Abstract: In an electric motor 11, a rotary shaft 12 has an outer circumferential surface 21 with a diameter that decreases from a larger diameter section 17 having a first diameter toward a smaller diameter section 18 having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. A sleeve 13 is mounted by interference fit with an inner circumferential surface 22 with a diameter that decrease from a front end adjoining the larger diameter section 17 toward a rear end adjoining the smaller diameter section 18, to the outer circumferential surface 21 of the rotary shaft 12. With such a construction, the sleeve 13 is fitted with the substantially entire surface of the inner circumferential surface 22 to the outer circumferential surface 21 of the rotary shaft 12.

Abstract: A reactor (32) and a switch (35) are interposed in parallel between U-phase, V-phase and W-phase on a power source side (31) and U, V and W terminals on a motor side (33). A changeover switch )37) is interposed between Z, X and Y terminals on the motor side (33) and the U, V and W terminals on the motor side (33). When the switch (35) is set to OFF, the changeover switch (37) is set to ON, and the switch (35) is set up so as to interconnect Z, X and Y terminals, windings of the motor are set up in the form of Y-connection, so that the motor and a power source are connected directly to each other. On the other hand, when the changeover switch (37) is switched over to OFF, and the switch (35) is set up so as to interconnect Z, X and Y terminals to the U, V and W terminals, the windings of the motor are set up in the form of &Dgr;-connection, so that the motor and the power source are connected together through the reactor (32).

Abstract: In a cage rotor for an induction motor, a end ring (22) for connecting conductive rods (20) to one another is covered with a reinforcing member (24). The reinforcing member (24) is obtained by integrally forming a tube-like portion (26) having an inner diameter which is substantially equal to the diameter of a central through hole (14) of a laminated core (26), an annular end wall (28) extending radially outward from one end of the tube-like portion (26) in an axial direction, and an annular engagement wall (30) extending radially outward from the other end of the tube-like portion (26) in the axial direction.

Abstract: A method of producing a squirrel-cage rotor for an induction motor, which includes a plurality of secondary conductors arranged respectively in through holes (16) of a laminated core (14), and a pair of end rings connecting the secondary conductors with one another at both axial ends of the laminated core (14). Each of a pair of reinforcing members (22) includes a cylindrical wall (26), an annular multi-aperture wall (28) provided with apertures (32) and extending in a radial inward direction from one edge of the cylindrical wall (26), and an annular end wall (30) extending generally parallel to the multi-aperture wall (28) in a radial inward direction from another edge of the cylindrical wall (26). Each reinforcing member (22) is arranged in a manner in which the multi-aperture wall (28) is brought into contact with one of the axial end faces of the laminated core (14) while the apertures (32) communicate with the through holes (16).

Abstract: A squirrel-cage rotor (10) includes a laminated core (14) fixed to a rotor shaft (12), a plurality of secondary conductors (18) arranged respectively in a plurality of through holes (16) formed through the laminated core (14), a pair of end rings (20) connected to the secondary conductors (18) at axial ends of the laminated core (14), and a pair of reinforcing members (22, 23) respectively covering the end rings (20). The secondary conductors (18) and the end rings (20) are integrally formed through a casting process, and are connected with the laminated core (14) and the reinforcing members (22, 23).