Patent Description:
A motor may include a rotor, a stator, a housing, and a plate. The rotor and the stator are included in the housing. The housing is a cylindrical member of which an upper portion is open. The plate covers the open upper portion of the housing. A busbar may be disposed on the stator. A terminal of the busbar may be connected to a coil wound around the stator, and the terminal of the busbar may be connected to a terminal part extending in an axial direction. The terminal part is connected to an external power source.

Documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> relate to the field of motors.

Since the terminal part extends in the axial direction, coupling between a mold of the terminal part and the plate may be degraded. In order to improve the coupling, a protruding portion of the terminal part passing through the plate may be ultrasonically welded to be coupled to the plate.

However, the ultrasonic welding of the protruding portion has a problem of a difficulty in managing the welding portion. In addition, there are problems that the ultrasonic welding process is complex, the terminal part is shaken during the welding process, and thus a position of the terminal part is deviated.

Accordingly, an embodiment is intended to solve the above problems and directed to providing a motor in which a terminal part is easily assembled.

The invention relates to a motor according to claim <NUM>.

The motor after the invention may comprise one or more features from dependent claims <NUM> to <NUM>, in any technically feasible combination.

According to an embodiment, there is an advantage that a terminal part can be easily assembled with a plate without performing an ultrasonic welding process or without using a separate fastening member.

According to the embodiment, there is an advantage of reducing deformation or generation of foreign substances in an assembly process of the terminal part.

A direction parallel to a longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of a shaft will be referred to as an axial direction, a direction perpendicular to the axial direction about the shaft will be referred to as a radial direction, and a direction along a circumference of a circle having a radius in the radial direction about the shaft will be referred to as a circumferential direction.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a motor according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the motor according to the embodiment includes a rotor <NUM>, a magnet <NUM>, a stator <NUM>, a cover <NUM>, a housing <NUM>, a busbar <NUM>, a plate <NUM>, and a terminal part <NUM>. Hereinafter, the term "inward" refers to a direction toward the rotor <NUM> in the radial direction of the motor, and the term "outward" refers to a direction opposite to "inward.

The rotor <NUM> may be a hollow member of which one side is open. Two ends of the rotor <NUM> may be rotatably supported by bearings in the axial direction. The rotor <NUM> may be disposed so that portions having different outer diameters are divided in the axial direction.

The magnet <NUM> may be disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotor <NUM>.

The stator <NUM> is disposed outside the magnet <NUM>. The stator <NUM> may include a stator core <NUM>, an insulator <NUM> mounted on the stator core <NUM>, and coils <NUM> wound around the insulator <NUM>. The coils <NUM> generate a magnetic field. The stator core <NUM> may be a single member or a combination of a plurality of divided cores. In addition, the stator core <NUM> may be formed in the form in which a plurality of thin steel plates are stacked on each other but is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the stator core <NUM> may also be formed as one single part.

The cover <NUM> fixes the magnet <NUM> to the rotor <NUM>. The cover <NUM> surrounds partial regions of the magnet <NUM> and the rotor <NUM>. The cover <NUM> may be a mold member formed in an over molding manner or a can member or adhesive member surrounding the magnet.

The housing <NUM> may be disposed outside the stator <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may be a cylindrical member of which an upper portion is open. The rotor <NUM>, the magnet <NUM>, the stator <NUM>, and the cover <NUM> are accommodated in the housing <NUM>. In addition, the housing <NUM> may accommodate the bearings supporting the rotor <NUM>.

The busbar <NUM> is disposed on the stator <NUM>. The busbar <NUM> connects the coils <NUM> wound around the stator <NUM>.

The plate <NUM> is disposed on the busbar <NUM>. Bearings <NUM> are accommodated inside the plate <NUM>.

The terminal part <NUM> is disposed on the plate <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating the busbar <NUM>, the plate <NUM>, and the terminal part <NUM> before coupling.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the busbar <NUM> may be disposed under the plate <NUM>. The busbar <NUM> may include a busbar body <NUM> and busbar terminals <NUM>. The busbar body <NUM> may be an annular mold member. The busbar terminals <NUM> may be connected to end portions of the coils <NUM>. In addition, first terminals <NUM> of the busbar terminals <NUM> are in contact with the terminal part <NUM>. The first terminals <NUM> are disposed to extend upward. Three first terminals <NUM> may be respectively connected to U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase power sources.

The plate <NUM> is disposed on the busbar <NUM>. The plate <NUM> may be an annular member. The bearing supporting the rotor <NUM> may be disposed inside the plate <NUM>.

The terminal part <NUM> includes a body part <NUM>, power terminals <NUM>, and a protruding part <NUM>.

The body part <NUM> is fixed to the plate <NUM> and the housing <NUM>.

The power terminals <NUM> are connected to an external power source or terminals of a housing cover connected to an external power source. The power terminals <NUM> are fixed to the protruding part <NUM>. Second terminals <NUM> of the power terminals <NUM> are in contact with the first terminals <NUM> of the busbar <NUM>.

The protruding part <NUM> surrounds the power terminals <NUM>. The protruding part <NUM> protrudes from the body part <NUM> and is disposed on the plate <NUM>. The protruding part <NUM> is disposed to extend so that the power terminals <NUM> are connected to the external power source or the terminals of the housing cover connected to the external power source.

The terminal part <NUM> is a unit separate from the busbar <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the terminal part, and <FIG> is a front view of the terminal part.

Referring to <FIG>, the protruding part <NUM> protrudes from the body part <NUM>. The protruding part <NUM> serves to support the power terminals <NUM> disposed to extend in a longitudinal direction and guide the power terminals <NUM> to the external power source or the terminals of the housing cover connected to the external power source.

A part of each of the power terminals <NUM> is exposed from a front end of the protruding part <NUM>. In addition, the protruding part <NUM> includes openings <NUM>. The openings <NUM> are for exposing the second power terminals <NUM> of the power terminals <NUM> to the outside for fusing. In the state in which the power terminals <NUM> are fixed to the plate <NUM>, when the plate <NUM> is fixed to the housing <NUM>, the first power terminals <NUM> of the busbar <NUM> and the second power terminals <NUM> of the terminal part <NUM> are disposed to overlap so as to be in surface contact with each other in the openings <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating the body part <NUM> of the terminal part <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the body part <NUM> is fixed to the housing <NUM> and the plate <NUM> and structurally supports the power terminals <NUM> disposed on the protruding part <NUM> together with the protruding part <NUM>. The body part <NUM> may include a first body <NUM>, a second body <NUM>, and a third body <NUM>.

The first body <NUM> is positioned on the plate <NUM>. The protruding part <NUM> protrudes from the first body <NUM>. The second body <NUM> is positioned under the plate <NUM>. The third body <NUM> connects the first body <NUM> and the second body <NUM>. The third body <NUM> may be provided as a plurality of third bodies <NUM>. The plurality of third bodies <NUM> may be disposed apart from each other. A first hole <NUM> passing through inner and outer sides of the body part <NUM> may be disposed between the third bodies <NUM>. The first hole <NUM> is a hole into which a first protrusion <NUM> of the plate <NUM> is inserted.

A first rib <NUM> may be disposed on a first surface <NUM> of the body part <NUM> to protrude in the radial direction. The first surface <NUM> is a surface facing an inner circumferential surface of the housing <NUM>. The first rib <NUM> are portions in contact with an inner surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> in a process of mounting the terminal part <NUM> on the housing <NUM>. The first rib <NUM> may be disposed to extend in the axial direction. In addition, the first rib <NUM> may be disposed as a plurality of first ribs. For example, some of the plurality of first ribs <NUM> may be disposed at one side of the first hole <NUM>, and others may be disposed at the other side of the first hole <NUM>. In addition, some of the plurality of first ribs <NUM> may be disposed to cross the first hole <NUM>. A second rib 814c may be disposed to protrude from an inner surface of the body part <NUM> in which the first hole <NUM> is formed. The second rib 814c is in contact with the first protrusion <NUM> of the plate <NUM> inserted into the first hole <NUM>.

The body part <NUM> may include a second protrusion <NUM>. The second protrusion <NUM> may protrude from a lower surface of the first body <NUM> in the axial direction. The second protrusion <NUM> is for guiding an assembly direction of the terminal part <NUM> in a process of assembling the terminal part <NUM> with the plate <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the terminal part <NUM> and the plate <NUM> are mounted on the housing <NUM>, taken along line A-A of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, after the terminal part <NUM> is assembled with the plate <NUM>, the terminal part <NUM> and the plate <NUM> may be mounted on the housing <NUM>. The terminal part <NUM> and the plate <NUM> may be mechanically coupled without performing an ultrasonic welding process or without using a separate fastening member.

In the axial direction, a space between the lower surface of the first body <NUM> and an upper surface of the second body <NUM> is formed like a slot, and the terminal part <NUM> and the plate <NUM> may be mechanically assembled in a form in which a part of the plate <NUM> is inserted into the space. In addition, in a state in which the terminal part <NUM> is coupled to the plate <NUM>, the terminal part <NUM> is mounted on a step <NUM> disposed on the inner surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> to be additionally coupled to the housing <NUM>. Accordingly, a part of the body part <NUM> is disposed between the housing <NUM> and the plate <NUM> in the radial direction.

The body part <NUM> includes a first region S1 that overlaps the plate <NUM> in the radial direction and a second region S2 that overlaps the plate <NUM> in the axial direction. The first region S1 is disposed in the third body <NUM> and disposed outside the plate <NUM>. The second region S2 is disposed in the first body <NUM> and the second body <NUM>, and disposed at upper and lower sides from the plate <NUM> on the basis of the plate <NUM>. The third body <NUM> may be in contact with the inner surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The second body <NUM> may be disposed under the plate <NUM> and in contact with the step <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the state in which the terminal part <NUM> and the plate <NUM> are mounted on the housing <NUM>, taken along line B-B of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the plate <NUM> is assembled with the terminal part <NUM>, the first protrusion <NUM> of the plate <NUM> is disposed in the first hole <NUM> of the body part <NUM>. The first hole <NUM> may include a second surface 814a and a third surface 814b disposed to face each other in the axial direction. A distance d between the second surface 814a and the third surface 814b in the axial direction may be greater than a thickness t of the plate <NUM> and smaller than a height h of the body part <NUM>.

A first inclined surface 812a may be disposed on at least one of a boundary between the second surface 814a and the inner surface <NUM> of the body part <NUM> and a boundary between the third surface 814b and the inner surface <NUM> of the body part <NUM>. The first inclined surface 812a expands an entrance of the first hole <NUM> to guide the first protrusion <NUM> of the plate <NUM> to be easily slid and inserted into the first hole <NUM>.

A second inclined surface 813b may also be disposed at a corner around a boundary of a lower surface and an outer surface of the body part <NUM>. The second inclined surface 813b serves to reduce interference between the body part <NUM> and the housing <NUM> when the terminal part <NUM> is mounted on the housing <NUM> in a state in which the terminal part <NUM> is fixed to the plate <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating the plate <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the plate <NUM> may include the first protrusion <NUM>, a second hole <NUM>, and a third hole <NUM>.

The first protrusion <NUM> protrudes outward from an edge of the plate <NUM> in a first direction F. In this case, the first direction F is a direction in which the terminal part <NUM> slides to be assembled with the plate <NUM>. The first hole <NUM> of the body part <NUM> is also formed in the first direction F to correspond to the protruding direction of the first protrusion <NUM>. An edge <NUM> of the first protrusion <NUM> may have a curved surface. In this case, a curvature center of the edge <NUM> of the first protrusion <NUM> may be the same as a center C of the plate <NUM>.

The second hole <NUM> is a hole which passes through the plate <NUM> in the axial direction and in which the first protrusion <NUM> of the plate <NUM> is disposed. While the body part <NUM> is inserted into the plate <NUM>, the second protrusion <NUM> moves along the second hole <NUM> to guide movement of the body part <NUM>. The second hole <NUM> may be concavely formed inward from the edge of the plate <NUM>.

The second hole <NUM> is also disposed in the first direction F. The second hole <NUM> may be disposed as a plurality of second holes <NUM>. For example, the second holes <NUM> may include a <NUM>-<NUM> hole <NUM> and a <NUM>-<NUM> hole <NUM>, the <NUM>-<NUM> hole <NUM> may be disposed at one side of the first protrusion <NUM>, and the <NUM>-<NUM> hole <NUM> may be disposed at the other side of the second protrusion <NUM>. Each of a longitudinal direction of the <NUM>-<NUM> hole <NUM> and a longitudinal direction of the <NUM>-<NUM> hole <NUM> is a direction parallel to the first direction F.

The third hole <NUM> is a hole which passes through the plate <NUM> in the axial direction and through which the busbar terminal <NUM> of the busbar <NUM> passes. When the terminal part <NUM> is assembled with the plate <NUM>, a position of the third hole <NUM> corresponds to a position of the power terminal <NUM> of the terminal part <NUM>. The first protrusion <NUM> may be disposed to overlap the third hole <NUM> in the first direction F.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the first rib <NUM> is in contact with the inner surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> in a state in which the terminal part <NUM> is mounted on the housing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the terminal part <NUM> is mounted on the housing <NUM>, the first rib <NUM> is in contact with the inner surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. When the first surface <NUM> of the body part <NUM> is in direct contact with the inner surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, a gap is generated between the body part <NUM> and the inner surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, and thus there is a risk that the terminal part <NUM> is moved or separated, but when the plurality of first ribs <NUM> are in contact with the inner surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, the movement of the terminal part <NUM> is prevented.

<FIG> is a set of perspective views illustrating a state in which the terminal part <NUM> is assembled with the plate <NUM>, and <FIG> is a set of side views illustrating the state in which the terminal part <NUM> is assembled with the plate <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are views illustrating the terminal part <NUM> and the plate <NUM> before assembly is performed and showing a state in which the first hole <NUM> of the terminal part <NUM> is aligned with the first protrusion <NUM> of the plate <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> are views illustrating a state in which the terminal part <NUM> is pushed and fixed to the plate <NUM> in the first direction F. When the terminal part <NUM> is pushed in the first direction F, the first protrusion <NUM> is inserted into the first hole <NUM>, and thus the terminal part <NUM> is coupled to the plate <NUM>. In this case, the first protrusion <NUM> of the plate <NUM> moves along the first hole <NUM> of the plate <NUM> to guide movement of the terminal part <NUM>. When the first protrusion <NUM> is inserted into the first hole <NUM>, the first protrusion <NUM> is in contact with the second rib 814c. Accordingly, movement of the plate <NUM> which may occur between the first hole <NUM> and the first protrusion <NUM> may be reduced when compared to a state in which the first protrusion <NUM> is in direct contact with the second surface 814a or the third surface 814b.

As described above, since the terminal part <NUM> is pushed from the outside to the inside of the plate <NUM> in the radial direction to assemble the terminal part <NUM> and the plate <NUM>, there is an advantage that an assembly process is very simply and quickly performed. In addition, since the first body <NUM> and the second body <NUM> of the terminal part <NUM> fix the plate <NUM> from the upper and lower sides of the plate <NUM> in the axial direction, and the third body <NUM> of the terminal part <NUM> restricts the plate <NUM> in the radial direction at the same time, the terminal part <NUM> can be firmly coupled to the plate <NUM> without using a separate fastening member or without performing a welding process.

In addition, in a state in which the terminal part <NUM> is mounted on the housing <NUM>, since the inner surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> restricts the body part <NUM> of the terminal part <NUM> so as not to allow separation of the body part <NUM> of the terminal part <NUM> in the radial direction, and particularly, the outer surface of the body part <NUM> is in contact with the inner surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, structural stability is much higher when compared to a case in which the terminal part <NUM> is assembled using a fastening member or through a welding process.

Claim 1:
A motor comprising:
a housing (<NUM>);
a stator (<NUM>) disposed in the housing (<NUM>);
a rotor (<NUM>) disposed in the stator (<NUM>);
a busbar (<NUM>) disposed on the stator (<NUM>);
a plate (<NUM>) disposed on the busbar (<NUM>); and
a terminal part (<NUM>) including a body part (<NUM>) in contact with the plate (<NUM>), and a protruding part (<NUM>) protruding from the body part (<NUM>) and disposed on the plate (<NUM>),
wherein a part of the body part (<NUM>) is disposed between the housing (<NUM>) and the plate (<NUM>) in a radial direction,
characterised in that
the body part (<NUM>) includes a first hole (<NUM>) that passes through an outer side and an inner side of the body part (<NUM>) in a first direction (F); and
the plate (<NUM>) includes a first protrusion (<NUM>) protruding from an edge of the plate (<NUM>) and disposed in the first hole (<NUM>).