Locating ring for encapsulating a coil

An encapsulated electric coil assembly comprising:

• a locating ring including a body having an inner peripheral edge, an outer peripheral edge, and a support surface extending between said inner peripheral edge and said outer peripheral edge, said locating ring further including a support tab extending from said support surface of said body adjacent to said inner peripheral edge, said support tab including an inner radial face defining a first width, an outer radial face defining a second width, and a sidewall extending between said inner radial face and said outer radial face, said first width of said inner radial face being less than said second width of said outer radial face so as to define a recessed area in said sidewall;
• an electric coil having an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper end surface, and a lower end surface, said lower end surface of said electric coil being supported on said support surface of said locating ring, said inner surface of said electric coil being engaged with said outer radial face of said support tab to position said electric coil on said support surface of said body;
• and
• an overmold of a dielectric material extending over portions of said outer surface, said upper end surface, and said inner surface of said electric coil and into said recessed area in said sidewall of said support tab of said locating ring.

A method of manufacturing an encapsulated electric coil assembly comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a locating ring including a body having an inner peripheral edge, an outer peripheral edge, and a support surface extending between the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge, the locating ring further including a support tab extending from the support surface of the body adjacent to the inner peripheral edge, the support tab including an inner radial face defining a first width, an outer radial face defining a second width, and a sidewall extending between the inner radial face and the outer radial face, the first width of the inner radial face being less than the second width of the outer radial face so as to define a recessed area in the sidewall;
• (b) providing an electric coil having an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper end surface, and a lower end surface;
• (c) positioning the electric coil relative to the locating ring such that the lower end surface of the electric coil is supported on the support surface of the locating ring and the inner surface of the electric coil is engaged with the outer radial face of the support tab;
• and
• (d) overmolding a dielectric material over portions of the outer surface, the upper end surface, and the inner surface of the electric coil and into the recessed area in the sidewall of the support tab of the locating ring.