Insert molded end bell for a submersible motor and method of manufacture thereof

• US 20050116562A1
• Filed: 11/02/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Franklin Electric Company Incorporated (EBW, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Franklin Electric Company Incorporated (EBW, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schlosser, Kraig J., Harris, Hugh R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,135,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/89
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/08 Insulating casings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/132 Submersible electric motors H02K5/128 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/15 Mounting arrangements for bearing-shields or end plates
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/1672 radially supporting the rotary shaft at both ends of the rotor H02K5/1677 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49009 Dynamoelectric machine

Abstract

An end bell for a motor has a base plate, a bearing and a molded insert to couple the bearing to the base plate. The end bell with molded insert is durable, light weight and has good anti-corrosion properties. The bearing is held in relation to the base plate while the molded insert is disposed. A post-mold machining operation can be used to both size the bearing hole to the motor shaft but also to align the hole in relation to the base plate. Bushings and fasteners for assembly of the end bell to the motor housing and supplemental supports may be pre-attached to the base plate, molded into the molded insert or added in a post-mold operation. Deformations in the end bell may be used to couple the molded insert to the end bell.

Claims

1. A method for forming a motor end bell comprising:

arranging a bearing apparatus and a base plate proximally; and

securing the bearing apparatus to the base plate with a molded insert.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

deforming a rim of the base plate for securing the molded insert to the base plate.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the deforming the rim of the base plate further comprises bending the rim at the intersection of the rim and a main body of the base plate, the rim being bent toward a central axis of the base plate.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the deforming the rim of the base plate further comprises:

bending an end portion of the rim at a distance away from a main body of the base plate, the end portion bent to be substantially parallel to the main body of the base plate and toward a central axis of the base plate.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the deforming the rim of the base plate further comprises forming a burr on an inner surface of the rim.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

forming a space for a bushing at a mounting hole of the base plate.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

disposing a fastener in the molded insert.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

molding a fastener into the molded insert.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

after securing the bearing apparatus to the base plate with the molded insert, machining the bearing apparatus to a required diameter for receiving a shaft.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

pressing a nut into a hex pocket in the molded insert.

11. An end bell for use in a motor comprising:

a base plate; and

a molded insert disposed on the base plate.

12. The end bell of claim 11 wherein the base plate further comprises a plurality of features.

13. The end bell of claim 12 further comprising:

a bearing for accepting a motor shaft.

14. The end bell of claim 11 wherein the molded insert comprises a bearing.

15. The end bell of claim 13 wherein the final shaft diameter of the bearing is in a predetermined spatial relationship with at least one of the plurality of features.

16. The end bell of claim 12 wherein one of the plurality of features is a mounting hole.

17. The end bell of claim 16 further comprising a fastener disposed in the mounting hole, the fastener being one of a threaded insert and a nut.

18. The end bell of claim 16 further comprising a bushing disposed in the molded insert at the mounting hole.

19. The end bell of claim 18 wherein the bushing is in direct contact with the base plate and the bushing has an inner diameter substantially equal to a diameter of one of the plurality of mounting holes.

20. The end bell of claim 11 wherein the base plate is a stamping.

21. The end bell of claim 11 wherein the base plate is stainless steel.

22. The end bell of claim 11 wherein the base plate is a metal casting.

23. The end bell of claim 11 wherein the base plate further comprises a rim, the base plate defining a plane and the rim substantially normal to the plane

24. The end bell of claim 23 wherein the rim of the base plate is deformed and the deformation contributes to securing the molded insert to the base plate.

25. The end bell of claim 11 where the molded insert is one of a moldable plastic, a thermoplastic polyester resin, and a glass-reinforced polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

26. A motor constructed for use in a submersible application comprising:

a housing having an open end;

a motor apparatus disposed in the housing, the motor apparatus comprising a rotor, windings and a shaft; and

an end bell for closing the open end, the end bell comprising;

a base plate;

a bearing for accepting the shaft; and

a molded insert coupling the bearing to the base plate.

27. The motor of claim 26 wherein the base plate comprises one of a rim, a mounting hole and an indexing point, and the bearing has a final inner diameter in a predetermined spatial relationship to one of the rim, the mounting hole, and the indexing point.

28. The motor of claim 26 wherein the base plate has a cup-shaped outer rim for engaging the molded insert.

29. The motor of claim 26 wherein the base plate has a burr disposed in an inward-facing surface for engaging the molded insert.