Stator bar jacking device for measuring radial movement of stator bar using an LVDT

• US 6,069,473 A
• Filed: 03/24/1998
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hatley, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snow, Walter E.
• Application Number:
  US09/046,562
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 324/219, 324/220, 324/226, 324/207.18, 324/207.19, 324/207.24, 324/262, 73/865.8, 73/865.9, 33/656, 33/555, 33/558, 33/558.4, 33/561, 33/827, 27/596, 27/597
• US Class Current: 324/207.18
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/144 Measuring play on bearings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/00 Methods or apparatus specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining or repairing of dynamo-electric machines

Abstract

A pneumatic jacking device is used to measure radial movement of stator bars in their slots while the generator is in-situ. The jacking device is designed to pass through the radial gap between the field retaining ring and stator end winding, requiring a minimum entrance gap of 2.625". The device is placed between the retaining ring and the stator bar, and radial movement is measured by the application of a force such as by a pneumatic ram or the like. Radial movement is measured by a linear voltage displacement transducer and is transmitted to a measuring unit for further processing.

Claims

1. A barjacking test unit for measuring radial movement of generator stator bars in-situ, the barjacking test unit comprising:

a linear voltage displacement transducer (LVDT) secured to a frame, the LVDT including a spring biased displacement measuring arm;

a bar sensor engageable at an exterior end with a stator bar; and

a pivot bracket pivotally secured to the frame and disposed between an interior end of the bar sensor and the spring biased displacement measuring arm of the LVDT, wherein the spring biased displacement measuring arm urges the bar sensor toward engagement with the stator bar via the pivot bracket.

2. A barjacking test unit according to claim 1, further comprising a retaining ring sensor secured to the frame and adapted to engage a generator retaining ring.

3. A barjacking crawler for measuring radial movement of generator stator bars in-situ, the barjacking crawler comprising:

a barjacking assembly insertable into a radial gap between a field retaining ring and a stator end winding of a generator;

a barjacking test head attached to the jacking assembly; and

a barjacking test unit cooperatively engaged with the barjacking test head, the barjacking test unit comprising;

a linear voltage displacement transducer (LVDT) secured to a frame, the LVDT including a spring biased displacement measuring arm,

a bar sensor engageable at an exterior end with a stator bar, and

a pivot bracket pivotally secured to the frame and disposed between an interior end of the bar sensor and the spring biased displacement measuring arm of the LVDT, wherein the spring biased displacement measuring arm urges the bar sensor toward engagement with the stator bar via the pivot bracket.

4. A barjacking crawler according to claim 3, wherein the barjacking test unit further comprises a retaining ring sensor secured to the frame and adapted to engage a generator retaining ring.

5. A barjacking crawler according to claim 3, wherein the jacking assembly comprises:

a wedge driver including a driving piston;

a wedge attached to the driving piston; and

a lifting arm having a first end movably engaged with the wedge and a second end fixed at a pivot, the lifting arm supporting the barjacking test head at an intermediate portion between the first and second ends.

6. A barjacking crawler according to claim 5, wherein the barjacking test unit is fixedly disposed adjacent the second end of the lifting arm, and wherein the bar sensor extends through an aperture in the barjacking test head.

7. A barjacking crawler according to claim 3, wherein the bar sensor extends through an aperture in the barjacking test head.

8. A barjacking crawler according to claim 3, further comprising a tractor attachable to the field retaining ring for selective circumferential positioning about a generator rotor, wherein the jacking assembly is attached to the tractor.

9. A barjacking crawler according to claim 3, wherein the barjacking test head comprises a compliant pad on a stator bar side of the barjacking test head.