Rotor shaft for limited rotation motors and method of manufacture thereof

1. A limited rotation motor system including a rotor comprising:

a sleeve including a first open end and a second end having an integral closed end element through which a rotor shaft does not pass, said first open end for receiving an output device, and said second closed end for mounting within the limited rotation motor system, said first open end extending beyond a first bearing and being adapted for receiving an output device and said second closed end extending beyond a second bearing and being adapted for coupling said rotor to a position transducer;

a permanent magnet received through the first open end of said sleeve; and

a stator surrounding said sleeve for driving said permanent magnet.

2. The limited rotation motor system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is formed of a monolithic structure.

3. The limited rotation motor system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first open end is tapered.

4. The limited rotation motor system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is formed of stainless steel.

5. The limited rotation motor system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said limited rotation motor system includes a conductive elastomeric material that couples the limited rotation motor system to a position transducer.

6. The limited rotation motor system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said conductive elastomeric material couples a circuit board to a capacitive element of said position transducer.

7. A limited rotation motor system including a rotor, said rotor comprising:

a permanent magnet;

a monolithic sleeve radially interposed between said permanent magnet and a stator, said monolithic sleeve including a first open tapered end through which said permanent magnet may be received, and a second end having an integral closed end element for mounting to a position transducer within the limited rotation motor system, said monolithic sleeve providing a rotor shaft, said first open tapered end extending beyond a first bearing and being adapted for receiving an output device and said second closed end extending beyond a second bearing and being adapted for coupling said rotor to a position transducer; and

an output device received within said first open tapered end of said monolithic sleeve via a tapered interface between the first open tapered end of said sleeve and a tapered mounting element of said output device.

8. The limited rotation motor system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said sleeve is formed of stainless steel.

9. The limited rotation motor system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said limited rotation motor system includes a conductive elastomeric material that couples the limited rotation motor system to a position transducer.

10. The limited rotation motor system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said conductive elastomeric material couples a circuit board to a capacitive element of said position transducer.

11. A rotor for a limited rotation motor system comprising:

a sleeve with a first open end and a second end having an integral closed end element through which a rotor shaft does not pass, said first open end extending beyond a first bearing and being adapted for receiving an output device and said second closed end extending beyond a second bearing and being adapted for coupling said rotor to a position transducer; and

a permanent magnet received through the first open end of said sleeve.

12. The rotor as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said sleeve is formed of a monolithic structure.

13. The rotor as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said first open end is tapered.

14. The rotor as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said sleeve is formed of stainless steel.

15. The rotor as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said sleeve is formed of any of silicon carbide, titanium and/or beryllium.

16. A rotor for a limited rotation motor system comprising:

a permanent magnet through which no rotor shaft passes;

a monolithic sleeve with a first open tapered end, and a second end providing a closed end element through which a rotor shaft does not pass; and

an output device received within said first open tapered end of said monolithic sleeve via a tapered interface between the first open tapered end of said sleeve and a tapered mounting element of said output device;

said sleeve extending at least from between a first bearing proximate said first open tapered end to a second bearing proximate said second closed end element.

17. The rotor as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said sleeve is formed of a monolithic structure.

18. The rotor as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said sleeve is formed of stainless steel.

19. The rotor as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said sleeve is formed of any of silicon carbide, titanium and/or beryllium.

20. A rotor for a limited rotation motor system comprising:

a permanent magnet through which no rotor shaft passes;

a sleeve with a tapered opening at a first end providing a first tapered end of the rotor, and a second end opposite the first end;

an output device received within said first tapered end of said rotor via a tapered interface between the first tapered end of said rotor and a tapered mounting element of said output device; and

a position transducer coupled to a second end of the rotor proximate the second end of the sleeve;

wherein said sleeve extends at least from between a first bearing proximate said first tapered end of the rotor to a second bearing proximate said second end of the rotor.

21. The rotor as claimed in claim 20 , wherein said sleeve is formed of a monolithic structure.

22. The rotor as claimed in claim 20 , wherein said sleeve is formed of stainless steel.

23. The rotor as claimed in claim 20 , wherein said sleeve is formed of any of silicon carbide, titanium and/or beryllium.