METHODS FOR REPAIRING INSULATING MATERIAL

• US 20040202782A1
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Foley, Peter John, Markovitz, Mark, Armienti, James Frank, Hamilton, Robert Gerald, Proctor, Ivan William
• Application Number:
  US10/249,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20040202782A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/140
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 41/122 Insulating between turns or between winding layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 41/127 Encapsulating or impregnating encapsulating coil and core H01F41/005
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/0006 Disassembling, repairing or modifying dynamo-electric machines repairing of cooling fluid boxes H02K15/0093
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/105 to the windings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/12 Impregnating, heating or drying of windings, stators, rotors or machines
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/125 Heating or drying of machines in operational state, e.g. standstill heating

Abstract

A method for repairing insulation material applied to at least one electrical winding, wherein the method includes identifying an area to be repaired, applying epoxy to the area to be repaired, covering the epoxy with at least one of an adhesive tape and a release film, curing the epoxy, removing at least one of the adhesive tape and the release film, and finalizing the epoxy height.

Claims

1. A method of repairing insulation material applied to at least one electrical winding, said method comprising:

identifying an area to be repaired;

applying epoxy to the area to be repaired;

covering the epoxy with at least one of an adhesive tape and a release film;

curing the epoxy;

removing at least one of the adhesive tape and the release film; and

finalizing the epoxy height.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising cleaning the area to be repaired and insulation material that is adjacent to the area repaired prior to applying the epoxy.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein cleaning the repair area and the surrounding insulation material comprises using an abrasive pad.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein finalizing the height comprises ensuring the epoxy is substantially planar with insulating material adjacent to the area to be repaired.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein applying an epoxy to at least one repair area comprises applying the epoxy using an acid free paintbrush.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein applying an epoxy to the area to be repaired comprises applying an epoxy having a Class F electrical insulation capability to the area to be repaired.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein covering the epoxy with an adhesive tape comprises covering the epoxy with a silicone adhesive backed tape.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein covering the epoxy with an adhesive tape to facilitate substantially flattening the epoxy.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising removing excess epoxy from the edges of at least one of the adhesive tape and the release film.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein finalizing the epoxy height comprises sanding the epoxy to a desired height.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein finalizing the epoxy height comprises removing a portion of cured epoxy material using non-inductive sandpaper.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 finalizing the epoxy height comprises removing a portion of cured epoxy material to facilitate providing a repaired area that is substantially identical to area of insulation adjacent to the repaired area.

13. A method of repairing powder coat insulation material applied to field electric coils, said method comprising:

identifying an area to be repaired

cleaning the area to be repaired and any powder coat insulation that is adjacent the area to be repaired;

applying repair material to the area to be repaired using a paint brush,

wherein the material is substantially similar to the existing powder coat insulation;

covering the repair material area with an at least one of an adhesive tape and a release film;

curing the repair material;

removing at least one of the adhesive tape and the release film; and

removing the excess cured material from the repair area.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein removing the excess cured material from the repair area comprises sanding the cured material to a desired height.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein cleaning the area to be repaired comprises using an abrasive pad to clean the area to be repaired and any insulation adjacent to the area to be repaired.

16. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein applying repair material comprises applying an epoxy having a Class F electrical insulation capability to the area to be repaired.

17. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein applying repair material to the area to be repaired comprises using an acid free paint brush to apply the material to the area.

18. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein removing excess cured material from the area to be repaired comprises using non-conductive sandpaper to remove the excess cured material.

19. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein removing excess cured material comprises sanding the cured material such that an outer surface of the cured material is substantially coplanar with an outer surface of insulating material that is adjacent the repair area.

20. A method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising removing excess material from the edge of at least one of the adhesive tape and the release film.