GB2632675A

GB2632675A - A bearing mount and an electric motor

Info

Publication number: GB2632675A
Application number: GB2312509.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chung Kau Liu Michael; Kumar Mishra Animesh
Original assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Dyson Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2023-08-16
Filing date: 2023-08-16
Publication date: 2025-02-19
Also published as: GB202312509D0; WO2025037183A1

Abstract

Resilient bearing mount 12 having multiple deformable biasing arms 14 extending around its periphery, for mounting a bearing 124 within a housing 102. The spring arms 14 have two ends 22, 24 contacting the housing 102 and an intermediate bridging section 26 spaced apart the housing for mounting a bearing 118. First ends 22 of the spring arms 14 may connect to the mount 12, second end 24 may be a free end. The spring arms 14 may be integrally formed with the mount. Before mounting, the second end 24 may extend radially further than the first end 22 (fig 4). Three spring arms 14 may be evenly spaced. Notches 16 between spring arms may prevent movement of the bearing. Notches 20 may overlap the spring arms on the periphery. Each bridging section 28 may include a contact block 28 of high coefficient of friction. May be for electric motors of vacuum cleaners or hair care appliances.

Description

A BEARING MOUNT AND AN ELECTRIC MOTOR

BACKGROUND

There is a general desire to improve electric machines, such as electric motors, in a number of ways. For example, improvements may be desired in terms of size, weight, power density, manufacturing cost, efficiency, reliability, and noise.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a bearing mount for mounting a bearing within a housing, the bearing mount comprising: a plurality of biasing members spaced around a periphery of the bearing mount to define a channel for receiving the bearing, each biasing member comprising a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion intermediate the first end and the second end; wherein the first end and the second end of each biasing member are configured to contact the housing at respective first and second points such that the intermediate portion is unsupported by the housing between the first and second points, and the intermediate portion of each biasing member is configured to locate the bearing within the channel.

As the first end and the second end of each biasing member are configured to contact the housing at respective first and second points such that the intermediate portion is unsupported by the housing between the first and second points, and the intermediate portion is configured to locate the bearing within the channel, the biasing members may provide a consistent linear stiffness, whilst also enable the bearing to be centralised within the channel. In particular, as the first end and the second end of each biasing member are configured to contact the housing at respective first and second points such that the intermediate portion is unsupported by the housing between the first and second points, the intermediate portion of each biasing member may be able to move to accommodate the bearing. This may absorb any tolerances in the system, thereby enabling the bearing to be provided concentrically within the channel.

The bearing mount may also provide low radial stiffness, thereby allowing movement of a rotor assembly mounted within the bearing mount to overcome rotor-dynamic constraints that would be present if the rotor assembly were to be hard mounted (high stiffness) directly to the housing.

The housing may comprise a housing of an electric motor, for example such that the bearing mount comprises a bearing mount for mounting the bearing within a housing of an electric motor.

The plurality of biasing members may be configured such that a bearing can be located substantially centrally within the channel, for example with a central axis of the bearing substantially coaxial with a central axis of the channel. The plurality of biasing members may be configured to provide a radial stiffness of less than about SOON/mm. Each biasing member may be substantially linear in form, for example linear in form between the first end and the second end.

The biasing members may be resilient, for example formed of a resiliently deformable material. This may aid with enabling the bearing to be provided concentrically within the channel, and may allow for deflection of a bearing in use whilst enabling the bearing to return to a concentric position within the channel.

The bearing mount may comprise a main body, the first end of each biasing member may be connected to the main body, and the second end of each biasing member may be free from the main body. This may enable the second end to move relative to the first end, for example in a radial direction.

The main body and the plurality of biasing members may be integrally formed, for example integrally formed as a monolithic structure from a same piece of material. This may provide a relatively simple structure and may provide a reduced risk of failure compared to, for example, a bearing mount formed of multiple discrete component parts. This may also provide for ease of manufacture compared to, for example, having to assemble multiple component parts.

The bearing mount may be formed from sheet metal, for example steel, that is shaped to define the main body and the plurality of biasing members. The bearing mount may comprise one or more cuts, stamps, and/or bends that define the plurality of biasing members relative to the main body.

The main body is generally annular, and, in the absence of an applied force, the second end of each biasing member may be located radially outwardly of the corresponding first end of the biasing member. Thus, prior to insertion of the bearing mount into a bore of the housing, the second end of each biasing member may be located radially outwardly of the corresponding first end of the biasing member. This may allow the second end of each biasing member to act as a locating feature for locating the bearing mount within the bore of the housing, for example with the second end of each biasing member being receivable within a corresponding notch of the housing that defines a region of increased diameter of the bore.

The plurality of biasing members may be evenly spaced about the periphery of the bearing mount. This may aid with enabling concentric mounting of the bearing within the channel, and may ensure a consistent linear stiffness about the periphery of the bearing mount.

The bearing mount may comprise at least three biasing members. Fewer than three biasing members may be unable to sufficiently cover the periphery of the bearing mount, and may lead to areas of a bearing being unsupported by the bearing mount.

The bearing mount may comprise exactly three biasing members. Three biasing members may be a good comprise between linear stiffness and enabling concentric mounting of the bearing within the channel. Greater than three biasing members may increase stiffness of the bearing mount.

The bearing mount may comprise at least four, or at least five, biasing members. By 30 increasing the number of biasing members spaced around the periphery of the bearing mount, a stiffness performance of the bearing mount can be improved in a number of ways. The radial stiffness response can tend towards becoming truly axisymmetric. A bearing can be better centralised within the housing due to the increased number of contact points. The bearing mount may comprise exactly four, or exactly five, biasing members.

The bearing mount may comprise a stop formation for inhibiting motion of a bearing mounted using the bearing mount. Thus the biasing members may enable motion of the bearing to a degree that is limited by the stop formation. This may inhibit a bearing mounted using the bearing mount from moving to an excessive degree during use in an electric motor. The stop formation may be configured to inhibit radial motion of a bearing mounted using the bearing mount.

The bearing mount may comprise a plurality of stop formations for inhibiting motion of a bearing mounted using the bearing mount, the plurality of stop formations spaced about the periphery of the bearing mount. This may inhibit motion of the bearing in a number of directions. Each of the plurality of stop formations may be configured to inhibit radial motion of a bearing mounted using the bearing mount.

The plurality of stop formations may be spaced evenly about the periphery of the bearing mount. This may provide for constrained motion of the bearing about the periphery of the bearing mount.

A subset of the plurality of stop formations may be positioned such that each stop formation of the subset is located intermediate two adjacent biasing members about the periphery of the bearing mount. This may facilitate constraining motion of a bearing mounted using the bearing mount without interfering with the functionality provided by the biasing members. The subset may comprise a subset of fewer than all of the plurality of stop formations. The subset may comprise half of the plurality of stop formations. The subset of the plurality of stop formations may comprise a number of stop formations corresponding to a number of the plurality of biasing members.

Each stop formation of the subset of the plurality of stop formations may extend along at least 75% of an axial length of the bearing mount, for example a height of the bearing mount measured in a direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the bearing mount.

This may provide relatively constant constraining of motion along the axial length of the bearing mount. Each stop formation of the subset of the plurality of stop formations may extend along at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or all, of the axial length of the bearing mount.

A further subset of the plurality of stop formations may be positioned such that each stop formation of the further subset axially overlaps with a corresponding biasing member on the periphery of the bearing mount. This may constrain motion of a bearing mounted by the bearing mount in the region of the plurality of biasing members, whilst still enabling the plurality of biasing members to concentrically mount the bearing within the channel.

The further subset of the plurality of stop formations may be positioned such that each stop formation of the further subset axially overlaps with an intermediate portion of a corresponding biasing member on the periphery of the bearing mount. The further subset of the plurality of stop formations may be positioned such that each stop formation of the further subset circumferentially overlaps with a corresponding biasing member on the periphery of the bearing mount. The further subset of the plurality of stop formations may be positioned such that each stop formation of the further subset circumferentially overlaps with an intermediate portion of a corresponding biasing member on the periphery of the bearing mount. The further subset of the plurality of stop formations may be positioned such that each stop formation of the further subset is offset from a central point of an intermediate portion of a corresponding biasing member.

The further subset may comprise a subset of fewer than all of the plurality of stop formations. The further subset may comprise half of the plurality of stop formations. The further subset may comprise a same number of stop formations as the subset. The further subset of the plurality of stop formations may comprise a number of stop formations corresponding to a number of the plurality of biasing members. The bearing mount may comprise twice as many stop formations as biasing members.

Each stop formation of the further subset of the plurality of stop formations may extend along no more than 50% of an axial length of the bearing mount for example a height of the bearing mount measured in a direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the bearing mount. This may enable the stop formations of the further subset to axially overlap with a corresponding biasing member whilst allowing the biasing member to contact the bearing mount to a sufficient extent to provide secure mounting of the bearing.

The bearing mount may comprise a main body that is generally annular in form, and the plurality of stop formations may be defined by regions of the main body that have a reduced radius relative to a maximal radius of the main body. This may provide a relatively simple arrangement that is less prone to failure than, for example, an arrangement in which separate discrete stop formations are connected to the main body.

The main body may be generally annular about a central longitudinal axis of the bearing mount.

The bearing mount may comprise a plurality of contact members for contacting the bearing, each contact member mounted to a corresponding one of the intermediate portions, and the contact members may be formed of, or coated with, a material having a coefficient of friction that is relatively higher than the coefficient of friction of the respective intermediate portions. This may aid with retention of the bearing relative to the bearing mount. The intermediate portions may be treated to provide a relatively high coefficient of friction compared to the remainder of the biasing members, for example by sand blasting or laser etching or the like.

For each biasing member, the respective first and second ends may be located at a same axial length along the bearing mount. This may provide a relatively compact bearing mount in terms of axial length.

For each biasing member, the respective first and second ends may be located at different axial lengths along the bearing mount. This may allow for the biasing members to have a greater length without increasing a radial extent of the bearing mount.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an electric motor comprising: a housing; a stator assembly fixedly mounted to the housing; and a rotor assembly rotatably mounted to the housing within a bore; wherein: the rotor assembly comprises a bearing, and the electric motor comprises a bearing mount as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; the first and second ends of each biasing member contact the housing at respective first and second points such that the intermediate portion is unsupported by the housing between the first and second points; and the intermediate portions of each biasing member locate the bearing within the channel.

The housing may comprise a plurality of notches shaped and dimensioned to receive a corresponding one of the second ends of a respective biasing member, each of the plurality of notches comprising a region of the bore with increased diameter relative to the remainder of the bore, and the second ends of the plurality of biasing members may be in contact with the housing at a region displaced from the respective notches. In this way, the notches may be used to facilitate insertion of the bearing mount into the bore during manufacture, for example with each second end of a biasing member received within a corresponding one of the plurality of notches. However, the bearing mount can then be twisted relative to the housing to move the second ends out of the respective notches, and into contact with the housing such that the biasing members are in an appropriate position to support the bearing within the bore of the housing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a mount for mounting a component within a bore, the mount comprising: a plurality of biasing members spaced around a periphery of the mount, each biasing member comprising a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion intermediate the first end and the second end; wherein the first end and the second end of each biasing member are configured to contact a wall defining the bore at respective first and second points such that the intermediate portion is unsupported by the wall between the first and second points, and the intermediate portion is configured to locate the component within the bore.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising a bearing mount according to the first aspect of the present invention, an electric motor according to the second aspect of the present invention, or a mount according to the third aspect of the present invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a haircare appliance comprising a bearing mount according to the first aspect of the present invention, an electric motor according to the second aspect of the present invention, or a mount according to the third aspect of the present invention.

Optional features of aspects of the present invention may be equally applied to other aspects of the present invention, where appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of a bearing mount; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an electric motor comprising the first embodiment of the motor mount; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electric motor of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electric motor of Figure 2 during manufacture; Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of a bearing mount; Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of a third embodiment of a bearing mount; Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of a vacuum cleaner comprising a bearing mount; and Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a haircare appliance comprising a bearing mount.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first embodiment of a bearing mount 10 is illustrated in Figure 1. The bearing mount 10 comprises a main body 12 and three biasing members 14.

The main body 12 is generally annular in form, and is formed from a single sheet of steel before being shaped. The main body 12 has a thickness of around 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm, with the thickness measured in a radial direction from a central axis C of the bearing mount 10.

The main body 12 has a maximal outer diameter of around 8 mm to 20 mm, and is shaped 30 to provide a set of six stop formations 16. Each stop formation 16 is formed by a trough in the main body 12 having a region of reduced radial extent relative to the maximal radial extent of the main body 12. Each stop formation 16 is generally U-shaped when viewed in a cross-sectional plane taken orthogonal to the central axis C of the bearing mount 10. The stop formations 16 are evenly spaced about a periphery of the main body 12 of the bearing mount 10, with an angle of around 60° degrees between central points of each stop formation 16.

The stop formations 16 are divided into a first subset 18, and a second subset 20. The first subset 18 and the second subset 20 alternate about a periphery of the bearing mount 10, such that each stop formation 16 of the second subset 20 is located between two adjacent stop formations 16 of the first subset 18 about the periphery of the bearing mount 10.

Each stop formation 16 of the first subset 18 extends along an entirety of the axial length of the bearing mount 10, whereas each stop formation 16 of the second subset 20 extends along only 40-50%% of the axial length of the bearing mount 10. Thus the main body 12 of the bearing mount 10 has different axial lengths in the regions of the first subset 18 of stop formations 16 and the second subset 20 of stop formations 16.

Each biasing member 14 is integrally formed with the main body 12, and constitutes a region of the same sheet of steel that is cut and bent relative to the main body 12. The biasing members 14 are evenly spaced about the periphery of the bearing mount 10, and collectively define a channel 21 for receiving a bearing 118. Each biasing member 14 has a first end 22, a second end 24, and an intermediate portion 26 between the first end 22 and the second end 24.

Each first end 22 is located proximal to the main body 12, and can be considered as fixed relative to the main body 12. Each second end 24 is free to move relative to the main body 12, with the intermediate portion 26 of each biasing member 14 also free to move relative to the main body 12. The first end 22 of each biasing member 14 is located adjacent to a corresponding one of the stop formations 16 of the first subset 18. Each biasing member 14 extends from the first end 22 such that the second end 24 of each biasing member 14 is located toward, but spaced from, a next adjacent one of the stop formations 16 of the first subset 18 about the periphery of the bearing mount 10. Thus each biasing member 14 may resemble a chord of the generally annular shape of the bearing mount 10 when viewed in a direction along the central axis C of the bearing mount 10. The first 22 and second 24 ends of each biasing member 14 are located at a common axial length along the bearing mount 10.

In the absence of an applied force, the second end 24 of each biasing member 14 is located at a position greater than a maximal radial extent of the main body 12 relative to the central axis C. The biasing members 14 are resiliently deformable relative to the main body 12, such that the biasing members 14 tend toward the position absent an applied force. The intermediate portion 26 of each biasing member 14 overlies, and is axially spaced from, a corresponding stop formation 16 of the second subset 20. The biasing member 14 is positioned such that a region of the intermediate portion 26 that is closer to the second end 24 than to the first end 22 overlies such a corresponding stop formation 16 of the second subset 20.

In the example of Figure 1, the bearing mount 10 also comprises three contact members 28. Each contact member 28 comprises a block of material having a relatively high coefficient of friction in comparison to the steel of the main body 12 and the biasing members 14. In other examples, the contact members 28, or the intermediate portions 26 of the biasing members 14 are simply coated with a relatively high friction material. In other examples, relatively high friction may be achieved by a suitable treatment process of the intermediate portion 26, for example by sand blasting or laser etching. Each contact member 28 is mounted to a corresponding intermediate portion 26 of a biasing member 14, such that the contact members 28 face inwardly within the channel 21 toward the central axis C of the bearing mount 10.

Use of the bearing mount 10 in an electric motor 100 is illustrated in Figures 2 to 4.

The electric motor 100 comprises a housing 102, a stator assembly 104, and a rotor assembly 106.

The housing 102 is elongate, and hollow in form, such that the housing 102 comprises a generally tubular bore 103. The housing 102 comprises three notches 108, as shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 2. Each notch 108 extends axially from an end of the housing 102 to a sufficient degree that the notches 108 reach an intended location of a first bearing 118 of the rotor assembly 106 within the housing 102. Each notch 104 is shaped and dimensioned to receive a corresponding second end 24 of a biasing member 14 of the bearing mount 10, as will be discussed in more detail hereinafter.

The stator assembly 104 comprises three coils 110 that, when driven with an appropriate voltage, generate a magnetic field that interacts with a permanent magnet 114 of the rotor assembly 106. The stator assembly 104 can be mounted to the housing 102 in any appropriate manner. In some examples, the housing 102 can comprise slots or the like that enable mounting of the stator assembly 104 to the housing 102. In some examples, the housing 102 may be formed about the stator assembly 104, for example as part of a moulding process for forming the housing 102.

The rotor assembly 106 comprises a shaft 112, a permanent magnet 114, an impeller 116, first 118 and second 120 bearings, and the bearing mount 10.

The permanent magnet 114 is mounted generally centrally on the shaft 112, with the first 118 and second 120 bearings located either side of the permanent magnet 114. The impeller 116 is located at an end of the shaft 112.

The bearing mount 10 acts to mount the first bearing 118, and hence the rotor assembly 106, within the bore 103 of the housing 102, as illustrated schematically in Figure 3.

As can be seen, the main body 12 of the bearing mount 10, save for the stop formations 16, contacts an inner wall 122 of the housing 102 that defines the bore 103. The first 22 and second 24 end of each biasing member 14 contacts the inner wall 122 of the housing 102, whilst the intermediate portion 26 of each biasing member 14 is spaced from the inner wall 122. In such a manner, each biasing member 14 has two points of contact with the housing 102, at the first 22 and second 24 ends, with the intermediate portion 26 unsupported by the housing 102.

The first bearing 118 is located within the channel 21 defined by the three biasing members 14, with an outer race 124 of the first bearing 118 contacted by contact members 28 that are attached to a corresponding one of the intermediate portions 26 of the biasing members 14. The first bearing 118 is located such that the outer race 124 of the first bearing 118 is spaced from the stop formations 16. The first bearing 118 is located substantially centrally within the bore 103, such that the first bearing 118 is generally concentric with the bore 103. The nature of the bearing mount 10 is such that the biasing members 14 together provide a radial stiffness of less than about SOON/mm As the first end 22 and the second end 24 of each biasing member 14 are configured to contact the housing 102 of the electric motor 100 at respective first and second points such that the intermediate portion 26 is unsupported by the housing 102 between the first and second points, and the intermediate portion 26 is configured to locate the first bearing 118 within the channel 21, the biasing members 14 may provide a consistent linear stiffness, whilst also enable the first bearing 118 to be centralised within the channel 21. In particular, as the first end 22 and the second end 24of each biasing member 14 are configured to contact the housing 102 of the electric motor 100 at respective first and second points such that the intermediate portion 26 is unsupported by the housing 102 between the first and second points, the intermediate portion 26 of each biasing member 14 may be able to move to accommodate the first bearing 118. This may absorb any tolerances in the system, thereby enabling the first bearing 118 to be provided concentrically within the channel 21.

During manufacture of the electric motor 100, the notches 108 of the housing 102 can be utilised to facilitate insertion of the bearing mount 10 into the housing 102. The bearing mount 10 can be orientated, before insertion into the bore 103 of the housing 102, such that the second ends 24 of the biasing members 14 are each aligned with a respective one of the notches 108 of the housing. The bearing mount 10 is then axially slid into the bore 103 of the housing 102, with the second ends 24 of the biasing members 14 remaining in the respective notches 108. The bearing mount 10 is positioned at the relevant axial position at which the first bearing 118 is intended to be located, with such a location sometimes referred to as a bearing seat.

With the second ends 24 of the biasing members 14 remaining in the respective notches 108, the rotor assembly 106 is inserted into the bore 103 of the housing 102 until the first bearing 118 is axially aligned with the contact members 28 on the intermediate portions 26 of the biasing members 14. The bearing mount 10 is then twisted within the bore 103 of the housing 102, in a clockwise direction in the schematic illustration of Figure 4, such that the second ends 22 of the biasing members 14 move out from the notches 108, and are engaged with the inner wall 122 of the housing 102. This causes the intermediate portions 26 of the biasing members 14 to move radially inwardly, bringing the contact members 28 into engagement with the outer race 124 of the first bearing 118, to thereby mount the first bearing 118 in the channel 21, and within the bore 103 of the housing 102. Thus, in the final version of the electric motor 100, the second ends 24 of the biasing members are displaced from the notches 108, and are spaced from the notches 108 about the periphery of the bore 103.

It will be appreciated that other variants of the bearing mount 10 are also envisaged. For example, the bearing mount 10 can, in some examples, comprise greater than three biasing members, and/or the biasing members can be configured to provide a different radial stiffness. In some examples, the contact members 28 may be omitted, with the intermediate portions 26 contacting the first bearing 118 directly. In some examples, the contact members 28 can be applied along all internal surfaces of the bearing mount, for example as a relatively high friction coating material. In some examples both the first 118 and second 120 bearings, or indeed just the second bearing 120, can comprise respective bearing mounts. In some examples, the biasing members can have a width that varies along their length, for example with a wider intermediate portion and narrower end portions. Furthermore, different configurations of the electric motor 1000 are envisaged whilst still utilising the bearing mount 10.

A second embodiment of the bearing mount 200 is illustrated in Figure 5.

The second embodiment of the bearing mount 200 is generally similar to the first embodiment of the bearing mount 10, in that the second embodiment 200 of the bearing mount 200 comprises a main body 202, and three biasing members 204. However, the form of the main body 202 and the three biasing members 204 is different.

The main body 202 is generally cylindrical and hollow in form and is formed from a single sheet of steel before being shaped. The main body 202 is shaped to form three stop formations 206, with the stop formations 206 comprising indentations formed in the main body 202. Each stop formation 206 extends axially along the main body for around a little over half of the axial extent of the main body 202.

The biasing members 204 are evenly spaced about the circumference of the main body 202, with a stop formation 206 located between adjacent ones of the biasing members 204.

Each biasing member 204 is integrally formed with the main body 202, and constitutes a region of the same sheet of steel that is cut and bent relative to the main body 202. The biasing members 204 are evenly spaced about the periphery of the bearing mount 200, and collectively define a channel 208 for receiving a bearing. Each biasing member 204 has a first end 210, a second end 212, and an intermediate portion 214 between the first end 210 and the second end 212.

Similar to the biasing members 14 of the first embodiment of the bearing mount 10, each first end 210 of the biasing members 204 of the second embodiment of the bearing mount 200 are fixed relative to the main body 202, whilst each second end 212 of the biasing members 204 of the second embodiment of the bearing mount 200 are fixed relative to the main body 202.

Each biasing member 204 extends from the first end 210 such that the second end 212 of each biasing member 204 is located toward, but spaced from, one of the stop formations 206 about the periphery of the bearing mount 200. Thus each biasing member 204 may resemble a chord of the generally annular shape of the bearing mount 200 when viewed in a direction along a central axis C of the bearing mount 200. However, in the second embodiment of the bearing mount 200, the first 210 and second 212 ends of each biasing member 204 are located at different axial lengths along the bearing mount 200. The biasing members 204 of the second embodiment of the bearing mount 200 therefore extend both circumferentially around, and axially along, the bearing mount 200.

In the absence of an applied force, the second end 212 of each biasing member 204 is located at a radially inner position relative to a maximal radial extent of the main body 12 relative to the central axis. To incorporate the second embodiment of the bearing mount 200 into an electric motor, the bearing mount 200 is then slid axially into a housing of the electric motor until located at its desired axial position relative to the housing, with the first ends 210 of the biasing members 204 in contact with the housing. A bearing is then slid axially into position within the channel 208, such that the bearing contacts the intermediate portions 214 of the biasing members 204, and forces the second ends 212 of the biasing members 204 into contact with the housing.

A third embodiment of a bearing mount 300 is illustrated in Figure 6. The third embodiment of the bearing mount 300 is substantially the same as the second embodiment of the bearing mount 200, save that the third embodiment of the bearing. mount 300 has five biasing members 302, and no stop formations. This enables the biasing members 302 of the third embodiment of the bearing mount 300 to circumferentially extend to a greater extent, for a given diameter, than the biasing members 204 of the second embodiment of the bearing mount 200.

It will be appreciated that electric motors incorporating any of the bearing mounts 10, 200, 300 discussed herein can be utilised in a variety of appliances. A vacuum cleaner 400 comprising an electric motor incorporating any of the bearing mounts 10, 200, 300 is illustrated schematically in Figure 7, whilst a haircare appliance 500 incorporating any of the bearing mounts 10, 200, 300 is illustrated schematically in Figure 8.

It will further be appreciated that the type of mount described herein could be utilised to mount components other than bearings. Thus, more generally the mounts described herein 30 can be considered to comprise mounts for mounting a component within a bore.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bearing mount for mounting a bearing within a housing, the bearing mount comprising: a plurality of biasing members spaced around a periphery of the bearing mount to define a channel for receiving the bearing, each biasing member comprising a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion intermediate the first end and the second end; wherein the first end and the second end of each biasing member are configured to contact the housing at respective first and second points such that the intermediate portion is unsupported by the housing between the first and second points, and the intermediate portion of each biasing member is configured to locate the bearing within the channel.
A bearing mount as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the biasing members are resilient.
3. A bearing mount as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the bearing mount comprises a main body, the first end of each biasing member is connected to the main 20 body, and the second end of each biasing member is free from the main body.
4. A bearing mount as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the main body and the plurality of biasing members are integrally formed.
5. A bearing mount as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the main body is generally annular, and, in the absence of an applied force, the second end of each biasing member is located radially outwardly of the corresponding first end of the biasing member.
6. A bearing mount as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of biasing members are evenly spaced about the periphery of the bearing mount.
7. A bearing mount as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing mount comprises at least three biasing members.
8. A bearing mount as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing mount comprises a stop formation for inhibiting motion of a bearing mounted using the bearing mount.
9. A bearing mount as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing mount comprises a plurality of stop formations for inhibiting motion of a bearing mounted using the bearing mount, the plurality of stop formations spaced about the periphery of the bearing mount.
10. A bearing mount as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein a subset of the plurality of stop formations are positioned such that each stop formation of the subset is located intermediate two adjacent biasing members about the periphery of the bearing mount.
11. A bearing mount as claimed in Claim 10, wherein each stop formation of the subset of the plurality of stop formations extends along at least 75% of an axial length of the 20 bearing mount.
12. A bearing mount as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein a further subset of the plurality of stop formations are positioned such that each stop formation of the further subset axially overlaps with a corresponding biasing member on the periphery of the bearing mount.
13. A bearing mount as claimed in Claim 12, wherein each stop formation of the further subset of the plurality of stop formations extends along no more than 50% of an axial length of the bearing mount.
14. A bearing mount as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 13, wherein the bearing mount comprises a main body that is generally annular in form, and the plurality of stop formations are defined by regions of the main body that have a reduced radius relative to a maximal radius of the main body.
15. A bearing mount as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing mount comprises a plurality of contact members for contacting the bearing, each contact member mounted to a corresponding one of the intermediate portions, and the contact members are formed of a material having a coefficient of friction that is relatively higher than the coefficient of friction of the respective intermediate portions.
16. A bearing mount as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein for each biasing member, the respective first and second ends are located at a same axial length along the bearing mount.
17. A bearing mount as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 15, wherein for each biasing member, the respective first and second ends are located at different axial lengths along the bearing mount.
18. An electric motor comprising: a housing; a stator assembly fixedly mounted to the housing; and a rotor assembly rotatably mounted to the housing within a bore; wherein: the rotor assembly comprises a bearing, and the electric motor comprises a bearing mount as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; the first and second ends of each biasing member contact the housing at respective first and second points such that the intermediate portion is unsupported by the housing between the first and second points; and the intermediate portions of each biasing member locate the bearing within the channel.
19. A vacuum cleaner comprising a bearing mount as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 17, or an electric motor as claimed in Claim 18.
20. A haircare appliance comprising a bearing mount as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 17, or an electric motor as claimed in Claim 18.