Magnet retention on rotors
AssigneeComprehensive Power, Inc.
InventorsStuart Jones, Franklin Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Permanent magnets are mounted on a rotor of an electrical motor by an apparatus that keeps an adhesive bonding layer between the magnet and rotor in compression over wide variations in temperature and speed of rotation. The mechanical stresses on the magnets are controlled using compliant layers and spacers. The apparatus allows the removal and replacement of individual magnets.
Claims20
A retainer for holding a magnet to a rotor, comprising:
- a retainer body having an opening to accept a fastening device to secure the retainer body to the rotor and an angled surface adapted for engaging an angled surface of a magnet when the retainer body is secured to the rotor;
- a fastening device disposed in the opening to secure the retainer body to the rotor;
- and
- a spring mechanism disposed in the opening between the fastening device and the retainer body to provide a force reactive to a centrifugal force during rotation of the rotor.
A rotor useful in a permanent magnet motor, comprising:
- a rotor body having a cylindrical surface having a circumference;
- a plurality of magnets disposed on the cylindrical surface at equal intervals on the circumference, each magnet having an angled surface;
- an adhesive layer disposed between each magnet and the cylindrical surface;
- and
- a plurality of magnet retainers, each magnet retainer disposed between a neighboring pair of the magnets, each retainer comprising:
- a retainer body having an opening to accept a fastening device to secure the retainer body to the rotor body and having an angled surface engaging the angled surface of one of the magnets;
- a fastening device disposed in the opening, the fastening device securing the retainer body to the rotor body;
- and
- a spring mechanism disposed between the fastening device and the retainer body to provide a force reactive to a centrifugal force during rotation of the rotor body.
A rotor useful in a permanent magnet motor, comprising:
- a rotor body having a cylindrical surface having a circumference;
- a plurality of magnets disposed on the cylindrical surface at equal intervals on the circumference, each magnet having an angled surface;
- an adhesive layer disposed between each magnet and the rotor body;
- an open-mesh screen disposed between each magnet and the cylindrical surface;
- a plurality of magnet retainers, each magnet retainer disposed between a neighboring pair of the magnets, each magnet retainer comprising:
- a retainer body having an opening to accept a fastening device to secure the retainer body to the rotor body and having an angled surface engaging the angled surface of one of the magnets;
- a fastening device at least partially disposed in the opening, the fastening device securing the retainer body to the rotor body;
- and
- a spring mechanism disposed between the fastening device and the retainer body to provide a force reactive to a centrifugal force during rotation of the rotor body;
- and
- a plurality of axial retainers, each axial retainer disposed at an end of a magnet retainer, the axial retainers adapted to prevent axial movement of a magnet.
A method for retaining a plurality of magnets on a rotor body, each of the magnets having an angled surface, the method comprising:
- attaching the magnets to a cylindrical surface of the rotor body using an adhesive layer;
- for each of a plurality of neighboring pairs of the magnets, positioning a retainer body between each magnet in the neighboring pair such that an angled surface of each retainer body engages the angled surfaces of one of the magnets in a respective neighboring pair;
- and
- securing the retainer bodies to the rotor body.
A method for retaining a plurality of magnets on a rotor body, each of the magnets having an angled surface, the method comprising:
- attaching the magnets to a cylindrical surface of the rotor body using an adhesive layer;
- for each of a plurality of neighboring pairs of the magnets, positioning a retainer body between each magnet in the neighboring pair such that an angled surface of each retainer body engages the angled surfaces of one of the magnets in a respective neighboring pair;
- and
- securing the retainer bodies to the rotor body with fastening devices, wherein at least one spring mechanism is disposed between the fastening devices and the retainer bodies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.