Bearing support arrangement for an electric machine

Claim 1

An electrically actuated device, particularly a portable powertool, having an electric motor (18), the armature shaft (22) of the electric motor being journalled at one end (28) in a bearing (30) supported in a single piece support body (32) made from sheet metal and having integrally formed central (56), shoulder (62) and collar (64) segments, the collar (64) and central (56) segments extending longitudinally parallel to and concentrically about the axis (84) of the armature shaft with the collar segment (64) spaced radially outwardly from the central segment (56) and the shoulder segment (62) extending transversely to said axis (84) and connecting the ends of the central and collar segments which are closest to the armature, said bearing (30) being received in said central segment (56), characterized in that said device has a thermoplastic housing (12) having internally thereof and integrally therewith a tubular bridge segment (36) concentric with said axis (84), said tubular bridge segment (36) including a radially inwardly extending flange (78) with a rib segment (80) extending axially therefrom to define an annular cavity (72) internally of said tubular bridge segment (36) and concentric with said axis (84), said collar segment engaging in and being supported by said tubular bridge segment (36) with one end (74) of said collar segment (64) engaging in said annular cavity (72), and means (86) integral with and extending radially inwardly from said tubular bridge segment (36) in axially spaced relation from said annular cavity (72) for retaining said support body (32) in said tubular bridge segment (36), said support body (32) being retained between said annular cavity (72) and said retaining means (86), whereby said sheet metal support body (32) functions both to support said bearing (30) and as a heat sink therefor.