Corrosion-resistant liquid-cooled armature bar clip-to-strand connection and related method

• US 6,784,573 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Maughan, James Rollins, Lembke, Robert Timothy, Iversen, Alan Michael, Nygard, Robert John
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau N.
• Application Number:
  US10/418,296
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 174/128.1, 310/54, 310/70, 310/52, 310/201, 310/260
• US Class Current: 310/52
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/38 Conductors
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 33/00 Specially-profiled edge portions of workpieces for making soldering or welding connections; Filling the seams formed thereby B23K11/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/0093 Manufacturing or repairing cooling fluid boxes, i.e. terminals of fluid cooled windings ensuring both electrical and fluid connection
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/22 consisting of hollow conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/505 for large machine windings, e.g. bar windings H02K3/51 takes precedence

Abstract

A brazed joint between an armature bar strand package and an end fitting is provided where a plurality of solid strands and a plurality of hollow strands are arranged in an array. The plurality of hollow strands have free ends that extend axially beyond corresponding free ends of the solid strands. A cavity in the end fitting is accessed by an opening, and the free ends of the plurality of hollow and the corresponding free ends of the solid strands extend through the opening into the cavity. A braze alloy joins the free ends of the plurality of hollow strands and the corresponding free ends of the plurality of solid strands to each other and to interior surfaces of the end fitting, wherein the braze alloy does not extend substantially beyond the free ends of the solid strands. A related method of forming the brazed joint is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A brazed joint between an armature bar strand package and an end fitting comprising:

a plurality of solid strands and a plurality of hollow strands arranged in an array and forming the strand package, said plurality of hollow strands adapted to circulate cooling water and having parallel free ends that extend axially beyond corresponding free ends of said solid strands;

a cavity in the end fitting accessed by an opening, said parallel free ends of said plurality of hollow strands and said corresponding parallel free ends of said solid strands extending through said opening and terminating in said cavity such that said free ends of both said solid and hollow strands are exposed to the cooling water; and

a braze alloy joining said free ends of said plurality of hollow strands and said corresponding free ends of said plurality of solid strands to each other and to interior surfaces of said end fitting, wherein said braze alloy, prior to melting, lies flush with said free ends of said solid strands and after melting, said braze alloy does not extend axially to said free ends of said hollow strands.

2. The brazed joint of claim 1 wherein said braze alloy lies flush with said free ends of said solid strands.

3. The brazed joint of claim 1 wherein said array comprises said solid strands and said hollow strands in a ratio of from 1 to 1 to 6 to 1.

4. The brazed joint of claim 1 wherein said array comprises said solid strands and said hollow strands in a ratio of 1 to 1.

5. The brazed joint of claim 1 wherein said end fitting is formed with an opening into a cavity, and wherein a side plug is adapted for compressing said solid and hollow strands within the end fitting.

6. A brazed joint between an armature bar and an end fitting comprising:

an array of solid and hollow strands arranged in an array, said hollow strands adapted to circulate cooling water and having parallel free ends that extend axially beyond corresponding free ends of said solid strands, wherein said solid strands and said hollow strands are present in a ratio of from 1 to 1 to 6 to 1;

a cavity in the end fitting, accessed by an opening, said array extending through said opening with said free ends of said solid and hollow strands terminating within said cavity such that said free ends of both said solid and hollow strands are exposed to the cooling water; and

a braze alloy joining said solid and hollow strands to each other and to internal surfaces of said end fitting, said braze alloy not extending substantially beyond said free ends of said solid strands.