Patent ID: 6091173
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: H02K

Abstract:
An electric motor of the AC type, said electric motor comprising:a housing structure including a cylindrical portion having first and second end bells connected at respective opposite ends thereof;a shaft rotatably supported by said housing structure along a predetermined central axis:first and second bearing assemblies maintained by respective end bells of said housing structure to rotatably support said shaft;a stator fixed with respect to said housing structure, said stator having a plurality of conductive windings radially spaced about said central axis;a rotor located radially inward of said stator and fixed with respect to said shaft, said rotor having a plurality of current paths radially spaced about said central axis;first and second shaft shields supported by said housing structure and being associated with a respective one of said first and second bearing assemblies, said shaft shields extending about said shaft from a location axially external to said rotor but adjacent thereto to a location adjacent a respective of said bearing assemblies;said shaft shields being constructed of a magnetically permeable material to substantially divert magnetic flux that would otherwise cut through said shaft; andfirst and second cap elements connected to a respective of said first and second end bells adjacent axially internal sides of said first and second bearing assemblies, each said cap element maintaining an associated one of said first and second shaft shields in position about said shaft.