MXPA06011571A - Motor installation system - Google Patents

Abstract

An installation system for use with a motor comprising a motor base coupled to the motor and having a first aperture through the motor base, and a first post coupled to a support structure and configured to cooperate with the first aperture, wherein the first post is configured to temporarily support the motor while the motor is removably coupled to the support structure. The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing the motor installation system.

Description

MOTOR INSTALLATION SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed, in general, to a system for attaching a motor to a support structure and, more specifically to a system for initially locating and supporting a motor on a support bar such that the installer has both hands free to secure the mounting / adjustment screws and nuts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electric motors are used in many applications to power machinery or other devices. It is not unusual to find heavy electric motors that, in order to install them, require the installer to support the motor at approximately the final location while the mounting screws are inserted through slots in a motor support base and into or through a structure. of assembly which is part of a motor drive device, for example, air conditioning unit. The locknuts are then attached to the mounting bolts, the mounting bolts and nuts are tightened to the point where the alignment of the engine to the drive machinery can be achieved and then the nuts are tightened to securely hold the engine in place. its place. Frequently these engines, such as to provide power to large air-conditioning installations, are quite heavy, requiring the installer to use both hands to position the engine and execute an "air swing act" to insert the screws and fix the nuts . Engine failure requires a similar swinging act in the air to disassemble the engine and install a new one. Losing a handle on a heavy engine can be both painful and dangerous. Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a motor mounting system that does not suffer from the deficiencies of the prior art and frees the installer's hands from the weight of the motor when the mounting bolts and nuts are inserted and coupled, while still allow final alignment of the motor with the drive machinery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION To address the deficiencies discussed above of the prior art, the present invention provides an installation system for use with an engine comprising: a motor base coupled to the motor and having a first opening through the base of the motor, and a first pole assembled to a support structure and configured to cooperate with the first opening, wherein the first post is configured to temporarily support the motor while the motor is removably coupled to the support structure.

The foregoing has described the preferred and alternative features of the present invention such that those skilled in the art can better understand the following detailed description of the invention. Next, additional features of the invention forming the subject of the claims of the invention will be described. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the described concept and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures to accomplish the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also understand that such equivalent constructions do not deviate from the spirit and scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in combination with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1A illustrates an isometric view of an embodiment of an engine installation system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; FIGURE 1 B illustrates a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the elongated openings of FIGURE 1A; FIGURE 2A illustrates an end view of an embodiment, having a circular cross-section, of the posts of FIGURE 1A; FIGURE 2B illustrates a partial cross-sectional view, along a plane 2-2 of FIGURE 1A, of an embodiment of a post installed in the support structure; FIGURE 2C illustrates a partial cross-sectional view, along a plane 2-2 of FIGURE 1A, of a second embodiment of a post installed in the support structure; FIGURE 2D illustrates a partial cross-sectional view, along a plane 2-2 of FIGURE 1A, of a third embodiment of a post installed in the support structure; FIGURE 2E illustrates a profile view of a fourth embodiment of a post having a head flange. FIGURE 3 illustrates an exploded top plan view of the engine installation system of FIGURE 1A just prior to the placement of the engine with base on the posts; FIGURE 4 illustrates a partial, isometric view of the motor and motor base installed on the poles; FIGURE 5 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the motor and motor base along plane 5-5 of FIGURE 4; FIGURE 6 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the motor base and support structure along plane 6-6 of FIGURE 4; and FIGURE 7 illustrates an isometric view of the motor and motor base installed on the support structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring initially to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an isometric view of one embodiment of an engine installation system 100 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is illustrated. The motor installation system 100 comprises a motor base 110 coupled to a motor 120, and the first and second posts 131, 132, (collectively: posts 130), coupled to a support structure 140. The motor base 110 can to be coupled to the motor 120 by any conventional means, that is, welded, secured with straps, secured with keys, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the motor base 110 can be a conventional motor base having a plurality of elongated openings 150, each elongated opening 150 having an opening length 151 and an opening width 152. The elongated openings 150 can have a shape ovate oblate, that is, track, or a rectangular shape 155 as shown in FIGURE 1 B. For the purposes of this discussion, the support structure 140 may be the frame of an air conditioning unit (not shown) or another electric device powered by motor. A person skilled in the art will readily list a significant number of other motor-driven electrical devices that could benefit from the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the elongate openings 150 allow some vertical and lateral adjustment of the position of the motor 120 with respect to the support structure for aligning a drive belt (not shown) to the drive assembly. The support structure 140 further comprises mounting screw openings 160 therethrough. In one embodiment, the mounting screw openings 160 are threadless to receive the mounting screws 170 through them and to be secured to the nuts 171. In an alternative embodiment, the mounting screw openings 160 are internally threaded to receive and cooperate with the mounting screws 170. In yet another embodiment, the mounting screw openings 160 have retaining nuts glued, for example, welded, onto a rear face 141 of the support structure 140. A person skilled in the art of The technique will conceive other screw / nut fastening systems suitable for mounting the motor 120. Referring now to FIGS. 2A to 2E. FIGURE 2A It illustrates an end view of a modality, having a circular cross-section, of the posts 130 of FIGURE 1A. FIGURES 2B, 2C and 2D are partial cross-sectional views of three alternative embodiments of posts 130 installed in support structure 140 along a plane 2-2 of FIGURE 1A. In a preferred embodiment the posts 130 may be pivot screws 130 as in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2E. The posts 130 comprise a circular head 201 having an optional recess 202 in it (FIGURES 2A and 2B), a body 203, a threaded portion 204 and an edge 205. The screw with edge 130 so-called because it has the edge 205 that it prevents the body 203 from passing through a non-threaded opening of appropriate size 210 in the support structure 140. FIGURE 2C is that of a screw with threaded edge directly into the support structure 140. In this embodiment, the screw with edge can be coupled with a threaded opening in the support structure 140. In an alternative of this embodiment, the edge screw can be a self-tapping screw to be coupled directly into a non-threaded opening in the support structure 140. FIGURE 2D illustrates a third embodiment that can be molded from an appropriate material, for example, a steel machine, and then welded or riveted 220 instead. Alternatively, FIGURE 2E illustrates an edge screw 130 having a raised edge head 231 suitable to be driven with a conventional hexagonal socket wrench or similar tool. In a preferred embodiment, recess 202 is configured to accept a hex key, often called by its original name: an Alien key, which was a trademark of Alien Manufacturing Company of Hartford, CT. The recess 202 in combination with a hexagonal socket wrench can screw the edge screw 130 into a threaded opening 212 or alternatively hold the edge screw 130 in place while a nut 206 is fixed and tightened to the threaded portion 204. The head 201 has a head diameter 211 while the body 203 has a body diameter 213 that is smaller than the diameter of the head 211. Referring now to FIGURE 3, an exploded top plan view of the system is illustrated. motor installation 100 of FIGURE 1 A just prior to the placement of motor 110 with base 110 on posts 130. Although the present invention is directed to the installation of a vertical-axis motor, a person skilled in the art will recognize that Horizontal or even angled installations can similarly easily use the present invention. The posts 130 are spaced along the support structure 140 by an inter-post distance 310 measured between the proximal ends of the two heads of the post 201. This post-end distance 310 is slightly greater than a distance from the post. nter-opening 310 measured between the proximal ends of the two elongated openings 150. The head diameter 211 is slightly smaller than the opening width 152. This ratio of the nter-post distance 310 and the nter-opening distance 320, together with the head diameter 211 being slightly smaller than the opening width 152, it allows the motor base 110 to slide easily over the posts 130. In addition, the length of the body 223 of the posts 130 is slightly greater than a thickness of the base 330 in the openings 150. This ratio of the length of the body 223 and the thickness of the base 330 allows the motor base 110 to slide easily over the heads 201 of the posts 130 and then rest on the bodies 203 of the poles 130. The head thickness 221 and the diameter of the body 213 must be sufficient to support, at least temporarily, the weight of the motor 120 and the motor base 110 during installation. Referring now to FIGURE 4, a partial, cutaway view of the motor 120 and motor base 110 installed on the posts 130 is illustrated. The screws 170 are aligned for installation through elongate openings 150 and within the openings. for mounting screw 160. When the motor base 110 has been placed on the posts 130, the posts 130 temporarily support all the weight of the motor 120 and the motor base 110 while the installer obtains the mounting screws 170 and mounting nuts 171. With the motor base 110 on the posts 130, the first and second openings are substantially aligned with the openings of the mounting screw 160, respectively. Referring now to FIGURE 5, a partial cross-sectional view of the motor 120 and motor base 110 is illustrated along the plane 5-5 of FIGURE 4. The plane 5-5 of the section passes vertically through one of the posts 130 and one of the elongate openings 150. As can be seen, the diameter of the head of the post 211 is slightly smaller than the width of the opening 152, thereby allowing the head of the post 201 to pass through. of this one In FIGURE 5, the weight W of the motor 120 and the motor base 110 are supported on the body 203 of the posts 130. The pole heads 201 prevent the motor 120 from falling out of the posts 130. The thickness of the base 330 is less than the length 223 of the body of the post 203. The posts 130 keep the motor 120 approximately positioned with respect to the intended drive machinery, for example a fan blade (not shown). With reference now to FIGURE 6, a partial cross-sectional view of the motor base 110 and support structure 140 is illustrated along the plane 6-6 of FIGURE 4. The plane 6-6 of the section passes horizontally through the posts 130 and the elongated openings 150. The elongated coupled openings 651, 652 have nearer ends 653, 654, respectively and distal ends 655, 656, respectively. The nter-opening distance 320 between the closest ends 653, 654 is slightly less than the nter-post distance 310, allowing the motor base 110 to be placed on the poles 130. The poles 130 are placed close to the ends closer 653, 654 of the coupled elongated openings 651, 652. The distal ends 655, 656 of the elongated coupled openings 651, 652 are therefore available to allow mounting screws 170 to pass therethrough. Referring now to FIGURE 7, a somatic view of the motor 120 and motor base 110 installed on the support structure 140 is illustrated. Once the mounting screws 170 and the nuts 171 are engaged, the nuts 171 can be tightened to the point where the motor base 110 can be slid to align the motor pulley 710 and the drive belt 720 with a pulley 730 coupled to the drive machinery, eg, a fan blade (not shown) ). A person skilled in the art will understand how this is executed. When the pulley of the motor 710 and drive belt 720 are properly aligned, the mounting screws 170 and the nuts 171 are tightened such that a substantial portion of the weight W of the motor 120 and motor base 110 is carried by the mounting screws 170 and nuts 171 through support structure 140. Posts 130 may, in the course of alignment of pulleys 710, 730 and drive belt 720 make contact with a portion of elongate openings 150, but any portion of the weight W of the motor 120 and motor base 110 carried by the negligible post (s) 130 with the substantial portion of the weight W carried by the mounting screws 170 and nuts 171. A person skilled in the art will understand that the posts 130 of the system 100 They will similarly assist the technician when disassembling the motor 120 and the motor base 110. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the flat washers, lock washers, retaining nuts, etc. RCA with shoulder and other similar accessories can be effectively used, as necessary, with both posts 130 and mounting screws 170. Thus, a motor mounting system for use with a motor has been described that allows an installer to temporarily position a heavy engine while obtaining and installing mounting screws and nuts that will support the most significant portion of the engine's weight at the end. Although the present invention has been described in detail, those skilled in the art will understand that they can make various changes, substitutions and alterations therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

Claims (10)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - An installation system, for use with an engine, comprising: a motor base coupled to a motor, the motor base having a first opening therethrough; and a first post coupled to a support structure and configured to cooperate with the first opening, the first post configured to temporarily support the motor while the motor is removably coupled to the support structure.

2. The installation system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the first opening has a track shape or a rectangular shape and having a length and a width.

3. The installation system according to claim 2, further characterized in that the first post has a body portion and a head portion, the head portion having a head diameter smaller than the width of the first opening.

4. The installation system according to claim 3, further characterized in that the head portion has a circular cross section.

5. - The installation system according to claim 3, further characterized in that the body portion has a body diameter smaller than the diameter of the head.

6. - The installation system according to claim 3, further characterized in that the body portion has a body length and the base of the motor has a base thickness and wherein the length of the body is longer than the thickness of the base . 7.- The installation system in accordance with the

Claim 1, further characterized in that the support structure has a mounting screw opening therethrough and wherein the first opening substantially aligns with the opening of the mounting screw when the first post cooperates with the first opening. 8.- The installation system in accordance with the

Claim 7, further characterized in that it comprises a mounting screw extending through the first opening and the opening of the mounting screw for receiving a mounting nut thereon, the mounting screw supporting a substantial weight of the motor base and the motor on the support structure when the mounting nut is securely attached to the mounting screw.

9. The installation system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the motor base has a second opening through it and the support structure has a second post on it configured to cooperate with the second opening, the posts first and second configured to temporarily support the motor while the motor is removably coupled to the support structure.

10. - The installation system according to claim 1, further characterized in that the first post is a screw with edge. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An installation system for use with an engine comprising a motor base coupled to the motor and having a first opening through the base of the motor, and a first pole coupled to a support structure and configured to cooperate with the first opening, in wherein the first post is configured to temporarily support the motor while the motor is removably coupled to the support structure. 2G P06 / 1267 MOTOR INSTALLATION SYSTEM SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION An installation system for use with an engine comprising a motor base coupled to the motor and having a first opening through the base of the motor, and a first pole coupled to a support structure and configured to cooperate with the first opening, in wherein the first post is configured to temporarily support the motor while the motor is removably coupled to the support structure. The present invention also provides a method of producing the motor installation system.