Electric motor with integrated self-supporting spindle and air cooling features for a mower
An example assembly includes: a housing having a motor housing portion and a spindle housing portion, wherein the spindle housing portion comprises a central tube; an electric motor disposed within the motor housing portion of the housing, wherein the electric motor has a rotor; a spindle coupled to the rotor of the electric motor, wherein the spindle is disposed within the central tube of the spindle housing portion; an impeller coupled to the spindle and configured to rotate therewith; and a shroud mounted to the housing and having a plurality of windows, wherein as the impeller rotates, the impeller draws air through the plurality of windows of the shroud to cool the electric motor.
1 . An assembly comprising:
a housing having a motor housing portion and a spindle housing portion, wherein the spindle housing portion comprises a central tube, wherein the motor housing portion comprises a plurality of fins disposed in a circular array about the motor housing portion;
an electric motor disposed within the motor housing portion of the housing, wherein the electric motor has a rotor;
a spindle coupled to the rotor of the electric motor, wherein the spindle is disposed within the central tube of the spindle housing portion;
an impeller coupled to the spindle and configured to rotate therewith; and
a shroud having a top side, a peripheral side, and a plurality of windows formed in the top side, wherein the peripheral side of the shroud is mounted to the plurality of fins of the motor housing portion, wherein as the impeller rotates, the impeller draws air through the plurality of windows of the shroud and directs air to an annular space between the peripheral side of the shroud and the motor housing portion, such that air flows between respective fins of the plurality of fins of the motor housing portion to cool the electric motor.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of windows include several concentric arrays of windows.
3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the windows are rectangular in shape.
4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spindle comprises a spindle extension, and wherein the assembly further comprises:
an impeller spacer mounted around the spindle extension, wherein the impeller spacer is configured to rotate with the spindle, and wherein the impeller is coupled to the impeller spacer to rotate therewith.
5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shroud includes a cylindrical protrusion that is hollow and protrudes downward to be supported by the impeller.
6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the impeller comprises a plurality of blades formed in a circular array about the impeller, and wherein a radially-outward portion of a blade of the plurality of blades is configured as an airfoil.
7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral side of the shroud has a plurality of tabs disposed in a circular array with spaces therebetween, wherein the plurality of tabs interface respectively with the plurality of fins of the motor housing portion.
8 . An assembly comprising:
a housing having a motor housing portion and a spindle housing portion, wherein the spindle housing portion comprises a central tube;
an electric motor disposed within the motor housing portion of the housing, wherein the electric motor has a rotor;
a spindle coupled to the rotor of the electric motor, wherein the spindle is disposed within the central tube of the spindle housing portion;
an impeller coupled to the spindle and configured to rotate therewith;
a shroud mounted to the housing and having a plurality of windows, wherein as the impeller rotates, the impeller draws air through the plurality of windows of the shroud to cool the electric motor; and
a housing cover mounted to the motor housing portion to form an enclosure in which the electric motor is disposed, wherein the housing cover comprises a circular recess in which the impeller is partially disposed.
9 . The assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a seal mounted in a central hole of the housing cover around the spindle.
10 . An assembly comprising:
a housing having a motor housing portion and a spindle housing portion, wherein the spindle housing portion comprises a central tube;
an electric motor disposed within the motor housing portion of the housing, wherein the electric motor has a rotor;
a spindle coupled to the rotor of the electric motor, wherein the spindle is disposed within the central tube of the spindle housing portion;
an impeller coupled to the spindle and configured to rotate therewith; and
a shroud mounted to the motor housing portion and having a top side, a peripheral side, and a plurality of windows formed in the top side, wherein the peripheral side tapers inward to form a friction lock with the motor housing portion when mounted thereto.
11 . A mower comprising:
a source of electric power;
a mower deck; and
one or more assemblies mounted to the mower deck and coupled to respective blades, wherein an assembly of the one or more assemblies comprises:
a housing,
an electric motor disposed within the housing, wherein the electric motor has a stator and a rotor, and wherein the source of electric power is configured to provide electric power to wire windings of the stator,
a spindle disposed in the housing and coupled to the rotor of the electric motor, wherein the spindle is configured to drive a blade of the respective blades,
an impeller coupled to the spindle and configured to rotate therewith, and
a shroud having a top side, a peripheral side, and a plurality of windows formed in the top side, wherein the peripheral side of the shroud is mounted to the plurality of fins of the motor housing portion, wherein as the impeller rotates, the impeller draws air through the plurality of windows of the shroud and directs air to an annular space between the peripheral side of the shroud and the motor housing portion, such that air flows between respective fins of the plurality of fins of the motor housing portion to cool the electric motor.
12 . The mower of claim 11 , wherein the shroud includes a cylindrical protrusion that is hollow and protrudes downward to be supported by the impeller.
13 . The mower of claim 11 , wherein the assembly further comprises:
a housing cover mounted to the housing to form an enclosure in which the electric motor is disposed, wherein the housing cover comprises a circular recess in which the impeller is partially disposed.
14 . The mower of claim 13 , wherein the assembly further comprises:
a seal mounted in a central hole of the housing cover around the spindle.
15 . The mower of claim 11 , wherein the spindle comprises a spindle extension, and wherein the assembly further comprises:
an impeller spacer mounted around the spindle extension, wherein the impeller spacer is configured to rotate with the spindle, and wherein the impeller is coupled to the impeller spacer to rotate therewith.
16 . The mower of claim 11 , wherein the shroud comprises a top side and a peripheral side, wherein the plurality of windows are formed in the top side, and wherein the peripheral side tapers inward to form a friction lock with the housing when mounted thereto.
17 . The mower of claim 11 , wherein the impeller comprises a plurality of blades formed in a circular array about the impeller, and wherein at least a radially-outward portion of a blade of the plurality of blades is configured as an airfoil.
18 . The mower of claim 11 , wherein the peripheral side of the shroud has a plurality of tabs disposed in a circular array with spaces therebetween, wherein the plurality of tabs interface respectively with the plurality of fins of the housing.