Cap mounted drive for a brushless DC motor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An integrated electric motor and drive system comprising:
- a substantially annular housing having first and second ends;
a rotor supported for rotation in the housing;
a stator disposed in the housing and surrounding the rotor;
a drive circuit electrically connected to the stator, the drive circuit including a plurality of switching devices for generating pulsed electrical energy for causing rotation of the rotor;
a first end cover secured to the first end of the housing and having a first bearing for supporting the rotor in rotation; and
a second end cover secured to the second end of the housing, the second end cover supporting the drive circuit within a volume defined between the housing and the second end cover, the second end cover having a second bearing for supporting the rotor in rotation, the drive circuit being electrically insulated from the second end cover.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A brushless DC motor and drive package is disclosed, including modular subassemblies which are integrated into a single unit. The drive includes power electronic circuitry and related control circuitry which is supported on a circuit board within the package. The circuit board is supported on an end cap of the motor and is housed within the package housing. The end cap supporting the circuit board preferably forms a bearing support recess for receiving a shaft bearing. The resulting package is extremely compact, and reduces or eliminates the need for separate drive circuitry and related support hardware.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An integrated electric motor and drive system comprising:
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a substantially annular housing having first and second ends; a rotor supported for rotation in the housing; a stator disposed in the housing and surrounding the rotor; a drive circuit electrically connected to the stator, the drive circuit including a plurality of switching devices for generating pulsed electrical energy for causing rotation of the rotor; a first end cover secured to the first end of the housing and having a first bearing for supporting the rotor in rotation; and a second end cover secured to the second end of the housing, the second end cover supporting the drive circuit within a volume defined between the housing and the second end cover, the second end cover having a second bearing for supporting the rotor in rotation, the drive circuit being electrically insulated from the second end cover. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A drive unit for a brushless DC motor, the motor including a housing having first and second ends, a rotor having a shaft rotatable within the housing, and a stator disposed within the housing about the rotor, the drive unit comprising:
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a support having a central recess for receiving a bearing for supporting the rotor shaft, the support configured to interface with the first end of the housing to secure the support to the housing; a bearing set disposed in the central recess of the support; and a drive circuit mounted within the central recess of the support about the bearing set so as to be enclosed between the support and the first end of the housing when the drive unit is secured thereto, the drive circuit being electrically insulated from the support and configured to be electrically connected to the stator, the drive circuit including a plurality of switching devices for converting electrical energy to pulsed electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A drive unit for a brushless DC motor, the motor including a housing having first and second ends, a rotor having a shaft rotatable within the housing, and a stator disposed within the housing about the rotor, the drive unit comprising:
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a drive circuit including a plurality of switching devices for converting electrical energy to pulsed electrical energy for driving the rotor; and a support having first and second sides, the support being configured to receive and support the drive circuit on the first side thereof, the first side of the support being configured to face the first or second end of the housing to enclose the drive circuit therebetween, the support including a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners for securing the support to the housing;
the drive circuit being electrically insulated from the support. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. An end cap for an electric motor and drive system, he system including a housing having first and second ends, a rotor having a shaft rotatable within the housing, a stator disposed within the housing about the rotor, and a drive circuit having switching elements for converting electrical energy to pulsed electrical energy, the end cap comprising:
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a substantially cylindrical member having first and second sides, the first side being configured to receive and support the drive circuit and to electrically insulate the cylindrical member from the drive circuit; a bearing support surface on the first side of the cylindrical member for receiving and supporting a rotor shaft bearing; and a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners for securing the end cap to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification