Electric motor

• US 6,734,589 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
• Inventors: Kogure, Satoshi, Maeda, Atsushi, Mochizuki, Wataru, Usami, Tomohiro, Koshio, Fumiaki, Tabuki, Yoshinari, Tsurubuchi, Iwao
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANG D
• Application Number:
  US10/140,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20020167238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 310/89, 310/71, 310/68.B, 310/68.R, 310/DIG.6, 310/67.R, 310/238, 310/239, 310/43
• US Class Current: 310/89
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 23/66 Structural association with auxiliary electric devices influencing the characteristic of, or controlling, the machine, e.g. with impedances or switches
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/148 Slidably supported brushes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/06 Printed-circuit motors and components

Abstract

The invention provides an electric motor in which a cost is reduced by reducing a number of the parts, and an electric motor in which a freedom of placement is increased. A motor assembly has a yoke and a front bracket closing an open end of the yoke. The front bracket is formed in a closed-end cylindrical shape by an aluminum die casting, and a brush holder for holding a brush is received in an inner portion. A motor controller for controlling the motor assembly is formed as an electronic circuit having a communication portion, a control portion and a driver portion, and this electronic circuit is mounted on an inner peripheral surface of the front bracket. Further, the electronic circuit constituting the motor controller may be mounted on the brush holder.

Claims

1. An electric motor converting an electric energy into a mechanical rotational energy comprising:

a motor assembly having a motor housing, said motor housing receiving a magnetic field system for supplying a magnetic flux to an inner portion of said motor housing and receiving an armature provided with an armature coil; and

a control device, which is provided in the inner portion of said motor housing, and in which an electronic circuit for controlling said motor assembly is formed,

wherein said motor housing is formed by a yoke formed in a closed-end cylindrical shape and by a lid member mounted to an opening end of said yoke, said lid member is formed in a closed-end cylindrical shape, and said electronic circuit is formed on an inner peripheral surface of said lid member.

2. An electric motor according to claim 1, wherein said lid member is made of a heat radiation material.

3. An electric motor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a brush holder mounted to said lid member;

a brush holding portion fixed to said brush holder and having a connecting terminal provided at a position opposing to said lid member; and

a brush supported by said brush holding portion and slidably in contact with a commutator axially attached to a rotary shaft of said armature,

wherein said connecting terminal and said electronic circuit are connected by mounting said brush holder to said lid member.

4. An electric motor converting an electric energy into a mechanical rotational energy comprising:

a motor assembly having a motor housing, said motor housing receiving a magnetic field system for supplying a magnetic flux to an inner portion of said motor housing and receiving an armature provided with an armature coil;

a control device, which is provided in the inner portion of said motor housing, and in which an electronic circuit for controlling said motor assembly is formed;

a rotary shaft to which said armature is fixed, and rotatably supported to said housing;

a commutator axially attached to said rotary shaft, and connected to said armature coil; and

a brush holder provided in an inner portion of said housing, and holding a brush slidably in contact with said commutator,

wherein said electronic circuit is formed in said brush holder,

wherein said brush holder is formed in a closed-end cylindrical shape, and said electronic circuit is formed on at least any one of an outer peripheral surface and a bottom surface of said brush holder, and

wherein said brush holder is made of a heat-radiation and electromagnetic resistance material.

5. An electric motor according to claim 4, wherein said brush holder is formed by a main body of said brush holder on which said electronic circuit is formed, and formed by a resin portion covering said main body of said brush holder.