Patents by Inventor Thomas Mehrer

Thomas Mehrer 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: 7741741
    Abstract: A drive apparatus for a washing machine includes an electric motor, a drive shaft connected to the electric motor for rotary drive, a fan for cooling the electric motor and electronics for controlling operation of the electric motor. In order to achieve a compact construction, the electric motor and the electronics are integrated in a common unit, such as a motor housing. In order to protect the electronics and at the same time ensure that the electronics are sufficiently cooled, the common unit has a dividing wall, with the electric motor and a printed circuit board of the electronics disposed on opposite sides of the dividing wall. The dividing wall has at least one aperture. The electronics include power components protruding at least partially through the aperture and being in contact with the dividing wall and/or with a cooling air stream generated by the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Dielh AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Weinmann, Alexander Müller, Thomas Mehrer
  • Patent number: 7578149
    Abstract: A motor having a stator and a rotor is provided as a direct drive for a laundry treatment appliance. The stator of the motor is preferably centered by a preferably cylindrical or conical protuberance in a bearing hole in a bearing spider or a rear wall of a tub of the laundry treatment appliance. The stator may have lugs on pole insulation which guide the rotor during installation, so that permanent-magnet poles of the rotor cannot strike soft-magnetic poles of the stator. A method for installation of the motor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bertram Schmid, Rainer Holzer, Thomas Mehrer
  • Publication number: 20080018182
    Abstract: A drive apparatus for a washing machine includes an electric motor, a drive shaft connected to the electric motor for rotary drive, a fan for cooling the electric motor and electronics for controlling operation of the electric motor. In order to achieve a compact construction, the electric motor and the electronics are integrated in a common unit, such as a motor housing. In order to protect the electronics and at the same time ensure that the electronics are sufficiently cooled, the common unit has a dividing wall, with the electric motor and a printed circuit board of the electronics disposed on opposite sides of the dividing wall. The dividing wall has at least one aperture. The electronics include power components protruding at least partially through the aperture and being in contact with the dividing wall and/or with a cooling air stream generated by the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Martin Weinmann, Alexander Muller, Thomas Mehrer
  • Publication number: 20050210604
    Abstract: A motor having a stator and a rotor is provided as a direct drive for a laundry treatment appliance. The stator of the motor is preferably centered by a preferably cylindrical or conical protuberance in a bearing hole in a bearing spider or a rear wall of a tub of the laundry treatment appliance. The stator may have lugs on pole insulation which guide the rotor during installation, so that permanent-magnet poles of the rotor cannot strike soft-magnetic poles of the stator. A method for installation of the motor is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Bertram Schmid, Rainer Holzer, Thomas Mehrer