3 phase squirrel cage motors are a type of induction motor. They are called squirrel cage motors because the rotor (the inside part of the motor), which is the part that spins, looks like a cage.
How It Works
A squirrel cage motors works the same way as other 3 phase induction motors in that a rotating electromagnetic field in the stator produces an opposing electromagnetic field that is induced in the rotor. These electromagnetic fields emit a force that we see as motion, in other words we see the rotor turning.
The above image show a sign on view of a squirrel cage motor with the rotor removed form the inside of the frame where it would usually sit. You can see that the rotor bars give the impression that the rotor looks like a “cage”. Hence the name squirrel cage motor.
To Recap
A squirrel cage motor is a type of induction motor. It works on the principle of electromagnetic induction. The reason it is called a squirrel cage motor is due to the fact that the rotor contains bars that make it look like a cage.
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