Systems and methods for rotor shaft grounding
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsVincent T Skalski, Shailesh Kozarekar, Brian Richard Light
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Abstract
Methods and systems for grounding a rotor of an electric machine. The electric machine system includes a rotor shaft, a grounding cover coupled to an end of the rotor shaft, and a cam aligned with a rotational axis of the rotor shaft and electrically coupled to the grounding cover. The electric machine system further includes an end plate of a housing and a spring extending between the cam and an interior surface of the housing, where the grounding cover, the cam, and the spring are electrically conductive.
Claims19
An electric machine system, comprising:
- a rotor shaft;
- a grounding cover coupled to an end of the rotor shaft;
- a cam coaxially aligned with a rotational axis of the rotor shaft and electrically coupled to the grounding cover;
- an end plate of a housing;
- and
- a spring extending between the cam and an interior surface of the housing;
- where the grounding cover, the cam, and the spring are electrically conductive;
- where the rotational axis extends through a face of the cam and the spring;
- and
- where the face of the cam is in face sharing contact with a portion of the grounding cover through which the rotational axis extends.
A method for operation of an electric machine system, comprising:
- rotating a rotor shaft while the rotor shaft is electrically grounded;
- where the electric machine system includes:
- the rotor shaft;
- a grounding cover coupled to an end of the rotor shaft;
- a cam coaxially aligned with a rotational axis of the rotor shaft and electrically coupled to the grounding cover;
- and
- a spring extending between the cam and an interior surface of a housing;
- where the grounding cover, the cam, and the spring are electrically conductive;
- where the rotational axis extends through the cam and the spring;
- and
- where the face of the cam is in face sharing contact with a portion of the grounding cover through which the rotational axis extends.
An electric motor, comprising:
- a rotor shaft;
- a grounding cover coupled to an end of the rotor shaft;
- a cam electrically coupled to the grounding cover;
- an end plate of a housing;
- and
- a spring extending between the cam and an interior surface of the end plate and aligned with a rotational axis of the rotor shaft;
- where the spring and the cam are aligned with a rotational axis of the rotor shaft;
- where the grounding cover, the cam, and the spring are electrically conductive;
- and
- where the spring includes:
- a first end mated with a first recess in the cam;
- and
- a second end mated with a recess in an inwardly protruding section of the end plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.