Electric machine having a tilted voltage adjustment

• US 7,508,103 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
• Original Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Chih M., Watkins, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLINS, BURTON S
• Application Number:
  US11/343,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20070176500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 310/71, 318/770
• US Class Current: 310/71
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132

Abstract

A terminal board includes an attachment portion engageable with an end cap and defines an attachment plane that is substantially parallel to an end plane defined by the end cap, and a first terminal portion adapted to receive a first terminal wire. The first terminal portion defines a first terminal plane that intersects the end plane to define an included angle. The included angle is between about 40 degrees and 80 degrees.

Claims

1. A terminal board for an electric machine having an end cap defining an end plane, a first winding operable at a first voltage, and a second winding operable at a second voltage different from the first voltage, the terminal board comprising:

an attachment portion engageable with the end cap and defining an attachment plane that is substantially parallel to the end plane;

a voltage adjustment portion coupled to the attachment portion;

a voltage adjustment member coupled to the voltage adjustment portion and movable between a first position and a second position to switch the motor from the first winding to the second winding; and

a lock member coupled to the voltage adjustment member and operable to emit an audible sound when the voltage adjustment member is moved from the second position to the first position;

wherein the voltage adjustment portion defines a voltage adjustment plane that intersects the end plane to define an included angle that is between about 40 degrees and 80 degrees.

2. The terminal board of claim 1, further comprising a first terminal portion adapted to receive a first terminal wire and a second terminal portion adapted to receive a second terminal wire, the first terminal portion defining a first terminal plane that is substantially parallel to the voltage adjustment plane.

3. The terminal board of claim 2, wherein the second terminal portion defines a second terminal plane that is substantially parallel to the first terminal plane, and wherein the first terminal plane, the second terminal plane, and the voltage adjustment plane are not coplanar.

4. The terminal board of claim 2, wherein the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion are electrically connected to the first winding when the voltage adjustment member is in the first position, and the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion are electrically connected to the second winding when the voltage adjustment member is in the second position.

5. A terminal board for an electric machine having an end cap defining an end plane, a first winding operable at a first voltage, and a second winding operable at a second voltage different from the first voltage, the terminal board comprising:

an attachment portion engageable with the end cap and defining an attachment plane that is substantially parallel to the end plane;

a voltage adjustment portion coupled to the attachment portion;

a voltage adjustment member coupled to the voltage adjustment portion and movable between a first position and a second position to switch the motor from the first winding to the second winding; and

a lock member coupled to the voltage adjustment member and operable to emit an audible sound when the voltage adjustment member is moved from the second position to the first position;

wherein the lock member includes a protrusion formed as part of one of the voltage adjustment member and the voltage adjustment portion and a first aperture formed as part of the other of the voltage adjustment member and the voltage adjustment portion, the first aperture sized to receive the protrusion.

6. The terminal board of claim 5, wherein the first aperture is positioned to receive the protrusion when the voltage adjustment member is in the first position.

7. The terminal board of claim 5, wherein the protrusion includes a straight side surface and a tapered side surface, the tapered side surface adapted to allow movement of the protrusion out of the first aperture, the straight surface adapted to inhibit movement of the protrusion out of the first aperture.

8. A terminal board for an electric machine having an end cap defining an end plane, a first winding operable at a first voltage, and a second winding operable at a second voltage different from the first voltage, the terminal board comprising:

an attachment portion engageable with the end cap and defining an attachment plane that is substantially parallel to the end plane;

a voltage adjustment portion coupled to the attachment portion;

a voltage adjustment member coupled to the voltage adjustment portion and movable between a first position and a second position to switch the motor from the first winding to the second winding; and

a lock member coupled to the voltage adjustment member and operable to emit an audible sound when the voltage adjustment member is moved from the second position to the first position;

wherein the voltage adjustment portion includes an indicator indicative of the position of the voltage adjustment member and the voltage adjustment member includes a window that allows for visual detection of the indicator when the voltage adjustment member is positioned in one of the first position and the second position.