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Method of selectively connecting a set of winding means for a dynamoelectric machine into at least two different electrical configurations

  • US 5,007,156 A
  • Filed: 07/19/1989
  • Issued: 04/16/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of selectively connecting a set of winding means for a dynamoelectric machine into at least two different electrical configurations with the winding means being adapted for excitation upon the energization of the dynamoelectric machine from a power source, the dynamoelectric machine having a means for housing at least the winding means, the housing means including at least one opening therein, a conduit box mounted to the housing means and including a base wall integral with a plurality of sidewalls, an end edge on the sidewalls, at least one aperture in the base wall communicating with the at least one opening in the housing means, a mounting table integral with the base wall within the conduit box, at least a pair of generally opposite edges on the mounting table and defining in part an abutment surface on the mounting table spaced from the base wall and the sidewalls, and cover means for the conduit box, each winding having a plurality of leads adapted to be connected to each other and to the power source in the at least two different electrical configurations and with the leads passing through the at least one opening and the at least one aperture in part into the conduit box, a terminal block including a plurality of connection apertures therein, a lip adjacent an edge portion of the terminal block, a latch adjacent another edge portion of the terminal block generally opposite the first named edge portion thereof, and a separable base, plug means for connection with the power source including a plurality of predeterminately interconnected terminals, and a plurality of lead terminations including a plurality of releasable connectors, respectively, the method comprising the steps of:

  • connecting the lead terminations to the leads of the winding means passed into the conduit box, respectively;

    disposing the terminal block in at least a generally vertical orientation generally above the at least one aperture in the conduit box so as to be arranged at least generally perpendicular with respect to the abutment surface of the mounting table;

    placing the lip on the terminal block at least adjacent one of the opposite edges of the mounting table during the disposing step;

    inserting the releasable connector of each lead termination into a predetermined one of the connection apertures in the terminal block;

    securing the separable base to the terminal block thereby to retain the lead terminations against displacement from the terminal block;

    maintaining the terminal block in its at least generally vertical orientation at least during the inserting and securing steps;

    rotating the terminal block from the at least generally vertical orientation into another orientation seating the separable base of the terminal block against the abutment surface on the mounting table;

    gripping the lip of the terminal block in engagement with the one opposite edge at least generally when the terminal block is rotated into the another orientation thereof;

    urging the catch on the terminal block into releasable latching engagement with the other of the opposite edges of the mounting table at least generally when the terminal block is rotated into the another orientation thereof;

    inserting the terminals of the plug means into electrical contacting engagement with preselected ones of some of the releasable connectors in the terminal block;

    selectively establishing one of the at least two different electrical configurations of the winding means in response to the inserting step;

    releasably securing the cover means on the end edge of the sidewalls of the conduit box in enclosing relation therewith; and

    biasing a part on the cover means into engagement with the plug means to retain the terminals against displacement from their respective electrical contacting engagement with the preselected ones of the some releasable connectors during the releasably securing step.

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