Air-cooled electric machine and method of assembling the same
AssigneeRegal Beloit America, Inc.
InventorsMarc McKinzie, Stephen Thomas English, Justin Michael Magyar, Zachary Alexander Borts
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electric machine comprises a motor housing and an electronics enclosure coupled to the motor housing. The electronics enclosure defines an air passage between the electronics enclosure and the motor housing. The electronics enclosure further defines at least one air intake connected to said air passage. The electric machine also includes a fan configured to draw air through the at least one air intake and into the air passage.
Claims25
An electric machine comprising:
- a motor housing;
- an electronics enclosure coupled to said motor housing defining an air passage between said electronics enclosure and said motor housing, said electronics enclosure further defining at least one air intake connected to said air passage;
- and
- a fan configured to draw air through said at least one air intake and into said air passage.
An electronics enclosure assembly comprising:
- an electronics enclosure;
- an electronics enclosure mount comprising a first surface coupled to said electronics enclosure, a second surface configured to be coupled to a motor housing, and a channel, said second surface defining an opening, said first surface and said second surface defining an air passage between said electronics enclosure and said motor housing, and said at least one channel defining at least one air intake configured to draw air into said air passage.
A method of assembling an electric machine, said method comprising:
- providing a motor housing;
- coupling an electronics enclosure to the motor housing, the electronics enclosure spaced from the motor housing and defining at least one air intake, the electronics enclosure and the motor housing defining an air passage at least partially between the electronics enclosure and the motor housing, the air passage extending from the at least one air intake into the motor housing;
- and
- positioning a fan in flow communication with the air passage, the fan is configured to draw air into the at least one air intake and through the air passage.
An electric machine comprising:
- a motor having a shaft extending along an axis, said motor enclosed in a motor housing;
- a fan coupled to said shaft;
- and
- an electronics enclosure coupled to said motor housing in-line with said motor and said fan, said fan positioned between said motor and said electronics enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.