초록 ▼

An electric motor is provided that is configured for operation in hazardous or other hazardous environments. The electric motor includes a housing for a rotor and a stator. The housing includes a pair of end caps and a casing positioned therebetween. The end caps and the casing are held together usi

An electric motor is provided that is configured for operation in hazardous or other hazardous environments. The electric motor includes a housing for a rotor and a stator. The housing includes a pair of end caps and a casing positioned therebetween. The end caps and the casing are held together using internal tie bars extending between and connected to the end caps.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An electric motor for use in hazardous environments, the electric motor comprising: a housing having a casing positioned between a head end cap and a tail end cap;an output shaft;a rotor attached relative to the output shaft and disposed within the housing;a stator at least partially surrounding

1. An electric motor for use in hazardous environments, the electric motor comprising: a housing having a casing positioned between a head end cap and a tail end cap;an output shaft;a rotor attached relative to the output shaft and disposed within the housing;a stator at least partially surrounding the rotor and disposed within the housing, the stator including a plurality of axially-extending indentations; anda plurality of ties each extending between the head end cap and the tail end cap to hold the head end cap, tail end cap and casing together, the ties being positioned internally relative to the casing and configured to be at least partially recessed within respective ones of the indentations, wherein the ties each have a middle portion with a width measured transverse to a longitudinal axis of the motor and a thickness measured in an outwardly direction from the axis, the width being substantially greater than the thickness. 2. An electric motor for use in hazardous environments, the electric motor comprising: a housing having a casing positioned between a head end cap and a tail end cap;an output shaft;a rotor attached relative to the output shaft and disposed within the housing;a stator at least partially surrounding the rotor and disposed within the housing, the stator including a plurality of axially-extending indentations; anda plurality of ties each extending between the head end cap and the tail end cap to hold the head end cap, tail end cap and casing together, the ties being positioned internally relative to the casing and configured to be at least partially recessed within respective ones of the indentations;wherein the ties are each attached to the head end cap and tail end cap using a plurality of screws passing through screw openings from outwardly sides of the end caps to inwardly, facing sides of the end caps; andwherein the ties have enlarged portions adjacent each end thereof having a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of a middle portion and configured to receive the screws. 3. An electric motor for use in hazardous environments, the electric motor comprising: a housing having a casing positioned between a head end cap and a tail end cap;an output shaft;a rotor attached relative to the output shaft and disposed within the housing;a stator at least partially surrounding the rotor and disposed within the housing, the stator including a plurality of axially-extending indentations; anda plurality of ties each extending between the head end cap and the tail end cap to hold the head end cap, tail end cap and casing together, the ties being positioned internally relative to the casing and configured to be at least partially recessed within respective ones of the indentations;wherein the ties are each attached to the head end cap and tail end cap using a plurality of screws passing through screw openings from outwardly sides of the end caps to inwardly, facing sides of the end caps; andwherein annular seats are formed in the outwardly facing sides of the end caps surrounding the screw openings for receiving O-rings, the annular seats having a diameter less than an outermost diameter of heads of the screws. 4. An electric motor for use in hazardous environments, the electric motor comprising: a housing having a casing positioned between a head end cap and a tail end cap;an output shaft;a rotor attached relative to the output shaft and disposed within the housing;a stator at least partially surrounding the rotor and disposed within the housing, the stator including a plurality of axially-extending indentations; anda plurality of ties each extending between the head end cap and the tail end cap to hold the head end cap, tail end cap and casing together, the ties being positioned internally relative to the casing and configured to be at least partially recessed within respective ones of the indentations;wherein the ties are each attached to the head end cap and tail end cap using a plurality of screws passing through screw openings from outwardly sides of the end caps to inwardly, facing sides of the end caps; andwherein the screws passing through the tail end cap attach shroud brackets relative to the tail end cap, the shroud brackets being configured to have a fan shroud mounted thereto. 5. The electric motor of claim 4, wherein each of the shroud brackets includes a base portion having at least one aperture through which one of the screws can pass and a flange portion for connection of the fan shroud. 6. The electric motor of claim 5, wherein each of the shroud brackets includes a locking portion movable relative to the base portion to a position whereby rotation of a head of the screw is restricted by the locking portion. 7. An electric motor for use in hazardous environments, the electric motor comprising: a housing having a casing positioned between a head end cap and a tail end cap;an output shaft;a rotor attached relative to the output shaft and disposed within the housing;a stator at least partially surrounding the rotor and disposed within the housing;a plurality of ties each extending between the head end cap and the tail end cap to hold the head end cap, tail end cap and casing together, the ties being positioned internally relative to the casing; anda terminal box welded to the casing, the terminal box having a removable cover and enclosing an electrical connection junction having operating wires extending through an opening in the casing for providing electricity to the stator and/or rotor. 8. The electric motor of claim 7, wherein the terminal box has an opening for receiving external wires for connecting to the electrical connection junction. 9. The electric motor of claim 8, wherein the electrical connection junction has a first plate facing an interior of the terminal box and a second plate facing the opening the casing, the space between the plates being at least substantially filled with a potting compound. 10. The electric motor of claim 9, wherein the operating wires extend through apertures in the plates and through the space between the plates. 11. The electric motor of claim 10, wherein the casing is generally cylindrical and the terminal box is generally cylindrical, the longitudinal axis of the terminal box being generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the casing. 12. The electric motor of claim 10, wherein: the opening in the casing is generally circular, the electrical connection junction is generally cylindrical and has a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a second diameter, the second diameter being less than the first diameter and being sized to be inserted into the opening of the casing; andthe first portion and second portion of the electrical connection junction are adjacent such that an external step is created therebetween, the external step being positioned to abut an exterior region of the casing surrounding the opening of the casing. 13. The electric motor of claim 12, wherein: a retaining flange is positioned on the second portion of the electrical connection junction and extends radially inward to retain the second plate from passing through the electrical connection junction to the interior of the casing; andan internal circumferential groove is formed in the first portion of the electrical connection junction for receiving a retaining ring to retain the first plate from passing through the electrical connection junction to the interior of the terminal box. 14. An electric motor for use in hazardous environments, the electric motor comprising: a housing having a casing positioned between a head end cap and a tail end cap;an output shaft;a rotor attached relative to the output shaft and disposed within the housing;a stator at least partially surrounding the rotor and disposed within the housing;an electrical connection junction extending from an exterior of the housing through an opening in the casing;operating wires extending through the electrical connection junction for conducting electricity to the stator and/or rotor, the electrical connection junction having a region surrounding the operating wires and filled with a blocking material to substantially prevent a flame from exiting the housing through the opening thereof and through the electrical connection junction; anda terminal box attached to an exterior of the casing and surrounding the electrical connection junction exteriorly of the casing. 15. The electric motor of claim 14, wherein a plurality of ties each extend between the head end cap and the tail end cap to hold the head end cap, tail end cap and casing together, the ties being positioned internally relative to the casing. 16. The electric motor of claim 15, wherein the stator includes a plurality of axially-extending indentations and the ties are configured to be at least partially recessed within respective ones of the indentations. 17. The electric motor of claim 16, wherein the electrical connection junction has a first plate facing an interior of the terminal box and a second plate facing the opening the casing, the space between the plates being filled with the blocking material, the operating wires extending through apertures in the plates and through the space between the plates, the electrical connection junction having means for retaining the plates. 18. The electric motor of claim 2, wherein the ties each have a middle portion with a width measured transverse to a longitudinal axis of the motor and a thickness measured in an outwardly direction from the axis, the width being substantially greater than the thickness. 19. The electric motor of claim 7, wherein the ties each have a middle portion with a width measured transverse to a longitudinal axis of the motor and a thickness measured in an outwardly direction from the axis, the width being substantially greater than the thickness. 20. The electric motor of claim 19, wherein the ties have enlarged portions adjacent each end thereof having a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the middle portion.