Electric motors

Claim 2

In an electric motor, the combination comprising: a motor frame for rotatably supporting a rotor shaft; said frame comprising a generally cylindrical shell adapted to encircle the stator of the motor; and a pair of end members; one of said shell and the associated end member having radially extending circumferentially spaced portions defining radial abuttiNg surfaces; said surfaces on said shell being accurately positioned longitudinally of said shell relative to one another and relative to the axis of said shell; the other of said shell and said end members having surfaces engaging said last-mentioned surfaces; said shell having circumferentially spaced portions thereof bent radially inwardly to engage the outer surface of said end members and thereby retain said end members against axial movement relative to said shell; and said last-mentioned portions being defined by circumferentially spaced and circumferentially extending slots in said shell.

Claim 3

In an electric motor, the combination comprising: a motor frame for rotatably supporting a rotor shaft; said frame comprising a generally cylindrical shell adapted to encircle the stator of the motor; and a pair of end members; one of said shell and the associated end member having radially extending circumferentially spaced portions defining radial abutting surfaces; said surfaces on said shell being accurately positioned longitudinally of said shell relative to one another and relative to the axis of said shell; the other of said shell and said end members having surfaces engaging said last-mentioned surfaces; said shell having circumferentially spaced portions thereof bent radially inwardly to engage the outer surface of said end members and thereby retain said end members against axial movement relative to said shell; said first-mentioned radially extending portions on said one of said shell and said end members comprising notches circumferentially spaced on the ends of said shell; the bases of said notches defining said accurately formed radial surfaces; and said end member having radially extending projections with surfaces abutting said radially extending surfaces.

Claim 4

In an electric motor, the combination comprising: a motor frame for rotatably supporting a rotor shaft; said frame comprising a generally cylindrical shell adapted to encircle the stator of the motor; and a pair of end members; one of said shell and the associated end member having radially extending circumferentially spaced portions defining radial abutting surfaces; said surfaces on said shell being accurately positioned longitudinally of said shell relative to one another and relative to the axis of said shell; the other of said shell and said end members having surfaces engaging said last-mentioned surfaces; said shell having circumferentially spaced portions thereof bent radially inwardly to engage the outer surface of said end members and thereby retain said end members against axial movement relative to said shell; said first-mentioned radially extending portions on said one of said shell and said end members comprising notches circumferentially spaced on the ends of said shell; the bases of said notches defining said accurately formed radial surfaces; and said end member having radially extending projections with surfaces abutting said radially extending surfaces.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein circumferentially spaced portions of said shell are defined by a slot spaced from the ends of said shell; said portions being bent inwardly intermediate the ends thereof against the outer surface of the end member.

Claim 6

In an electric motor, the combination comprising: a motor frame for rotatable rotatably supporting a rotor shaft; said frame comprising a generally cylindrical shell adapted to encircle the stator of the motor; and a pair of end members; one of said shell and the associated end member having radially extending circumferentially spaced portions defining radial abutting surfaces; said surfaces on said shell being accurately positioned longitudinally of said shell relative to one another and relative to the axis of said shell; the other of said shell and said end members having surfaces engaging said last-mentioned surfaces; said shell having circumferentially spaced portions thereof bent radially inwardly to engage the outer surface of said end members and thereby retain said end members against axial movement relative to said shell; and said first-mentioned radially extending portions on one of said shell and said end member comprising portions of said shell spaced from the ends thereof and bent inwardly to define said radially extending surfaces.

Claim 7

In an electric motor, the combination comprising: a motor frame for rotatable rotatably supporting a rotor shaft; said frame comprising a generally cylindrical shell adapted to encircle the stator of the motor; and a pair of end members; one of said shell and the associated end member having radially extending circumferentially spaced portions defining radial abutting surfaces; said surfaces on said shell being accurately positioned longitudinally of said shell relative to one another and relative to the axis of said shell; the other of said shell and said end members having surfaces engaging said last-mentioned surfaces; said shell having circumferentially spaced portions thereof bent radially inwardly to engage the outer surface of said end members and thereby retain said end members against axial movement relative to said shell; and said first-mentioned radially extending portions on one of said shell and said end member comprising portions of said shell spaced from the ends thereof and bent inwardly to define said radially extending surfaces.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said radially extending portions comprise circumferentially spaced edge portions of said shell defined by circumferentially spaced slots in said shell which are bent intermediate the ends thereof, radially inwardly against the outer surface of the end member.

Claim 9

In an electric motor, the combination comprising: a motor frame for rotatably supporting a rotor shaft; said frame comprising a generally cylindrical shell adapted to encircle the stator of the motor; and a pair of end members; one of said shell and the associated end member having radially extending circumferentially spaced portions defining radial abutting surfaces; said surfaces on said shell being accurately positioned longitudinally of said sheLl relative to one another and relative to the axis of said shell; the other of said shell and said end members having surfaces engaging said last-mentioned surfaces; said shell having circumferentially spaced portions thereof bent radially inwardly to engage the outer surface of said end members and thereby retain said end members against axial movement relative to a said shell; said first-mentioned portions comprising circumferentially spaced segments defined by circumferentially extending slits; and said segments being bent inwardly intermediate their ends against which the end member abut.

Claim 10

In an electric motor, the combination comprising: a motor frame for rotatably supporting a rotor shaft; said frame comprising a generally cylindrical shell adapted to encircle the stator of the motor; and a pair of end members; one of said shell and the associated end member having radially extending circumferentially spaced portions defining radial abutting surfaces; said surfaces on said shell being accurately positioned longitudinally of said sheLl relative to one another and relative to the axis of said shell; the other of said shell and said end members having surfaces engaging said last-mentioned surfaces; said shell having circumferentially spaced portions thereof bent radially inwardly to engage the outer surface of said end members and thereby retain said end members against axial movement relative to a said shell; said first-mentioned portions comprising circumferentially spaced segments defined by circumferentially extending slits; and said segments being bent inwardly intermediate their ends against which the end member abut.

Claim 11

The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein each said end member has axially extending projections extending into the space between said last-mentioned segments and the interior surface of said shell.

Claim 12

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said radially inwardly bent portions are on said shell and comprise circumferentially spaced segments defined by slots in the periphery of the shell which segments are bent intermediate their ends against the outer surfaces of the end member.

Claim 13

In an electric motor, the combination comprising: a motor frame for rotatably supporting a rotor shaft; said frame comprising a generally cylindrical shell adapted to encircle the stator of the motor; and a pair of end members; one of said shell and the associated end member having radially extending circumferentially spaced portions defining radial abutting surfaces; said surfaces on said shell being accurately positioned longitudinally of said shell relative to one another and relative to the axis of said shell; the other of said shell and said end members having surfaces engaging said last-mentioned surfaces; said shell having circumferentially spaced portions thereof bent radially inwardly to engage the outer surface of said end members and thereby retain said end members against axial movement relative to said shell; said radially extending surfaces being defined by circumferentially spaced notches in the periphery of the shell; and the radially inwardly bent portions of said shell extending circumferentially between said notches and comprising said portions bent radially inwardly against the outer surface of the end member.

Claim 14

In an electric motor, the combination comprising: a motor frame for rotatably supporting a rotor shaft; said frame comprising a generally cylindrical shell adapted to encircle the stator of the motor; and a pair of end members; one of said shell and the associated end member having radially extending circumferentially spaced portions defining radial abutting surfaces; said surfaces on said shell being accurately positioned longitudinally of said shell relative to one another and relative to the axis of said shell; the other of said shell and said end members having surfaces engaging said last-mentioned surfaces; said shell having circumferentially spaced portions thereof bent radially inwardly to engage the outer surface of said end members and thereby retain said end members against axial movement relative to said shell; said radially extending surfaces being defined by circumferentially spaced notches in the periphery of the shell; and the radially inwardly bent portions of said shell extending circumferentially between said notches and comprising said portions bent radially inwardly against the outer surface of the end member.

Claim 15

The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said radially inwardly bent portions comprise circumferentially spaced tabs engaging the sides of said radially extending portions and the periphery of the end member.

Claim 16

The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said radially inwardly extending portions comprise spaced pairs of tabs bent inwardly from the periphery of the shell.

Claim 17

In an electric motor, the combination comprising: a motor frame for rotatably supporting a rotor shaft; said frame comprising a generally cylindrical shell encircling the stator of the motor; and a pair of end members; the ends of said shell having circumferentially spaced notches therein defining radial abutting surfaces; said notches being accurately positioned longitudinally of said shell relative to one another and relative to the axis of said shell; said end members having radially extending portions engaging said last-mentioned surfaces; and said shell having circumferentially spaced portions thereof bent radially inwardly to engage the outer surface of said end members and thereby retain said end members against axial movement relative to said shell.

Claim 18

In an electric motor, the combination comprising: a motor frame for rotatably supporting a rotor shaft; said frame comprising a generally cylindrical shell encircling the stator of the motor; and a pair of end members; the ends of said shell having circumferentially spaced notches therein defining radial abutting surfaces; said notches being accurately positioned longitudinally of said shell relative to one another and relative to the axis of said shell; said end members having radially extending portions engaging said last-mentioned surfaces; and said shell having circumferentially spaced portions thereof bent radially inwardly to engage the outer surface of said end members and thereby retain said end members against axial movement relative to said shell.

Claim 19

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned portions are defined by circumferentially spaced and circumferentially extending slots.

Claim 20

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned portions of said shell comprise circumferentially spaced portions bent radially inwardly against the outer surface of said end members.

Claim 21

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned portions comprise circumferentially spaced tabs engaging the outer surface of said end member.

Claim 22

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned portions comprise isolated longitudinally slit tabs bent radially inwardly against the outer end of said end members.

Claim 23

In a dynamoelectric machine, a cylindrical outer housing, axial notches at the ends of said housing, circumferential slots in said housing adjacent to and spaced from the ends of said housing, a pair of end frames, radially extending tabs on said frames received in said housing notches, the portions of said housing between the slots and the housing ends being deformed radially inwardly to bear against the outer end frame portion between said tabs to prevent axial movement of said end frames.

Claim 24

In a dynamoelectric machine, a cylindrical outer housing, axial notches at the ends of said housing, circumferential slots in said housing adjacent to and spaced from the ends of said housing, a pair of end frames, radially extending tabs on said frames received in said housing notches, the portions of said housing between the slots and the housing ends being deformed radially inwardly to bear against the outer end frame portion between said tabs to prevent axial movement of said end frames.

Claim 25

In a dynamoelectric machine; an end frame; means on said end frame defining surfaces which extend in a generally radial direction and face generally in both axial directions relative to the axis of said dynamoelectric machine; an outer housing shell including first and second sets of radial surfaces engaging said end frame in at a plurality of areas around the end frame, said first set of radial surfaces engaging the radial end frame surfaces which face in one axial direction and the second set of radial surfaces engaging the radial end frame surfaces which face in the opposite axial direction to thereby hold the end frame against axial movement; means defining a plurality of openings in said shell spaced inwardly of an axial end of said shell and relatively spaced around said shell; and and the radial surfaces of said first set comprising deformed portions at said openings.

Claim 26

In a dynamoelectric machine; an end frame; means on said end frame defining surfaces which extend in a generally radial direction and face generally in both axial directions relative to the axis of said dynamoelectric machine; an outer housing shell including first and second sets of radial surfaces engaging said end frame in at a plurality of areas around the end frame, said first set of radial surfaces engaging the radial end frame surfaces which face in one axial direction and the second set of radial surfaces engaging the radial end frame surfaces which face in the opposite axial direction to thereby hold the end frame against axial movement; means defining a plurality of openings in said shell spaced inwardly of an axial end of said shell and relatively spaced around said shell; and and the radial surfaces of said first set comprising deformed portions at said openings.

Claim 27

The dynamoelectric man machine of claim 18 wherein said radial end frame surfaces face axially inward and axially outward and said first set of radial surfaces engage said outwardly facing end frame surface.

Claim 28

The dynamoelectric machine of claim 18 wherein said shell includes an axial end edge; and wherein said end frame includes a plurality of generally radial tabs angularly spaced on said end frame and providing the radial end frame surfaces extending in one direction, said radial tabs engaging said end edge.

Claim 29

The dynamoelectric machine of claim 20 including means defining indentations in and spaced around said end edge, said indentations providing said second set of radial surfaces; and said tabs having a spacing on said end frame corresponding to the relative spacing between the indentations on said end edge and engaged in respective ones of said indentations.

Claim 30

The dynamoelectric machine of claim 21 wherein said end frame includes means defining surfaces offset axially inward with respect to said tabs and providing the end frame surfaces extending in the axial direction opposite to said radial tab surfaces; said axially offset portions disposed within said shell and said tabs having a radial projection beyond said offset portions; and wherein said deformed portions engage the axially outer surface of said offset portions.

Claim 31

The dynamoelectric machine of claim 18 wherein said openings are in the form of generally arcuate slots; and wherein said deformed portions are located axially between said slots and said end edge.

Claim 32

The dynamoelectric machine of claim 18 wherein said shell is generally cylindrical having an end edge and inner surface; including means defining notches in and relatively spaced around said end edge, said notches providing said second set of radial surfaces; wherein said end frame includes a plurality of tabs projecting radially from said end frame and relatively spaced apart on said end frame at said end frame end edge in accordance with the spacing of said notches on said shell end edge and engaged in said notches, said notches holding said end frame against axial movement in one direction and rotation relative to said shell; said end frame including portions between said tabs disposed within said shell engaging said inner surface; and wherein said deformed portions engage the axialLy outward facing surface of said portions between said tabs.