Motor with Integrated Drive Unit and Shared Cooling Fan

Abstract

An integrated motor and drive assembly includes a motor, a fan, and a drive unit. The motor is responsive to at least one drive signal. The fan is axially aligned with the motor and operable to generate a cooling flow. The drive unit is axially aligned with the fan and operable to generate the drive signal. The cooling flow traverses the motor and the drive unit.

1 . An assembly, comprising:
 a motor responsive to at least one drive signal;   a fan axially aligned with the motor and operable to generate a cooling flow; and   a drive unit axially aligned with the fan and operable to generate the drive signal, the fan being disposed between the motor and the drive unit, the cooling flow traversing the motor and the drive unit.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor includes a shaft, and the fan is mounted to the shaft. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the drive unit is axially aligned with the shaft. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive enclosure defining a drive cavity mounted to the motor, the drive unit being disposed at least partially within the drive cavity. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one vent defined in the drive enclosure communicating with the drive cavity. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the drive unit includes at least one of a display and a control, and the drive enclosure defines a window communicating with the drive cavity to expose at least a portion of the drive unit proximate the one of the at least one of the display and the control. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a fan shroud mounted to the motor and defining a fan cavity enclosing at least a portion of the fan and further defining at least one opening communicating with the fan cavity, wherein the drive unit is mounted to the fan shroud proximate the opening. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising: a fan shroud mounted to the motor and defining a fan cavity, the fan being at least partially disposed within the fan cavity; and a mounting bracket mounted to fan shroud, wherein the drive unit and the drive enclosure are mounted to the mounting bracket, and the fan shroud and mounting bracket each include at least one opening proximate the drive unit, the openings communicating between the fan cavity and the drive cavity. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a body member and at least one tab extending from the body member, the drive unit being mounted to the body member, and the drive enclosure being mounted to the tab. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling flow comprises intake flow upstream of the fan and exhaust flow downstream of the fan, the intake flow traversing the drive unit and the exhaust flow traversing the motor. 
   
   
       11 . An assembly, comprising:
 a motor responsive to at least one drive signal;   a fan operable to generate a cooling flow including an intake component and an exhaust component; and   a drive unit operable to generate the drive signal, wherein one of the intake component and the exhaust component traverses the drive unit and the other of the intake component and the exhaust component traverses the motor.