IP Library Granted Patent US 7,382,070
Granted Patent B2
US 7,382,070 · App. 11/055,140 · Granted Jun 3, 2008

Spherical bearing, electric motor and circulation pump

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,382,070
App. No.
11/055,140
Granted
Jun 3, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

To improve a spherical bearing including a bearing body with a convex spherical surface, a holder, on which the bearing body is disposed, and a bearing shell with a concave spherical surface, the bearing shell being rotatably mounted on the bearing body, in such a way that the mounting of the bearing body on the holder can be carried out a simple and low-cost way, it is provided that the holder is made of a plastics material, and the holder and the bearing body are held non-rotatably with respect to each other. A device for preventing rotation, which holds the bearing body on the holder to be non-rotatable with respect to the holder, may be provided.

Claims (54)

1. An electric motor, comprising:

a rotor;

a stator;

a wall which delimits an air gap between the rotor and the stator; and

a spherical bearing, said spherical bearing comprising:

a holder integrally connected to the wall;

a bearing body with a substantially convex spherical surface disposed on the holder, the holder and the wall being formed of a plastics material, the holder and the bearing body being held non-rotatably with respect to each other; and

a bearing shell with a concave spherical surface, the bearing shell being rotatably mounted on the bearing body.

2. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the holder is made of a thermoplastic material.

3. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the holder is connected to a bearing housing of the bearing.

4. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing shell is connected to a rotor.

5. The electric motor as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the holder is integrally connected to a wall which is facing the rotor.

6. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing body is made of a hard material.

7. The electric motor as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the hard material is a ceramic material.

8. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the holder is adapted in its shaping to the shaping of the bearing body.

9. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the spherical bearing further comprises:

a device for preventing rotation, the device being adapted to hold the bearing body on the holder to be non-rotatable with respect to the holder.

10. The electric motor as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the device for preventing rotation includes a non-slip device.

11. The electric motor as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a non-slip coating is arranged on the holder.

12. The electric motor as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a surface of the bearing body that faces the holder is roughened to form the non-slip device.

13. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing body is injection-molded in the holder.

14. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing body has one or more recesses, in which holding elements engage.

15. The electric motor as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the at least one recess is adapted to retain at least a portion of a holding element therein when the bearing body and the holder are at their greatest distance apart.

16. The electric motor as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the at least one recess is produced on the bearing body by machining operations with low angular velocity.

17. The electric motor as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the at least one recess is produced by grinding.

18. The electric motor as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the at least one recess is formed without drilling.

19. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing body has at least one holding element engaging an associated holding recess of the holder.

20. The electric motor as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the at least one holding element forms an undercut when engaged to a holding recess.

21. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing body has at least one oblique recess with respect to an axis of rotation.

22. The electric motor as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the bearing body has a plurality of oblique recesses, which are spaced apart from one another.

23. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing body is fixed on the holder in a non-clamping manner.

24. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface of the bearing body on which the bearing shell can slide comprises at least one hemisphere.

25. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a force acts on the bearing body in the direction of the holder.

26. The electric motor as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the force acts substantially coaxially in relation to an axis of rotation.

27. The electric motor as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the force is exerted via the bearing shell.

28. The electric motor as claimed in claim 25 , further comprising a plunger acting upon a surface region of the bearing body.

29. The electric motor as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the plunger is aligned substantially coaxially in relation to an axis of rotation.

30. The electric motor as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the plunger is fixed elastically with respect to a bearing housing in such a way that the distance between the plunger and the bearing housing is variable.

31. The electric motor as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the plunger is subjected to force in the direction of the bearing body.

32. The electric motor as claimed in claim 30 , wherein an elastic element which acts upon the plunger is disposed in a housing.

33. The electric motor as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the plunger is passed through a central region in the bearing shell that is free from material.

34. The electric motor as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the plunger is passed through a lubricating opening in the bearing shell.

35. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing body is formed by a sphere.

36. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing body is formed by a segment of a sphere which is at least a hemisphere.

37. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing shell is pressed onto the bearing body in every operating and non-operating state.

38. The electric motor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rotor is formed such that it generates a magnetic field.

39. A circulation pump which is provided with an electrical motor, said electric motor comprising:

a rotor;

a stator;

a wall which delimits an air gap between the rotor and the stator; and

a spherical bearing, said spherical bearing comprising:

a holder integrally connected to the wall;

a bearing body with a substantially convex spherical surface disposed on the holder, the holder and the wall being formed of a plastics material, the holder and the bearing body being held non-rotatably with respect to each other; and

a bearing shell with a substantially concave spherical surface, the bearing shell being rotatably mounted on the bearing body.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2017
From: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES LLC
To: XYLEM IP HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 044222/0103 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 18, 2017
From: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES INC.
To: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 044222/0291 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2009
From: LAING, OLIVER PETER; LAING, KARSTEN ANDREAS; LAING, BIRGER
To: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 022917/0919 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2005
From: LAING, KARSTEN; TERNAK, JANOS
To: LAING, OLIVER; LAING, KARSTEN; LAING, BIRGER
Reel/Frame 016721/0715 →