Patents by Inventor Vincent W. Zou

Vincent W. Zou 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: 20240072613
    Abstract: An electric power apparatus includes a main planar body having a circular opening that supports a brushless direct-current (BLDC) motor. The motor includes a stator, a rotor, a motor spindle extending through the circular opening, a first end cap formed on a first side of the stator and mounted on the main planar body; and a second end cap formed on a second side of the stator and secured to the first end cap to form a substantially airtight sealed compartment around the stator and the rotor. The rotor includes a series of openings in a radial wall that generates an airflow circulating through the sealed compartment to transfer heat from the stator to the first end cap and the second end cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: JOHN B. FOGLE, KEVIN L. PULLEY, MARK J. CLEMENTI, JAMES M. NOBIS, SHAILESH P. WAIKAR, VINCENT W. ZOU
  • Publication number: 20230318376
    Abstract: A power tool or a mower is provided including brushless direct-current motor having an inner stator and an outer rotor. A rotor shaft extends through a stator core of the inner stator. The motor includes a first end cap disposed on a first side of the stator and supporting the rotor shaft via a front bearing and a second end cap disposed on a second side of the stator and supporting the rotor shaft via a rear bearing. The front end cap is mounted on a housing of the power tool or a deck of the mower while the rear end cap is located fully outside the housing or the deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: John B. Fogle, Dustin Jeffries, Michael R. Marjomaa, Kevin L. Pulley, Vincent W. Zou, Jarrett A. Dunston, David J. Smith, Rene Thieme, Tim Heimrich, Tobias Heep, Daniel Bernhart, Dieter Schmidtfrerick
  • Patent number: 11670977
    Abstract: A brushless direct-current motor is provided includes an inner stator and an outer rotor. A rotor shaft extends through a stator core of the inner stator. A first end cap includes a radial back plate disposed on a first side of the stator and a front center opening through which the rotor shaft is supported via a front bearing. A second end cap includes an inner annular body extending axially inwardly and forming a rear center opening, an outer annular body, and a main body extending on a second side of the stator. The inner annular body includes a first portion that extends at least partially into an opening of the stator core and supports the rotor shaft via a rear bearing, and a second portion rearward of the first portion that received a rear end of the rotor shaft therein and houses a sensor board therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Fogle, Dustin Jeffries, Michael R. Marjomaa, Kevin L. Pulley, Vincent W. Zou, Jarrett A. Dunston, David J. Smith, Rene Thieme, Tim Heimrich, Tobias Heep, Daniel Bernhart, Dieter Schmidtfrerick
  • Publication number: 20200343780
    Abstract: A brushless direct-current motor is provided includes an inner stator and an outer rotor. A rotor shaft extends through a stator core of the inner stator. A first end cap includes a radial back plate disposed on a first side of the stator and a front center opening through which the rotor shaft is supported via a front bearing. A second end cap includes an inner annular body extending axially inwardly and forming a rear center opening, an outer annular body, and a main body extending on a second side of the stator. The inner annular body includes a first portion that extends at least partially into an opening of the stator core and supports the rotor shaft via a rear bearing, and a second portion rearward of the first portion that received a rear end of the rotor shaft therein and houses a sensor board therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: John B. Fogle, Dustin Jeffries, Michael R. Marjomma, Kevin L. Pulley, Vincent W. Zou, Jarrett A. Dunston, David J. Smith, Rene Thieme, Tim Heimrich, Tobias Heep, Daniel Bernhart, Dieter Schmidtfrerick
  • Publication number: 20200343789
    Abstract: A brushless direct-current motor is provided includes an inner stator and an outer rotor. The rotor includes a rotor core disposed around the stator, an inner annular member mounted on a rotor shaft, and a plurality of radial blades extending angularly from the rotor core to the inner annular member forming a fan. A first end cap is provided including a radial back plate proximate the fan and a center opening in the radial back plate through which the rotor shaft extends. A second end cap is provided including a main body disposed adjacent the stator opposite the fan. The radial back plate of the first end cap includes at least one sloped surface forming at least one air gap such that the airflow generated by the fan is centrifugally guided within the first end cap by the sloped surface and caused to exit through the air gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: John B. Fogle, Dustin Jeffries, Michael R. Marjomma, Kevin L. Pulley, Vincent W. Zou, Jarrett A. Dunston, David J. Smith, Rene Thieme, Tim Heimrich, Tobias Heep, Daniel Bernhart, Dieter Schmidtfrerick