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Grounding mechanism for electric motor

  • US 20100127585A1
  • Filed: 11/24/2008
  • Published: 05/27/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An electric motor comprising:

  • a rotor including a rotor core and a rotor shaft having the rotor core mounted thereon, the rotor shaft having a longitudinal shaft axis, an axial shaft end, and a cylindrical inner surface defining an axially extending bore having a bore opening located at the axial shaft end;

    a stator positioned about the rotor and configured to connect with an electrical power supply for inducing a torque on the rotor;

    an electric motor housing defining a bearing bore receiving the axial shaft end of the rotor shaft therein;

    a bearing mounted on the rotor shaft adjacent the axial shaft end and positioned within the bearing bore to rotatably support the rotor shaft within the electric motor housing, the bearing forming a relatively high resistance electrical circuit segment between the rotor shaft and the electric motor housing; and

    an electrical grounding mechanism including a grounding member mounted to the electric motor housing and extending into the axially extending bore, and an electrical grounding ring having an outer periphery contacting the cylindrical inner surface of the rotor shaft and an inner periphery contacting the grounding member, the electrical grounding ring having an inertia insensitive configuration and forming a relatively low resistance electrical circuit segment between the rotor shaft and the electric motor housing.

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