Solid connector for stator phase winding and method of assembly

• US 5,270,598 A
• Filed: 04/15/1992
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Inventors: Fetzko, Russell D., Holly, Henry M. III, Lange, Hans W.
• Primary Examiner(s): SKUDY, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/870,050
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 310/260, 310/270, 310/213, 310/71, 310/208, 310/91, 310/184, 310/42, 310/198, 336/186
• US Class Current: 310/71
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/02 Soldered or welded connections H01R4/625, H01R4/723, H01R12/59 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/14 with transposed conductors, e.g. twisted conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/24 with channels or ducts for cooling medium between the conductors

Abstract

A solid series connector for electrically connecting a first half-coil to a second half-coil in a stator phase winding includes first and second solid conductor members which are fixedly electrically connected at both ends to groups of conductive strands in the respective half-coils. The connector is much less labor-intensive to install than the group transposition connections used in the past, is more rugged and durable under high temperatures and stresses, and is relatively compact. A second embodiment of the invention is a solid phase connector that incorporates many of the novel features in the solid series connector. A novel method of preparing a conductive strand group for connection to such connectors is also claimed.

Claims

1. A half-coil connection for an electrodynamic system such as an electrical generator, comprising:

a first half-coil comprising a first group of strands comprising more than one strand stack and a second group of strands comprising more than one strand stack;

a second half-coil comprising a third group of strands comprising more than one strand stack and a fourth group of strands comprising more than one strand stack;

four strand group clips secured, respectively, to said first, second, third and fourth groups of strands to bind said stacks within said strands together, said clips being electrically conductive;

a first conductor member affixed at a first end to said strand group clip on said first group of strands and affixed at a second, opposite end to said strand group clip on said second group of strands; and

a second conductor member affixed at a first end to said strand group clip on said second group of strands and affixed at a second, opposite end to said strand group clip on said fourth group of strands, whereby a solid connection between the half-coils is achieved which is less labor-intensive to install and is more durable than connections heretofore known.

2. A connection according to claim 1, wherein said first conductor member extends so as to be substantially parallel to said second conductor member.

3. A connection according to claim 2, wherein said first and second conductor members are crimped to compensate for misalignment between the first and second half-coils.

4. A connection according to claim 1, wherein said first and second conductor members are elongate and have a substantially rectangular cross-section.

5. A connection according to claim 1, wherein said first and second conductor members are fabricated from a material comprising copper.

6. A connection according to claim 1, wherein said conductor members are brazed to said strand end clips.

7. A connection for electrically connecting a phase winding coil in an electrodynamic system such as a multiphase electrical generator to a conductive ring member in such a system, comprising:

a conductive ring member;

a half-coil comprising a first group of strands comprising more than one strand stack and a second group of strands comprising more than one strand stack;

two strand group clips secured, respectively, to said first and second groups of strands to bind said stacks within said strands together, said clips being electrically conductive;

a first conductor member affixed at a first end to said strand group clip of said first group of strands;

a second conductor member affixed at a first end to said strand group clip of said second group of strands; and

means for electrically connecting a second, opposite end of said first conductor member and a second, opposite end of said second conductor member to said conductive ring member, whereby a phase connection is achieved which is less labor-intensive to install and more durable than connectors heretofore known.

8. A solid phase connection according to claim 7, wherein said first conductor member extends so as to be substantially parallel to said second conductors member.

9. A solid phase connection according to claim 7, wherein said first and second conductor members are elongate and have a substantially rectangular cross-section.

10. A solid phase connection according to claim 7, wherein said first and second conductor members are fabricated from a material comprising copper.

11. A solid phase connection according to claim 7, wherein said clips are brazed to the respective strand ends.