Apparatus and method for reducing noise and vibration in an electric motor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electric motor, comprising:
- a housing;
a flange attached to the housing;
a rotor including a rotor shaft and a magnet, the rotor shaft being supported for rotation at a first end with respect to the housing and at a second end with respect to the flange;
a stator disposed between the housing and the rotor, the stator having a length and a circumference; and
a stator damping insert disposed between the housing and the stator, extending substantially the length of the stator and encompassing substantially the entire circumference of the stator, wherein the stator damping insert has an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the outer surface has a substantially constant radius.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for reducing noise and vibration in an electric motor. In order to reduce the generation of vibrations and the resultant audible noise, vibration damping material is used to de-couple vibrations from the rotor and stator which would otherwise be transmitted to other parts of the motor.
29 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An electric motor, comprising:
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a housing; a flange attached to the housing; a rotor including a rotor shaft and a magnet, the rotor shaft being supported for rotation at a first end with respect to the housing and at a second end with respect to the flange; a stator disposed between the housing and the rotor, the stator having a length and a circumference; and a stator damping insert disposed between the housing and the stator, extending substantially the length of the stator and encompassing substantially the entire circumference of the stator, wherein the stator damping insert has an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the outer surface has a substantially constant radius. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electric motor, comprising:
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a housing; a flange attached to the housing; a rotor including a rotor shaft and a magnet, the rotor shaft being supported for rotation at a first end with respect to the housing and at a second end with respect to the flange; a stator disposed between the housing and the rotor, the stator having a length and a circumference; a stator damping insert disposed between the housing and the stator, extending substantially the length of the stator and encompassing substantially the entire circumference of the stator; and at least one vibration damping insert disposed between, and in contact with, both the rotor shaft and the magnet.
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11. An electric motor, comprising:
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a housing; a flange attached to the housing; a rotor including a rotor shaft and a magnet, the rotor shaft being supported for rotation at a first end with respect to the housing and at a second end with respect to the flange; a first bearing disposed between the rotor shaft and the housing; a second bearing disposed between the rotor shaft and the flange; a stator disposed between the housing and the rotor, the stator having a length and a circumference; at least one bearing damping insert disposed between the first bearing and the housing; at least one bearing damping insert disposed between the second bearing and the flange; at least one flange damping insert disposed between the flange and the housing; a stator damping insert disposed between the housing and the stator, extending substantially the length of the stator and encompassing substantially the entire circumference of the stator; at least one vibration damping insert disposed between, and in contact with, both the rotor shaft and the magnet.
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12. An electric motor, comprising:
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a housing; a flange attached to the housing; a rotor including a rotor shaft and a magnet, the rotor shaft being supported for rotation at a first end with respect to the housing and at a second end with respect to the flange; a stator disposed between the housing and the rotor; and stator damping means for de-coupling vibrations from the stator which would otherwise be transmitted from the stator to the housing, wherein the stator damping means extends substantially the length of the stator, encompasses substantially the entire circumference of the stator and has an outer surface with a substantially constant radius. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An electric motor, comprising:
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a housing; a flange attached to the housing; a rotor including a rotor shaft and a magnet, the motor shaft being supported for rotation at a first end with respect to the housing and at a second end with respect to the flange; a stator disposed between the housing and the rotor; and means for de-coupling vibrations from the stator which would otherwise be transmitted from the stator to the housing; a first bearing disposed between the rotor shaft and the housing; and means for de-coupling vibrations from the first bearing which would otherwise be transmitted to the housing.
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17. An electric motor, comprising:
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a housing; a flange attached to the housing; a rotor including a rotor shaft and a magnet, the rotor shaft being supported for rotation at a first end with respect to the housing and at a second end with respect to the flange; a stator disposed between the housing and the rotor; and means for de-coupling vibrations from the stator which would otherwise be transmitted from the stator to the housing; and means for de-coupling the vibrations of the rotor shaft from the vibrations of the magnet.
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18. An electric motor, comprising:
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a housing; a flange attached to the housing; a rotor including a rotor shaft and a magnet, the rotor shaft being supported for rotation at a first end with respect to the housing and at a second end with respect to the flange; a first bearing disposed between the rotor shaft and the housing; a second bearing disposed between the rotor shaft and the flange; a stator disposed between the housing and the rotor; means for de-coupling vibrations from the stator which would otherwise be transmitted from the stator to the housing; means for de-coupling vibrations from the first bearing which would otherwise be transmitted to the housing; means for de-coupling vibrations from the second bearing which would otherwise be transmitted to the flange; means for de-coupling the vibrations of the flange from the variations of the housing; and means for de-coupling the vibrations of the rotor shaft from the vibrations of the magnet.
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19. A method of reducing the noise emitted by an electric motor, said motor comprising a housing;
- a flange attached to the housing;
a rotor including a rotor shaft and a magnet, the rotor shaft being supported at a first end with respect to the housing and at a second end with respect to the flange;
a first bearing disposed between the rotor shaft and the housing;
a second bearing disposed between the rotor shaft and the flange; and
a stator disposed between the housing and the rotor, the stator having a length and a circumference, wherein the method comprises the step of positioning at least one stator damping insert having an outer surface with a substantially constant radius between the housing and the stator, such that the stator damping insert extends substantially the length of the stator and encompasses substantially the entire circumference of the stator. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
- a flange attached to the housing;
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24. A method of reducing the noise emitted by an electric motor, said motor comprising a housing;
- a flange attached to the housing;
a rotor including a rotor shaft and a magnet, the rotor shaft being supported for rotation at a first end with respect to the housing and at a second end with respect to the flange;
a first bearing disposed between the rotor shaft and the housing;
a second bearing disposed between the rotor shaft and the flange; and
a stator disposed between the housing and the rotor, the stator having a length and a circumference, wherein the method comprises the steps of;positioning at least one stator damping insert between the housing and the stator such that the stator damping insert extends substantially the length of the stator and encompasses substantially the entire circumference of the stator; and positioning at least one vibration damping insert between, and in contact with, both the rotor shaft and the magnet.
- a flange attached to the housing;
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25. An electric motor, comprising:
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a support structure including a housing; a stator supported by the support structure, the stator having a length; a rotor which rotates with respect to the stator; and a stator damping insert disposed between the support structure and the stator, wherein the stator damping insert has an outer surface with a substantially constant radius, extends substantially the length of the stator and substantially occupies the space between the stator and the portion of the support structure which supports the stator. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification