alloy.

Abstract: Device quality, single crystal film of cubic zinc-blende aluminum nitride (AlN) is deposited on a cubic substrate, such as a silicon (100) wafer by plasma source molecular beam epitaxy (PSMBE). The metastable zinc-blende form of AlN is deposited on the substrate at a low temperature by a low energy plasma beam of high-energy activated aluminum ions and nitrogen ion species produced in a molecular beam epitaxy system by applying a pulsed d.c. power to a hollow cathode source. In this manner, films having a thickness of at least 800 Å were produced. The lattice parameter of as-deposited films was calculated to be approximately 4.373 Å which corresponds closely to the theoretical calculation (4.38 Å) for cubic zinc-blende AlN. An interfacial layer of silicon carbide, specifically the cubic 3C—SiC polytype, interposed between the epitaxial film of zinc-blende AlN and the Si(100) wafer provides a template for growth and a good lattice match.

Abstract: Device quality, single crystal film of cubic zinc-blend aluminum nitride (AlN) is deposited on a cubic substrate, such as a silicon (100) wafer by plasma source molecular beam epitaxy (PSMBE). The metastable zinc-blend form of AlN is deposited on the substrate at a low temperature by a low energy plasma beam of high-energy activated aluminum ions and nitrogen ion species produced in a molecular beam epitaxy system by applying a pulsed d.c. power to a hollow cathode source. In this manner, films having a thickness of at least 800 Å were produced. The lattice parameter of as-deposited films was calculated to be approximately 4.373 Å which corresponds closely to the theoretical calculation (4.38 Å) for cubic zinc-blend AlN. An interfacial layer of silicon carbide, specifically the cubic 3C—SiC polytype, interposed between the epitaxial film of zinc-blend AlN and the Si(100) wafer provides a template for growth and a good lattice match.