IP Library Granted Patent US 7,714,472
Granted Patent B2
US 7,714,472 · App. 12/320,688 · Granted May 11, 2010

Small DC motor

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,714,472
App. No.
12/320,688
Granted
May 11, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A small DC motor includes a motor frame having a cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion having a constant thickness and having a cross section in a shape that comprises four sides and connecting portions, each of the connecting portions connecting adjacent two of the four sides and being located inward from a corresponding corner in a quadrangle comprising the four sides; and a magnet having a circumferential surface on an inside thereof and having conformable contact with the motor frame on an outside thereof.

Claims (12)

1. A small DC motor, comprising:

a motor frame having two ends and a side wall; wherein the side wall surrounds a magnet and includes four straight portions and at least four connecting portions;

wherein each of the connecting portions is located between adjacent two of the four straight portions;

wherein the magnet includes at least four poles and has an outer surface conforming to the motor frame and an inner surface forming a circular opening and wherein the width of the magnet between the inner and outer surface varies;

a rotor rotatably disposed in the circular opening,

wherein the side wall includes the same number of connecting portions as the number of poles contained in the magnet and wherein each of the connecting portions is a segment of a circle having a center located away from the center of the circular opening and having a radius less than the radius of the circular opening so that the ratio of the radius of the connecting portion to the radius of the circular opening is between about 65 percent to about 85; and

wherein an air gap provided between the inner surface of the magnet and the rotor has a constant distance.

2. The small DC motor of claim 1 , wherein the magnet includes at least four magnet sections, each magnet section having a different polarity from an adjacent magnet section, and wherein each the magnet sections is spaced part from the adjacent magnet sections.

3. The small DC motor of claim 1 , wherein the rotor includes an armature assembly rotatably disposed within the motor frame, wherein the armature assembly includes an armature windings-molded element of a cylindrical coil wounded by a magnet wire; and an inner yoke comprising a cylindrical portion facing the armature windings-molded element.

4. The small DC motor of claim 1 , wherein the rotor includes an armature assembly rotatably disposed within the motor frame, wherein the armature assembly includes an armature windings-molded element of a cylindrical coil wounded by a magnet wire; and a cylindrical movable back yoke having contact with an inner side of the armature windings-molded element.

5. The small DC motor according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of a radial minimum thickness of each magnet section to the radial maximum thickness of each magnet section is between about 1:2 to about 1:4.

6. The small DC motor according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of a radial minimum thickness of each magnet section to the radial maximum thickness of each magnet section is between about 1:2 to about 1:3.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2020
From: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
To: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
Reel/Frame 051803/0293 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2015
From: MINEBEA MOTOR MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
To: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 035181/0837 →