Programmable electric motor and method of assembly
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsRobert K. Hollenbeck, James E. Grimm, Gregory A. Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric motor having a snap-together construction without the use of separate fasterners. The construction of the motor removes additive tolerances for a more accurate assembly. The motor is capable of programming and testing after final assembly and can be non-destructively disassembled for repair or modification. The motor is constructed to inhibit the ready entry of water into the motor housing and to limit the effect of any water which manages to enter the housing.
Claims16
An electric motor comprising:
- a stator including a stator core, a winding on the stator core;
- a rotor including a shaft received in the stator core for rotation of the rotor relative to the stator about the longitudinal axis of the shaft;
- a housing connected together with the stator and rotor to form an assembled motor, the housing being adapted to support the stator and rotor;
- a printed circuit board having programmable components thereon for controlling operation of the motor, the printed circuit board having contacts mounted thereon and electrically connected to the programmable components for use in programming the programmable components, the printed circuit board being received in the housing;
- the housing having a port therein generally in registration with the contacts on the printed circuit board, the port being sized and shaped to receive a probe connected to a microprocessor into connection to the contacts inside the housing for programming the motor.
An apparatus comprising:
- a stator including a stator core and a winding thereon;
- a rotor including a rotor shaft;
- a housing adapted to support and at least partially enclose the stator and rotor;
- a printed circuit board having a programmable component thereon connected to the winding and contacts mounted on the circuit board and electrically connected to the programmable component;
- wherein the stator, rotor and housing are assembled such that the printed circuit board is enclosed in the housing;
- a probe adapted to be inserted through a port in the housing into connection with contacts on the printed circuit board;
- and
- wherein the programmable component is adapted to be programmed through a probe connection to the printed circuit board.
The apparatus of 15 further comprising a stop inserted into the port to close the port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.