Abstract: A power supply generates power factor corrected power from AC power having one or more phases and different levels of output voltages. The power supply includes a power factor correction circuit that charges a capacitor through at least one inductor. Each inductor of the at least one inductor is independently connected to the capacitor to charge the capacitor with rectified power.

Abstract: An electrical motor controller changes the PWM frequency that is used by a motor driver to form the fundamental frequency and voltage magnitude for the electrical power delivered to an electrical motor. The electrical motor controller compares a signal generated by a first sensor that indicates an output speed of the motor to a predetermined speed threshold and compares a signal generated by a second sensor that corresponds to phase currents in the electrical motor to a predetermined motor power threshold. These comparisons are used to set the PWM frequency for the motor driver. The PWM frequency either corresponds to a frequency in a humanly imperceptible audio range or to a frequency that is in a humanly perceptible audio range.

Abstract: An electrical motor controller changes the PWM frequency that is used by a motor driver to form the fundamental frequency and voltage magnitude for the electrical power delivered to an electrical motor. The electrical motor controller compares a signal generated by a first sensor that indicates an output speed of the motor to a predetermined speed threshold and compares a signal generated by a second sensor that corresponds to phase currents in the electrical motor to a predetermined motor power threshold. These comparisons are used to set the PWM frequency for the motor driver. The PWM frequency either corresponds to a frequency in a humanly imperceptible audio range or to a frequency that is in a humanly perceptible audio range.

Abstract: A power supply generates power factor corrected power from AC power having one or more phases and different levels of output voltages. The power supply includes a power factor correction circuit that charges a capacitor through at least one inductor. Each inductor of the at least one inductor is independently connected to the capacitor to charge the capacitor with rectified power.

Abstract: A power circuit is configured with mostly passive electrical components to connect a phase shift capacitor to a phase shift winding of a PSC motor selectively. The power circuit includes a timing circuit, a switching circuit, and a triac having a first anode connected to the second capacitor and a second anode connected to electrical ground. The timing circuit has a plurality of passive electrical components and a single active comparator configured to generate a signal indicative of an expiration of a predetermined time period after application of a line voltage to the motor. The switching circuit has a plurality of passive electrical components and a single active switch, which generates a signal to operate the triac to electrically connect the second capacitor to the second winding during the predetermined time period and to disconnect electrically the second capacitor from the second winding in response to a signal generated by the timing circuit indicating the predetermined time period has expired.

Abstract: A power circuit is configured with mostly passive electrical components to connect a phase shift capacitor to a phase shift winding of a PSC motor selectively. The power circuit includes a timing circuit, a switching circuit, and a triac having a first anode connected to the second capacitor and a second anode connected to electrical ground. The timing circuit has a plurality of passive electrical components and a single active comparator configured to generate a signal indicative of an expiration of a predetermined time period after application of a line voltage to the motor. The switching circuit has a plurality of passive electrical components and a single active switch, which generates a signal to operate the triac to electrically connect the second capacitor to the second winding during the predetermined time period and to disconnect electrically the second capacitor from the second winding in response to a signal generated by the timing circuit indicating the predetermined time period has expired.

Abstract: A washing machine is provided that includes a motor, an inductive winding device, a motor control unit, and a braking circuit. The motor control unit is in electrical communication with the motor and the inductive winding device. The braking circuit is in electrical communication with the inductive winding device and the motor control unit. The braking circuit dissipates a braking energy from the motor through the inductive winding device and the motor control unit controlling the braking energy so as to avoid activation of the inductive winding device.

Abstract: An electric motor including a stator, a rotor, and a housing adapted to support the stator and the rotor is provided. The stator includes a stator core, a first and second lamination stack, a flux tube extending therethrough, and windings on the stator core. The rotor includes a hub having an inner surface, a magnet coupled to the hub inner surface, and a shaft received in the stator core for rotation of the rotor relative to the stator about the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A laminated plate assembly in which the laminations in a stack are secured together by means of one or more interlocks or tabs that project from the uppermost lamination in the assembly through holes or slots in all the other laminations in the assembly, or around the periphery of the other laminations in the assembly, with each tab being bent or pressed against the underside of the bottom lamination in the assembly. This secures all the laminations in the stack together, much like a staple secures papers in a stack together, allowing for additional handling and processing of the laminated plate assembly without concern that the laminated plates in the stack will become misaligned or even become removed from the stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for progressively cutting, piercing, bending, stacking, and interlocking lamination assemblies from a strip of laminate. The stacked laminations are mechanically interlocked with a staple-style interlock that secures all the laminations in the stack together. All the steps in the process of forming, stacking and interlocking are done within the tool and die assembly, eliminating the need for additional equipment to stack and interlock assemblies.

Abstract: An electric motor including a stator, a rotor, and a housing adapted to support the stator and the rotor is provided. The stator includes a stator core, a first and second lamination stack, a flux tube extending therethrough, and windings on the stator core. The rotor includes a hub having an inner surface, a magnet coupled to the hub inner surface, and a shaft received in the stator core for rotation of the rotor relative to the stator about the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A laminated plate assembly in which the laminations in a stack are secured together by means of one or more interlocks or tabs that project from the uppermost lamination in the assembly through holes or slots in all the other laminations in the assembly, or around the periphery of the other laminations in the assembly, with each tab being bent or pressed against the underside of the bottom lamination in the assembly. This secures all the laminations in the stack together, much like a staple secures papers in a stack together, allowing for additional handling and processing of the laminated plate assembly without concern that the laminated plates in the stack will become misaligned or even become removed from the stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for progressively cutting, piercing, bending, stacking, and interlocking lamination assemblies from a strip of laminate. The stacked laminations are mechanically interlocked with a staple-style interlock that secures all the laminations in the stack together. All the steps in the process of forming, stacking and interlocking are done within the tool and die assembly, eliminating the need for additional equipment to stack and interlock assemblies.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for minimizing electrical machine vibration are described. In an exemplary embodiment of the method, power is applied to the motor under microprocessor control such that a pulse modulated current profile is applied to the motor which in turn controls the amount of torque generated by the motor. By adjusting current profiles, torque generation is controlled, and vibration and noise are eliminated.

Abstract: A connector plug gap sealer that fits smoothly within an internal cavity of a connector plug includes a first section, a second section, and a third section, the second section includes a flat section and a guiding section, the third section extending from the guiding section around the horizontal axis of symmetry. The first, second and the third sections configured into a single unitary piece to define the plug gap sealer having a flat bottom surface around the horizontal axis of symmetry of the plug gap sealer. The method associated with installing the connector plug gap sealer is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electric motor having a snap-together construction without the use of separate fasterners. The construction of the motor removes additive tolerances for a more accurate assembly. The motor is capable of programming and testing after final assembly and can be non-destructively disassembled for repair or modification. The motor is constructed to inhibit the ready entry of water into the motor housing and to limit the effect of any water which manages to enter the housing.

Abstract: An inside out motor includes a rotor including a concave member, a shaft defining a longitudinal axis mounted on the concave member and a magnet mounted on an interior surface of the concave member. A bearing receives the shaft for rotatably mounting the rotor. A stator assembly is mounted on said bearing and includes a bobbin mounted generally coaxially with the rotor shaft and having an interior diameter, an exterior diameter, a first axial end and a second axial end. A winding is wound on the bobbin and extends around the axis of the rotor shaft. The winding has a width in a direction parallel to the lengthwise extension of the rotor shaft. Plural separate ferromagnetic members are on each of the first and second axial ends of the bobbin. Each ferromagnetic member has a radially outer leg extending generally between the winding and the magnet.

Abstract: An electric motor having a snap-together construction without the use of separate fasteners. The construction of the motor removes additive tolerances for a more accurate assembly. The motor is capable of programming and testing after final assembly and can be non-destructively disassembled for repair or modification. The motor is constructed to inhibit the ready entry of water into the motor housing and to limit the effect of any water which manages to enter the housing.

Abstract: A motor powered by a dc power source has a stator having a single phase winding. A power switching circuit of the motor has power switches for selectively connecting the dc power source to the single phase winding. A permanent magnet rotor in magnetic coupling relation to the stator drives a fan. A position sensor on the stator detects the position of the rotor and provides a position signal indicating the detected position. A control circuit including a microprocessor responsive to the position signal and connected to the power switching circuit selectively commutates the power switches to commutate the single phase winding as a function of the position signal. The microprocessor controlled motor is programmed to reduce operation at speeds at which resonance occurs and provides an alarm in the event that the static pressure of the air driven by the fan is unacceptable.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine having a permanent magnet rotor construction which contains the permanent magnets while inhibiting flux leakage. The invention further permits rapid, substantially conventional manufacturing techniques to be employed in the formation of rotor laminations used to build the rotors. Flux leakage and formation of reluctance components are inhibited either within the individual rotor laminations or along the length of the rotor by interleaving rotor lamination of different types. The rotor may further be constructed to absorb vibrations within the rotor core and insulate the rotor shaft. The rotor may be still further be constructed for counterbalancing the unbalance of a shaft on which the rotor is mounted.