System and method for testing electrical generators

• US 5,557,216 A
• Filed: 05/25/1994
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1993
• 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: Dailey, George F., Bauer, James A., Fischer, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Karlsen, Ernest F.
• Application Number:
  US08/248,907
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 324/772, 324/545, 324/546, 73/12.09, 73/865.8, 322/99, 340/648, 180/168
• US Class Current: 324/750.16
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/26 Pigs or moles, i.e. devices movable in a pipe or conduit with or without self-contained propulsion means
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines

Abstract

A system and method for testing an electrical generator of the type having a rotor (14) and a stator (12) includes or utilizes a movable carriage (22) having testing equipment which is sized to fit between the rotor (14) and stator (12) and is positionable over a selected stator (12) slot so as to be able to axially traverse the selected stator (12) slot, at least one sensor for sensing whether the movable carriage (22) is centered in an optimum position with respect to the selected stator (12) slot; and structure for centering the movable carriage (22) with respect to the optimum position if the sensor indicates the movable carriage (22) is not so centered, whereby accuracy of any testing by the testing equipment is optimized.

Claims

1. A system for performing a test on an electrical generator of the type having a rotor and a stator, the stator having an inner periphery defining a space within which the rotor is mounted to rotate, the inner periphery comprising a magnetic material in which a plurality of axial stator slots are defined, comprising:

a first movable carriage which is sized to fit between the rotor and stator and is positionable over a selected stator slot so as to be able to axially traverse the selected stator slot, said first movable carriage being adapted to have testing equipment mounted thereon, and said first movable carriage having a cable connected thereto;

sensing means on said first movable carriage for sensing whether the first movable carriage is centered in an optimum position with respect to the selected stator slot;

centering means on said first movable carriage for centering the first movable carriage with respect to the optimum position if said sensing means indicates said first movable carriage is not so centered, whereby accuracy of any testing by the testing equipment is optimized; and

a second movable carriage for supporting said cable.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first movable carriage comprises at least one magnet positioned over the magnetic material in the stator which is adjacent to the selected slot for securing the first movable carriage over the selected slot independently of gravitational forces.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means is constructed and arranged to sense the position of the first movable carriage with respect to the magnetic material on at least one side of said selected slot.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the sensing means comprises a first sensor which is constructed and arranged to sense the position of the first movable carriage with respect to the magnetic material on one side of the selected slot, and a second sensor which is constructed and arranged to sense the position of the first movable carriage with respect to the magnetic material on a second, opposite side of the selected slot.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises an inductive sensor.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises a capacitive sensor.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said centering means comprises means for controlling a least one drive wheel on said first movable carriage to center said first movable carriage.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said controlling means comprises a first motor for controlling a left side drive wheel on said first movable carriage, and a second motor for controlling a right side drive wheel on said first movable carriage.

9. A system for performing a test on an electrical generator of the type having a rotor and a stator, the stator having an inner periphery defining a space within which the rotor is mounted to rotate, the inner periphery comprising a magnetic material in which a plurality of axial stator slots are defined, comprising:

a first movable carriage which is sized to fit between the rotor and stator and is positionable over a selected stator slot so as to be able to axially traverse the selected stator slot, said first movable carriage being adapted to have testing equipment mounted thereon, and said first movable carriage having a cable connected thereto;

centering means on said first movable carriage for centering the first movable carriage with respect to the optimum position over the slot; and

a second movable carriage for supporting said cable.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the first movable carriage comprises at least one magnet positioned over the magnetic material in the stator which is adjacent to the selected slot for securing the first movable carriage over the selected slot independently of gravitational forces.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein said centering means comprises means for controlling a least one drive wheel on said first movable carriage to center said first movable carriage.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said controlling means comprises a first motor for controlling a left side drive wheel on said first movable carriage, and a second motor for controlling a right side drive wheel on said first movable carriage.