US 12,142,968 B2
Laminated spoked rotor with mechanical magnet retention
Jeffrey Scott Sherman, Creve Coeur, MO (US); Chetan O. Modi, Valley Park, MO (US); Steven R. Palmer, Highland, IL (US); Ryan M. Bastien, St. Charles, MO (US); Joey Mitchell Bomar, Glen Carbon, IL (US); Paul G. Michaels, St. Louis, MO (US); and Daniel E. Bailey, Ballwin, MO (US)
Assigned to Nidec Motor Corporation, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed by Nidec Motor Corporation, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed on Apr. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/194,745.
Application 18/194,745 is a continuation of application No. 17/167,873, filed on Feb. 4, 2021, granted, now 11,646,616.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/970,031, filed on Feb. 4, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0238843 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. H02K 1/276 (2022.01); H02K 1/28 (2006.01); H02K 1/30 (2006.01); H02K 15/03 (2006.01)
CPC H02K 1/2773 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotor assembly for an electric motor, said rotor assembly comprising:
a rotor core comprising a plurality of laminations stacked along a rotational axis of the electric motor, each of the plurality of laminations having a same shape,
said rotor core defining a plurality of radially extending magnet receiving slots extending axially through said rotor core,
each of said laminations comprising a central body portion and an outer body portion, said outer body portion substantially enclosing said central body portion; and
a plurality of magnets, each magnet received in a respective magnet receiving slot of the rotor core,
each of said laminations comprising a deflectable magnet retaining tab that extends radially outward from the central body portion into a corresponding one of the magnet receiving slots;
said magnet retaining tab engaging and being deflected by a corresponding one of the magnets to exert a reactive force against the corresponding one of the magnets.