US 11,757,320 B2
Electric motor rotor discharge protection
Scott Michael Graves, Felton, CA (US); Diego Alberto Silva Rodriguez, Cupertino, CA (US); Tyler Nils Grendahl, Waltham, MA (US); and Alexander Hain, Frankfurt Höchst (DE)
Assigned to Tesla, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed by Tesla, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/444,507.
Application 17/444,507 is a division of application No. 15/827,363, filed on Nov. 30, 2017, granted, now 11,088,582.
Application 15/827,363 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2017/036300, filed on Jun. 7, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/346,741, filed on Jun. 7, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0367467 A1, Nov. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. H02K 1/32 (2006.01); H02K 5/173 (2006.01); H02K 7/08 (2006.01); H02K 11/40 (2016.01); H02K 9/193 (2006.01); H02K 9/197 (2006.01); H02K 1/16 (2006.01); H02K 1/274 (2022.01); H02K 3/12 (2006.01); H02K 5/16 (2006.01); H02K 11/00 (2016.01)
CPC H02K 1/32 (2013.01) [H02K 1/16 (2013.01); H02K 1/274 (2013.01); H02K 3/12 (2013.01); H02K 5/16 (2013.01); H02K 5/1732 (2013.01); H02K 7/083 (2013.01); H02K 9/193 (2013.01); H02K 9/197 (2013.01); H02K 11/40 (2016.01); H02K 11/00 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric motor comprising:
a case;
a stator having stator windings coupled to the case;
a rotor having a rotor shaft;
at least one main rotor bearing coupling the rotor shaft to the case; and
a rotor discharge brush coupled between the case and the rotor shaft along the longitudinal axis of the rotor shaft, wherein the rotor discharge brush comprises:
a first portion in contact with the rotor shaft; and
a second portion connected between the first portion and the case,
and wherein the first portion has first diameter and the second portion has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter.