Method and apparatus for correcting motor imbalance

Abstract

A blower assembly includes a motor including a shaft extending therefrom and a blower wheel including a hub. The blower wheel is attached to the motor shaft. A first slot extends through the hub and a second slot extends through the hub. The first slot is angularly displaced around the hub about 180 ° from the second slot.

1 . A blower wheel hub for connecting to a motor shaft, said hub comprising: 
 a body; and    a first threaded slot extending through said body and a second threaded slot extending through said body, said first slot angularly displaced around said body about 180° from said second slot.    
     
     
         2 . A blower wheel hub in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first and second slots are configured to threadably receive a set screw.  
     
     
         3 . A blower wheel hub in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said slots are substantially the same size.  
     
     
         4 . A blower assembly comprising: 
 a motor comprising a shaft extending therefrom;    a blower wheel comprising a hub, said blower wheel attached to said motor shaft; and    a first slot extending through said hub and a second slot extending through said hub, said first slot angularly displaced around said hub about 180° from said second slot.    
     
     
         5 . A blower assembly in accordance with  claim 4  wherein said shaft comprises a flat.  
     
     
         6 . A blower assembly in accordance with  claim 4  wherein said first and second slots are configured to threadably receive a set screw.  
     
     
         7 . A blower assembly in accordance with  claim 5  wherein said hub is aligned on said shaft such that a set screw positioned within said first slot contacts said flat and secures said hub to said shaft.  
     
     
         8 . A blower assembly in accordance with  claim 5  wherein said hub is aligned on said shaft such that a set screw positioned within said second slot contacts said flat and secures said hub to said shaft.  
     
     
         9 . A residential furnace system comprising: 
 a furnace;    a blower assembly positioned within said furnace, said blower assembly comprising: 
 a motor comprising a shaft extending therefrom;  
 a blower wheel comprising a hub, said blower wheel attached to said motor shaft;  
 a pair of slots extending through said hub and angularly displaced around said hub about 180° apart.  
   
     
     
         10 . A furnace system in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said shaft comprises a flat.  
     
     
         11 . A furnace system in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said pair of slots comprises a first slot and a second slot, each said slot configured to threadably receive a set screw.  
     
     
         12 . A furnace system in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said hub is aligned on said shaft such that a set screw positioned within said first slot contacts said flat and secures said hub to said shaft.  
     
     
         13 . A furnace system in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said hub is aligned on said shaft such that a set screw positioned within said second slot contacts said flat and secures said hub to said shaft.  
     
     
         14 . A furnace system in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said first slot and said second slot are substantially the same size.  
     
     
         15 . A method for correcting imbalance in a blower assembly including a motor and a blower wheel, the motor including a shaft extending therefrom and configured to engage the blower wheel, said method comprising: 
 disengaging the blower wheel from the shaft;    rotating the blower wheel 180°; and    engaging the blower wheel with the shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the blower wheel.    
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the blower assembly further includes a set screw and the blower wheel includes a blower wheel hub, the blower wheel hub including first and second slots angularly spaced about 180° from each other, the motor shaft including a flat, the blower wheel first and second slots configured to threadably receive the set screw, said step of disengaging the blower wheel from the motor shaft comprises threadably removing the set screw from the first slot.  
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the blower assembly further includes a set screw and the blower wheel includes a blower wheel hub, the blower wheel hub including first and second slots angularly spaced about 180° from each other, the motor shaft including a flat, the blower wheel first and second slots configured to threadably receive the set screw, said step of engaging the blower wheel with the motor shaft comprises: 
 positioning the blower wheel on the shaft such that the second slot is aligned with the shaft flat; and  
 threadably engaging the set screw with the second slot such that the set screw contacts the motor shaft flat thereby securing the blower wheel to the motor shaft.