Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr.

Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr. 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: 11111960
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotor rotatable about an axis, a housing defining a motor chamber receiving at least a portion of the rotor, and a bearing assembly rotatably supporting the rotor on the housing. The housing includes a pair of axially spaced apart endshields. The bearing assembly includes a bearing and lubricant collection structure associated with the bearing. The lubricant collection structure defines a collection chamber configured to collect lubricant from the motor chamber and direct the lubricant to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr., Lawrence J. Wittman, Andrew F. Poag
  • Patent number: 11075552
    Abstract: A motor is cooled with a coolant. The motor includes a rotor rotatable about an axis, a stator including a stator core and windings wound about the stator core, a housing enclosing at least a portion of the stator, and a resiliently deflectable spray ring extending circumferentially relative to the axis. The spray ring defines at least one orifice configured to direct coolant on the stator. The spray ring presents first and second arcuately spaced apart ends defining a gap therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond D. Heilman, Andrew F. Poag, S. Duke Snider, John T. Scoble, III, Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20200116202
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotor rotatable about an axis, a housing defining a motor chamber receiving at least a portion of the rotor, and a bearing assembly rotatably supporting the rotor on the housing. The housing includes a pair of axially spaced apart endshields. The bearing assembly includes a bearing and lubricant collection structure associated with the bearing. The lubricant collection structure defines a collection chamber configured to collect lubricant from the motor chamber and direct the lubricant to the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kirkley, JR., Lawrence J. Wittman, Andrew F. Poag
  • Patent number: 10550892
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotor rotatable about an axis, a housing defining a motor chamber receiving at least a portion of the rotor, and a bearing assembly rotatably supporting the rotor on the housing. The housing includes a pair of axially spaced apart endshields. The bearing assembly includes a bearing and lubricant collection structure associated with the bearing. The lubricant collection structure defines a collection chamber configured to collect lubricant from the motor chamber and direct the lubricant to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr., Lawrence J. Wittman, Andrew F. Poag
  • Publication number: 20200021150
    Abstract: A motor is cooled with a coolant. The motor includes a rotor rotatable about an axis, a stator including a stator core and windings wound about the stator core, a housing enclosing at least a portion of the stator, and a resiliently deflectable spray ring extending circumferentially relative to the axis. The spray ring defines at least one orifice configured to direct coolant on the stator. The spray ring presents first and second arcuately spaced apart ends defining a gap therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond D. Heilman, Andrew F. Poag, S. Duke Snider, John T. Scoble, III, Thomas E. Kirkley, JR.
  • Patent number: 10468923
    Abstract: A motor is cooled with a coolant. The motor includes a rotor rotatable about an axis, a stator including a stator core and windings wound about the stator core, a housing enclosing at least a portion of the stator, and a resiliently deflectable spray ring extending circumferentially relative to the axis. The spray ring defines at least one orifice configured to direct coolant on the stator. The spray ring presents first and second arcuately spaced apart ends defining a gap therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond D. Heilman, Andrew F. Poag, S. Duke Snider, John T. Scoble, III, Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9917486
    Abstract: An electric motor assembly including a stator having a stator core and windings around the stator core is disclosed. The stator core has opposing ends and an outer surface extending between the opposing ends. The electric motor assembly also includes a housing having an inner surface enclosing at least a portion of the stator, and at least one fluid passage between the outer surface of the stator core and the inner surface of the housing. The fluid passage permits a coolant in the fluid passage to contact one or more portions of the outer surface of the stator core to remove heat from the stator core during operation of the electric motor assembly. Additional motor assemblies including stator and/or rotor cooling features are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr., Lawrence J. Wittman, Andrew F. Poag, Steven P. Randall
  • Publication number: 20170063191
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotor rotatable about an axis, a housing defining a motor chamber receiving at least a portion of the rotor, and a bearing assembly rotatably supporting the rotor on the housing. The housing includes a pair of axially spaced apart endshields. The bearing assembly includes a bearing and lubricant collection structure associated with the bearing. The lubricant collection structure defines a collection chamber configured to collect lubricant from the motor chamber and direct the lubricant to the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kirkley, JR., Lawrence J. Wittman, Andrew F. Poag
  • Publication number: 20170063182
    Abstract: A motor is cooled with a coolant. The motor includes a rotor rotatable about an axis, a stator including a stator core and windings wound about the stator core, a housing enclosing at least a portion of the stator, and a resiliently deflectable spray ring extending circumferentially relative to the axis. The spray ring defines at least one orifice configured to direct coolant on the stator. The spray ring presents first and second arcuately spaced apart ends defining a gap therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond D. Heilman, Andrew F. Poag, S. Duke Snider, John T. Scoble, III, Thomas E. Kirkley, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150171699
    Abstract: An electric motor assembly including a stator having a stator core and windings around the stator core is disclosed. The stator core has opposing ends and an outer surface extending between the opposing ends. The electric motor assembly also includes a housing having an inner surface enclosing at least a portion of the stator, and at least one fluid passage between the outer surface of the stator core and the inner surface of the housing. The fluid passage permits a coolant in the fluid passage to contact one or more portions of the outer surface of the stator core to remove heat from the stator core during operation of the electric motor assembly. Additional motor assemblies including stator and/or rotor cooling features are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: NIDEC MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kirkley, JR., Lawrence J. Wittman, Andrew F. Poag, Steven P. Randall
  • Patent number: 8963384
    Abstract: An electric motor assembly including a stator having a stator core and windings around the stator core is disclosed. The stator core has opposing ends and an outer surface extending between the opposing ends. The electric motor assembly also includes a housing having an inner surface enclosing at least a portion of the stator, and at least one fluid passage between the outer surface of the stator core and the inner surface of the housing. The fluid passage permits a coolant in the fluid passage to contact one or more portions of the outer surface of the stator core to remove heat from the stator core during operation of the electric motor assembly. Additional motor assemblies including stator and/or rotor cooling features are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr., Lawrence J. Wittman, Andrew F. Poag, Steven P. Randall
  • Patent number: 8916997
    Abstract: An electric motor assembly including a stator having a stator core and windings around the stator core is disclosed. The stator core has opposing ends and an outer surface extending between the opposing ends. The electric motor assembly also includes a housing having an inner surface enclosing at least a portion of the stator, and at least one fluid passage between the outer surface of the stator core and the inner surface of the housing. The fluid passage permits a coolant in the fluid passage to contact one or more portions of the outer surface of the stator core to remove heat from the stator core during operation of the electric motor assembly. Additional motor assemblies including stator and/or rotor cooling features are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr., Lawrence J. Wittman, Andrew F. Poag, Steven P. Randall
  • Publication number: 20110309698
    Abstract: An electric motor assembly including a stator having a stator core and windings around the stator core is disclosed. The stator core has opposing ends and an outer surface extending between the opposing ends. The electric motor assembly also includes a housing having an inner surface enclosing at least a portion of the stator, and at least one fluid passage between the outer surface of the stator core and the inner surface of the housing. The fluid passage permits a coolant in the fluid passage to contact one or more portions of the outer surface of the stator core to remove heat from the stator core during operation of the electric motor assembly. Additional motor assemblies including stator and/or rotor cooling features are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kirkley, JR., Lawrence J. Wittman, Andrew F. Poag, Steven P. Randall
  • Publication number: 20110309697
    Abstract: An electric motor assembly including a stator having a stator core and windings around the stator core is disclosed. The stator core has opposing ends and an outer surface extending between the opposing ends. The electric motor assembly also includes a housing having an inner surface enclosing at least a portion of the stator, and at least one fluid passage between the outer surface of the stator core and the inner surface of the housing. The fluid passage permits a coolant in the fluid passage to contact one or more portions of the outer surface of the stator core to remove heat from the stator core during operation of the electric motor assembly. Additional motor assemblies including stator and/or rotor cooling features are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kirkley, JR., Lawrence J. Wittman, Andrew F. Poag, Steven P. Randall
  • Patent number: 7919898
    Abstract: A rotor core assembly for an electric motor includes a stack of laminations and first and second end plates disposed at opposite ends of the stack of laminations. A plurality of concentric fastener holes extend through the laminations and the end plates for receiving stainless steel pins. Each pin has a head against one of the end plates, and each pin has spaced apart grooves thereon extending from the other end plate. A stainless steel collar engages each of the pins and contacts one of the end plates. Each collar has a deformed portion in at least one of the grooves of the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Weirong Wang, Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080315715
    Abstract: A rotor core assembly for an electric motor includes a stack of laminations and first and second end plates disposed at opposite ends of the stack of laminations. A plurality of concentric fastener holes extend through the laminations and the end plates for receiving stainless steel pins. Each pin has a head against one of the end plates, and each pin has spaced apart grooves thereon extending from the other end plate. A stainless steel collar engages each of the pins and contacts one of the end plates. Each collar has a deformed portion in at least one of the grooves of the pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Weirong Wang, Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr.
  • Patent number: D999738
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew F. Poag, Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr, Anthony J. Coloma, Ronald W. Schmidt
  • Patent number: D1014435
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: NIDEC MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew F. Poag, Thomas E. Kirkley, Jr., Anthony J. Coloma, Ronald W. Schmidt