Integrated motor and controller assemblies for horizontal axis washing machines

• US 20070040460A1
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Levine, Gregory M., Hilton, Daniel E., Major, Michael W., Burton, Stephen J., Schroer, Scott M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,352,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/71
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/206 Mounting of motor
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/304 Arrangements or adaptations of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A horizontal axis washing machine includes an integrated motor and controller assembly. The controller is mounted to the electric motor with the controller positioned under a tub of the washing machine. The tub provides drip protection for the controller during operation of the washing machine. Additional embodiments include a motor and controller assembly in which a heat producing component of the controller is thermally coupled to a heat sink. The heat sink is positioned on an endshield of the electric motor and/or external to a housing of the motor controller. A stator of the electric motor can include one or more magnet wires attached directly to a connector for the motor controller.

Claims

1. An electric motor and controller assembly for a horizontal axis washing machine, the assembly comprising an electric motor and a controller, the controller including software for controlling operation of the electric motor in the horizontal axis washing machine, the controller being mounted to the electric motor, the electric motor including a stator having an inner bore, and a rotor situated for rotation within the inner bore of the stator.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the electric motor includes at least one endshield and the endshield includes at least one attachment point for mounting the electric motor in the horizontal axis washing machine.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the electric motor includes at least one endshield and the controller is mounted to the endshield.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the controller includes a housing and the housing is attached to the endshield.

37. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the endshield is mounted to the stator.

38. The assembly of claim 2 further comprising a heat sink positioned on the endshield.

39. The assembly of claim 38 wherein the heat sink and the endshield have a monolithic construction.

40. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the stator includes a plurality of magnet wires attached to a first connector, and the controller includes a second connector mating with the first connector.

41. The assembly of claim 40 wherein the controller includes a circuit board and the second connector is positioned on the circuit board.

5. An electric motor and controller assembly for a horizontal axis washing machine, the assembly comprising an electric motor and a controller, the controller including software for controlling operation of the electric motor in the horizontal axis washing machine, the controller being mounted to the electric motor, the electric motor including a stator having a plurality of magnet wires attached to a first connector, and the controller including a second connector mating with the first connector.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the controller includes a circuit board and the second connector is positioned on the circuit board.

31. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the electric motor includes at least one endshield.

32. The assembly of claim 31 further comprising a heat sink positioned on the endshield.

33. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the heat sink and the endshield have a monolithic construction.

34. The assembly of claim 31 wherein the controller is mounted to the endshield.

35. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the endshield is mounted to the stator.

36. The assembly of claim 35 wherein the stator has an inner bore and the electric motor further includes a rotor situated for rotation within the inner bore of the stator.

43. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the stator has an Inner bore and the electric motor further Includes a rotor situated for rotation within the inner bore of the stator.

7-8. -8. (canceled)

9. An electric motor and controller assembly for a horizontal axis washing machine, the assembly comprising an electric motor and a controller, the controller including software for controlling operation of the electric motor in the horizontal axis washing machine, the controller being mounted to the electric motor, the electric motor including an endshield and a heat sink positioned on the endshield.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the heat sink and the endshield have a monolithic construction.

11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the controller is mounted to the endshield.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the controller includes a housing and the housing is mounted to the endshield.

15. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the electric motor includes a stator having a plurality of magnet wires directly coupled to a first connector, and the controller includes a second connector mating with the first connector.

27. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the controller includes a circuit board and the second connector is positioned on the circuit board.

28. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the electric motor includes a stator and the endshield is mounted to the stator.

29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the stator has an inner bore and the electric motor further includes a rotor situated for rotation within the inner bore of the stator.

30. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the controller includes at least one component thermally coupled to the heat sink.

42. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising a stator having an inner bore and a rotor situated for rotation within the inner bore of the stator.

13-14. -14. (canceled)

16-26. -26. (canceled)