Inbuilt Or Incorporated Unit Patents (Class 310/67R)
  • Patent number: 6166463
    Abstract: The present invention resides in a radial air gap machine with a serrated air gap that can minimize external axial forces. This is accomplished by controlling the relationship between the air gap surfaces in the stator and rotor sections. To control the relationship between the stator sections and the rotor section in a vertical motor a bushing with external and internal thread of opposite hand with the internal thread having a steeper helix angle is twisted into a bearing mount and over a motor shaft. Thus, a vertical hollow shaft motor with magnetic balance thrust is adjusted.In axial air gap machines, the magnetic force produced in the air gaps can also be utilized to compensate for axial loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Inventor: Richard C. Woodward, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6166904
    Abstract: A heat generating cooling device including a heat sink with a plurality of fins and a cooling fan unit mounted on and above the fins and having a motor. At least one auxiliary blade is provided on the bottom surface of the motor and extends in toward the thickness direction of the heat sink. The fins can be formed short to provide blade clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Kitahara, Tadayoshi Shimanuki
  • Patent number: 6163097
    Abstract: An axial field motor/generator having a rotor that includes at least three annular discs magnetized to provide multiple sector-shaped poles. Each sector has a polarity opposite that of an adjacent sector, and each sector is polarized through the thickness of the disc. The poles of each magnet are aligned with opposite poles of each adjacent magnet. Metal members adjacent the outermost two magnets contain the flux. The motor/generator also has a stator that includes a stator assembly between each two adjacent magnets. Each stator assembly includes one or more conductors or windings. Although the conductors may be formed of wire having a round, uniform cross-section, they may alternatively be formed of conductors having a tapered cross-section that corresponds to the taper of the sectors in order to maximize the density of the conductor in the gap between axially adjacent poles. The conductors may also alternatively be formed of traces in a printed circuit, which may have one or more layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Smith Technologies Development, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen H. Smith, Yuval Shenkal
  • Patent number: 6160333
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a replacement alternator constructed to replace an existing CS-130 alternator in a vehicle where the CS-130 alternator was disposed in a predetermined alternator space within the vehicle. The alternator space has a predetermined length, width and height. The alternator comprises a housing defining an alternator interior space. The housing is sized to fit within the predetermined alternator space. A rotor coil having a plurality of wire windings wound thereabout is disposed in the alternator interior space of the housing and rotatably supported by the housing. The wire windings of the rotor coil have an electrical current flowing therethrough for generating a rotating magnetic field as the rotor coil rotates. Means are provided for selectively rotating the rotor coil at a speed of at least 1600 revolutions per minute. The alternator includes a stator positioned in the rotating magnetic field generated by the rotor coil and supported by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Unit Parts Company
    Inventors: Jianing Chen, Michael D. Ballard
  • Patent number: 6158983
    Abstract: An apparatus (30) for use in pumping hydraulic fluid includes a pump unit (32) which is driven by an electric motor (34). The electric motor (34) is mounted on a tubular stem (108) which extends axially outward from a manifold plate (44). A stator (100) of the electric motor (34) is fixedly connected with the tubular stem (108). A rotor (112) of the electric motor (34) encloses the stator (100). A hydraulic muffler (50) attenuates noise produced by the gear pump unit (32). The hydraulic muffler (50) includes a channel (58) which extends into the manifold plate (44) from a major side surface (63) of the manifold plate. To increase the ability of the hydraulic muffler (50) to attenuate noise, one or two compliant elements (152 or 166 and 168) are connected with the channel (58).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: George M. Harpole, Michael B. Petach, Henry C. Sangret, Michael A. Jones
  • Patent number: 6160334
    Abstract: In a thin type flexible disk drive motor, in order to improve undesirable jittering of rotation, an inertia ring of larger diameter than that of the rotor frame is fixed immediately under the rotor. The inertia ring consists of a short cylinder part of the larger diameter to be fixed under the rotor frame and a flange part of the diameter not smaller than that of FG (frequency generation) magnet part. The disk drive motor also has a drive pin engaging assembly that allows a drive pin to be secured within a hub of the flexible disk while stabilizing the drive pin and after disk chucking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Teshima, Hironobu Nishida
  • Patent number: 6155511
    Abstract: A capstan motor which includes: a stator yoke having a multiple number of coils provided on a circle centered about a rotational shaft; and a rotor yoke having an annular magnet opposing the multiple number of coils and rotating integrally with the rotational shaft, and is constructed such that a hysteresis plate is provided opposing the rotor yoke on the side opposite the multiple number of coils for receiving leakage of the magnetic flux from the magnet and is attached rotatably relative to the rotary shaft; and driving force for rotation is extracted from the hysteresis plate, and a tape driving system using it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamitsu Tadera, Koji Yamabuchi, Mitsunobu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6157107
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotor including a permanent magnet circumferentially equally divided and alternately magnetized to different poles into a cylindrical shape. A first coil and a second coil are displayed inside and axially of the rotor. First outer magnetic poles and first inner magnetic poles are excited by the first coil and are opposed to the outer peripheral surface and inner peripheral surface of the rotor, respectively. Second outer magnetic poles and second inner magnetic poles excited by the second coil are opposed to the outer peripheral surface and inner peripheral surface of the rotor, respectively. The first inner magnetic poles and the second inner magnetic poles are located between the first coil and the second coil, to thereby make the opposed area of the outer magnetic poles, the inner magnetic poles and the magnet large and provide a super-compact motor of a high output and high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chikara Aoshima, Toyoshige Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6157112
    Abstract: A brushless DC motor, having a rotor with a cylindrical rotor magnet supported rotationally by a shaft held by bearings mounted on a substantially planar base plate, and a stator supported by the base plate, and including a plurality of radially spaced salient poles holding stator coils formed by windings of magnet wire. Opposing surfaces of the rotor and each salient pole are defined by a first surface of a magnetic core of the salient pole, which is received in a bobbin, and a second surface of the magnetic core orthogonal to the first surface, and the rotor magnet has permanent magnet poles forming a first surface opposing the first surface of the magnetic core, and a second surface opposing the second surface of the magnetic core. A tip of each magnetic core is received through a hole formed in the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzuru Suzuki, Taketoshi Ohyashiki, Naoyuki Harada, Taichi Nishio
  • Patent number: 6150744
    Abstract: A sealed type motor arrangement, comprising: a micro-motor with a reduction unit and a sealed housing made of plastic, said sealed housing having a bottom housing and a cover housing, said sealed housing defines a sealed space for accommodating said micro-motor and a non-sealed space, in the periphery of said sealed space of said bottom housing, said non-sealed space having a small groove with a resilient sealing plastic washer arranged therein, said bottom housing having an opening for a cylindrical shaft of said micro-motor to extend out of said sealed housing, a plurality of small apertures are arranged symmetrically between said bottom housing and said cover housing for tightening a plurality of screws to make said bottom housing and said covered housing sealed, a wire with a power supply input plug goes through an opening on a side wall of said bottom housing and a hole on a wall between said sealed space and said non-sealed space to connect a pair of leads of said motor in said sealed space, the hole on
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Brite Star Limited
    Inventor: Yosuke Onishi
  • Patent number: 6144124
    Abstract: A thinned DC brushless motor (50) has a base plate 52 of magnetic material, a rotatable shaft (58) supported perpendicular to the base plate, an annular hub (68) coaxially fixed on the shaft, a stator (60) fixed on the base plate, and a rotor (70) coaxially fixed on the shaft through the annular hub. The rotor (70) includes an first wall portion (72) extended radially from the shaft above the stator and parallel to the base plate and a second wall portion (74) extended from a peripheral edge of the circular potion towards the base plate to enclose the stator. An annular magnet (78) is fixed on an inner surface of the second wall of the rotor with leaving a small gap from a peripheral edge of the stator. The upper wall has a bent portion (80) extended outward away from the annular magnet in the vicinity of an inner edge of the annular magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fujio Nakagawa, Yoshihisa Katoh
  • Patent number: 6140725
    Abstract: The wet-running submersible motor comprises a shaft and an electrical rotor arranged thereon, both being arranged in the rotor space of the motor. The shaft is formed hollow either on its longitudinal section on the pump side or over the whole length. On the pump side the shaft surrounds a sealing formation for sealing the rotor space of the motor with respect to the pump. Furthermore the hollow shaft is provided with radial flow passages in order to circulate fluid in the rotor space of the motor. Through the hollow shaft fluid is also led to the pump side, for which the shaft end on the pump side is provided with a fluid passable functional unit. The functional unit is formed so that it at least allows a fluid flow towards the pump side in order to bleed the rotor space and to reduce excess pressure in the rotor space which is subsequently filled with delivery fluid via the sealing formation, by way of fluid exit towards the pump side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Grundfos A/S
    Inventors: Niels Due Jensen, Ole K. Sorensen
  • Patent number: 6140721
    Abstract: A slender-type cylindrical coreless motor for use in battery driven equipment in which power-consumption is low, high reliability is achieved, miniaturization and long-term battery driving of the equipment are realized. The slender-type cylindrical coreless motor includes: a pipe (2) with one end fixed to a frame (1); a cylindrical magnet (3) disposed around the outer surface of the pipe (2); and an inner bearing (7) for holding a fixed portion of a shaft (5) to a rotor assembly body (4). A second end portion of the pipe (2) has a length that does not permit protrusion thereof from an end surface (3b) of the magnet (3), and the inner bearing (7) is located at the end surface (3b) of the magnet (3) concentrically with the outer diameter of the magnet. Portions of the inner bearing (7) and the end surface facing each other are joined with solder material, and portions of the pipe (2) and the magnet (3) facing each other are joined with solder material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Ibata, Toshiaki Tsuzaki
  • Patent number: 6137197
    Abstract: An axial flow fan motor is provided with a motor housing that supports a bearing box. Bearings supported by the bearing box rotatably support a rotary shaft on which a yoke and an impeller are fixed. A U-letter shaped groove is provided on one portion of the motor housing, which is adapted to be engaged with a projection provided on an outer circumference on a PC board assembled with a control circuit. Since the PC board is securely positioned, the tip end of a probe of an automatic test machine can securely contact the terminal pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Taniguchi, Shuichi Otsuka
  • Patent number: 6137196
    Abstract: A motor for driving a magnetic disk characterized by that it has a noise cutoff layer 121 for noise blocking interposed between the inner side of the stator 116 and the center shaft and the stator 116 is positioned in a fixing portion and adhesively attached thereto. The noise cutoff layer 121 is provided either by an air gap or a substance filled therein which transmits noise less than the laminated core of the center shaft and the stator. Further, the substance filled in the noise cutoff layer 121 may be a porous substance. Still further, a noise blank sheet 123 may be interposed between the stator 116 and the flange 100 on which the stator is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Kurasawa
  • Patent number: 6137200
    Abstract: A disk drive has a sleeve-bearing spindle motor having a rotor for rotating the disk of removable data storage cartridge. A retainer which is compliant in the direction of axial movement of the rotor stops the axial movement. The retainer is mounted on a moveable platform which mounts the disk cartridge as it is inserted into the drive. The retainer includes a cantilevered beam which is compliant in the direction of axial movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Iomega Corporation
    Inventors: Arulmani Ethirajan, Dennis D. Ogden
  • Patent number: 6133659
    Abstract: An in-line generator fits between the engine and transmission of a conventional motor vehicle. The in-line generator comprises an externally cooled housing having a first end that is mounted to the engine in place of the transmission. The transmission is secured to the housing second end in the same manner as the transmission would normally be secured to the engine. One end of a rotor is fastened to the engine crankshaft. A coupling is attached to the rotor second end and to the transmission input shaft. When the engine is operated, the rotor rotates to cooperate with a stator in the housing to produce electric power. The rotor also transmits torque to the transmission to propel the motor vehicle. The coupling includes a flex plate that accommodates thermal expansion of the rotor and other generator parts. The in-line generator can be removed from the vehicle and the transmission resecured to the engine as in a normal vehicle should the in-line generator require repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Synchrotek, Inc.
    Inventor: Shekar Rao
  • Patent number: 6133666
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert K. Hollenbeck, Dennis P. Bobay, James E. Grimm, Norman P. Golm, Jr., Gregory A. Thompson, Jeffrey A. Hall
  • Patent number: 6124654
    Abstract: A drive system is described that uses an electric motor and a rotary angle measuring system. The measuring system shaft is supported in roller bearings in a stator which is supported relative to the electric motor in a nonrotatable fashion by means of a stator coupling. The measuring system shaft is rigidly mounted on the end of motor shaft. The rotary angle measuring system thus assumes support of motor shaft at the B end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Max Stegmann GmbH Antriebstechnik-Eledtronik
    Inventor: Josef Siraky
  • Patent number: 6121710
    Abstract: An improved stator structure for industrial cooling fans includes silicon steel plates punched directly into shape to allow direct magnetic conductance so as to enhance field intensity. Upper and lower silicon steel plates are passed through plastic insulating packing pieces and inserted into recessed grooves of a plastic sleeve. The assembly is then riveted in tight fit to achieve a motor stator structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Jsewen Ho
  • Patent number: 6121703
    Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing including a sleeve and a counterplate captured within a shoulder on the sleeve and including a threaded mounting extension for mounting the assembly from a base or the like. A rotating shaft is incorporated within the sleeve; the shaft includes a thrust plate which rotates in a recess defined between the counterplate and the sleeve. To incorporate this assembly into a disc drive or the like, the threaded mounting extension only needs to be mounted within a base, with a nut screwed over the threaded mounting. The base typically includes a raised portion; the sleeve is cantilevered from this base for further stability and eliminate the possibility of vibration of the shaft and sleeve with rotation of the shaft. The end of the shaft distal from the threaded mounting supports a hub which in turn supports a backiron and magnet. The base supports a stator aligned with the magnet; energization of the stator will cause rotation of the hub and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Klaus D. Kloeppel, Anthony J. Aiello, Steven C. Knoche
  • Patent number: 6121711
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a low cost, high performance, thin structure rotary motor for driving medium used in magnetic disk drive unit, optical disk drive unit or the like, in order to improve the productivity of terminating processing and the reliability of the coils. Magnetic materials which are divided to a plurality of blocks or divided corresponding to respective magnetic pole teeth are connected by means of thin portions. The respective magnetic pole teeth are wound continuously with wire without cutting the wire at the positions in which the thin portions are connected. When a stator is assembled, a plurality of blocks or magnetic pole teeth are disposed on a substrate by separating or bending the thin portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Nakahara, Ken-ichi Azuma, Masaru Matsumoto, Youichi Fujita, Satoru Akutsu, Akira Hashimoto, Yasunori Takai, Tadashi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Junji Kawada
  • Patent number: 6114785
    Abstract: A positioning device for a miniature fan includes a coil seat having an axle tube, an upper polar plate assembly, a lower polar plate assembly, and a winding mounted between the upper polar plate assembly and the lower polar plate assembly. A circuit board is mounted to the axle tube and includes a sensor element for activating rotor. The sensor element is located on a line extending from an end edge of the upper polar plate assembly along a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the axle tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Shen Horng
  • Patent number: 6107710
    Abstract: Means are disclosed which allow certain automobile alternators to be converted so that their electrical hook ups are reverted to an older more efficacious terminal connection style thereby enabling the use of older alternator frames when rebuilding or remanufacturing these alternators. Essentially a bayonett style male/female connector assembly is replaced with a bolt and nut and eyelet style of connection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Jose Gamboa
  • Patent number: 6107717
    Abstract: A motor structure comprises a shaft formed with a circumferential groove; a hub fixed on the shaft and formed with a projected portion at the inner lower end of the central part thereof; at least two bearings for supporting the shaft for rotation; a bearing seat formed with at least one projected portion and for holding the at least two bearings, the projected portion being provided between the two bearings; and an elastic ring engaged with the circumferential groove and in cooperation with the projected portion of the bearing seat and the projected portion of the hub for fixing the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Lin, Yu-Hung Huang, Wen-Shi Huang
  • Patent number: 6107716
    Abstract: A housing assembly for an electrical device (such as an electronic circuit) is disclosed in which a support member is provided in a compartment to physically divide a componentry sensitive to such radiation. In a preferred embodiment, an electric power-assisted steering system is disclosed of the kind in which an electric motor (12) is connected through a gearbox to an output shaft operatively connected to a steering column of the vehicle and in which a one-piece housing (1) is provided which defines two discrete compartments (2, 3). A first compartment (3) is adapted to house the motor and the gearbox, and a second compartment (2) is adapted to house a motor control circuit and a motor drive circuit, a support member (21) being adapted to provide a physical banner between the two circuits. The one-piece housing (1) is advantageous in that it reduces the number of potential openings through which electromagnetic radiation may pass compared with providing multiple housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Lucas Varity Electric Steering Ltd.
    Inventor: David Michael Penketh
  • Patent number: 6104113
    Abstract: A coil assembly for sensorless rotor angular position control of a single phase permanent magnet motor. The coil assembly is positioned axially adjacent one end of the motor's rotor core in magnetic coupling relationship with the rotor and substantially independent of the magnetic coupling relationship between the main winding of the motor's stator and rotor. The coil assembly comprises a coil of wire and a coil fixture for holding the coil of wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Brian L. Beifus
  • Patent number: 6104112
    Abstract: A compact, self contained brushless motor assembly which has a stator fixedly mounted onto a hub. Located about the stator is a rotor with a shaft being connected to the rotor which is conducted through a center through hole formed within the hub. A heat sink is attached to the hub. A controller is mounted onto the heat sink with heat generated by the controller to be dissipated by the heat sink. Rotation of the rotor causes rotation of a shaft which passes through the center through hole with this shaft to be optionally connectable to a planetary gear system. The planetary gear system is to be mounted within an alcove formed within the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Chandu R. Vanjani
  • Patent number: 6104114
    Abstract: The brushless motor according to the present invention is small in overall height without deterioration of the rotational accuracy. One of a pair of bearings is interposed between the base plate and the rotor and located on the radially outside of the other one of the bearings. A plurality of receiving holes is formed on the base plate to correspond to the teeth of the stator core to provide an axially space for respectively accommodating coils wound around the stator core. Thus, in spite of the motor having such a small axial clearance between the base plate and the rotor, sufficient amount of winding of coil is ensured. The receiving holes are closed from the outside of the motor with a sheet member and an adhesive is filled therein for fixedly securing the coil of the stator. The adhesive further acts as a damper to absorb magnetic vibration generated at the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Takeda, Hitoshi Urakami
  • Patent number: 6100615
    Abstract: A motorized wheel hub assembly includes a sealed motor section having first and second coaxial shafts extending from the motor section, the second shaft being a rotary shaft and a gear reduction section adjacent to the motor section, the gear reduction section including a pinion at the end of the rotary shaft, a plurality of planet gears rotatably mounted to the housing in meshing engagement with the pinion and a third shaft connected to the motor housing, all of the shafts being separate but coaxial. A hub having an interior surface closely surrounds the motor and gear reduction sections and is rotatably coupled to the first and third shafts. A ring gear formed in the interior surface of the hub is in meshing engagement with the planet gears so that when the second shaft rotates at a selected speed, the hub rotates relative to the first and third shafts at a lesser speed. Preferably, the hub is partially filled with oil to conduct heat from the motor section to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventor: Orville J. Birkestrand
  • Patent number: 6097129
    Abstract: An electronically commutated external rotor motor has an external rotor having a cup-shaped housing and a radially magnetized permanent magnet connected in the cup-shaped housing. An interior stator is positioned in the cup-shaped housing. The interior stator has a laminated core having grooves. Windings are provided within the grooves. The windings have first end turns proximal to a bottom of the cup-shaped housing and second end turns positioned distal to the bottom. The first and second end turns electrically connect the windings to one another. The permanent magnet has an end face remote from the bottom of the cup-shaped housing. At least one galvano-magnetic rotor position sensor is arranged opposite the end face of the permanent magnet so as to be located within a magnetic leakage of the permanent magnet and within a magnetic leakage of the interior stator. The at least one rotor position sensor is designed to control current within at least a portion of the windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Papst-Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Patrick Furtwangler, Hermann Rappenecker, Harald Reich, Gabor Szondi
  • Patent number: 6097121
    Abstract: A spindle motor comprises a stationary member having a round mounting hole therein, a tubular member fitted into the mounting hole of the stationary member, a bearing means mounted to the inner side of the tubular member, a rotor supported by the bearing means for rotation in relation to the tubular member, a stator fitted onto the outer side of the tubular member, and a rotor magnet mounted to the rotor to be located radially and outwardly of the stator. The procedure of assembling the spindle motor includes mounting the rotor magnet to the rotor, joining the rotor by the bearing means to the tubular member for rotation, fitting the stator onto the tubular member, and fitting the tubular member into the mounting hole of the stationary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshito Oku
  • Patent number: 6097120
    Abstract: A brushless D.C. motor assembly includes a balancing sheet made of material with magnetic conductivity, the balancing sheet having an axle hole joined together with a stator by an axle tube, a rotor rotatably received in the axle tube, the rotation thereof controlled by a controlling device, and the rotor having a annular permanent magnet with a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the balancing sheet wherein the permanent magnet and the balancing sheet attract each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Alex Horng
  • Patent number: 6091172
    Abstract: An outer rotor-type multi-pole generator includes a plurality of coils wound around a large number of protruding poles provided around an outer periphery of a stator core through a bobbin, and terminal members fitted into fitting tube portions integrally provided on the bobbin to pass through the stator core over opposite ends of the stator core. Each of the coils is connected to one end of the terminal member. Each of the terminal members includes a flat plate-shaped base portion fitted into the fitting tube portion and a clamping plate portion protruding sideways from one end of the base portion. The end of the coil is connected to the one end of the terminal member by fusing with the clamping plate portion being folded in such a manner that the end of the coil is clamped between the clamping plate portion and one end of the base portion. Thus, the operation for connecting the coils to the terminal members is facilitated, and the number of steps of the connecting operation is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignees: Sawafuji Electric Co., Ltd., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Kakinuma, Hidetoshi Hirano, Masayuki Tozuka, Tsutomu Hirano, Motohiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6091174
    Abstract: A motor and pump assembly in which the circulating liquid from the pump passes through the motor and in which the motor housing has an outer shell closed at its end remote from the pump by a metal cover having an inwardly-extending annular collar fitting against an inner side of the outer shell for heat transfer thereto. A heat-generating electronic component such as a frequency converter is mounted directly on an inner side of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Wilo GmbH
    Inventor: Albert Genster
  • Patent number: 6084323
    Abstract: A spindle motor in a disc drive has a rotor assembly rotatably mounted to a base. A stator is mounted to the base and a magnet is mounted to the rotor assembly. The magnet or the stator is allowed to move in an axial direction relative to the other under the influence of magnetic interaction between the magnet and the stator. The magnet and stator are then rigidly fixed relative to one another in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Pelstring, Gunter Karl Heine
  • Patent number: 6080927
    Abstract: A solar concentrator for producing usable power as heat and/or electricity uses a self-steering heliostat 1502 to concentrate solar radiation 1509 onto an absorbing surface such as, or including, a solar cell array 1511 capable of absorbing power from the radiation, meanwhile removing heat (such as from long-wave infra-red radiation or resistive losses) from the surface with fluid heat transfer means 1503, 1504, then making effective use of that low-grade heat. Thus the solar cell array is kept relatively cool and a larger proportion of the solar energy incident on the reflector unit is used. The invention uses electricity 1506 from the solar cells to move a transporting fluid through a heat exchanger 1504. Excess electricity may be available for local storage or use 1510, or feeding 1512 to the power distribution grid. Applications include warming swimming pools 1501, heating hot-water supplies using excess electricity, or warming, lighting and ventilating open spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Inventor: Colin Francis Johnson
  • Patent number: 6081056
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor which comprises a drive system which has a stator (10) and a rotor (14), and a control system which controls the drive system and has circuit boards (21), (22), both being housed in a casing (2), wherein the casing (2) has a first conductive pin (25) for flowing a current to input power to the control system and a second conductive pin (26) for flowing a current to output from the control system to respective phases of a coil, and the circuit boards are supported by the first and second conductive pins. And, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a motor which comprises the steps of using a first die (101) and a second die (102) which are mutually connected with a die split face (104) therebetween and a third die (103) which is inserted in the middle of the first and second dies, inserting and fixing a motor stator, a metallic cylinder and embedding members into a cavity formed by the first, second and third dies, and pouring a molten resin to effect resin molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Takagi, Michio Sato, Akiyoshi Ishiguro, Kunio Tabata, Osamu Shinkawa
  • Patent number: 6078466
    Abstract: A magnetic disk unit of the present invention has a construction in which: a rotor, on which a magnetic disk is loaded, is integrally formed with a sleeve portion of a ball bearing unit, or with a spindle of a spindle motor for driving the disk, or with an inner or an outer race of the ball bearing unit in a disk drive unit of the magnetic disk unit, so that: alignment operations of the rotor with the ball bearing unit are eliminated in assembling operations of the magnetic disk unit; and, the rotor is free from radial vibrations to improve the disk in recording density and reliability, whereby the number of parts of the magnetic disk unit and the number of assembling operation or steps of the magnetic disk unit are reduced, which leads to reduction of the manufacturing cost of the magnetic disk unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Minebea Kabushiki-kaisha
    Inventor: Rikuro Obara
  • Patent number: 6078118
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a combination of an electric motor and a pump with a compact design. It is important that the pump housing 9 is made of plastic material and slid into the housing periphery 2 of the electric motor so that it embraces the pump housing from the outside and thereby imparts stability to it.The pump bores 15, 16 extend radially outwardly and are closed by plugs 22, 23 which bear against the inside of the electric motor housing 2.Because the pump housing is made of plastic material, it can additionally be used as a brush support plate for the brushes 24, 25 of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Reinartz, Dieter Dinkel
  • Patent number: 6075301
    Abstract: A pair of C-shaped magnets are fitted to a resin holder and inserted as a unit into a cup-shaped motor case. The resin holder has a diameter that is slightly greater than the inside diameter of the motor case, but includes resilient elements that are compressible during insertion of the resin holder and the magnets. After insertion the resilient elements urge the resin holder and the magnets into frictional contact with the inside of the motor case, thereby retaining the magnets in place without the need for adhesive. A U-shaped groove in the resin holder is engaged by a positioning projection in the motor case to establish the rotational positioning of the resin holder and thereby the rotational positioning of the C-shaped magnets. A rotor is rotationally fixed in the motor case on a shaft which rotates in the motor case at one end and in a bracket covering the open end of the motor case at the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsomi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Shinoda
  • Patent number: 6072255
    Abstract: An improvement made in components of submersible motor for aquarium is provided for improving oxygen content of output water from a submersible motor and for assembling components in a relatively easier way. For realizing abovesaid functions, an air inlet of an water-guiding chamber of this invention is disposed near a trail end of a blade, so that the air sucked is stirred by a plurality of end edges of the blade and dissolved in the water, and moreover, a protruded ferrule is provided to a magnetic pivot for fixedly snapping to combine with the blade for convenient assembling. Besides, a control valve is also provided for stepless flow rate adjustment in order to control water volume entering the water-guiding chamber, and the conventional measure for combining a cover with the water-guiding chamber is revised by employing an inserting tongue piece and a snapping barb instead to promote application efficacy and assembling convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: Han-Chin Chiang
  • Patent number: 6069429
    Abstract: A spindle motor includes a hydrodynamic gas radial bearing in which an inner ring, which is a radial shaft member, fixed to a bracket, and an outer ring, which is a radial bearing member, fixed to a housing are opposed to each other in a radial direction of the housing; and a hydrodynamic gas thrust bearing having a thrust bearing surface, which is a thrust shaft member, located on an upper surface of the inner ring and a thrust plate, which is a thrust bearing member, fixed to the housing are opposed to each other in the axial direction of the housing, wherein opposing surfaces of the thrust bearing surface and the thrust plate of the hydrodynamic gas thrust bearing are located within a bearing-functional-dimension region L of the hydrodynamic gas radial bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamamoto, Kenichi Ogiso, Kouei Matsukawa
  • Patent number: 6069428
    Abstract: A brushless dc motor assembly including control electronics for allowing variable speed, user-controlled motor operation. The control electronics are connected to a control board which is mounted directly to the motor bearing bracket. Hall effect devices for providing rotor rotational position information to the electronics are connected directly to the control board and extend therefrom to a position adjacent the rotor. The electronics control current through the stator winding through a MOSFET H-bridge circuit in dependence of feedback signals from the hall effect devices, a user-controlled enable signal, a motor winding current limit signal, and an under voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Fasco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Nelson
  • Patent number: 6069426
    Abstract: A godet for guiding and advancing a yarn with a rotating godet jacket. The godet jacket is mounted to a rotor shaft, which is driven by means of a three-phase motor. The three-phase motor is controlled via a frequency inverter, which is mounted in a housing, whose interior accommodates the electronic subassemblies of the frequency inverter in a stationary and heat transferring manner. The housing of the frequency inverter is firmly connected to the housing of the three-phase motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Barmag AG
    Inventors: Uwe Baader, Frank Springmeier
  • Patent number: 6066909
    Abstract: An electric motor having a pancake construction stator and rotor poles that are formed by photolithography. The stator and rotor can be formed from an amorphous material, thereby reducing grain boundaries and allowing smaller poles to be etched. The number of poles, never less than three, can be from 20 to 5000 times the stator diameter in centimeters. The extremely thin rotor comprises a flexible disk spaced from the stator by an air cushion maintained in accordance with forces as dictated by Bernoulli's principle. This insures that the spacing between the rotor and stator is automatically adjusted to minimize the distance between the rotor and stator poles and thereby to maximize flux linkage between the poles. By operating the motor in a range that avoids saturation of the poles, a variable torque motor is provided since increased current through the motor windings allows the magnetic field intensity and thus the flux linkage to increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Halo Data Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilbert D. Springer, Mark F. Springer
  • Patent number: 6064130
    Abstract: A dynamic pressure bearing having a reduced manufacturing time and cost is produced using a single dynamic pressure generating groove. A motor having a dynamic pressure bearing according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a supporting body, a stator coil mounted to the supporting body, a rotor having opposing upper and lower surfaces, a rotor magnet for generating a rotational force in cooperation with the stator coil, the rotor magnet being attached to one of the upper and lower surfaces of the rotor so as to oppose the stator, a fixed shaft forming a dynamic pressure bearing mounted to the supporting body, and a disc-shaped lower thrust cap member attached to the supporting body proximate the lower surface of the rotor. The rotor has an inner peripheral surface defining a hole through which the fixed shaft passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Katsushige Konno, Shinichi Hayashizaki
  • Patent number: 6052257
    Abstract: A sealing structure for minimizing the leakage of bearing lubricant is described. The sealing structure includes at least one labyrinth seal which is formed between a sealing surface on one component of a spindle motor and a restrictive ring formed on an opposing component of the spindle motor such that the ring projects into close proximity to the sealing surface. One of the components is a rotating component of the spindle motor and the other component is a stationary component of the spindle motor. At least one labyrinth seal includes a splash ring and a relief groove for collecting the lubricant particles that escape from a bearing assembly in the spindle motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mortiz Branger, Jose Galvan, Josef August Hilmer
  • Patent number: 6047612
    Abstract: A rotary bearing has a pair (32,40) of bearing members, one of which has convex (34) and planar (36) surface portions, and the other of which has concave (42) and planar (44) surface portions. The convex and concave surface portions and the planar surface portions of the two bearing members bear against each other via an interstitial bearing medium of air, with the axial forces between the convex and concave surfaces counteracting the axial forces between the planar surface portions. When incorporated into a drive mechanism, one of the bearing members is connected to a drive shaft via a first torsionally stiff flexible diaphragm (130), and the other bearing member is mounted to a motor (50) (which rotates the drive shaft) via a second torsionally stiff flexible diaphragm. During operation, flexing of the diaphragms (110,130) accommodates eccentricity in the mounting of the motor (50) without transmitting unwanted loads to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventor: David R. McMurtry
  • Patent number: 6040649
    Abstract: A support structure for a spindle motor of a compact disc machine, generally comprising a shaft, a rotor base, a support plate and a binding member. The shaft is disposed through a centrally located hole in the rotor base. The support plate is disposed on the rotor base and supports the compact disc. The binding member is elastic and is cast or injection-molded to bind the shaft, the rotor base and the support plate together, such that the shaft, the rotor base, the support plate are securely affixed in position. The binding member includes a means for receiving the hole of a compact disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Alex Horng