US 11,641,148 B2Granted

Actuator, electric motor and associated method

AssigneeRegal Beloit America, Inc.

InventorJeffrey William Crosson

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An electrical switch for an electric machine includes body, a stator fixedly secured to the body and a rotor. The actuator includes a first member securable to the rotor and rotatable with it. The actuator also includes a second member, a first electrically conductive member cooperates with the second member. The actuator also includes a second electrically conductive member. The second electrically conductive member is spaced from said first electrically conductive member when said first electrically conductive member is in the first axial position and electrically engaged with said first electrically conductive member when said first electrically conductive member is in the second axial position.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An electrical switch for an electric machine having body, a stator fixedly secured to the body and a rotor rotatably secured to said body and defining an axis of rotation thereof, said actuator comprising:

a first member securable to said rotor and rotatable therewith, wherein the first member comprises first member magnets spaced apart from each other;
a second member slidably securable to the body and configured to be moveable with respect to said first member in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor, said first member and said second member being magnetically repelled from each other, wherein a portion of said second member comprises a magnet;
a first electrically conductive member cooperable with said second member moveable in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor from a first axial position to a second axial position, spaced from the first axial position, said second member adapted to urge said first electrically conductive member from the first axial position to the second axial position;
a second electrically conductive member spaced from said first electrically conductive member when said first electrically conductive member is in the first axial position and electrically engaged with said first electrically conductive member when said first electrically conductive member is in the second axial position, said first member having a least a portion thereof having a center of mass moveable from a first radial distance from the axis of rotation of the rotor when the rotor rotates at a first rotational speed to a second radial distance from the axis of rotation of the rotor when the rotor rotates at a second rotational speed different than the first rotational speed, the second radial distance being different than the first radial distance, the magnetic repulsion causing the said first member and said second member to be magnetically repelled away from each other to cause to cause the second member to one of engage and disengage the first electrically conductive member with the second electrically conductive member when the rotor reaches the second rotational speed;
wherein in the first axial position the first member and the second member are spaced apart and do not contact each other, and the first member magnets are spaced apart and do not contact each other;
wherein in the second axial position, the first and the second member are spaced apart and do not contact each other, and the first member magnets are spaced apart and do not contact each other.

3 more elements

An electric machine, comprising:

a housing, said housing having an inner surface defining a cavity therein;
a stator secured to said housing;
a rotor, rotatably secured to said housing and defining an axis of rotation thereof;
and
a centrifugal switch including:
a first member securable to said rotor and rotatable therewith, wherein the first member comprises first member magnets spaced apart from each other;
a second member slidably securable to the body and configured to be moveable with respect to said first member in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor, said first member and said second member being magnetically repelled from each other, wherein a portion of said second member comprises a magnet;
a first electrically conductive member cooperable with said second member moveable in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor from a first axial position to a second axial position, spaced from the first axial position, said second member adapted to urge said first electrically conductive member from the first axial position to the second axial position;
and
a second electrically conductive member spaced from said first electrically conductive member when said first electrically conductive member is in the first axial position and electrically engaged with said first electrically conductive member when said first electrically conductive member is in the second axial position, said first member having a least a portion thereof having a center of mass moveable from a first radial distance from the axis of rotation of the rotor when the rotor rotates at a first rotational speed to a second radial distance from the axis of rotation of the rotor when the rotor rotates at a second rotational speed different than the first rotational speed, the second radial distance being different than the first radial distance, the magnetic repulsion causing the said first member and said second member to be magnetically repelled away from each other to cause to cause the second member to one of engage and disengage the first electrically conductive member with the second electrically conductive member when the rotor reaches the second rotational speed;
wherein in the first axial position the first member and the second member are spaced apart and do not contact each other, and the first member magnets are spaced apart and do not contact each other;
wherein in the second axial position, the first and the second member are spaced apart and do not contact each other, and the first member magnets are spaced apart and do not contact each other.

9 more elements

A method for transmitting an electrical signal in an electric machine once a certain rotation speed has been obtained, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing;
securing a stator to said housing;
rotatably securing a rotor to the housing, the rotor defining an axis of rotation thereof, and
providing centrifugal switch, wherein providing the switch includes;
securing a first member to the rotor, wherein the first member comprises first member magnets spaced apart from each other;
slidably securing a second member to the housing;
configuring the second member to be moveable with respect to the first member in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor;
adapting the first member and the second member to be magnetically repelled from each other, wherein a portion of said second member comprises a magnet;
providing a first electrically conductive member;
using the second member to selectively move the first electrically conductive member from the first axial position to the second axial position;
providing a second electrically conductive member spaced from the first electrically conductive member when the first electrically conductive member is in the first axial position;
electrically engaging with the first electrically conductive member to the second electrically conductive member when the first electrically conductive member is in the second axial position, the first member;
providing a portion of the first member having a center of mass moveable from a first radial distance from the axis of rotation of said rotor when said rotor rotates at a first rotational speed to a second radial distance from the axis of rotation of said rotor when said rotor rotates at a second rotational speed different than the first rotational speed, the second radial distance being different than the first radial distance;
and
utilizing the magnetic repulsion to cause one of the first member and the second member to be magnetically repelled away from each other to cause the second member to engage the first electrically conductive member with the second electrically conductive member when said rotor reaches one of the first rotational speed and the second rotational speed;
wherein in the first axial position the first member and the second member are spaced apart and do not contact each other, and the first member magnets are spaced apart and do not contact each other,
wherein in the second axial position, the first and the second member are spaced apart and do not contact each other, and the first member magnets are spaced apart and do not contact each other.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

a first member securable to said rotor and rotatable therewith, wherein the first member comprises first member magnets spaced apart from each other;
a second member slidably securable to the body and configured to be moveable with respect to said first member in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor, said first member and said second member being magnetically repelled from each other, wherein a portion of said second member comprises a magnet;
a first electrically conductive member cooperable with said second member moveable in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor from a first axial position to a second axial position, spaced from the first axial position, said second member adapted to urge said first electrically conductive member from the first axial position to the second axial position;
a second electrically conductive member spaced from said first electrically conductive member when said first electrically conductive member is in the first axial position and electrically engaged with said first electrically conductive member when said first electrically conductive member is in the second axial position, said first member having a least a portion thereof having a center of mass moveable from a first radial distance from the axis of rotation of the rotor when the rotor rotates at a first rotational speed to a second radial distance from the axis of rotation of the rotor when the rotor rotates at a second rotational speed different than the first rotational speed, the second radial distance being different than the first radial distance, the magnetic repulsion causing the said first member and said second member to be magnetically repelled away from each other to cause to cause the second member to one of engage and disengage the first electrically conductive member with the second electrically conductive member when the rotor reaches the second rotational speed;
wherein in the first axial position the first member and the second member are spaced apart and do not contact each other, and the first member magnets are spaced apart and do not contact each other;
wherein in the second axial position, the first and the second member are spaced apart and do not contact each other, and the first member magnets are spaced apart and do not contact each other.

3 more elements