Integrated piston assembly for an electric machine
AssigneeHyliion Holdings Corp.
InventorsAlex William Ariapad, Joshua Tyler Mook, Aigbedion Akwara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A linear electric machine includes a shaft, a primary piston assembly operably coupled with the shaft, a stator assembly supporting the shaft and housing a load device, and a bearing assembly supporting an end of the shaft. The bearing assembly includes a bearing housing and a fluid bearing within the bearing housing. The bearing housing includes an opening for receiving the shaft therethrough. The linear electric machine also includes a secondary piston assembly formed integrally with the shaft and at least a portion of the bearing assembly for providing fluid to the bearing assembly.
Claims14
A linear electric machine, comprising:
- a shaft;
- a primary piston assembly operably coupled with the shaft, the primary piston assembly comprising a primary piston member and a primary pump chamber;
- a stator assembly supporting the shaft and housing a load device;
- a bearing assembly supporting an end of the shaft, the bearing assembly comprising a bearing housing and a fluid bearing within the bearing housing, the bearing housing comprising an opening for receiving the shaft therethrough;
- and
- a secondary piston assembly disposed axially between the load device and the primary piston member, the secondary piston assembly comprising a secondary piston member in operable communication with a secondary pump chamber,
- wherein the secondary pump chamber is formed integrally with at least a portion of the bearing assembly for providing fluid to the bearing assembly, the secondary pump chamber defining a groove extending partially through the bearing housing along an axial direction of the linear electric machine, and
- wherein the secondary piston member comprises an extension member extending into the groove along the axial direction.
A piston assembly for a linear electric machine, the piston assembly comprising:
- a shaft;
- a primary piston assembly operably coupled with the shaft, the primary piston assembly comprising a primary piston member and a primary pump chamber;
- a bearing assembly supporting an end of the shaft, the bearing assembly comprising a bearing housing and a fluid bearing within the bearing housing, the bearing housing comprising an opening for receiving the shaft therethrough;
- and
- a secondary piston assembly comprising a secondary piston member in operable communication with a secondary pump chamber, the primary piston member being disposed axially between the primary pump chamber and the secondary piston assembly,
- wherein the secondary pump chamber is formed integrally with at least a portion of the bearing assembly for providing fluid to the bearing assembly, the secondary pump chamber defining a groove extending partially through the bearing housing along an axial direction of the piston assembly, and
- wherein the secondary piston member comprises an extension member extending into the groove along the axial direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.