Auxiliary bearing assembly for reduction of unwanted shaft voltages in an electric motor
US5914547A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 21, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jun 22, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 21, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02K11/40
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An auxiliary bearing assembly is used to ground the shaft of an electric motor to reduce unwanted currents in the motor bearings. An auxiliary bearing is either initially mounted onto the housing of the motor or retrofitted to attach the motor, so that the shaft of the motor is in electrical and mechanical contact with the center bore of the auxiliary bearing. An electrically conductive grease is then applied via the auxiliary bearing to the shaft of the bearing that is joined to the rotor shaft. A low resistance path to ground is thereby created for the dissipation of the unwanted shaft voltages and consequently prevents harm to the machine.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.