Electric motor with thin rotor-damping layer

Claim 2

An electric motor, comprising a stator, a motor shaft, and a rotor mounted on the motor shaft, said rotor comprising a rotor body having a central bore, said shaft extending through said bore, and an elastic layer which connects the rotor body to said shaft, characterized in that said rotor body has a circumferential recess formed in said bore, said recess having a circumferential surface and a generally radially extending surface, said shaft comprises a circumferential annular projection disposed within said recess and a given radial height, said projection having a circumferential surface facing said recess circumferential surface, and a generally radially extending surface facing said recess generally radially extending surface, the radial distance between said circumferential surfaces and the axial distance between said facing generally radially extending surfaces each being less than said radial height, and said elastic layer is disposed at least between said circumferential surfaces and said generally radially extending surfaces, said elastic layer having a thickness which is small relative to the height of the circumferential projection.

Claim 3

A motor as claimed in claim 1, characterized by comprising a hub secured to the motor shaft, said annular projection forming part of said hub, the elastic layer being affixed to the rotor body and the hub.

Claim 4

An electric motor, comprising a stator, a motor shaft, and a rotor mounted on the motor shaft, said rotor comprising a rotor body having a central bore, said shaft extending through said bore, and an elastic layer which connects the rotor body to said shaft, characterized in that said rotor body has a circumferential recess formed in said bore, said recess having a circumferential surface and two generally radially extending surfaces, said shaft comprises a circumferential annular projection disposed within said recess and a given radial height, said projection having a circumferential surface facing said recess circumferential surface, and two generally radially extending surfaces respectively facing said recess generally radially extending surfaces, the radial distance between said circumferential surfaces and the axial distances between respective facing generally radially extending surfaces each being less than said radial height, said rotor body further comprising a respective edge portion disposed axially to each side of said recess, spaced from said shaft a radial distance less than the radial distance between said circumferential surfaces, and said elastic layer is disposed between said circumferential surfaces, said facing generally radially extending surfaces, and said rotor body edge portions and said shaft; and said elastic layer has a thickness which is small relative to said radial height, and a layer thickness between said edge portions and said shaft smaller than the layer thicknes in the recess.

Claim 5

An electric motor, comprising a stator, a motor shaft, and a rotor mounted on the motor shaft, said rotor comprising a rotor body having a central bore, said shaft extending through said bore, and an elastic layer which connects the rotor body to said shaft, characterized in that said rotor body has a circumferential recess formed in said bore, said recess having a circumferential surface and two generally radially extending surfaces, said shaft comprises a circumferential annular projection disposed within said recess and a given radial height, said projection having a circumferential surface facing said recess circumferential surface, and two generally radially extending surfaces respectively facing said recess generally radially extending surfaces, the radial distance between said circumferential surfaces and the axial distances between respective facing generally radially extending surfaces each being less than said radial height, said rotor body further comprising a respective edge portion disposed axially to each side of said recess, spaced from said shaft a radial distance less than the radial distance between said circumferential surfaces, and said elastic layer is disposed between said circumferential surfaces, said facing generally radially extending surfaces, and said rotor body edge portions and said shaft; and said elastic layer has a thickness which is small relative to said radial height, and a layer thickness between said edge portions and said shaft smaller than the layer thicknes in the recess.

Claim 6

A motor as claimed in claim 3, characterized by comprising a hub secured to the motor shaft, said annular projection forming part of said hub, the elastic layer being affixed to the rotor body and the hub, and said rotor body comprises a portion in which said recess is formed, said portion being made of a plastic material which is molded around the annular projection and elastic layer.

Claim 7

A motor as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the thickness of the elastic layer is at the most 500 μm (0.020 inch).

Claim 8

A motor as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said thickness is approximately 250 μm (0.010 inch) at its thickest parts.

Claim 9

A motor as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the thickness of the elastic layer is at the most 500 μm (0.020 inch).

Claim 10

A motor as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the annular projection has an at least substantially rectangular cross-section.

Claim 11

A motor as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said elastic layer is made of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer.