UNIVERSAL LIQUID-COOLED CONNECTION ASSEMBLY

• US 3,614,493 A
• Filed: 01/29/1971
• Issued: 10/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harold E. Collings, William L. Darby
• Original Assignee: Harold E. Collings, William L. Darby
• Inventors: Collings, Harold E., Darby, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfield, Milton O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Skudy, R.
• Application Number:
  US05/006,902
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• Field of Search: 310/54,58,59,61,64,65,260,270,273 29/157.5,157.6
• US Class Current: 310/54
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/22 consisting of hollow conductors

Abstract

A connector assembly to connect liquid-cooled stator bars in a dynamoelectric machine. First and second headers attached to the juxtaposed ends of a pair of stator bars are jointed by means of rotatable, telescoping joints to fittings having mating cylindrical surfaces. The fittings are further aligned by sliding the cylindrical surfaces upon one another, and then brazed together. In a second embodiment, two joints each comprising a pair of mating cylindrical surfaces generated about perpendicular axes provide an additional degree of freedom between the fittings to compensate for restricted movement at one of the rotatable telescoping joints in certain header orientations.

Claims

1. In a dynamoelectric machine having armature windings which comprise a plurality of conducting members defining passages for the flow of liquid coolant therein, coupling means to provide for conducting coolant and current between pairs of said conducting members, comprising:

a first fitting adapted for rotatable and slidable connection with respect to a first axis to a first conducting member, said fitting having a first curved surface generated at a first distance about a line, said fitting further having a passageway for coolant flow extending therethrough and terminating at said first curved surface;

a connector block having a second curved surface generated at said first distance about a line for mating with said first curved surface of said first fitting and providing for the rotation thereof about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, said connector block further having a tube extending therefrom, said mating surface of said tube being connected by a passageway for conducting a flow of coolant;

a second fitting adapted for connection to a second conducting member, said second fitting having a passageway extending therethrough for conducting a flow of coolant, one end of said passageway being adapted to slidingly and rotatably receive said tube extending from said connector block for allowing rotation of said connector block about a third axis perpendicular to said second axis.

2. In a dynamoelectric machine Having armature windings which comprise a plurality of stator bars, each of said bars comprising a plurality of juxtaposed hollow conductors for carrying a flow of coolant therein, coupling means to provide for conducting current and coolant therebetween, comprising:

a. a first fitting adapted for adjustable connection to a first stator bar, said fitting having a first curved surface generated at a first distance about a line, said fitting further having a passageway for conducting coolant flow extending therethrough and terminating at said first curved surface;

b. a connector block having a second curved surface generated at said first distance about a line for mating with said first surface of said first fitting, said connector block further having a tube extending therefrom, and having a passageway extending through said tube terminating at said second curved surface; and

c. a second fitting adapted for adjustable connection to a second stator bar, said second fitting having a passageway extending therethrough for conducting a flow of coolant, one end of said passageway being adapted to slidably and rotatably receive said tube extending from said connector block.

3. Coupling means as recited in claim 2 wherein said first and second fittings are provided with hollow tubular ends, and further including a first header having a first end adapted for connection to the conductors of said first stator bar and a second end adapted to slidably and rotatably receive said tubular end of said first fitting;

and a second header having a first end adapted for connection to the conductors of said second stator bar and a second end adapted to slidable and rotatably receive the tubular end of said second fitting.

4. Coupling means according to claim 3, wherein said tubes, tubular ends and curved surfaces are rigidly joined to their mating surfaces by a brazed connection.

5. Coupling means as recited in claim 2, wherein said first fitting is provided with an additional curved surface adjacent to said first curved surface and generated at a second distance about the same line, and wherein said connector block is provided with an additional curved surface adjacent to said second curved surface and generated at said second distance about the same line for mating with said additional curved surface of said first fitting, whereby relative movement of said first fitting and said connector block in a direction parallel to said lines is prevented.

6. In a dynamoelectric machine whose armature windings comprise a plurality of conducting bars, at least one of said bars comprising a stator bar having a plurality of juxtaposed hollow conductors for carrying a flow of coolant therein, means for coupling pairs of said bars for conducting current and coolant therebetween comprising:

a. a first fitting having inlet means adapted to receive coolant from the conductors of one of a pair of said bars and having a curved surface of a first radius of curvature, said first radius extending from a first axis said curved surface having an outlet orifice therein;

b. an adapter block having a curved upper surface of said first radius of curvature, said surface being adapted to mate with said curved surface of said first fitting, said adapter block further having a curved lower surface of a second radius of curvature, said second radius extending from a second axis which is perpendicular to said first axis, said upper and lower surfaces being connected by a passage extending through said adapter block;

c. a connector block having a curved upper surface of said second radius of curvature, said surface being adapted to mate with said lower surface of said adapter block, said connector block further having a tube extending therefrom, said upper surface and said tube being connected by a passage extending through said connector block; and

d. a second fitting having a passage extending therethrough, one end of said passage defining an orifice for slidably receiving said tube extending from said connector block, and having outlet means adapted to transmit a flow of coolant to said other of said pair of conducting bars.

7. In a dynamoelectric machine whose armature windings comprise a plurality of conducting bars, at least one of said bars comprising a stator bar having a plurality of juxtaposed hollow conductors for carrying a flow of coolant therein, means for coupling pairs of said bars to provide for conducting current and coolant therebetween comprising:

a. a first fitting having inlet means adapted to receive coolant from the conductors of one of a pair of said bars and having a curved surface of a first radius of curvature and having an outlet orifice therein, said surface having adjacent thereto curved surfaces of a second radius of curvature, said radii extending from a first common axis;

b. an adapter block having a curved upper surface of said first radius of curvature, said surface having adjacent thereto curved surfaces of said second radius of curvature, said radii extending from a common axis, said surfaces being adapted to mate with said curved surfaces of said first fitting, said adapter block further having a curved lower surface of a third radius of curvature, said surface having adjacent thereto curved surfaces of a fourth radius of curvature, said third and said fourth radii extending from a second common axis which is perpendicular to said first common axis, said upper and lower surfaces being connected by a passage extending through said adapter block;

c. a connector block having a curved upper surface of said third radius of curvature, said surface having adjacent thereto curved surfaces of said fourth radius of curvature, said radii extending from a common axis, said surfaces being adapted to mate with lower surfaces of said adapter block, said connector block further having a tube extending therefrom, one of said upper surfaces and said tube being connected by a passage extending through said connector block; and

d. a second fitting having a passage extending therethrough one end of said passage defining an orifice for slidably receiving said tube extending from said connector block, and having outlet means adapted to transmit a flow of coolant to said other of said pair of conducting bars.