Motor mounting assembly for a power tool
A power tool includes a housing and an electric motor supported within the housing. The housing includes a main housing portion that defines a rear opening. The electric motor includes an output shaft supporting a rotor assembly for rotation about a motor axis. The electric motor also includes a stator assembly surrounding the rotor assembly, and a rear end cap. The rear end cap supports a rear motor bearing that rotatably supports the output shaft at a rear end. A portion of the rear end cap resides within the rear opening to close the rear opening.
1. A power tool comprising:
a housing including a main housing portion that defines a rear opening;
an electric motor supported within the housing, the electric motor including
an output shaft supporting a rotor assembly for rotation about a motor axis,
a stator assembly surrounding the rotor assembly, and
a rear end cap supporting a rear motor bearing, the rear motor bearing rotatably supporting the output shaft at a rear end;
wherein a portion of the rear end cap resides within the rear opening to close the rear opening, wherein the main housing portion includes an inwardly projecting annular rib, and wherein the rear end cap abuts the annular rib.
2. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the rear end cap is coupled to a front end cap that supports a front motor bearing, the front motor bearing rotatably supporting the output shaft at a front end.
3. The power tool of claim 2 , wherein the rear end cap is coupled to the front end cap via fasteners.
4. The power tool of claim 3 , wherein the fasteners extend through first apertures defined in the rear end cap and tighten into second apertures defined in the front end cap.
5. The power tool of claim 3 , wherein the fasteners extend through first apertures defined in the front end cap and tighten into second apertures defined in the rear end cap.
6. The power tool of claim 1 , further comprising a gear case assembly supported within the main housing portion, wherein a front end cap is coupled to the gear case assembly.
7. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the main housing portion includes an axially extending rib that engages an outer circumferential surface of the stator assembly.
8. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the main housing portion comprises two clamshell halves, and each clamshell half defines a portion of the rear opening.
9. A power tool comprising:
a housing including a main housing portion that defines a rear opening;
an electric motor supported within the housing, the electric motor including
an output shaft supporting a rotor assembly for rotation about a motor axis,
a stator assembly surrounding the rotor assembly, and
a rear end cap supporting a rear motor bearing, the rear motor bearing rotatably supporting the output shaft at a rear end proximate the rear opening; and
a front end cap opposite the rear end cap with respect to the stator assembly, the front end cap supporting a front motor bearing, the front motor bearing rotatably supporting the output shaft at a front end;
wherein a portion of the rear end cap resides within the rear opening to close the rear opening, and
wherein the rear end cap is coupled to the front end cap by a plurality of elongated fasteners that extend between the rear end cap and the front end cap.
10. The power tool of claim 9 , wherein the fasteners extend through axial grooves formed in an outer circumferential surface of the stator assembly.
11. The power tool of claim 9 , wherein the main housing portion includes an inwardly projecting annular rib, and wherein the rear end cap abuts the annular rib.
12. The power tool of claim 9 , wherein the main housing portion comprises two clamshell halves, and each clamshell half defines a portion of the rear opening.
13. A power tool comprising:
a housing including a main housing portion that defines a handle and a rear opening; and
an electric motor supported within the housing, the electric motor including
an output shaft supporting a rotor assembly for rotation about a motor axis,
a stator assembly surrounding the rotor assembly, and
a rear end cap positioned at a rear axial end of the stator assembly and supporting a rear motor bearing, the rear motor bearing rotatably supporting the output shaft at a rear end,
wherein a portion of the rear end cap resides within the rear opening to close the rear opening, and wherein the rear end cap is not directly attached to the main housing.
14. The power tool of claim 13 , wherein the rear end cap is coupled to a front end cap that supports a front motor bearing, the front motor bearing rotatably supporting the output shaft at a front end.
15. The power tool of claim 14 , wherein the fasteners extend through first apertures defined in the rear end cap and tighten into second apertures defined in the front end cap.
16. The power tool of claim 14 , wherein the fasteners extend through first apertures defined in the front end cap and tighten into second apertures defined in the rear end cap.
17. The power tool of claim 13 , wherein the main housing portion includes an inwardly projecting annular rib, and wherein the rear end cap abuts the annular rib.
18. The power tool of claim 13 , wherein the rear end cap fills the rear opening and floats within the rear opening.
19. The power tool of claim 13 , wherein the rear end cap is not attached to any mounting features formed on the main housing.
20. The power tool of claim 13 , wherein the rear end cap is not attached to screw bosses on the main housing.