Electric motor having a rain baffle
AssigneeA.O. Smith Corporation
InventorsChih Min Lin, Ronald D. Hirth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric motor having a rain baffle which is supported relative to and within the motor housing to prevent rain or the like which may enter ventilation outlets in the housing from contacting the rotor shaft bearing and the electrical components positioned within the housing. The rain baffle is also supported relative to and within the motor housing to allow air used to cool the motor to pass around the perimeter of the baffle and out the ventilation outlets in such a way as to substantially minimize the exhaust air from being recirculated back into air inlet vents in the housing.
Claims31
An electric motor having an axis, said electric motor comprising:
- a housing;
- an air vent in said housing;
- an end frame mounted on said housing;
- a stator supported by said housing;
- a shaft supported by said end frame for rotation about the axis;
- a rotor supported by said shaft for rotation therewith relative to said stator;
- and
- a baffle abutting said end frame and positioned within said housing.
An electric motor having an axis, said electric motor comprising:
- a housing;
- an air vent in said housing;
- a bearing supported by said housing;
- a stator supported by said housing;
- a shaft supported by said bearing for rotation about the axis;
- a rotor supported by said shaft for rotation therewith relative to said stator;
- and
- a baffle supported relative to and within said housing, said baffle substantially preventing water and other contaminants which may enter said air vent from reaching said bearing.
An electric motor having an axis, said electric motor comprising:
- a housing;
- an air vent in said housing;
- a stator supported by said housing;
- a shaft supported by said housing for rotation about the axis;
- a rotor supported by said shaft for rotation therewith relative to said stator;
- and
- a baffle supported relative to and within said housing, such that said baffle axially overlaps said stator to substantially prevent water and other contaminants which may enter said air vent from contacting said stator.
An electric motor having an axis, said electric motor comprising:
- a housing having opposite ends;
- an air inlet vent located at one end of said housing;
- an air outlet vent located at the other end of said housing;
- a stator supported by said housing;
- a shaft supported by said housing for rotation about said axis;
- a rotor supported by said shaft for rotation therewith relative to said stator;
- and
- a baffle supported relative to and within said housing, such that said baffle substantially prevents water and other contaminants which may enter said air outlet vent from contacting components of said motor, and such that said baffle allows air entering said air inlet vent to pass through said housing without redirecting around said baffle before exiting said outlet vent.
An electric motor having an axis, said electric motor comprising:
- a housing having opposite ends;
- an air inlet vent located at one end of said housing;
- an air outlet vent located at the opposite end of said housing;
- an end frame mounted on said housing;
- a bearing supported by said end frame;
- a stator supported by said housing;
- a shaft supported by said bearing for rotation about the axis;
- a rotor supported by said shaft for rotation therewith relative to said stator;
- and
- a baffle mounted to said end frame within said housing to substantially prevent water and other contaminants which may enter said outlet vent from reaching said bearing, said baffle including a first ring shaped portion which abuts said end frame, a second portion forming a part of a frustum extending from said first portion, and a third portion forming a part of a cylinder extending from said second portion such that said third portion axially overlaps said stator to substantially prevent water and other contaminants which may enter said outlet vent from contacting said stator, said baffle being spaced a distance away from an inner surface of said housing to allow air entering said inlet vent to pass through said housing without redirecting around said baffle before exiting said outlet vent, thereby substantially minimizing pressure loss and preventing the air exiting said outlet vent from being recirculated back in to said inlet vent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.