# US 7,610,671 B2 · Method for assembling an electric motor using a slip fit tolerance ring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,671 B2 - Document ID: US7610671B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/262,635 - Filed: 2005-10-31 - Published: 2007-05-03 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-10-31 - Assignees: A.O. Smith Corporation - Inventors: William J. Watkins; Chih M. Lin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610671B2 ## CPC - F16C 35/077: between housing and outer race ring - F16C 27/04: Ball or roller bearings, e.g. with resilient rolling bodies - H02K 5/1732: {radially supporting the rotary shaft at both ends of the rotor (H02K5/1737 takes precedence)} - F16C 2380/26: Dynamo-electric machines or combinations therewith, e.g. electro-motors and generators - Y10T 29/49009: Dynamoelectric machine - Y10T 29/49012: Rotor - Y10T 29/49696: Mounting - Y10T 29/49947: by applying separate fastener - Y10T 403/405: Flexible intermediate member - Y10T 403/453: Flexible sleeve-type coupling - Y10T 403/4966: Deformation occurs simultaneously with assembly - Y10T 403/7049: Biased by distinct radially acting means - Y10T 403/7054: Plural, circumferentially related shims between members - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for assembling an electric motor having a housing supporting a stator, and a bearing supporting a shaft, the method comprising: providing the housing with a bearing seat having an inner end; providing a tolerance ring including an interior surface and a plurality of elastic corrugations projecting from the interior surface; fitting the tolerance ring into the bearing seat; pressing the bearing into the tolerance ring; and deforming each corrugation with the bearing, as the bearing is being pressed into the tolerance ring, to form a shoulder, wherein each shoulder remains after the bearing is fully seated in the bearing seat so that each shoulder generates a spring force against the bearing to axially and radially support the bearing and to axially preload the bearing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein deforming each corrugation includes forming a generally flat section disposed between the bearing and the bearing seat to radially support the bearing and to inhibit the bearing from slipping out of the bearing seat. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein fitting the tolerance ring into the bearing seat includes providing the bearing seat with an inner surface; providing the tolerance ring with an exterior surface; and disposing the exterior surface of the tolerance ring against the inner surface of the bearing seat. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein fitting the tolerance ring into the bearing seat includes providing the bearing seat with a locking notch; providing the tolerance ring with a first end, a second end, and a locking tab extending from one of the first and second ends; and disposing the locking tab in the locking notch to resist rotation of the tolerance ring with respect to the bearing seat. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein fitting the tolerance ring into the bearing seat includes providing the tolerance ring with an inner edge; and disposing the inner edge against the inner end of the bearing seat. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein fitting the tolerance ring into the bearing seat further includes providing the bearing seat with a bearing shoulder adjacent the inner end, providing the tolerance ring with a second inner edge an axial distance from the inner edge, and disposing the second inner edge against the bearing shoulder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the tolerance ring with a plurality of stiffeners projecting from the interior surface; and radially supporting the bearing with the stiffeners to help preserve the elastic characteristics of the corrugations. ### Claim 8 A method for assembling an electric motor having a housing supporting a stator, and a bearing supporting a shaft, the method comprising: providing the housing with a bearing seat having an inner end; providing a tolerance ring including an interior surface and a plurality of elastic corrugations projecting from the interior surface; fitting the tolerance ring into the bearing seat; pressing the bearing into the tolerance ring toward the inner end of the bearing seat; and while pressing the bearing into the tolerance ring, deforming each corrugation with the bearing to form a shoulder on the corrugation, the shoulder being located between the bearing and the inner end of the bearing seat, and the shoulder remaining after the bearing is fully seated in the bearing seat. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein deforming each corrugation includes forming a generally flat section disposed between the bearing and the bearing seat to radially support the bearing and to inhibit the bearing from slipping out of the bearing seat. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein fitting the tolerance ring into the bearing seat includes providing the bearing seat with an inner surface; providing the tolerance ring with an exterior surface; and disposing the exterior surface of the tolerance ring against the inner surface of the bearing seat. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein fitting the tolerance ring into the bearing seat includes providing the bearing seat with a locking notch; providing the tolerance ring with a first end, a second end, and a locking tab extending from one of the first and second ends; and disposing the locking tab in the locking notch to resist rotation of the tolerance ring with respect to the bearing seat. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein fitting the tolerance ring into the bearing seat includes providing the tolerance ring with an inner edge; and disposing the inner edge against the inner end of the bearing seat. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein fitting the tolerance ring into the bearing seat further includes providing the bearing seat with a bearing shoulder adjacent the inner end, providing the tolerance ring with a second inner edge an axial distance from the inner edge, and disposing the second inner edge against the bearing shoulder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising providing the tolerance ring with a plurality of stiffeners projecting from the interior surface; and radially supporting the bearing with the stiffeners to help preserve the elastic characteristics of the corrugations. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein each shoulder generates a spring force against the bearing to axially and radially support the bearing and to axially preload the bearing.