Molded flywheel magnet cage
AssigneeBombardier Motor Corporation of America
InventorsMark Noble, Charles T. Rogan, Douglas A. Trudeau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flywheel having a molded cage formed around a plurality of magnets attached to the flywheel. The cage extends into one or more grooves formed in the flywheel to resist the shrinkage of the cage inside diameter as it cools following an injection molding process. The gap between the cage and magnets and an adjacent stator is precisely controlled and minimized. Shutoff surfaces formed on the flywheel function as a portion of the die for injection molding of the cage.
Claims49
An electrical generator comprising:
- a flywheel attached to a shaft;
- a depression formed in a top surface of the flywheel;
- a magnet attached to the flywheel;
- a cage in contact with the magnet and extending into the depression;
- and
- a stator disposed proximate the flywheel, the stator operable to conduct an induced electrical current as the magnet is moved relative to the stator by the rotation of the shaft.
A marine engine having a power unit, a flywheel connected to the power unit by a shaft, a magnet connected to the flywheel, and a stator proximate the flywheel for generating electricity as the magnet is moved past the stator as the shaft is rotated by the power unit, the improvement comprising:
- a depression formed in a rim top surface of the flywheel;
- and
- a cage in contact with thc magnet and extending into the depression.
A product formed by the process of:
- forming a flywheel;
- forming a depression in a top surface of the flywheel;
- attaching a magnet to the flywheel;
- and
- forming a cage to fit in contact with the magnet and a portion of the flywheel and into the depression.
A method for retaining a magnet on a flywheel, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a depression in a top surface of a flywheel;
- attaching a magnet to the flywheel;
- and
- forming a cage in contact with the flywheel and the magnet and extending into the depression.
A method of manufacturing a flywheel for an engine, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a flywheel blank;
- forming a depression in a top surface of the flywheel blank;
- attaching at least one magnet to the flywheel blank;
- and
- forming a cage in contact with the at least one magnet and extending into the depression.
A flywheel comprising:
- a disk portion;
- a rim portion attached to the disk portion and having an inside diameter surface;
- a depression formed in a top surface of the rim portion;
- a magnet attached to the inside diameter surface;
- and
- a cage in contact with the magnet and extending into the depression.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.