US 11,699,941 B2 · Method and apparatus for providing motor with shaft ground

Abstract

A method of electrically grounding a rotor shaft of an electric motor includes removing a first lockplate fastener from a motor endshield and an internal bearing lockplate. A second lockplate fastener remains coupled to the motor endshield and internal bearing lockplate such that the internal bearing lockplate stays secured along an interior side of the motor endshield. A mounting plate of a shaft ground assembly is positioned along an exterior side of the motor endshield. The mounting plate supports a shaft ground that includes a conductive element configured to electrically couple to the rotor shaft. The first lockplate fastener is replaced with a first mounting plate fastener coupled to the mounting plate, motor endshield, and bearing lockplate to secure the mounting plate to the endshield and to secure the bearing lockplate along the interior side of the motor endshield.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of electrically grounding a rotor shaft of an electric motor, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) removing a first lockplate fastener from a motor endshield and an internal bearing lockplate, while a second lockplate fastener remains coupled to the motor endshield and internal bearing lockplate such that the internal bearing lockplate stays secured along an interior side of the motor endshield;
(b) positioning a mounting plate of a shaft ground assembly along an exterior side of the motor endshield, the mounting plate supporting a shaft ground, the shaft ground including a conductive element configured to electrically couple to the rotor shaft;
and
(c) replacing the first lockplate fastener with a first mounting plate fastener coupled to the mounting plate, motor endshield, and bearing lockplate to thereby secure the mounting plate along the exterior side of the endshield and secure the bearing lockplate along the interior side of the motor endshield.

1 more element

A grounding kit for electrically grounding a rotor shaft of an electric motor, the electric motor having an internal bearing lockplate coupled to an endshield by a removable lockplate fastener, wherein the lockplate fastener extends through a fastener hole defined between interior and exterior sides of the endshield and the lockplate fastener threadably engages the bearing lockplate, said kit comprising:

a mounting plate configured to be secured along the exterior side of the endshield,
said mounting plate including a shaft relief portion and a fastener opening located outboard of the shaft relief portion,
said shaft relief portion being configured to receive the rotor shaft and said fastener opening being configured to align with the fastener hole, when the mounting plate is secured along the exterior side of the endshield;
a shaft ground coupled to said mounting plate,
said shaft ground including a conductive element configured to electrically couple to the rotor shaft when the mounting plate is secured along the exterior side of the endshield;
and
a mounting plate fastener comprising a fastener head and a threaded fastener shaft, the mounting plate fastener serving to replace the lockplate fastener, with the fastener shaft received in the fastener opening and the fastener hole and threadably engaged with the bearing lockplate, when the mounting plate is secured along the exterior side of the endshield.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for providing motor with shaft ground

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for providing motor with shaft ground

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20