# US 11,440,411 B2 · Step motor and indicator instrument for vehicle

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- Number: US 11,440,411 B2
- Document ID: US11440411B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/524,828
- Filed: 2019-07-29
- Published: 2019-12-19
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2017-04-13
- Assignees: Denso Corporation
- Applicants: Denso Corporation
- Inventors: Tatsuya Sasaki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440411B2

## CPC

- H02K 7/116: with gears
- B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10)
- B60K 35/90: Calibration of instruments, e.g. setting initial or reference parameters; Testing of instruments, e.g. detecting malfunction
- G01D 13/22: Pointers, e.g. settable pointer
- H02K 5/10: with arrangements for protection from ingress, e.g. water or fingers
- H02K 5/1675: {radially supporting the rotary shaft at only one end of the rotor (H02K5/1677 takes precedence)}
- H02K 37/14: with magnets rotating within the armatures
- H02K 37/24: Structural association with auxiliary mechanical devices
- B60K 35/20: Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
- B60K 35/223: {Flexible displays}
- B60K 2360/1515: Reconfigurable dials
- B60K 2360/698: Pointers of combined instruments
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A step motor that drives a rotary body to rotate includes: an output shaft that outputs a rotational driving force to the rotary body, the output shaft having an insertion hole in which the rotary body is arranged so as to be integrally rotatable on an inner circumference side of a top portion of a tip end of the output shaft; a radial bearing radially supporting the output shaft from an outer circumference side; and a cover protruding from the radial bearing radially inward. The cover opposing the top portion through an axial gap at an outer circumference side of the insertion hole. The output shaft has an inner tapered portion which decreases in diameter as approaching the insertion hole radially inward from the top portion. The cover opposes the top portion through the axial gap at an outer circumference side of the inner tapered portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A step motor that drives a rotary body to rotate, comprising:
an output shaft that outputs a rotational driving force to the rotary body, the output shaft having an insertion hole in which the rotary body is arranged so as to be integrally rotatable on an inner circumference side of a top portion of a tip end of the output shaft;
a radial bearing radially supporting the output shaft from an outer circumference side; and
a cover protruding from the radial bearing radially inward, the cover opposing the top portion through an axial gap at an outer circumference side of the insertion hole, wherein
the output shaft has an inner tapered portion which decreases in diameter as approaching the insertion hole radially inward from the top portion, and
the cover opposes the top portion at an outer circumference side of the inner tapered portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The step motor according to claim 1, wherein the top portion has a width in a radial direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The step motor according to claim 1, wherein
the output shaft has an outer tapered portion which increases in diameter as approaching a support interface of the radial bearing radially outward from the top portion, and
the cover opposes the outer tapered portion through an axial gap at an outer circumference side of the top portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The step motor according to claim 1, further comprising:
a thrust bearing that thrust-supports the output shaft from a side opposite to the top portion; and
a biasing member surrounding the output shaft from the outer circumference side to urge the output shaft to the side opposite to the top portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The step motor according to claim 1, wherein the cover is formed integrally with the radial bearing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The step motor according to claim 1, wherein the cover is formed separately from the radial bearing and is mounted on the radial bearing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An indicator instrument for a vehicle comprising:
the step motor according to claim 1; and
a rotary indicator that indicates a state value of the vehicle as the rotary body.