Patent ID: 7863791

Claim:
A motor mounting device, including: a motor housing disposed about a longitudinal housing axis, the housing including a cylindrical housing section centered on the housing axis and having a proximal end, a distal end, an interior surface region extending distally from the proximal end, and a detent feature disposed at a selected axial location along the interior surface, wherein the interior surface is inclined to gradually converge in a distal direction, the housing further including a distal end housing section integral with the cylindrical housing section and comprising an axially directed first central opening and a first bearing seat centered on the housing axis; and a rotor retaining member disposed about a retainer axis, comprising an inner section and an annular peripheral section surrounding the inner section, wherein the peripheral section has an annular outer surface centered on and parallel to the retainer axis, and an annular peripheral edge adjacent one end of the outer surface and occupying a plane perpendicular to the retainer axis, wherein the inner section comprises a second central opening and a second bearing seat centered on the retainer axis; wherein the proximal end is open to receive a rotor, including a rotor shaft and first and second bearings mounted along the shaft at first and second spaced apart axial locations, for distal insertion into the cylindrical housing section toward a predetermined axial location with the first bearing engaged with the first bearing seat to mount the rotor shaft for rotation relative to the housing about the housing axis; wherein the rotor retaining member is insertable distally into the cylindrical housing section with the rotor at the predetermined axial location, and with the retainer and housing axes substantially coincident and with the annular peripheral edge providing a leading edge of the retaining member, to locate the peripheral edge and the peripheral outer surface adjacent and radially inwardly of the interior surface near said proximal end, to form a sliding engagement of the peripheral outer surface and the interior surface region for urging the retaining member radially toward a centering on the housing axis while the second bearing seat is moved into engagement with the second bearing and the annular peripheral edge is moved into engagement with the detent feature to prevent further distal travel of the retaining member relative to the housing beyond a rotor retaining position; and a fastening component adapted to secure the retaining member integrally with the housing to axially fix the rotor at the predetermined axial location.