Modular design and manufacture of a stator core

• US 5,875,540 A
• Filed: 01/21/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
• Inventors: Sargeant, John Barry, Singh, Gurdev, Paris, Calvin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Linda
• Application Number:
  US08/775,338
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 29/596, 29/609, 310/43, 310/216, 310/217, 310/218
• US Class Current: 29/596
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/02 of stator or rotor bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/12 Impregnating, heating or drying of windings, stators, rotors or machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49009 Dynamoelectric machine

Abstract

An improved stator core and process for manufacturing the core are accomplished by a modular stator core design. The stator core is comprised of a series of equally sized and shaped stator core modules that are manufactured via a vacuum pressure impregnation process. The prefabricated modules can then be assembled into a stator core in an efficient way, saving several days of stator core assembly time. Moreover, a variety of stator core lengths can be accommodated by only inserting the required number of modules into the stator frame.

Claims

1. A method for assembling a stator core, comprising the steps of:

a) manufacturing at least two stator core modules, wherein each module is manufactured by clamping a stack of ferrous plates in a first fixture, placing the clamped stack of plates in a vacuum chamber, applying resin to said stack of ferrous plates, and pressurizing said chamber; and

,

b) inserting said at least two stator core modules into a stator frame.

c) clamping said stator core modules together.

2. Method according to claim 1 wherein said resin is cured by baking.

3. Method according to claim 1 wherein the step a) further comprises pressurizing the vacuum chamber such that the resin is further forced between the ferrous plates.

4. Method according to claim 1 wherein said ferrous plates comprise plate steel.

5. Method according to claim 1 wherein said clamping of step c) comprises the use of through bolts.

6. Method according to claim 1 wherein said clamping of step c) comprises the use of disk plates.

7. A method for manufacturing a stator core module, comprising the steps of:

a) clamping a stack of ferrous plates in a fixture;

b) placing the fixture containing the plates in a vacuum chamber;

c) while the plates remain in the vacuum chamber, applying resin to said plates; and

,

d) pressurizing said vacuum chamber, whereby the resin is further forced between the plates.

8. Method according to claim 7 wherein said resin is cured by baking said stack of plates after said resin is applied.

9. Method according to claim 7 wherein said vacuum is in the range of 1 to 2 mm Hg.