US5799387A — Lamina stack having a plurality of outer perimete…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 149 words

A method of manufacturing a stack of laminas in a die assembly having a selectively actuated punch and a choke barrel; said method comprising: a first step of guiding sheet stock material through the die assembly; a second step of stamping a plurality of generally planar laminas from said sheet stock material with said selectively actuated punch, each of said laminas having an axis and an outer perimeter surface which are disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lamina; each of said lamina outer perimeter surfaces defining one of a plurality of distinguishable predetermined outer perimeter configurations, a portion of each of said outer perimeter surfaces comprising a common choke surface for contacting the choke barrel; a third step of coaxially stacking said laminas in the choke barrel by aligning said common choke surfaces to thereby form a stack of laminas having a plurality of outer perimeter configurations.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 149 words

A method of manufacturing a stack of laminas in a die assembly having a selectively actuated punch and a choke barrel; said method comprising: a first step of guiding sheet stock material through the die assembly; a second step of stamping a plurality of generally planar laminas from said sheet stock material with said selectively actuated punch, each of said laminas having an axis and an outer perimeter surface which are disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lamina; each of said lamina outer perimeter surfaces defining one of a plurality of distinguishable predetermined outer perimeter configurations, a portion of each of said outer perimeter surfaces comprising a common choke surface for contacting the choke barrel; a third step of coaxially stacking said laminas in the choke barrel by aligning said common choke surfaces to thereby form a stack of laminas having a plurality of outer perimeter configurations.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the choke barrel has an alignment surface and said third step further comprises stacking said laminas within the choke barrel with said common choke surfaces in registry with the alignment surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing said laminas with interlocking means prior to said third step; and a fourth step of interlocking said laminas in said choke barrel.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising: a fourth step of relatively rotating an incomplete stack disposed in said choke barrel and one of said plurality of generally planar laminas about a stack axis before stacking said one lamina.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 109 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising: a fourth step of, prior to said second step, determining the thickness of said sheet stock material at first and second spaced points on said sheet stock material for obtaining first and second thickness values, at said first and second spaced points, of a lamina; a fifth step of comparing said first and second thickness values and determining a thickness variation therebetween; and a sixth step of relatively rotating an incomplete stack disposed in the choke barrel and one of said plurality of generally planar laminas about the stack axis before stacking said one lamina to thereby compensate for lamina thickness variation.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1 wherein one of said plurality of predetermined outer perimeter configurations defines a stator mounting flange.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said lamina outer edges each includes at least four common choke surfaces.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said second step further comprises counting said laminas and producing said plurality of generally planar laminas in a predetermined sequence.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 72 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the stack is comprised of a plurality of stack segments, each of the stack segments consisting of laminas of the same outer perimeter configuration and having a predetermined height; said method further comprising: a fourth step of, prior to said second step, determining the thickness of said sheet stock material; and a fifth step of determining the number of laminas for each of said stack segments.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 9 further comprising: a sixth step of relatively rotating an incomplete stack disposed in said choke barrel and one of said plurality of generally planar laminas about said stack axis before stacking said one lamina.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising a fourth step, prior to said third step, of stamping features in at least one of said laminas with a second selectively actuated punch.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 182 words

A rotor or stator made according to the method of stamping electric motor laminas from sheet stock material provided from a supply, the laminas each having a planar surface, in a die assembly having a selectively actuated punch and a choke barrel to form a stack of laminas in the choke barrel, the method comprising: a first step of guiding said sheet stock material through said die assembly; a second step of stamping a plurality of generally planar laminas from said sheet stock material with the selectively actuated punch, each of said laminas having an axis and an outer perimeter surface which are disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lamina; each of said lamina outer perimeter surfaces defining one of a plurality of distinguishable predetermined outer perimeter configurations, a portion of each of said outer perimeter surfaces comprising a common choke surface for contacting said choke barrel; a third step of coaxially stacking said laminas in the choke barrel with said common choke surfaces being aligned to thereby form a stack of laminas having a plurality of outer perimeter configurations.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 182 words

A rotor or stator made according to the method of stamping electric motor laminas from sheet stock material provided from a supply, the laminas each having a planar surface, in a die assembly having a selectively actuated punch and a choke barrel to form a stack of laminas in the choke barrel, the method comprising: a first step of guiding said sheet stock material through said die assembly; a second step of stamping a plurality of generally planar laminas from said sheet stock material with the selectively actuated punch, each of said laminas having an axis and an outer perimeter surface which are disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lamina; each of said lamina outer perimeter surfaces defining one of a plurality of distinguishable predetermined outer perimeter configurations, a portion of each of said outer perimeter surfaces comprising a common choke surface for contacting said choke barrel; a third step of coaxially stacking said laminas in the choke barrel with said common choke surfaces being aligned to thereby form a stack of laminas having a plurality of outer perimeter configurations.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 38 words

The rotor or stator of claim 12 wherein the choke barrel has at least one alignment surface and said third step further comprises coaxially stacking said laminas with said common choke surfaces in registry with the alignment surface.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 37 words

The rotor or stator of claim 12 wherein the method of stamping further comprises: providing said laminas with interlocking means prior to said third step; and a fourth step of interlocking said laminas in said choke barrel.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 46 words

The rotor or stator of claim 12 wherein the method of stamping further comprises: a fourth step of relatively rotating an incomplete stack disposed in the choke barrel and one of said plurality of generally planar laminas about said stack axis before stacking said one lamina.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

The rotor or stator of claim 12 wherein the die assembly consists of a single die assembly.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 111 words

A die assembly for manufacturing a stack of laminas from sheet stock material, said die assembly comprising: a punching station; a stacking station; first means for guiding the sheet stock material to said punching station; a selectively actuable punch at said punching station for stamping generally planar laminas having one of a plurality of predetermined outer perimeter configurations, the laminas each having at least one common choke surface defining a portion of said outer perimeter configurations; a choke barrel at said stacking station for receiving and stacking the laminas with the common choke surfaces being aligned to thereby form a stack comprised of laminas having a plurality of outer perimeter configurations.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 111 words

A die assembly for manufacturing a stack of laminas from sheet stock material, said die assembly comprising: a punching station; a stacking station; first means for guiding the sheet stock material to said punching station; a selectively actuable punch at said punching station for stamping generally planar laminas having one of a plurality of predetermined outer perimeter configurations, the laminas each having at least one common choke surface defining a portion of said outer perimeter configurations; a choke barrel at said stacking station for receiving and stacking the laminas with the common choke surfaces being aligned to thereby form a stack comprised of laminas having a plurality of outer perimeter configurations.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 35 words

The die assembly of claim 17 wherein said choke barrel has at least one alignment surface whereby each of the laminas is stacked with the common choke surface being in registry with said alignment surface.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 38 words

The die assembly of claim 17 further comprising means for providing the laminas with interlocking means for interlocking adjacently stacked laminas and further including means at said stacking station for interlocking the laminas to form an interlocked stack.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 57 words

The die assembly of claim 17 further comprising: means operatively associated with said selectively actuable punch for actuating said punch to stamp the laminas in a predetermined sequence whereby the laminas are consecutively stacked to form stacks having a plurality of stack segments, the segments each consisting of a predetermined number of one of the lamina configurations.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 22 words

The die assembly of claim 17 further comprising: rotational correction means for relatively rotating an incomplete stack and one of the laminas.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

The die assembly of claim 21 wherein said rotational correction means comprises means for rotating said choke barrel.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 61 words

The die assembly of claim 21 wherein the stack comprises a plurality of stack segments; each of the stack segments consisting of laminas having the same outer perimeter configuration; each of the stack segments having a predetermined height and predetermined position within the stack; and said rotational correction means rotates at least one of the laminas from each of said segments.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 92 words

A control for a die assembly for manufacturing a stack of laminas having predetermined dimensions within said die assembly, the laminas having a plurality of predetermined outer perimeter configurations, said die assembly having a selectively actuable punch and a choke barrel with an alignment surface, said control comprising: measuring means for determining a thickness value of the strip stock material and operatively associated with said control, said control having means for controlling the operation of said selectively actuable punch and for determining a stamping sequence for producing the stack having predetermined dimensions.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 92 words

A control for a die assembly for manufacturing a stack of laminas having predetermined dimensions within said die assembly, the laminas having a plurality of predetermined outer perimeter configurations, said die assembly having a selectively actuable punch and a choke barrel with an alignment surface, said control comprising: measuring means for determining a thickness value of the strip stock material and operatively associated with said control, said control having means for controlling the operation of said selectively actuable punch and for determining a stamping sequence for producing the stack having predetermined dimensions.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 86 words

An apparatus for manufacturing electric motor parts from sheet stock material, said apparatus comprising: a selectively actuable punch for stamping generally planar laminas having a plurality of predetermined outer perimeter configurations, the outer perimeter configurations each being defined in part by at least one common choke surface; controller means coupled to said selectively actuable punch to control the stamping sequence of said selectively actuable punch; a choke barrel; and stacking means for stacking the laminas in said choke barrel with the common choke surfaces being aligned.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 86 words

An apparatus for manufacturing electric motor parts from sheet stock material, said apparatus comprising: a selectively actuable punch for stamping generally planar laminas having a plurality of predetermined outer perimeter configurations, the outer perimeter configurations each being defined in part by at least one common choke surface; controller means coupled to said selectively actuable punch to control the stamping sequence of said selectively actuable punch; a choke barrel; and stacking means for stacking the laminas in said choke barrel with the common choke surfaces being aligned.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said choke barrel further comprises an alignment surface and the laminas are stacked in said choke barrel with the common choke surfaces being in registry with said alignment surface.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising means to provide the laminas with interlocking means for interlocking adjacently stacked laminas and further including means for interlocking the laminas within said choke barrel.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising means to rotate said choke barrel.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 107 words

A method of manufacturing a laminated stack in a die assembly having means for guiding sheet stock material through the die assembly, stamping means and a choke barrel; said method comprising: a first step of stamping a plurality of generally planar laminas from said sheet stock material with the stamping means, each of said laminas having an outer perimeter surface defining one of a plurality of outer perimeter configurations, a portion of each of said outer perimeter surfaces comprising a common choke surface; and a second step of stacking said laminas in the choke barrel by aligning said common choke surfaces to thereby form a laminated stack.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 107 words

A method of manufacturing a laminated stack in a die assembly having means for guiding sheet stock material through the die assembly, stamping means and a choke barrel; said method comprising: a first step of stamping a plurality of generally planar laminas from said sheet stock material with the stamping means, each of said laminas having an outer perimeter surface defining one of a plurality of outer perimeter configurations, a portion of each of said outer perimeter surfaces comprising a common choke surface; and a second step of stacking said laminas in the choke barrel by aligning said common choke surfaces to thereby form a laminated stack.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 29 wherein said second step further comprises stacking said laminas within the choke barrel with said common choke surfaces in registry with an alignment surface disposed in the choke barrel.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 29 further comprising providing said laminas with interlocking means prior to said second step; and interlocking said laminas in said choke barrel.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 31 further comprising: relatively rotating an incomplete stack disposed in said choke barrel and one of said plurality of generally planar laminas about a stack axis before stacking said one lamina.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-08-31	2002-03-02	2002-09-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-08-31	2006-03-02	2006-09-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-08-31	2010-03-02	2010-09-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Lamina stack having a plurality of outer perimeter configurations and an apparatus and method for manufacturing said stack

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