IP Library Granted Patent US 8,941,276
Granted Patent B2
US 8,941,276 · App. 13/411,060 · Granted Jan 27, 2015

Rotor assembly having ball nut cartridge

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,941,276
App. No.
13/411,060
Granted
Jan 27, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one arrangement, a motor assembly includes a housing defining a housing chamber, a stator disposed within the housing chamber, and a rotor assembly disposed within the housing chamber. The rotor assembly includes a spindle housing defining a spindle housing chamber extending along a longitudinal axis of the spindle housing and a set of magnets disposed about an outer periphery of the spindle housing and in proximity to the stator. The rotor assembly includes a ball nut cartridge disposed within the spindle housing chamber of the spindle housing and a securing mechanism configured to secure the ball nut cartridge to the spindle housing.

Claims (46)

1. An actuator assembly, comprising:

at least one motor assembly; and

an output shaft moveably coupled to the at least one motor, the at least one motor assembly comprising:

a motor housing defining a housing chamber,

a stator disposed within the motor housing chamber,

a rotor assembly disposed within the motor housing chamber, the rotor assembly comprising:

a spindle housing defining a spindle housing chamber extending along a longitudinal axis of the spindle housing;

a set of magnets disposed about an outer periphery of the spindle housing and in proximity to the stator;

a ball nut cartridge disposed within the spindle housing chamber of the spindle housing; and

a securing mechanism configured to secure the ball nut cartridge to the spindle housing;

wherein the spindle housing comprises a stop portion disposed about an inner periphery of the spindle housing within the spindle housing chamber, the ball nut cartridge captured between the securing mechanism and the stop portion; and

a set of pins disposed between the stop portion and the ball nut cartridge, the set of pins configured to rotationally secure the ball nut cartridge relative to the stop portion of the spindle housing.

2. The actuator assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spindle housing isolation bushing disposed between a carrier assembly of a bearing assembly and the motor housing.

3. The actuator assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a cartridge isolation bushing disposed between an outer periphery of the ball nut cartridge and an inner periphery of the spindle housing chamber.

4. The actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

the spindle housing comprises a set of threads disposed within the spindle housing chamber; and

the securing mechanism comprises a nut having a set of threads that correspond to the set of threads of the spindle housing chamber.

5. The actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spindle housing comprises a first spindle housing portion made from a first material and a second spindle housing portion made from a second material, the first material being distinct from the second material.

6. The actuator assembly of claim 1 , comprising:

a bearing assembly disposed within the motor housing, the bearing assembly comprising a bearing and a carrier assembly, the bearing being disposed within the carrier assembly, and about the spindle housing the bearing assembly having a longitudinal axis that is substantially collinear with the longitudinal axis of the spindle housing.

7. The actuator assembly of claim 6 , wherein the carrier assembly comprises a carrier housing and a carrier housing cover, the carrier housing and carrier housing cover configured to capture the bearing there between.

8. The actuator assembly of claim 7 , wherein the carrier cover is configured to secure to the carrier housing to define a load path that is substantially collinear with the longitudinal axis of the spindle housing.

9. The actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one motor assembly comprises a single motor assembly.

10. The actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one motor assembly comprises a first motor assembly and a second motor assembly.

11. The actuator assembly of claim 10 , wherein a first rotor assembly of the first motor assembly and a second rotor assembly of the second motor assembly rotate about the longitudinal axis along the same rotational direction.

12. The actuator assembly of claim 10 , wherein a first rotor of the first rotor assembly and a second rotor assembly of the second motor assembly rotate about the longitudinal axis along opposing rotational directions.

13. A motor assembly, comprising:

a housing defining a housing chamber;

a stator disposed within the housing chamber;

a rotor assembly disposed within the housing chamber, the rotor assembly comprising:

a spindle housing defining a spindle housing chamber extending along a longitudinal axis of the spindle housing;

a set of magnets disposed about an outer periphery of the spindle housing and in proximity to the stator;

a ball nut cartridge disposed within the spindle housing chamber of the spindle housing; and

a securing mechanism configured to secure the ball nut cartridge to the spindle housing; and

an isolation hushing disposed between an outer periphery of the ball nut cartridge and an inner periphery of the spindle housing chamber.

14. The motor assembly of claim 13 , wherein the spindle housing comprises a stop portion disposed about an inner periphery of the spindle housing within the spindle housing chamber, the ball nut cartridge captured between the securing mechanism and the stop portion.

15. The motor assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a set of pins disposed between the stop portion and the ball nut cartridge, the set of pins configured to rotationally secure the ball nut cartridge relative to the stop portion of the spindle housing.

16. The motor assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a spindle housing isolation bushing disposed between a carrier assembly of a bearing assembly and the motor housing.

17. The motor assembly of claim 13 , wherein:

the spindle housing comprises a set of threads disposed within the spindle housing chamber; and

the securing mechanism comprises a nut having a set of threads that correspond to the set of threads of the spindle housing chamber.

18. The motor assembly of claim 13 , wherein the spindle housing comprises a first spindle housing portion made from a first material and a second spindle housing portion made from a second material, the first material being distinct from the second material.

19. The motor assembly of claim 13 , comprising:

a bearing assembly disposed within the motor housing, the bearing assembly comprising a bearing and a carrier assembly, the bearing being disposed within the carrier assembly, and about the spindle housing the bearing assembly having a longitudinal axis that is substantially collinear with the longitudinal axis of the spindle housing.

20. The motor assembly of claim 19 , wherein the carrier assembly comprises a carrier housing and a carrier housing cover, the carrier housing and carrier housing cover configured to capture the bearing there between.

21. The motor assembly of claim 20 , wherein the carrier cover is configured to secure to the carrier housing to define a load path that is substantially collinear with the longitudinal axis of the spindle housing.

Assignments (9)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2025
From: CLEARMOTION ACQUISITION I LLC; CLEARMOTION, INC.
To: ACADIA WOODS PARTNERS, LLC
Reel/Frame 072836/0921 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2025
From: BOSE CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 070438/0001 →
TERMINATION OF AMENDED & RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 12, 2023
From: FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES - FRANKLIN GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND; FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES - FRANKLIN SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND; FRANKLIN TEMPLETON INVESTMENT FUNDS - FRANKLIN U.S. OPPORTUNITIES FUND; NEWVIEW CAPITAL FUND I, LP; WIL FUND I, L.P.; BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS, INC.; MICROSOFT GLOBAL FINANCE; FHW LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; TEW LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; THE PRIVATE SHARES FUND; BRILLIANCE JOURNEY LIMITED
To: CLEARMOTION, INC.; CLEARMOTION ACQUISITION I LLC
Reel/Frame 062705/0684 →
TERMINATION OF AMENDED & RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 8, 2023
From: ACADIA WOODS PARTNERS, LLC
To: CLEARMOTION, INC.; CLEARMOTION ACQUISITION I LLC
Reel/Frame 062687/0713 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ADDING ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 059361 FRAME: 0433. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Apr 6, 2022
From: CLEARMOTION, INC.; CLEARMOTION ACQUISITION I LLC
To: ACADIA WOODS PARTNERS, LLC; FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES - FRANKLIN GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND; FRANKLIN TEMPLETON INVESTMENT FUNDS - FRANKLIN U.S. OPPORTUNITIES FUND; FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES - FRANKLIN SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND; NEWVIEW CAPITAL FUND I, LP; WIL FUND I, L.P.; BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS, INC.; MICROSOFT GLOBAL FINANCE; FHW LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; TEW LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; THE PRIVATE SHARES FUND; BRILLIANCE JOURNEY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 060130/0001 →
AMENDED & RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: CLEARMOTION, INC.; CLEARMOTION ACQUISITION I LLC
To: ACADIA WOODS PARTNERS, LLC
Reel/Frame 059361/0433 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 4, 2022
From: CLEARMOTION, INC.
To: NEWVIEW CAPITAL FUND I, L.P.; ACADIA WOODS PARTNERS, LLC; WIL FUND I, L.P.; FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES - FRANKLIN GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND; FRANKLIN TEMPLETON INVESTMENT FUNDS - FRANKLIN U.S. OPPORTUNITIES FUND; FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES - FRANKLIN SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
Reel/Frame 058644/0007 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 20, 2018
From: BOSE CORPORATION
To: CLEARMOTION ACQUISITION I LLC
Reel/Frame 044979/0776 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2012
From: HAFERMAN, DANIEL CHARLES; LAFOSSE, ANDREW JOSEPH; PARE, CHRISTOPHER ALAN
To: BOSE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027814/0023 →