Patent ID: 6952062

Claim:
A motor, comprising: a housing defining a stepped bore that provides a first step and a second step; a bracket; an outboard bearing supported by the bracket; a stator interposed between the housing and the bracket; a seal engaging the second step; a washer engaging the first step; an inboard bearing having an outer race and an inner race and being disposed within the stepped bore such that the outer race engages the washer; a bearing retainer engaging the outer race of the inboard bearing; a fastener attaching the bearing retainer to the housing such that the outer race is clamped between the bearing retainer and the washer, the washer is clamped between the outer race and the first step, and the seal is compressed between the washer and the second step; a rotor shaft having an outboard end and an inboard end, wherein the outboard end is supported by the outboard bearing and the inboard end has a shoulder that engages the inner race of the inboard bearing; a sleeve disposed around the inboard end of the rotor shaft, wherein the sleeve engages the inner race of the inboard bearing and engages an inner diameter of the seal; an impeller attached to the inboard end of the rotor shaft and engaging the sleeve; and a nut screwed onto the inboard end of the rotor shaft such that the impeller, the sleeve, and the inner race of the inboard bearing are held in compression between the nut and the shoulder of the rotor shaft, thereby an axial position of the rotor shaft relative to the stator is substantially independent of axial creep of the seal if such axial creep were to occur.