Molded flywheel magnet cage

[0002] The present invention is a continuation and claims the priority of allowed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/468,582 to Noble et al. entitled “Molded Flywheel Magnet Cage” filed Dec. 21, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,271.

[0003] This invention relates generally to the field of marine propulsion, and more particularly to an electrical generator for a marine engine, and specifically to a device and method for attaching magnets to the flywheel of a marine engine electrical generator.

[0004] It is known to generate electricity by moving a permanent magnet past a stator coil. In the field of marine engines, it is known to attach a plurality of permanent magnets to an inside diameter surface of the flywheel of an engine, and to install a stator proximate the inside diameter surface in order to induce an electrical current in the stator as the magnets are rotated past the stator by the revolution of the flywheel. Such magnets may be attached to the flywheel in a variety of ways. For example, it is known to glue magnets to a flywheel. An adhesive such as an epoxy glue is applied to a magnet and/or flywheel, and the magnet is pressed against the surface of the flywheel while the adhesive hardens. This method leaves the magnet exposed and subject to damage during handling of the flywheel. In addition, corrosion behind the magnets may reduce the bond strength. Alternatively, a magnet may be retained against a flywheel by a metal retaining plate, which in turn, is attached to the flywheel with fasteners. While the retaining plate serves as a protective shield for the magnets, the additional thickness of the plate increases the gap between the magnets and the stator, thereby decreasing the efficiency of the electrical generator.

[0005] It is also known to mold a cage around magnets attached to an inside diameter surface of a flywheel. Such a cage forms a protective ring of plastic, fiberglass reinforced nlyon, or other molding material to completely enclose the magnets. A thin metal shim stock is positioned around the inside surface of the flywheel to define the volume of the cage, and liquid molding material is introduced into the volume to surround the magnets. Once hardened, the molding material forms a protective ring encircling the magnets. Similar to the metal retaining plate design described above, however, this design disposes a metal shim stock between the magnets and the stator. Furthermore, the flexibility of the shim stock may cause the inside diameter of the protective ring to be uneven, thereby necessitating an undesirable increase in the design gap between the magnets and the stator.

[0006] What is needed is a method and apparatus for retaining magnets on a flywheel that provides protection for and mechanical retention of the magnets without necessitating the need for an increase in the gap between the magnets and the stator.

[0007] An improved flywheel is disclosed herein having: a disk portion; a rim portion attached to the disk portion and having an inside diameter surface; a depression formed in the surface of at least one of the disk portion and the rim portion; a magnet attached to the inside diameter surface; and a cage in contact with a magnet and extending into the depression. The flywheel is further described as having an injection molding shutoff surface formed on at least one of the disk portion and the rim portion of the flywheel proximate an edge of the cage. The injection molding shutoff surface is formed to mate with a male portion of a die during an injection molding process. The depression formed in the flywheel may be a groove formed in the rim portion or the disk portion. The portion of the cage extending into the groove(s) resists the shrinkage of the cage as it cools following the injection molding process, thereby assuring precise control of the cage inside diameter. To further minimize the gap between the magnets and the stator of an electrical generator incorporating this invention, the magnets may be attached to the inside diameter surface of the flywheel by a process that includes the steps of: forming a smooth inside diameter surface on the flywheel; forming a smooth inside diameter surface and opposed smooth outside diameter surface on the magnet; applying adhesive to at least on the magnet outside diameter surface and the flywheel inside diameter surface; pressing the magnet outside diameter surface against the flywheel inside diameter surface with the adhesive therebetween; and holding the magnet inside diameter surface at a predetermined diametrical position while the adhesive hardens.

[0008] The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when read with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a marine engine incorporating a flywheel electrical generator in accordance with the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a flywheel having a cage formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a flywheel and stator of an electrical generator in accordance with the present invention taken at a section through an attached magnet.

[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 3 as seen at a cross-section between adjacent magnets taken at a section between adjacent attached magnets.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a top view of a flywheel in accordance with the present invention with a partial cutout view illustrating bevels formed in the magnets and cage.

[0014] Identical components illustrated in more than one Figure are numbered consistently in each Figure.

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a marine engine 10 attached to the transom 12 of a watercraft. The marine engine 10 has a power unit 14, typically an internal combustion engine. The power unit 14 is connected by shaft 16 to propeller 18. A flywheel 20 is also connected by shaft 16 to power unit 14 for rotation about its axis during the operation of the marine engine 10. One or more magnets are connected to the flywheel 20 for rotation around a stator (not shown) as will be more fully described below.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a prospective view of the flywheel 20 of FIG. 1. Flywheel 20 includes a disk portion 22 having a hole 24 formed through a central axis thereof for the passage of shaft 16. Flywheel 20 also has a rim portion 26 attached to the disk portion 22 and having an inside diameter surface 28. Disposed against the inside diameter surface 28 is a cage 30 formed to be concentric with the inside diameter surface 28. Disposed within cage 30 are a plurality of magnets (not shown) attached to the inside diameter surface 28 and spaced equally around the circumference of the inside diameter surface 28.

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of flywheel 20 and the adjacent stator 32 as they may be positioned during the operation of the marine engine 10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section through one of the plurality of magnets 34 disposed around the inside diameter surface 28 of flywheel 20. Rim portion 26 is shown attached to and formed integral with disk portion 22. Magnet 34 is attached to the inside diameter surface 28 of rim portion 26 with a thin layer of adhesive 35 therebetween. Cage 30 can be seen as consisting of a top portion 30A disposed above the magnet 34 and bottom portion 30B disposed below magnet 34. Cage 30 is separated from stator 32 by gap 44.

[0018] A second cross-section of the same flywheel 20 and stator 32 taken at a second cross-section between adjacent magnets 34 is illustrated in FIG. 4. In this figure, it can be appreciated that the cage 30 includes not only the top portion 30A and bottom portion 30B, but also a middle portion 30C formed along the circumference of the inside diameter 28 between adjacent magnets 34.

[0019] The flywheel 20 of FIGS. 3 and 4 may be manufactured by first forming a flywheel blank having the general shape of the flywheel disk 22 and rim portion 26. The inside diameter surface 28 is then machined to be smooth and concentric about a central axis formed through the center of hole 24. A lower injection molding shutoff surface 36 is then machined as a smooth top surface of the disk portion 22. Similarly, an upper injection molding shutoff surface 38 is machined as a smooth top surface of rim portion 26. As will be described more fully below, these shutoff surfaces 36, 38 are formed to function as a female portion of a die to mate with a male portion of a die during an injection molding process used to form cage 30.

[0020] Once the flywheel blank has been formed to contain the features illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, magnets 34 may be attached to the inside diameter surface 28. The most common prior art technique of attaching such magnets 34 is by the use of glue or another adhesive. Adhesive was applied between the magnet 34 and flywheel inside diameter surface 28, and the magnet 34 was pressed against the flywheel with a predetermined amount of force. The prior art method resulting in an imprecise diametrical position of the magnet due to variations in the amount and location of the adhesive applied between the parts. The inventors have recognized that it is important to precisely locate the inside diameter surface 46 of magnet 34 in order to minimize gap 44. To achieve such a result, a smooth outside diameter surface 48 is first formed on the magnet 34 opposed a smooth inside diameter surface 46. The outside diameter surface 48 of magnet 34 is shaped to fit precisely with the inside diameter surface 28 of the rim portion 26 of the flywheel 20. A predetermined and controlled amount of adhesive is then applied to one or both of the mating surfaces. Magnet 34 is then pressed against the flywheel inside diameter surface 28 with the adhesive being spread therebetween. Unlike prior art processes where a predetermined force is applied to hold the magnet in place, the applicants have found it advantageous to hold the magnet inside diameter surface 46 at a predetermined diametrical position R (as shown in FIG. 5) relative to the axis of the flywheel 20 while the adhesive hardens. In this manner, gap 44 may be maintained with more precision, thereby allowing the design value for the gap 44 to be reduced when compared to prior art devices. An alternative method of controlling the diametrical position of the magnet is to precisely machine the inside diameter of the flywheel and the surfaces of the magnet, then to mix the adhesive with a plurality of very small diameter balls, for example balls ranging from 0.003-0.005 inches or some other predetermined size range. The magnet may then be forced against the flywheel as the adhesive hardens there between, and the distance between the magnet and the flywheel will be controlled by the diameter of the balls.

[0021] Once the flywheel blank has been formed to contain the features illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, magnets 34 may be attached to the inside diameter surface 28. The most common prior art technique of attaching such magnets 34 is by the use of glue or another adhesive. Adhesive was applied between the magnet 34 and flywheel inside diameter surface 28, and the magnet 34 was pressed against the flywheel with a predetermined amount of force. The prior art method resulting in an imprecise diametrical position of the magnet due to variations in the amount and location of the adhesive applied between the parts. The inventors have recognized that it is important to precisely locate the inside diameter surface 46 of magnet 34 in order to minimize gap 44. To achieve such a result, a smooth outside diameter surface 48 is first formed on the magnet 34 opposed a smooth inside diameter surface 46. The outside diameter surface 48 of magnet 34 is shaped to fit precisely with the inside diameter surface 28 of the rim portion 26 of the flywheel 20. A predetermined and controlled amount of adhesive is then applied to one or both of the mating surfaces. Magnet 34 is then pressed against the flywheel inside diameter surface 28 with the adhesive being spread therebetween. Unlike prior art processes where a predetermined force is applied to hold the magnet in place, the applicants have found it advantageous to hold the magnet inside diameter surface 46 at a predetermined diametrical position R relative to the axis of the flywheel 20 while the adhesive hardens. In this manner, gap 44 may be maintained with more precision, thereby allowing the design value for the gap 44 to be reduced when compared to prior art devices. An alternative method of controlling the diametrical position of the magnet is to precisely machine the inside diameter of the flywheel and the surfaces of the magnet, then to mix the adhesive with a plurality of very small diameter balls, for example balls ranging from 0.003-0.005 inches or some other predetermined size range. The magnet may then be forced against the flywheel as the adhesive hardens there between, and the distance between the magnet and the flywheel will be controlled by the diameter of the balls.

[0022] FIG. 4 also illustrates a hole 50 formed in the rim portion 26 of the flywheel 20. Cage 30 extends into hole 50. It may be appreciated that hole 50 is a second embodiment of a depression formed in the flywheel 20 into which cage 30 extends. The extension of cage 30 into hole 50 provides additional resistance against the rotational movement of cage 30 relative to flywheel inside diameter surface 28. One or more holes may also be used in lieu of or in combination with the grooves 40,42.

[0023] Case 30 is preferably formed using an injection molding technique. The applicants have found that by maintaining tight tolerance on selected surfaces of the flywheel 20, the flywheel itself may be used as the female portion of a die for the injection molding process. Specifically, shutoff surfaces 36, 38 may be formed to be flat surfaces having tolerances comparable to those used for a female mold, as are known in the art. Similarly, the opposed surfaces 46, 48 of the magnet 34 and the inside diameter surface 28 may be controlled to precise dimensions. In this manner, a die may be placed to come in contact with surfaces 36, 38 to define an injection volume for cage 30. The die may be placed a predetermined distance away from the inside diameter surface 46 of magnet 34 in order to form a predetermined thickness of the cage 30 over surface 46. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the die may be designed to be essentially flush with surface 46 so that there is no flashover of cage material onto surface 46 during the injection molding process. Such a design allows gap 44 between the magnet 34 and the stator 32 to be as small as possible. Cage 30 is then formed by injecting a thermal setting plastic into the injection volume and allowing the plastic to cool to a solid state. The male portion of the die may then be removed and the cage 30 and flywheel blank allowed to cool to room temperature. During this cooling process, the material of cage 30 will tend to shrink as it cools. Such shrinkage of a ring member tends to decrease the radius R of the inside diameter of the cage 30. Such shrinkage is undesirable because it adversely affects the precision to which gap 44 can be maintained. By allowing cage 30 to extend into grooves 40, 42 formed in respective top surfaces of the flywheel 20, the respective lower portion 30B and upper portion 30A of cage 30 is restrained from such diametrical shrinkage. The term “top surface” as used herein refers to a surface perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the flywheel, such as surfaces 36, 38 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Note that the center section 30C of cage 30 is not restrained by such a notch. However, the shrinkage in this area will cause the cage 30 to increase its radius due to the shrinkage of the material between adjacent magnets 34. Thus, the gap 44 may tend to be slightly wider adjacent the center section 30C of cage 30. Such variation does not increase the risk of contact between stator 32 and flywheel 20, and therefore it is non-problematical. However, the shrinkage in this area will cause the cage 30 to increase its radius due to the shrinkage of the material between adjacent magnets 34. Thus, the gap 44 may tend to be slightly wider adjacent the center section 30C of cage 30. Such variation does not increase the risk of contact between stator 32 and flywheel 20, and therefore it is non-problematical.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a top view of flywheel 20 with a portion of the rim portion 26 removed in order to illustrate the cross-sectional shape of magnets 34. Magnets 34 are formed to have a beveled edge 54, and the cage 30 is thereby formed to have a beveled surface 52 in contact with the beveled edge 54. This wedge shape acts to provide additional restraint against the movement of the magnets 34 towards the center axis of flywheel 20. These bevels 52, 54 will hold the magnet 34 in place in the event that the adhesive bond fails or weakens.

[0025] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those of skill in the art without departing from the invention herein. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and the scope of the appended claims.