Abstract:
An electric rotary machine comprises: a cylindrical pole tooth ring provided with a plurality of slits; and a plurality of salient poles each including a pole tooth. The salient poles are each positioned and fixed such that the pole tooth is fitted into the slit, which, by means of openings formed on the pole tooth ring along and close to the side wall of the slit, is adapted to be elastically deformed when receiving the pole tooth fitted thereinto.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electric rotary machine (hereinafter referred to as “rotary machine,” or occasionally “motor” as appropriate), and more particularly to a radial gap type rotary machine comprising an armature with independent salient poles. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In a conventional rotary machine including an armature structured such that a plurality of ring-shaped yoke pieces, which are made of a soft magnetic plate, such as a silicon steel plate, and which each have a plurality of pole tooth portions protruding radially, are stacked in the axial direction, since each of the ring-shaped yoke pieces is punched out integrally with the plurality of pole tooth portions as a single piece (the armature composed of the ring-shaped yoke pieces thus structured is hereinafter referred to as “integral armature” as appropriate), pole teeth each composed of a stack number of pole tooth portions are not partitioned structurally and therefore a resultant armature will have superior magnetic efficiency (low reluctance). However, in a small rotary machine, since a wire is usually wound directly on the pole teeth, the integral armature makes the winding operation troublesome, and extremely troublesome when the rotary machine is of inner rotor type. As a result, the winding operation takes a long time, and the winding incurs unsatisfactory space factor as well. And, due to the flyer-winding involved in this case, the wire is subject to torsional stress during the winding operation, thereby failing to ensure reliability of the winding area. 
     Under the circumstances above described, a rare earth magnet having high energy product has been developed recently, and the structure of a rotary machine can be reviewed by means of magnetic circuit analysis using a computer. This works to enable a rotary machine with an armature of discrete salient pole structure (this armature is hereinafter referred to as “discrete armature” as appropriate) to obtain requisite motor characteristics. The rotary machine with the discrete armature may give some undesired increase in reluctance but offers great advantages of easier winding operation and increased space factor of winding so as to override the disadvantageous increase in reluctance. From this, it is now realized that the rotary machine with the discrete armature produces higher performance and is manufactured less expensively on the whole, and there is a growing demand for the discrete armature. 
     One example of the discrete armature is manufactured such that pole tooth portions are dismembered off its main body portion of an integral armature, a wire is wound around each of the dismembered pole tooth portions thereby constituting each salient pole portion, and that the pole tooth portions each with a wire wound therearound, namely, the salient pole portions are rejoined to the main body portion by laser-welding, or the like. 
     The armature thus structured, however, has a disadvantage that the integral armature has to be first sectioned and later reassembled, thereby requiring an additional time. Also, when the pole tooth portions each with a winding (namely salient poles) are rejoined to the main body portion, the stack layers of the both portions have to be matched with each other, and therefore it is required that respective portions be held together by a well-maintained tool and surely welded plate by plate for ensuring precision, which results in decreased workability. And, joints (welded portions) deteriorate significantly in mechanical strength and magnetic characteristics. 
     To overcome the above described problems, the present inventors disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-238377 a radial gap type rotary machine comprising: a discrete armature including a plurality of discrete salient poles and a cylindrical pole tooth ring for positioning and fixing the salient poles, thereby connecting the salient poles to one another magnetically and mechanically; and a cylindrical stator ring adapted to decrease leakage flux resulting from magnetic discontinuity. 
     FIG. 1 shows a pole tooth ring  150  of the rotary machine disclosed in the above mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-238377. The pole tooth ring  150  is of a soft magnetic steel plate and is produced, for example, by the process of drawing. The pole tooth ring  150  has six slits  150   a  shaped substantially rectangular, extending axially (in parallel to a shaft of a rotor) from its one axial end beyond its halfway point and arrayed circumferentially at even intervals. The slits  150   a  do not necessarily have to be arrayed at even intervals. 
     Pole teeth of salient poles are fitted into respective slits  150   a , whereby the salient poles are appropriately positioned. And, a stator ring made of a steel plate in a hollow-cylindrical configuration is disposed over the pole tooth ring  150 , thereby forming a magnetic circuit. 
     The rotary machine disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-238377 has the following problem. The slits  150   a  are produced by punching, so their width is determined to the dimension of the punching die and comes out with very little variation. On the other hand, the pole teeth to be fitted into the slits  150   a  are produced by stacking magnetic steel plates, and the thickness of each of the plates stacked adds up to the thickness of the pole tooth, thus the variation of the pole tooth thickness can be as large as the variation of one plate thickness multiplied by the stack number. Accordingly, it can happen that the condition of contact between the side wall of the slit  150   a  and the pole tooth is not kept constant. 
     For example, in case of a rotary machine with a diameter of 42 mm, the variation of the slit width is ±0.03 mm, while the variation of the pole tooth thickness is gained by multiplying ±0.02 mm (the variation of each plate with a thickness of 0.5 mm) by 7 (the stack number) amounting to as large as ±0.14 mm. This large variation sometimes makes it impossible for the pole tooth to fit into the slit, or causes the pole tooth to make unstable contact or even no contact with the side wall of the slit with regard to the slit width direction. 
     If the pole tooth does not make stable contact with the side wall of the slit, that is, with the pole tooth ring, the magnetic circuit at the stator is not stable, thereby causing the rotary machine to rotate unstably generating vibrations and noises. This renders the rotary machine unsuitable for precision instruments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above described problems, and its object is to provide a rotary machine, in which a stable contact is ensured between a pole tooth ring and pole teeth thereby obtaining stable motor characteristics. 
     In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a rotary machine comprises: a pole tooth ring provided with a plurality of slits; and a plurality of salient poles each including a pole tooth, and each positioned and fixed such that the pole tooth is fitted into the slit adapted to be elastically deformed when receiving the pole tooth fitted thereinto. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the rotary machine of the first aspect, the slit is configured so as to generate elasticity acting against the pole tooth fitted into the slit. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the rotary machine of the second aspect, the elasticity is generated by means of at least one opening provided along at least one side wall of the slit and resultant wavy portion of the at least one side wall. 
     According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the rotary machine of the second aspect, the elasticity is generated by means of at least one opening provided along one side wall of the slit and continuous with the slit. 
     Accordingly, in the rotary machine of the present invention, when the pole tooth is fitted into the slit, the variation of the pole tooth thickness can be absorbed by the elasticity provided at the side wall of the slit, whereby a stable contact is ensured between the pole teeth of the salient poles and the side wall of the slit, that is, the pole tooth ring, and therefore a stable magnetic circuit is formed ensuring stable motor characteristics. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pole tooth ring of a conventional rotary machine; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a rotary machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention taken along its axial direction; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary machine of FIG. 2 taken along its radial direction; 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B in combination constitute an exploded perspective view of a salient pole (omitting a coil) shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively showing a bobbin and a pole tooth; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the salient pole (assembled including a coil) explained in FIGS. 4A and 4B; 
     FIGS. 6A to  6 C in combination constitute an exploded perspective view of an armature assembly of the rotary machine of the first embodiment, wherein FIG. 6A shows a salient pole assembly with six salient poles arranged circumferentially at even angle intervals of 60 degrees such that their bobbin flanges are in contact with one another, FIG. 6B shows a pole tooth ring, and FIG. 6C shows a stator ring; 
     FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views of a pole tooth ring of a rotary machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention, respectively showing the pole tooth ring as before and after assembly; 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views of a pole tooth ring of a rotary machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention, respectively showing the pole tooth ring as before and after assembly; 
     FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views of a tooth ring of a rotary machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, respectively showing the pole tooth ring as before and after assembly; and 
     FIGS. 10A and 10B are perspective views of a tooth ring of a rotary machine according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, respectively showing the pole tooth ring as before and after assembly. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Many different embodiments of the present invention may be constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in this specification. To the contrary, the present invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 show a structure of a three-phase inner rotor type brushless DC motor with six salient poles and eight rotor magnetic poles, as an embodiment of the present invention, wherein illustrated are: salient poles  6 , an armature assembly  10 , flanges  12  and  13 , a rotor assembly  20 , a shaft  21 , a sleeve  22 , a rotor field magnet  23 , a rotor position detecting magnet  23   a , a spacer  24 , a ball bearing  25 , a sleeve bearing  26 , a preload spring holder  27 , a preload spring  28 , pole teeth  34 , pole tooth end portions  34   a , bobbins  36 , magnet wires  38 , terminal pins  40 , a printed circuit board  41 , a Hall sensor  42 , connector terminals  43 , a connector  47 , a molding resin  48 , a cylindrical pole tooth ring  50 , pole tooth ring slits  50   a , and a cylindrical stator ring  100 . 
     The embodiment here refers to a so-called integrally resin-molded armature assembly structured such that a resin is filled inside an armature assembly except a portion where a rotor field magnet is received. 
     The brushless DC motor generally comprises: the armature assembly  10 ; the two flanges  12  and  13  arranged respectively at both axial ends of the armature assembly  10 ; and the rotor assembly  20  rotatably disposed inside the armature assembly  10 . 
     The armature assembly  10  includes: the stator ring  100  as its outer circumference; the pole tooth ring  50  disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the stator ring  100 ; and six salient poles  6  disposed inside the pole tooth ring  50  at an even angle interval of  60  degrees and extending radially. 
     The structure of each of the salient poles  6  will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4A,  4 B and  5 . In FIGS. 4A,  4 B and  5 , the constituting parts same as or corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 have the same reference numbers. 
     The salient poles  6  are each structured such that the pole tooth  34  (FIG. 4B) composed of seven surface-insulated magnetic steel plates stacked on one another, each plate having a thickness of 0.5 mm and punched out to be substantially T-shaped, has its T-letter&#39;s vertical (oriented horizontal in the figure) bar portion inserted into a rectangular hole  36   a  of the resin bobbin  36  (FIG.  4 A), and such that the wire  38  is wound on the bobbin  36  between the bobbin flanges  36   b  and  36   c  as shown in FIG.  5 . The substantially T-shaped pole tooth  34  has a thickness T 1 , and the vertical bar portion thereof has a width T 2  and has a length so as to protrude by a dimension T 3  overall from the surface of the bobbin flange  36   b  when fitted into the hole  36   a  of the bobbin  36 . The wire  38  has its both terminations bound around respective terminal pins  40  attached to the lower end of the bobbin flange  36   c . The bobbin flange  36   c  has, on each of its both sides, two notches  36   d ,  36   d  forming resin injection holes  37  (to be described later: see upcoming FIG. 6A) for injecting the molding resin  48  through. 
     The pole tooth  34  may alternatively be made of a soft magnetic material such as a ceramic molding formed by sintering a soft magnetic powder, and a metallurgic molding formed by sintering a soft magnetic material composed of micro-powder of surface-insulated pure iron. The pole tooth  34  made of a different soft magnetic steel material containing Fe—Ni—Cr series steel not only keeps a high permeability but also has a relatively high electrical resistance thereby reducing its eddy current loss, and at the same time is free from corrosion without rustproof treatment thus being suitable for use in extreme environments such as automotive application. 
     The structure of the armature assembly  10  will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6A to  6 C. In FIGS. 6A to  6 C, the constituting parts same as or corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 2 to  5  have the same reference numbers. 
     Referring to FIG. 6A showing a salient pole assembly, two of the aforementioned resin injection holes  37  are each formed at on the two lateral butting surfaces of two adjacent bobbin flanges  36   c ,  36   c  such that one notch  36   d  of one bobbin flange  36   c  opposes one notch  36   d  of the other bobbin flange  36   c  adjacent to the one bobbin  36   c.    
     FIG. 6B shows the aforementioned pole tooth ring  50  for housing the salient pole assembly shown in FIG.  6 A. The pole tooth ring  50  is a hollow cylinder of a soft magnetic steel plate, is produced by, for example, drawing process, and is provided with a plurality of slits as mechanisms for positioning and fixing the salient poles  6  as described later. 
     FIG. 6C shows the aforementioned stator ring  100  for housing the above described pole tooth ring  50  with the salient pole assembly lodged therein. The stator ring  100 , unlike the pole tooth ring  50 , is not provided with positioning mechanisms nor fixing mechanisms, and had an inner diameter SR 4  equal to or slightly larger than an outer diameter TR 4  (see FIG. 6B) of the pole tooth ring  50 , so that the pole tooth ring  50  with the salient pole assembly is duly fitted into the stator ring  100 . Needless to say, in case of an outer rotor type motor, a stator ring is disposed inside a pole tooth ring. 
     The stator ring  100  has a length (axial dimension) SR 1  equal to or slightly larger than a length TR 1  of the pole tooth ring  50 , so that the pole tooth ring  50  is housed completely in the stator ring  100 . Thus, the stator ring  100  prevents exposure of the mechanisms for positioning and fixing the salient poles, and completely covers the magnetic discontinuity thereby significantly reducing magnetic leakage flux. This naturally enhances also the product appearance quality and decency. 
     The stator ring  100  has a wall thickness SR 2  larger than a wall thickness TR 2  of the pole tooth ring  50  because the flanges  12  and  13  (see FIG. 2) are welded respectively to the both ends of the stator ring  100 . The wall thickness SR 2  of the stator ring  100 , however, should be minimized insofar as the flanges  12  and  13  can be duly welded to the stator ring  100 . The stator ring  100  is provided with a cutaway  100   a  for accommodating the connector  47  (see FIG.  2 ). 
     The pole tooth ring  50  will be described with reference to FIG.  6 B. The pole tooth ring  50  has six slits  50   a  extending axially (parallel to the shaft  21  (see FIG.  2 )) from its one axial end beyond its halfway point and arrayed circumferentially at even intervals. The slits  50   a  do not necessarily have to be arrayed at even intervals as described above, but may be arrayed at irregular intervals for the purpose of controlling cogging torque. 
     The slits  50   a  are each configured such that one side wall thereof is wavy along the configuration of a plurality (two in this embodiment) of openings  50   b  which are provided along and close to the one side wall, and which make the one side wall elastic or deformable, and the other side wall is straight. The openings  50   b  may be shaped circular, or oblong, shape thereof not being limited thereto. The one side wall may be made wavy when the openings  50   b  are formed on the pole tooth ring. Specifically, two cuts are made first along and close to the one side wall, and then forced open to form the openings  50   b , thereby making the one side wall wavy. The slit  50   a , the opening  50   b , and the waviness of the one side wall are dimensioned and configured such that the both side walls of the slit  50   a  make, with adequate elasticity, firm contact with the end portion  34   a  of the pole tooth  34  when the pole tooth end portion  34   a  is fitted into the slit  50   a.    
     The openings  50   b  are provided along only one side wall of the slit  50   a  making only the one side wavy in this embodiment, but may alternatively be provided along the both side walls making the both side walls wavy. However, considering the time for providing additional openings along the other side wall and the situation that sufficient elasticity is gained with the openings along only the one side wall, it will be good enough to provide the openings only along the one side wall unless definitely required for some reason. 
     The six salient poles  6  independently prepared are each duly positioned and fixed such that the end portion  34   a  of the tooth pole  34  is fitted into each slit  50   a  formed on the pole tooth ring  50 . And, the stator ring  100  of a steel plate is placed so as to house the pole tooth ring  50 , thereby forming a magnetic circuit. 
     A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B. Referring to FIG. 7A, a soft magnetic steel plate, for example, galvanized, nickelized, or a pure-iron plate, is provided with a plurality (six in this embodiment) of slits  70   a  punched out at prescribed intervals, and two openings  70   b  are formed along one side wall of each of the slits  70   a  thereby making the one side wall wavy in the same way as in the first embodiment. Then, the steel plate thus prepared is rolled up to form a pole tooth ring  70  as shown in FIG.  7 B. In this embodiment, the sophisticated process of drawing required in the first embodiment is eliminated. 
     Referring back to FIG. 7A, one end (left end in the figure) of the steel plate is provided with a cutaway  65   a  with a depth E and a protrusion  65   b  with a height E, and the other end (right end in the figure) thereof is provided with a protrusion  66   b  with a height E and a cutaway  66   a  with a depth E. The steel plate prepared as shown in FIG. 7A is rolled up and the both ends thereof are joined together such that the cutaway  65   a  engages with the protrusion  66   b  and the protrusion  65   b  engages with the cutaway  66   a  as shown in FIG. 7B, thereby ensuring high precision on the tooth ring  70  during assembly process. The cutaways and the protrusions do not have to be shaped as shown in FIG. 7A, but may be shaped otherwise. Also, the both ends of the steel plate may be plain without the mating cutaways and protrusions. In this embodiment, one side wall of the slit  70   a  can be deformed when the end portion  34   a  of the pole tooth  34  is fitted into the slit  70   a.    
     A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The difference from the second embodiment is that only one large opening  170   b , rather than the two small openings  70   b , is formed along one side wall of each of slits  170   a.    
     A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B. Referring to FIG. 9A, a soft magnetic steel plate (the same materials as those cited for the above described second embodiment) is provided with a plurality (six in this embodiment) of slits  270   a  punched out to be arrayed at prescribed intervals, and is provided also with a plurality (the same number as the slits  270   a ) of openings  270   b  punched out at the same time together with the slits  270   a , each substantially L-shaped with its longer bar portion oriented parallel with the slit  270   a , each arranged along and close to the one side wall of the slit  270   a , and each continuous with the bottom end of the slit  270   a . Then, the steel plate thus prepared is rolled up to form a pole tooth ring  270  as shown in FIG.  9 B. Again in this embodiment, the sophisticated process of drawing required in the first embodiment is-eliminated. 
     Referring back to FIG. 9A, one end (left end in the figure) of the steel plate is provided with a cutaway  265   a  with a depth E and a protrusion  265   b  with a height E, and the other end (right end in the figure) thereof is provided with a protrusion  266   b  with a height E and a cutaway  266   a  with a depth E. The steel plate prepared as shown in FIG. 9A is rolled up and the both ends thereof are joined together such that the cutaway  265   a  engages with the protrusion  266   b  and the protrusion  265   b  engages with the cutaway  266   a  as shown in FIG. 9B, thereby ensuring high precision on the pole tooth ring  270  during assembly process. 
     In this embodiment, the L-shaped opening  270   b  oriented parallel with the slit  270   b  and continuous therewith generates elasticity, functioning in the same way as the openings  50   b  and the resultant wavy side wall of the slit  50   a , whereby the salient pole  6  fitted into the slit  270   a  is firmly fixed with appropriate contact force. 
     A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B. Referring to FIG. 10A, a soft magnetic steel plate (the same materials as those cited for the above described second embodiment) is provided with a plurality (six in this embodiment) of slits  370   a  punched out to be arrayed at prescribed intervals, each slit having a plurality (three in this embodiment) of openings  370   b  arranged along and continuous with its one side wall. Then, the steel plate thus prepared is rolled up to form a pole tooth ring  370  as shown in FIG.  10 B. Also in this embodiment, the sophisticated process of drawing required in the first embodiment is eliminated. 
     Referring back to FIG. 10A, one end (left end in the figure) of the steel plate is provided with a cutaway  365   a  with a depth E and a protrusion  365   b  with a height E, and the other end (right end in the figure) thereof is provided with a protrusion  366   b  with a height E and a cutaway  366   a  with a depth E. The steel plate prepared as shown in FIG. 10A is rolled up and the both ends thereof are joined together such that the cutaway  365   a  engages with the protrusion  366   b  and the protrusion  365   b  engages with the cutaway  366   a  as shown in FIG. 10B, thereby ensuring high precision on the pole tooth ring  370  during assembly process. 
     In this embodiment, the openings  370   b  generate elasticity, functioning in the same way as the openings  50   b  and the resultant wavy side wall of the slit  50   a , whereby the salient pole  6  fitted into the slit  370   a  is firmly fixed with appropriate contact force.