ROTOR FOR AN INDUCTION MOTOR AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING

• US 20120217837A1
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Kleber, Richard M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,466,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/211
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/0012 Manufacturing cage rotors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 17/20 having deep-bar rotors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49012 Rotor

Abstract

A method for fabricating a rotor assembly for an induction motor includes assembling a shorting end ring onto the rotor assembly which includes a steel laminate stack and a plurality of conductor bars. The shorting end ring includes a plurality of grooves aligned with corresponding portions of the conductor bars extending from a first end of the steel laminate stack. Assembling includes inserting the corresponding portions of the conductor bars into the grooves of the shorting end ring. The shorting end ring is affixed to the rotor assembly by applying a compressive force around a perimeter of the shorting end ring to deform the conductor bars.

Claims

1. A method for fabricating a rotor assembly for an induction motor, comprising:

assembling a shorting end ring onto the rotor assembly comprising a steel laminate stack and a plurality of conductor bars, wherein the shorting end ring comprises a plurality of grooves aligned with corresponding portions of the conductor bars extending from a first end of the steel laminate stack, and wherein the assembling comprises inserting the corresponding portions of the conductor bars into the grooves of the shorting end ring; and

affixing the shorting end ring to the rotor assembly by applying a compressive force around a perimeter of the shorting end ring to deform the conductor bars.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein applying a compressive force around the perimeter of the shorting end ring comprises:

positioning a swage ring around the shorting end ring; and

compressing the swage ring onto the shorting end ring.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising assembling a second shorting end ring onto the rotor assembly, comprising the steel laminate stack and the plurality of conductor bars, wherein the second shorting end ring comprises a plurality of grooves aligned with corresponding portions of the conductor bars extending from a second end of the steel laminate stack, and wherein the assembling comprises inserting the corresponding portions of the conductor bars into the grooves of the second shorting end ring.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the shorting end ring comprises a first periphery substantially flush with an outer surface of the steel laminate stack and a second periphery aligned with the swage ring, wherein the swage ring is compressed substantially flush with the outer surface of the steel laminate stack.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductor bars comprise copper.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductor bars comprise aluminum.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the shorting end ring comprises copper.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the shorting end ring comprises aluminum.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising machining the rotor assembly subsequent to compressing the swage ring to remove material extending beyond an outer surface of the steel laminate stack.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductor bars are in a parallel relation with an axis of rotation of the rotor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductor bars have an acute angle relationship with an axis of rotation of the rotor.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the shorting end ring comprises a plurality of heat sinks.

13. A rotor assembly for an induction motor, comprising:

a cylindrically shaped steel laminate stack including a plurality of grooves around the periphery of the steel laminate stack and oriented longitudinally to the steel laminate stack;

a plurality of conductor bars, each conductor bar located in one of the plurality of grooves and comprising a respective first end projecting from a first end of the steel laminate stack;

a shorting end ring comprising a plurality of grooves, each groove mated with one of the respective first ends of the plurality conductor bars; and

wherein the first ends of the plurality of the conductor bars are sufficiently compressively deformed to mechanically lock the conductor bars to the shorting end ring.

14. A rotor assembly for an induction motor, comprising:

a cylindrically shaped steel laminate stack including a plurality of grooves around the periphery of the steel laminate stack and oriented longitudinally to the steel laminate stack;

a plurality of conductor bars, each conductor bar located in one of the plurality of grooves and comprising a respective first end projecting from a first end of the steel laminate stack;

a shorting end ring comprising a plurality of grooves, each groove mated with one of the respective first ends of the plurality of conductor bars; and

a swage ring surrounding a portion of the shorting end ring and mated first ends of the plurality of conductor bars and compressively deforming the first ends of the plurality of the conductor bars sufficient to mechanically lock the conductor bars to the shorting end ring.

15. A rotor assembly of claim 14 wherein each conductor bar further comprises a respective second end projecting from a second end of the steel laminate stack, and further comprising:

a second shorting end ring comprising a plurality of grooves, each groove mated with one of the respective second ends of the plurality of conductor bars; and

a second swage ring surrounding a portion of the second shorting end ring and mated second ends of the plurality of conductor bars and compressively deforming the second ends of the plurality of the conductor bars sufficient to mechanically lock the conductor bars to the second shorting end ring.