High speed generator with integrally formed rotor coil support wedges

• US 6,759,771 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Stout, David E., Scherzinger, William M., Waddell, Simon L., Down, Edward W., Doherty, Kieran P. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aguirrechea, J.
• Application Number:
  US10/242,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20040051405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 310/52-61, 310/261-262, 310/214-215
• US Class Current: 310/58
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/325 between salient poles
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/24 with channels or ducts for cooling medium between the conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/527 applicable to rotors only
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/19 for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil

Abstract

A coil support wedge for a high speed generator is integrally constructed and includes a plurality of flow passageways. Because it is integrally formed, the support wedge is substantially fluid tight. Thus, it is less susceptible to cooling fluid leakage from the flow passageways, which increases the overall reliability of the generator into which the wedge is installed.

Claims

1. A high speed generator, comprising:

a stator; and

a rotor rotationally mounted within the stator, the rotor including;

a shaft,

at least a first and second pole, each pole extending radially outwardily from the shaft and spaced apart from one another to form an interpole region therebetween, and

a coil support wedge positioned in the interpole region, the support wedge including;

an integrally formed, longitudinally extending main body having at least a first end, a second end, and an outer surface,

a first fluid passageway having an inlet port formed in the support wedge first end and an outlet port formed in the support wedge second end,

a second fluid passageway having an inlet port formed in the support wedge second end and an outlet port formed in the support wedge first end, the second fluid passageway inlet port in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway outlet port,

a third fluid passageway having an inlet port formed in the support wedge first end and extending at least partially into the support wedge to an end,

a fourth fluid passageway having an outlet port formed in the support wedge first end and extending at least partially into the support wedge to an end, the end of the fourth fluid passageway in fluid communication with the end of the third fluid passageway; and

a flow channel coupling the ends of the third and fourth fluid passageways in fluid communication with one another.

2. The generator of claim 1, further comprising:

an end plug scalingly coupled to the support wedge second end, whereby the first fluid passageway outlet port and the second fluid passageway inlet port are sealed from an environment external to the support wedge.

3. The generator of claim 1, wherein the flow channel comprises an orifice formed through the wedge outer surface.

4. The generator of claim 3, further comprising:

an orifice plug scalingly coupled in the orifice.

5. The generator of claim 1, further comprising:

a manifold integrally fanned on the support wedge first end, the manifold including;

a fifth fluid passageway having an inlet formed in a first surface of the manifold and an outlet port in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway, and

a sixth fluid passageway having an inlet formed in the first surface of the manifold and an outlet in fluid communication with the fourth fluid passageway.

6. The generator of claim 5, wherein the filth and sixth fluid passageways are configured substantially perpendicular to the first and fourth fluid passageways, respectively.

7. The generator of claim 5, further comprising:

an end plate coupled to a second surface of the manifold and scalingly covering at least the first and third fluid passageway inlet ports and the second and fourth fluid passageway outlet ports.

8. The generator of claim 7, further comprising:

a slot formed in the second surface of the manifold,

wherein the slot is configured to couple the second fluid passageway outlet port in fluid communication with the third fluid passageway inlet port when the end plate is coupled to the second surface.

9. The generator of claim 1, further comprising:

at least two flow orifices formed in the shaft;

a first tube having a first end inserted in the first fluid passageway inlet port and a second end inserted in one of the flow orifices; and

a second tube having a first end inserted in the fourth fluid passageway outlet port and a second end inserted in another one of the flow orifices.

10. A rotor for use in a high speed generator, comprising:

a shaft;

at least a first and a second pole, each pole extending radially outwardly from the shaft and spaced apart from one another to form an interpole region therebetween; and

a coil support wedge positioned in the inter-pole region, the support wedge including;

an integrally formed, longitudinally extending main body having at least a first end, a second end, and an outer surface,

a first fluid passageway having an inlet port formed in the support wedge first end and an outlet port fanned in the support wedge second end,

a second fluid passageway having an inlet port formed in the support wedge second end and an outlet port fanned in the support wedge first end, the second fluid passageway inlet port in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway outlet port,

a third fluid passageway having an inlet port formed in the support wedge first end and extending at least partially into the support wedge to an end,

a fourth fluid passageway having an outlet port formed in the support wedge first end and extending at least partially into the support wedge to an end, the end of the fourth fluid passageway in fluid communication with the end of the third fluid passageway; and

a flow channel coupling the ends of the third and fourth fluid passageways in fluid communication with one another.

11. The rotor of claim 10, further comprising:

an end plug sealingly coupled to the support wedge and end, whereby the first fluid passageway outlet port and the second fluid passageway inlet port are sealed from an environment external to the support wedge.

12. The rotor of claim 10, wherein the flow channel comprises an orifice formed through the wedge outer surface.

13. The rotor of claim 12, further comprising:

an orifice plug sealingly coupled in the orifice.

14. The rotor of claim 10, further comprising:

a manifold integrally formed on the support wedge first end, the manifold including;

a fifth fluid passageway having an inlet formed in a first surface of the manifold and an outlet port in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway; and

a sixth fluid passageway having an inlet formed in the first surface of the manifold and an outlet in fluid communication with the fourth fluid passageway.

15. The rotor of claim 14, wherein the fifth and sixth fluid passageways are configured substantially perpendicular to the first and fourth fluid passageways, respectively.

16. The rotor of claim 15, farther comprising:

an end plate coupled to a second surface of the manifold and sealingly covering at least the first and third fluid passageway inlet ports and the second and fourth fluid passageway outlet ports.

17. The rotor of claim 16, further comprising:

a slot formed in the second surface of the manifold,

wherein the slot is configured to couple the second fluid passageway outlet port in fluid communication with the third fluid passageway inlet port when the end plate is coupled to the second surface.

18. The rotor of claim 10, further comprising:

at least two flow orifices formed in the shaft;

a first tube having a first end inserted in the first fluid passageway inlet port and a second end inserted in one of the flow orifices; and

a second tube having a first end inserted in the fourth fluid passageway outlet port and a second end inserted in another one of the flow orifices.

19. An interpole coil support wedge for placement in an interpole region that is formed between adjacent poles of a rotor assembly, comprising:

an integrally formed, longitudinally extending main body having at least a first end, a second end, and an outer surface;

a first fluid passageway having an inlet port formed in the support wedge first end and an outlet port formed in the support wedge second end;

a second fluid passageway having an inlet port formed in the support wedge second end and an outlet port formed in the support wedge first end, the second fluid passageway inlet port in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway outlet port;

a third fluid passageway having an inlet port formed in the support wedge first end and extending at least partially into the support wedge to an end;

a fourth fluid passageway having an outlet port formed in the support wedge first end and extending at least partially into the support wedge to an end, the end of the fourth fluid passageway in fluid communication with the end of the third fluid passageway; and

a flow channel coupling the ends of the third and fourth fluid passageways in fluid communication with one another.

20. The support wedge of claim 19, further comprising:

an end plug sealingly coupled to the support wedge second cod, whereby the first fluid passageway outlet port and the second fluid passageway inlet port are sealed from an environment external to the support wedge.

21. The support wedge of claim 19, wherein the flow channel comprises an orifice formed through the wedge outer surface.

22. The support wedge of claim 21, further comprising:

an orifice plug sealingly coupled in the orifice.

23. The support wedge of claim 19, further comprising:

a manifold integrally formed on the support wedge first end, the manifold including;

a fifth fluid passageway having an inlet formed in a first surface of the manifold and an outlet port in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway; and

a sixth fluid passageway having an inlet formed in the first surface of the manifold and an outlet in fluid communication with the fourth fluid passageway.

24. The support wedge of claim 23, wherein the fifth and sixth fluid passageways are configured substantially perpendicular to the first and fourth fluid passageways, respectively.

25. The support wedge of claim 23, further comprising:

an end plate coupled to a second surface of the manifold and scalingly covering at least the first and third fluid passageway inlet ports and the second and fourth fluid passageway outlet ports.

26. The support wedge of claim 25, further comprising:

a slot formed in the second surface of the manifold,

wherein the slot is configured to couple the second fluid passageway outlet port in fluid communication with the third fluid passageway inlet port wherein the end plate is coupled to the second surface.