Electric motor with multiple power access

• US 9,030,066 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2011
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
• Inventors: Drye, Edward L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLINS, BURTON S
• Application Number:
  US13/285,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20130106217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 310/89, 310/71
• US Class Current: 310/89
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/14 wherein gaseous cooling medium circulates between the machine casing and a surrounding mantle
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring

Abstract

A motor assembly includes an electric motor having a stator and a rotor. A housing is coupled to the electric motor. The housing includes a terminal housing portion defining a first aperture and a second aperture. A power input terminal is disposed within the terminal housing portion. The power input terminal receives power input connections from at least one of the first aperture and the second aperture. A motor controller is disposed within the housing, the motor controller in communication with the power input terminals and the stator. A human machine interface (HMI) is in communication with the motor controller.

Claims

1. A motor assembly comprising:

an electric motor including a stator and a rotor;

a housing coupled to the electric motor, the housing including a terminal housing portion defining a first aperture and a second aperture;

a power input terminal disposed within the terminal housing portion, the power input terminal for receiving power input connections from at least one of the first aperture and the second aperture;

a motor controller disposed within the housing, the motor controller in communication with the power input terminals and the stator;

a human machine interface (HMI) in communication with the motor controller and positionable in one of a first position in which the HMI is physically supported by the motor and a second position in which the HMI is physically spaced apart from the motor;

an interface cord communicating control signals from the HMI to the motor controller; and

an HMI input terminal coupled to the terminal housing portion, the HMI input terminal for receiving the interface cord, the interface cord entering the terminal housing through an interface aperture when the HMI is in the first position and an external interface cord passing through a third aperture, different than the interface aperture when the HMI is in the second position.

2. The motor assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a stator housing and a controller housing.

3. The motor assembly of claim 2, wherein the terminal housing portion is defined by the controller housing.

4. The motor assembly of claim 1, wherein the terminal housing includes a first wall defining the first aperture and a second wall defining the second aperture.

5. The motor assembly of claim 4, wherein the first wall and the second wall are substantially perpendicular.

6. The motor assembly of claim 1, wherein the terminal housing portion defines the third aperture, the external interface cord extending through the third aperture when the HMI is in the second position.

7. The motor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a terminal cover coupled to the housing, the terminal cover substantially enclosing a portion of the terminal housing portion.

8. A motor assembly, comprising:

an electric motor including a stator housing, a stator disposed in the stator housing, and a rotor rotatably coupled to the stator housing for rotation with respect to the stator;

a motor control module including a controller housing coupled to the stator housing, a motor controller disposed within the controller housing, and an input terminal in communication with the motor, the controller housing including a terminal housing portion defining a first aperture and a second aperture;

a power input terminal disposed within the terminal housing portion, the power input terminal for receiving power connections from at least one of the first aperture and the second aperture;

a human machine interface (HMI) for receiving a user input and generating a control signal, the HMI positionable in one of a first position in which the HMI is physically supported by the electric motor and a second position in which the HMI is physically spaced apart from the electric motor; and

an interface cord communicating the control signal from the HMI to the motor controller, the interface cord entering the terminal housing portion through an interface aperture when the HMI is in the first position and an external interface cord passing through a third aperture, different than the interface aperture when the HMI is in the second position.

9. The motor assembly of claim 8, wherein the terminal housing portion includes a first wall defining the first aperture and a second wall defining the second aperture.

10. The motor assembly of claim 9, wherein the first wall and the second wall are substantially perpendicular.

11. The motor assembly of claim 9, wherein terminal housing portion further defines the third aperture.

12. The motor assembly of claim 11, wherein the third aperture is defined by one of the first wall and the second wall.

13. The motor assembly of claim 9, further comprising a terminal cover coupled to the controller housing.

14. The motor assembly of claim 13, wherein the terminal cover substantially encloses a portion of the terminal housing portion.

15. The motor assembly of claim 14, wherein the terminal cover substantially conforms to a profile of the first wall.

16. The motor assembly of claim 14, wherein the terminal cover substantially conforms to a profile of the first wall and a profile of the second wall.

17. A motor assembly, comprising:

an electric motor including a stator housing, a stator disposed in the stator housing, and a rotor rotatably coupled to the stator housing for rotation with respect to the stator;

a motor control module including a controller housing coupled to the stator housing, a motor controller disposed within the controller housing, and an input terminal in communication with the motor, the controller housing including a terminal housing portion defining a first aperture and a second aperture;

a power input terminal disposed within the terminal housing portion, the power input terminal for receiving power connections from at least one of the first aperture and the second aperture;

a human machine interface (HMI) for receiving a user input and generating a control signal, the HMI positionable in one of a first position in which the HMI is physically supported by the electric motor and a second position in which the HMI is physically spaced apart from the electric motor;

an interface cord communicating the control signal from the HMI to the motor controller; and

an HMI input terminal coupled to the terminal housing portion, the HMI input terminal receiving the interface cord and in communication with the motor controller, the interface cord entering the terminal housing portion through an interface aperture when the HMI is in the first position and an external interface cord passing through a third aperture, different than the interface aperture when the HMI is in the second position.