US-12620878-B2 - Method for stator alignment to the motor housing

US12620878B2US 12620878 B2US12620878 B2US 12620878B2US-12620878-B2

Abstract

A method of installing a stator and a motor housing includes inserting a stator into a motor housing, the motor housing having a shaft bore and a plurality first bolt holes end of the state are having a bore opening and a plurality of second bolt holes. A centering fixture is inserted into the shaft bore of the housing and into the bore opening, the centering fixture includes a first centering device received into the shaft bore and a second centering device received into the bore opening of the stator. A locating plate is secured to the motor housing and engaged with the centering fixture. The first centering devices actuated for centering the centering fixture relative to the shaft and the second centering device is actuated for centering the state are relative to the shaft board. The plurality of bolts are tightened to secure the stator to the motor housing.

Inventors

John S. Agapiou
Timothy M. Wilson

Assignees

GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220812

Claims (12)

1 . A method of installing a stator in a motor housing, comprising: inserting a stator into a motor housing, the motor housing having a mounting flange, a shaft bore and a plurality of first bolt holes and the stator having a bore opening and a plurality of second bolt holes; loosely inserting a plurality of bolts into corresponding ones of the first bolt holes and the second bolt holes; inserting a centering fixture into the shaft bore of the housing and into the bore opening of the stator, the centering fixture including a first centering device received into the shaft bore and a second centering device received into the bore opening of the stator; securing a locating plate to the motor housing and engaged with the centering fixture; actuating the first centering device, for centering the centering fixture relative to the shaft bore; actuating the second centering device, for centering the stator relative to the shaft bore; and tightening the plurality of bolts to secure the stator to the motor housing.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the centering fixture further includes a third centering device that is received in an aperture in the locating plate.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the locating plate includes at least one locating dowel for engagement with a corresponding guide hole of the motor housing to properly align a bearing bore in the housing with a bearing bore in the cover plate.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the securing the locating plate to the motor housing includes securing the locating plate to the mounting flange of the motor housing.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the locating plate includes open regions that allow access to the plurality of bolts.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first centering device and the second centering device of the centering fixture includes a hydraulic actuated centering device.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the centering fixture is fixed to the locating plate.
8 . A method of installing a stator in a motor housing, comprising: inserting a stator into a motor housing, the motor housing having a mounting flange, a shaft bore and a plurality of first bolt holes and the stator having a bore opening and a plurality of second bolt holes; loosely inserting a plurality of bolts into corresponding ones of the first bolt holes and the second bolt holes; inserting a centering fixture into the shaft bore of the housing and into the bore opening of the stator, the centering fixture including a first centering device received into the shaft bore and a second centering device received into the bore opening of the stator; securing a locating plate to the motor housing and engaged with the centering fixture, the locating plate having a bore that receives a third centering device of the centering fixture; actuating the first centering device, for centering the centering fixture relative to the shaft bore; actuating the third centering device, for centering the centering fixture relative to the bore of the locating plate; actuating the second centering device, for centering the stator relative to the shaft bore and the bore of the locating plate; and tightening the plurality of bolts to secure the stator to the motor housing.
9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the locating plate includes at least one locating dowel for engagement with a corresponding guide hole of the motor housing.
10 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the securing the locating plate to the motor housing includes securing the locating plate to the mounting flange of the motor housing.
11 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the locating plate includes open regions that allow access to the plurality of bolts.
12 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the first centering device, the second centering device and the third centering device of the centering fixture each include a hydraulic actuated centering device.

Description

INTRODUCTION The information provided in this section is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. The present disclosure relates to a method of assembling a motor and more particularly to a method of aligning a stator to a motor housing. In some motor constructions, a stator is shrink fit within a bore of a motor housing. With this construction, it is difficult to maintenance and repair the motor. In other constructions, a stator is bolted within the motor housing and allows for easier maintenance and repair of the motor. Although the motor housing and stator can be manufactured with tight tolerances, it is still difficult to assemble the stator to be properly located with precision. A precise location of the stator allows for an improved air gap between the rotor and stator for optimal motor performance. SUMMARY A method of installing a stator in a motor housing includes inserting a stator into a motor housing, the motor housing having a shaft bore and a plurality of first bolt holes and the stator having a bore opening and a plurality of second bolt holes. A centering fixture is inserted into the shaft bore of the housing and into the bore opening of the stator. The centering fixture includes a first centering device received into the shaft bore and a second centering device received into the bore opening of the stator. A locating plate is secured to the motor housing and engaged with the centering fixture. The first centering device is actuated for centering the centering fixture relative to the shaft bore and the second centering device is actuated for centering the stator relative to the shaft bore. The plurality of bolts are tightened to secure the stator to the motor housing. According to a further aspect, the centering fixture further includes a third centering device that is received in an aperture in the locating plate. According to another aspect, the locating plate includes at least one locating dowel for engagement with a corresponding guide hole of the motor housing. According to yet another aspect, securing the locating plate to the motor housing includes securing the locating plate to the mounting flange of the motor housing. According to yet another aspect, the locating plate includes open regions that allow access to the plurality of bolts. According to still another aspect, the first centering device and the second centering device of the centering fixture includes a hydraulic actuated centering device. According to a further aspect, the centering fixture is fixed to the locating plate. According to a further aspect, a centering fixture for aligning a stator with a motor housing includes a first centering sleeve actuatable to expand radially outward; a second centering sleeve adjacent to the first centering sleeve and actuatable to expand radially outward; and a third centering sleeve adjacent to the second centering sleeve and actuatable to expand radially outward. Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims and the drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an example centering fixture and fixture plate used for installing a stator and a motor housing according to the principles of the present disclosure; FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the example centering fixture and fixture plate shown in FIG. 1a; FIG. 2A is a side plan view of a body of the centering fixture; FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a body of the centering fixture; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a collet of the centering fixture; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cap of the centering fixture; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another cap of the centering fixture; FIG. 6A is a plan view of a small collet of the centering fixture; FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the small collet of the centering fixture; FIG. 7A is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a rod of the centering fixture; FIG. 7B is a second cross-sectional view of the rod of the centering fixture FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a lower shaft of the centering fixture; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an upper shaft of the centering fixture; FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of a large piston of the centering fixture; FIG. 11 is a plan view of a plug of the centering fixture; FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of still another cap of the centeri