US 12,320,420 B2
Gear motor with gearhead output shaft position feedback system
Navadeep Mettem, Downingtown, PA (US); Andrew Sharp, Ardmore, PA (US); and Jonathan Culp, Kennett Square, PA (US)
Assigned to American Precision Industries, Inc., West Chester, PA (US)
Filed by American Precision Industries, Inc., West Chester, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/539,397.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/387,973, filed on Dec. 19, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0200651 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. F16H 57/021 (2012.01); F16H 1/28 (2006.01); F16H 61/02 (2006.01); H02K 7/08 (2006.01); H02K 7/116 (2006.01); H02K 11/215 (2016.01); H02K 21/14 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 61/0202 (2013.01) [F16H 1/28 (2013.01); F16H 57/021 (2013.01); H02K 7/083 (2013.01); H02K 7/116 (2013.01); H02K 11/215 (2016.01); H02K 21/14 (2013.01); H02K 2207/03 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gear motor, comprising:
a motor including a housing including first and second endbells and a wall extending between the first and second endbells and defining a housing interior;
a stator disposed within the housing interior;
a rotor disposed within the housing interior and defining a tubular motor shaft extending through the first endbell of the housing, the motor shaft disposed about a rotational axis and defining a through bore;
a first bearing disposed within the first endbell and supporting the motor shaft;
a second bearing disposed within the second endbell and supporting the motor shaft; and,
a third bearing disposed within the second endbell;
a gearhead driven by the motor shaft and defining a gearhead output shaft coaxial with the motor shaft;
a rod having a first end coupled to the gearhead output shaft and extending through the through bore in the motor shaft;
a magnetized disc coupled to a second end of the rod opposite the first end of the rod; and,
a gearhead output shaft position sensor configured to generate gearhead output shaft position signals responsive to rotation of the magnetized disc
wherein the third bearing is configured to support the second end of the rod.