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US 6,479,913 B1Granted
Electric motor having a no-adjust starting switch
AssigneeA. O. Smith Corporation
InventorChih Min Lin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric motor having a no-adjust starting switch. An actuator button of a starting switch assembly is slidably positioned in a switch housing mounted to an end frame of the motor. As a rotor shaft and associated centrifugal governor which engages the actuator button rotate, there is minimal wobbling of the actuator button during motor start-up and motor operation.
Claims30
An electric motor comprising:
- a housing;
- a stator supported by said housing;
- a shaft supported by said housing for rotation about an axis;
- a rotor supported by said shaft for rotation therewith relative to said stator;
- a switch supported by said housing, said switch including a pair of flexible, elongated arms;
- a switch actuator button which is not fixed to either arm;
- and
- a centrifugal governor mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, such that as said shaft rotates, said governor causes said actuator button to force said arms together to close said switch until such time as said shaft reaches a predetermined rotational speed, after which, centrifugal forces generated by said shaft and acting upon said governor cause said governor to allow said actuator button to move in a direction that allows said arms to separate, thereby opening said switch.
5 more elements
An electric motor comprising:
- a housing;
- a stator supported by said housing;
- a shaft supported by said housing for rotation about an axis;
- a rotor supported by said shaft for rotation therewith relative to said stator;
- a switch supported by said housing, said switch including a pair of flexible, elongated arms;
- a switch actuator button having a generally flat engagement surface, said actuator button being constrained for movement parallel to or along said axis, such that said engagement surface remains substantially perpendicular to said axis as said actuator button moves parallel to or along said axis;
- and
- a centrifugal governor mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, such that as said shaft rotates, said governor engages said engagement surface of said actuator button to cause said actuator button to force said arms together to close said switch until such time as said shaft reaches a predetermined rotational speed, after which, centrifugal forces generated by said shaft and acting upon said governor cause said governor to allow said actuator button to move in a direction that allows said arms to separate, thereby opening said switch.
5 more elements
An electric motor comprising:
- a housing;
- a stator supported by said housing;
- a shaft supported by said housing for rotation about an axis;
- a rotor supported by said shaft for rotation therewith relative to said stator;
- a switch supported by said housing, said switch including a pair of flexible, elongated arms;
- a switch actuator button which is not fixed to either arm, said switch actuator button having a generally flat engagement surface and a hemispherical dome for engaging one of said arms, said actuator button being constrained for movement parallel to or along said axis, such that said engagement surface remains substantially perpendicular to said axis as said actuator button moves parallel to or along said axis;
- and
- a centrifugal governor mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, such that as said shaft rotates, said governor engages said engagement surface of said actuator button to cause said hemispherical dome of said actuator button to engage one of said arms to force said arms together to close said switch until such time as said shaft reaches a predetermined rotational speed, after which, centrifugal forces generated by said shaft and acting upon said governor cause said governor to allow said actuator button to move in a direction that allows said arms to separate, thereby opening said switch.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.