IP Library Granted Patent US 8,928,193
Granted Patent B2
US 8,928,193 · App. 13/311,978 · Granted Jan 6, 2015

Stepping motor for meter

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,928,193
App. No.
13/311,978
Granted
Jan 6, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A stepping motor for a meter to rotate a pointer of a meter, the stepping motor for a meter includes: a rotor part having: a cylindrical magnet; and a rotational shaft, which is hollow and made of a resin, and which is molded on an inner periphery of the cylindrical magnet and is coaxial with the cylindrical magnet; a stator part that contains the rotor part therein and has an excitation coil; a front plate made of a resin, and an end plate made of a resin, wherein a fixing part to fix the cylindrical magnet is molded when molding the rotational shaft, and wherein the cylindrical magnet is fixed by the fixing part so that the cylindrical magnet and the rotational shaft are integrated.

Claims (37)

1. A stepping motor for a meter to rotate a pointer of the meter, the stepping motor for a meter comprising:

a rotor part comprising:

a cylindrical magnet; and

a rotational shaft being hollow and made of a resin, wherein the rotational shaft is molded on an inner periphery of the cylindrical magnet and is coaxial with the cylindrical magnet;

wherein a stopper part is provided to the rotational shaft,

wherein a stopper pin is provided on a position corresponding to a radial position of the stopper part that is rotated with rotating of the rotational shaft, and

wherein the rotation of the rotational shaft is restrained by contacting of the stopper part with the stopper pin,

a stator part that contains the rotor part therein and has an excitation coil;

a front plate made of a resin, and

an end plate made of a resin,

wherein a holding portion provided to fix the cylindrical magnet is molded when molding the rotational shaft, and

wherein the cylindrical magnet is fixed by the holding portion so that the cylindrical magnet and the rotational shaft are integrated with omitting a sleeve.

2. The stepping motor for a meter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the rotational shaft forms a hollow space, wherein a cross section of the hollow space perpendicular to an axial direction has a polygonal shape, and

wherein the pointer is fitted into the hollow space of the rotational shaft and is thus fixed to the rotational shaft.

3. The stepping motor for a meter according to claim 1 ,

wherein the stopper part is a protruding part and protrudes outward in a radial direction; and

wherein the stopper pin is inserted in a hole provided to the front plate or end plate so that it protrudes inward in the axial direction.

4. The stepping motor for a meter according to claim 1 ,

wherein both a penetrated hole formed in the front plate and a penetrated hole formed in the end plate are configured to function as bearings for supporting the rotational shaft.

5. The stepping motor for a meter according to claim 1 ,

wherein an inner circumferential surface of the hollow rotational shaft is coated with a light reflecting material.

6. A stepping motor for use as part of a meter to rotate a pointer of the meter, the stepping motor comprising:

a rotor part comprising:

a cylindrical magnet; and

a rotational shaft being a unitary construction made of a resin and having a hollow interior area formed therein, wherein the rotational shaft is molded on an inner periphery of the cylindrical magnet and is coaxial with the cylindrical magnet;

wherein a stopper part is provided to the rotational shaft,

wherein a stopper pin is provided on a position corresponding to a radial position of the stopper part that is rotated with rotating of the rotational shaft, and

wherein the rotation of the rotational shaft is restrained by contacting of the stopper part with the stopper pin,

a stator part that contains the rotor part therein and has an excitation coil;

a pointer comprising a pointing part and a shaft part;

a front plate made of a resin, and

an end plate made of a resin,

wherein:

a holding portion provided to fix the cylindrical magnet is molded when molding the rotational shaft,

the cylindrical magnet is fixed by the holding portion so that the cylindrical magnet and the rotational shaft are integrated, and

the shaft part of the pointer is inserted into the hollow interior area of the rotational shaft, and is in direct contact with the rotational shaft.

Assignments (3)
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 Jun 11, 2013
From: MINEBEA MOTOR MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
To: MINEBEA CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 030585/0648 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2011
From: YOSHITOMI, SHOJI; SUZUKI, KATSUTOSHI; KOMAKI, MASATOMO
To: MINEBEA MOTOR MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027424/0025 →