Method for providing servo motor rear bearing support, space for internal electronic packaging and IP sealing between motor and externally attached devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9373986-B2
Application number	US-201213667305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2012
Priority date	Nov 2, 2012
Publication date	Jun 21, 2016
Grant date	Jun 21, 2016

Abstract

An electric motor assembly that eliminates external component-to-component assembly seams between coupled packaging hardware that would inhibit the creation and maintenance of, for example, IP 66 and IP 67 seals while utilizing inexpensive existing motor shaft rear bearing supports and also creating additional internal electronic packaging space. The disclosure provides an assembly with a continuous (e.g., no interruptions or seams) surface area to support IP sealing of the entire packaging-to-package interface between a primary motor frame (e.g., housing) and externally attached secondary/ancillary electronic hardware.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A motor assembly comprising:
a tubular motor housing having an interior chamber extending between first and second ends, the tubular motor housing having an opening in an exterior surface thereof;
a motor unit received in a first end of the chamber, the motor including an output shaft having opposite axial ends, with at least one of the axial end of the output shaft terminating within the housing;
a bearing support received in the second end of the chamber, the bearing support including a bearing supporting the axial end of the output shaft terminating within the housing, the bearing being spaced axially inward from the second end of the chamber; and
an electronics module supported on an exterior surface of the housing;
wherein the housing includes an external flange extending along a major portion of a length thereof, the flange having a continuous planar sealing surface surrounding the opening and including a heat transfer material supported thereon adjacent the opening, the opening extending from an exterior of the housing to the interior chamber through which the electronics module extends for connection to at least one of the motor or the bearing support, the continuous planar sealing surface adapted to interface with a corresponding sealing surface of the electronics module to form a seal therebetween surrounding the opening and the heat transfer material, whereby the opening and the heat transfer material is shielded from contaminants.

2. A motor assembly as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a sealing element interposed between the housing and the electronics module.

3. A motor assembly as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the seal is IP 66 or IP 67 rated.

4. A motor assembly as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a sealing element interposed between the bearing and the housing.

5. A motor assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the motor includes an electric motor.

6. A motor assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves on an exterior surface thereof.

7. A motor assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the electronics module is fixed to the housing with at least one fastener.

8. A motor assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the housing is at least one of a die-cast metal, a forged metal, or a machined metal.

9. A motor assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bearing support is tubular and closely received within the housing, the bearing being supported at a first end of the bearing support, and the bearing support further comprising an electronics cavity in which electronic components can be mounted.

10. A motor assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bearing is axially coextensive with a middle portion of the tubular housing.

11. A motor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the motor is a servo motor.

12. A modular motor assembly comprising:
a housing having first and second open ends and an exterior flange extending between the first and second open ends, an opening in the flange extending to an interior of the housing:
a motor module supported in the housing and enclosing the first open end of the housing, the motor module having a surface abutting the first open end of the housing adjacent the housing flange, the motor module including an output shaft supported for rotation;
a bearing support received in the housing and enclosing the second end of the housing, the bearing support having a flange for abutting the second open end of the housing adjacent the housing flange, the bearing support having a bearing supporting an axial end of the output shaft within the housing;
an electronics module supported on the flange of the housing;
a sealing element interposed between the housing and the electronics module, the sealing element adapted to seal against an outer peripheral edge of the flange of the housing such that a major portion of the flange is within the sealing element; and
a heat transfer material between the flange of the housing and the electronics module fully surrounded by the sealing element, whereby the heat transfer material and the opening are shielded from contaminants by the sealing element;
wherein the electronics module is coextensive with the flange of the housing.

13. A modular motor assembly as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the seal is IP 66 or IP 67 rated.

14. A motor assembly comprising:
a tubular motor housing having an interior chamber extending between first and second ends open end thereof, the tubular motor housing having a planar flange extending along a length thereof between the first and second open ends, the planar flange defining a sealing surface and having an opening extending to the interior chamber, the opening being spaced apart from the first and second ends of the housing such that the sealing surface is continuous about the opening;
a motor unit received in a first end of the chamber, the motor including an output shaft having opposite axial ends, with at least one of the axial ends of the output shaft terminating within the housing, the motor unit enclosing the first open end;
a bearing support received in the second end of the chamber, the bearing support including a bearing supporting the axial end of the output shaft terminating within the housing, the bearing being spaced axially inward from the second end of the chamber, the bearing support being tubular with the bearing being supported at a first end thereof, the bearing support further including an electronics cavity aligned with the opening in the flange;
an electronics module supported on the flange of the housing, the electronics module having a length and a width corresponding to the flange such that the flange and electronics module are coextensive; and
a sealing member for sealing a periphery of the flange to the electronics module;
wherein a heat transfer material is interposed between the electronics module and the flange within the sealing member such that the heat transfer material is shielded from contaminants.

Assignees

• Quade Edward F
• Cloran Shawn
• Lindblom John S
• Risty Corey J
• Rockwell Automation Tech Inc

Inventors

• Quade Edward F
• Cloran Shawn
• Lindblom John S
• Risty Corey J

Classifications

• H02K11/33

  Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics (H02K11/38 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02K5/225

  Terminal boxes or connection arrangements (specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132) · CPC title

• H02K5/10 Primary

  with arrangements for protection from ingress, e.g. water or fingers · CPC title