Method for assembling an electric motor using a slip fit tolerance ring

Abstract

An electric motor includes a stator, a housing supporting the stator and having a bearing seat with an inner surface and an inner end, a bearing having an outer surface, a shaft rotatably supported by the bearing, and a rotor supported by the shaft. The motor also includes a tolerance ring having an interior surface, an exterior surface disposed against the bearing seat inner surface, and a plurality of elastic corrugations. Each of the elastic corrugations projects radially from the interior surface, defining a shoulder section disposed between the bearing and the inner end of the bearing seat. The shoulder section generates a spring force against the bearing to axially and radially support the bearing and to axially preload the bearing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.