Integrated motor and controller assemblies for horizontal axis washing machines

• US 7,352,092 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Major, Michael W., Levine, Gregory M., Hilton, Daniel E., Burton, Stephen J., Schroer, Scott M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lam; Thanh
• Application Number:
  US11/208,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20070040460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 310/89, 310/71
• 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 electric motor including a stator having an inner bore, a rotor situated for rotation within the inner bore of the stator, and at least one endshield having an external portion, the controller mounted to the external portion of the endshield.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein 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 controller includes a housing and the housing is attached to the endshield.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the endshield is mounted to the stator.

5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a heat sink positioned on the endshield.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the heat sink and the endshield have a monolithic construction.

7. 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.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the controller includes a circuit board and the second connector is positioned on the circuit board.