Slot insulation for electrical machines

• US 10,333,364 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2015
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Pal, Debabrata, Legros, Craig R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rojas, Bernard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Rashad H
• Application Number:
  US14/791,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20170012485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 310214, 310215
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/32 Windings characterised by the shape, form or construction of the insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/34 between conductors or between conductor and core, e.g. slot insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/345 between conductor and core, e.g. slot insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/38 around winding heads, equalising connectors, or connections thereto
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/487 Slot-closing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/223 Heat bridges

Abstract

An electrical machine includes a winding core with a plurality of end slots. A winding is seated in the end slots with end windings where the winding crosses from end slot to end slot. A slot insulator is seated in two of the end slots. The slot insulator includes a first slot liner seated in a first one of the two end slots with a winding slot defined therethrough in an axial direction. A second slot liner is seated in a second one of the two end slots with a winding slot defined therethrough in the axial direction, wherein the second slot liner is spaced apart in a lateral direction relative to the axial direction from the first slot liner by a gap. The slot insulator includes a span portion bridging across the gap to connect the first and second slot liners.

Claims

1. A slot insulator for an electrical machine comprising:

a first slot liner with a winding slot defined therethrough in an axial direction;

a second slot liner with a winding slot defined therethrough in the axial direction, wherein the second slot liner is spaced apart in a lateral direction relative to the axial direction from the first slot liner by a gap; and

a span portion bridging across the gap to connect the first and second slot liners, wherein the span portion includes a material different than that of the first and second slot liners, wherein the material of the span portion has a higher thermal conductivity than that of the first and second slot liners.

2. An electrical machine comprising:

a winding core with a plurality of end slots;

a winding seated in the end slots with end windings where the winding crosses from end slot to end slot; and

a slot insulator seated in two of the end slots including;

a first slot liner seated in a first one of the two end slots with a winding slot defined therethrough in an axial direction, wherein one of the end windings enters the first one of the end slots through the winding slot of the first slot liner;

a second slot liner seated in a second one of the two end slots with a winding slot defined therethrough in the axial direction, wherein the second slot liner is spaced apart in a lateral direction relative to the axial direction from the first slot liner by a gap, wherein one of the end windings exits the second one of the end slots through the winding slot of the second slot liner; and

a span portion bridging across the gap to connect the first and second slot liners, wherein the span portion includes a material different than that of the first and second slot liners, wherein the material of the span portion has a higher thermal conductivity than that of the first and second slot liners.