End shield for use in an electric machine and method of forming the same
AssigneeRegal Beloit America, Inc.
InventorPHILIP A. WILSON, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An end shield for an electric machine having a rotational axis includes a plate portion, a circumferential bearing retainer extending axially from the plate portion, and an inner hub coupled to the plate portion and spaced radially inward from the bearing retainer to define a circular groove therebetween. The end shield also includes a pair of boundary walls extending between the bearing retainer and the inner hub across the circular groove such that the pair of boundary walls separate the circular groove into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is configured to receive a supply of grease therein.
Claims20
An end shield for an electric machine having a rotational axis, said end shield comprising:
- a plate portion;
- a circumferential bearing retainer extending axially from said plate portion;
- an inner hub coupled to said plate portion and spaced radially inward from said bearing retainer to define a circular groove therebetween;
- a pair of boundary walls extending between said bearing retainer and said inner hub across said circular groove such that said pair of boundary walls separate said circular groove into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein said first chamber is configured to receive a supply of grease.
An electric machine having a rotational axis, said electric machine comprising:
- a shaft configured to rotate about the rotational axis;
- a bearing assembly coupled to said shaft;
- and
- an end shield coupled to said bearing assembly and to said shaft, said end shield comprising:
- a plate portion;
- a circumferential bearing retainer extending axially from said plate portion and coupled to said bearing assembly;
- an inner hub coupled to said plate portion and spaced radially inward from said bearing retainer to define a circular groove therebetween, wherein said inner hub extends circumferentially about said shaft;
- a pair of boundary walls extending between said bearing retainer and said inner hub across said circular groove such that said pair of boundary walls separate said circular groove into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein said first chamber is configured to receive a supply of grease.
A method for forming an end shield for an electric machine having a rotational axis, said method comprising:
- coupling a circumferential bearing retainer to a plate portion such that the bearing retainer extends axially from the plate portion;
- coupling an inner hub to the plate portion such that the inner hub is spaced radially inward from the bearing retainer to define a circular groove therebetween;
- forming a pair of boundary walls between the bearing retainer and the inner hub across the circular groove such that the pair of boundary walls separate the circular groove into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber is configured to receive a supply of grease.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.