Patents by Inventor Philip S. Johnson

Philip S. Johnson 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: 20220085692
    Abstract: A gearmotor includes a motor assembly, a gear assembly, and an electronics assembly. The motor assembly includes a rotor including a rotor shaft; a stator; and a stator retention apparatus. The stator includes a core defining a core orientation feature, and a plurality of coils. The stator retention apparatus includes an apparatus orientation feature and an electronics assembly support structure. The gear assembly includes an output shaft. The electronics assembly includes a rotor shaft rotation sensor that is radially spaced from a rotor shaft position indicium, an output shaft rotation sensor that is radially spaced from an output shaft position indicium, and a magnetic sensor mounted to the electronics assembly support structure. The core orientation feature and the apparatus orientation feature engage one another to position the stator retention apparatus radially and arcuately relative to the core, such that the magnetic sensor is positioned adjacent an axial coil margin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Tucker, Philip S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11236614
    Abstract: A motor includes a shaft rotatable about an axis, an engaged component engaged by the shaft, a sleeve fixed to the shaft to rotate therewith, and a seal at least partly circumscribing the shaft. The shaft includes an engagement region presenting a substantially variable outer shaft surface that at least in part engages the engaged component. The sleeve includes a first section that at least partly circumscribes and engages the engagement region of the shaft. The first section of the sleeve presents an outer seal-engaging surface and an outer bearing-engaging surface. The seal and the bearing each at least partly circumscribe the engagement region of the shaft and the first section of the sleeve to engage the seal-engaging surface and the bearing-engaging surfaces, respectively, of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Biro, William D. Moore, Philip S. Johnson, Jeffrey M. Hutsler, Paul G. Michaels, Daniel E. Hilton
  • Patent number: 11218054
    Abstract: A gearmotor includes a motor assembly, a gear assembly, and an electronics assembly. The motor assembly includes a rotor including a rotor shaft; a stator; and a stator retention apparatus. The stator includes a core defining a core orientation feature, and a plurality of coils. The stator retention apparatus includes an apparatus orientation feature and an electronics assembly support structure. The gear assembly includes an output shaft. The electronics assembly includes a rotor shaft rotation sensor that is radially spaced from a rotor shaft position indicium, an output shaft rotation sensor that is radially spaced from an output shaft position indicium, and a magnetic sensor mounted to the electronics assembly support structure. The core orientation feature and the apparatus orientation feature engage one another to position the stator retention apparatus radially and arcuately relative to the core, such that the magnetic sensor is positioned adjacent an axial coil margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Tucker, Philip S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11183903
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an inner rotor motor and a stationary wiring conduit. The inner rotor motor includes a stator and a rotor spaced at least in part radially inside the stator. The rotor is rotatable relative to the stator about an axis. The rotor includes a rotatable shaft that presents a shaft bore extending axially therethrough. The stationary wiring conduit extends through the shaft bore and is fixed relative to the motor housing. The shaft bore rotatably receives the wiring conduit, such that the wiring conduit is permitted to remain stationary as the shaft rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew D. Allen, Aaron Davies, Daniel J. Suda, Philip S. Johnson, Michael W. Major
  • Patent number: 10927923
    Abstract: Electric motors are disclosed. The motors are preferably for use in an automated vehicle, although any one or more of a variety of motor uses are suitable. The motors include lift, turntable, and locomotion motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Moore, Philip S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10865642
    Abstract: A motor includes a housing, a shaft, a bearing, a bearing plate, and a seal. The housing includes first and second housing components directly engaging one another along a housing interface. The housing at least in part defines a sealed chamber. The shaft is at least in part received in the chamber. The bearing rotatably supports the shaft. The bearing plate is enclosed within the housing. The bearing plate supports the bearing within the housing. The seal is disposed along the housing interface. The bearing plate is spaced inwardly from the housing interface and the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Hilton, Philip S. Johnson, Paul G. Michaels, Jeffrey M. Hutsler
  • Publication number: 20200389065
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an inner rotor motor and a stationary wiring conduit. The inner rotor motor includes a stator and a rotor spaced at least in part radially inside the stator. The rotor is rotatable relative to the stator about an axis. The rotor includes a rotatable shaft that presents a shaft bore extending axially therethrough. The stationary wiring conduit extends through the shaft bore and is fixed relative to the motor housing. The shaft bore rotatably receives the wiring conduit, such that the wiring conduit is permitted to remain stationary as the shaft rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew D. Allen, Aaron Davies, Daniel J. Suda, Philip S. Johnson, Michael W. Major
  • Publication number: 20200313498
    Abstract: A gearmotor includes a motor assembly and a gear assembly. The motor assembly includes a rotor and a rotor bearing. The rotor is rotatable about an axis. The rotor includes a rotor shaft. The rotor bearing rotatably supports the rotor shaft. The gear assembly includes an output shaft and a gear system. The output shaft is rotatable about the axis. The gear system is configured to transmit rotation from the rotor shaft to the output shaft. The gear system includes a deformable gear and a gear bearing. The gear bearing couples the rotor shaft to the deformable gear. The deformable gear defines a plurality of teeth. The deformable gear defines an interior space. The rotor bearing and the gear bearing are received within the interior space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Tucker, Philip S. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20200313509
    Abstract: A gearmotor includes a motor assembly, a gear assembly, and an electronics assembly. The motor assembly includes a rotor including a rotor shaft; a stator; and a stator retention apparatus. The stator includes a core defining a core orientation feature, and a plurality of coils. The stator retention apparatus includes an apparatus orientation feature and an electronics assembly support structure. The gear assembly includes an output shaft. The electronics assembly includes a rotor shaft rotation sensor that is radially spaced from a rotor shaft position indicium, an output shaft rotation sensor that is radially spaced from an output shaft position indicium, and a magnetic sensor mounted to the electronics assembly support structure. The core orientation feature and the apparatus orientation feature engage one another to position the stator retention apparatus radially and arcuately relative to the core, such that the magnetic sensor is positioned adjacent an axial coil margin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Tucker, Philip S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10648539
    Abstract: Electric motors are disclosed. The motors are preferably for use in an automated vehicle, although any one or more of a variety of motor uses are suitable. The motors include lift, turntable, and locomotion motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Moore, Philip S. Johnson, Joshua M. Biro, Paul G. Michaels, Payman Rassoolkhani
  • Patent number: 10644551
    Abstract: A rotor is provided for use in an electric motor. The rotor includes a shaft assembly rotatable about an axis. The rotor also includes 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 interlock with the coupling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Keith I. Hoemann, Michael W. Major, Philip S. Johnson, William R. Lewis, Kent A. Sheeran
  • Publication number: 20200018167
    Abstract: A motor includes a shaft rotatable about an axis, an engaged component engaged by the shaft, a sleeve fixed to the shaft to rotate therewith, and a seal at least partly circumscribing the shaft. The shaft includes an engagement region presenting a substantially variable outer shaft surface that at least in part engages the engaged component. The sleeve includes a first section that at least partly circumscribes and engages the engagement region of the shaft. The first section of the sleeve presents an outer seal-engaging surface and an outer bearing-engaging surface. The seal and the bearing each at least partly circumscribe the engagement region of the shaft and the first section of the sleeve to engage the seal-engaging surface and the bearing-engaging surfaces, respectively, of the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Biro, William D. Moore, Philip S. Johnson, Jeffrey M. Hutsler, Paul G. Michaels, Daniel E. Hilton
  • Patent number: 10476342
    Abstract: Electric motors are disclosed. The motors are preferably for use in an automated vehicle, although any one or more of a variety of motor uses are suitable. The motors include lift, turntable, and locomotion motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Biro, Philip S. Johnson, Masatoshi Onishi, Barry M. Newberg
  • Patent number: 10458237
    Abstract: A motor includes a shaft rotatable about an axis, an engaged component engaged by the shaft, a sleeve fixed to the shaft to rotate therewith, and a seal at least partly circumscribing the shaft. The shaft includes an engagement region presenting a substantially variable outer shaft surface that at least in part engages the engaged component. The sleeve includes a first section that at least partly circumscribes and engages the engagement region of the shaft. The first section of the sleeve presents an outer seal-engaging surface and an outer bearing-engaging surface. The seal and the bearing each at least partly circumscribe the engagement region of the shaft and the first section of the sleeve to engage the seal-engaging surface and the bearing-engaging surfaces, respectively, of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Biro, William D. Moore, Philip S. Johnson, Jeffrey M. Hutsler, Paul G. Michaels, Daniel E. Hilton
  • Patent number: 10400600
    Abstract: A gearmotor assembly includes a housing, a rotatable shaft, a bearing, a retaining member, and a seal. The housing defines a gear chamber configured to contain a lubricant. The bearing rotatably supports the shaft. The bearing is disposed between the housing and the shaft. The retaining member at least in part restricts axial shifting of the bearing. The retaining member presents a plurality of retaining member threads. The housing defines a plurality of housing threads threadably engaging the retaining member threads. The retaining member and the housing cooperatively at least in part define an interface. The interface includes a threaded portion and an additional portion. The threaded portion is cooperatively defined by the retaining member threads and the housing threads. The additional portion is fluidly interconnected to the threaded portion. The seal is disposed along the interface to prevent lubricant escaping the gear chamber past the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Hutsler, Joshua M. Biro, Daniel E. Hilton, Philip S. Johnson, L. Ranney Dohogne
  • Publication number: 20190219137
    Abstract: Electric motors are disclosed. The motors are preferably for use in an automated vehicle, although any one or more of a variety of motor uses are suitable. The motors include lift, turntable, and locomotion motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Moore, Philip S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10316933
    Abstract: Electric motors are disclosed. The motors are preferably for use in an automated vehicle, although any one or more of a variety of motor uses are suitable. The motors include lift, turntable, and locomotion motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Moore, Philip S. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20190136692
    Abstract: A motor includes a housing, a shaft, a bearing, a bearing plate, and a seal. The housing includes first and second housing components directly engaging one another along a housing interface. The housing at least in part defines a sealed chamber. The shaft is at least in part received in the chamber. The bearing rotatably supports the shaft. The bearing plate is enclosed within the housing. The bearing plate supports the bearing within the housing. The seal is disposed along the housing interface. The bearing plate is spaced inwardly from the housing interface and the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Hilton, Philip S. Johnson, Paul G. Michaels, Jeffrey M. Hutsler
  • Patent number: 10277090
    Abstract: Electric motors are disclosed. The motors are preferably for use in an automated vehicle, although any one or more of a variety of motor uses are suitable. The motors include lift, turntable, and locomotion motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Moore, Philip S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10227872
    Abstract: A motor includes a housing, a shaft, a bearing, a bearing plate, and a seal. The housing includes first and second housing components directly engaging one another along a housing interface. The housing at least in part defines a sealed chamber. The shaft is at least in part received in the chamber. The bearing rotatably supports the shaft. The bearing plate defines a bearing housing at least substantially receiving the bearing. The housing circumscribes the bearing plate such that the bearing plate is enclosed within the housing. The bearing plate is fixed to a supporting one of the housing components and directly engages the supporting one of the housing components along a bearing plate interface. The seal is disposed along at least one of the interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Hilton, Philip S. Johnson, Paul G. Michaels, Jeffrey M. Hutsler