System and method for end turn retention on a high speed generator rotor

• US 6,849,987 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Doherty, Kieran P. J., Lengel, Jim, Xu, Mingzhou, Tornquist, Gerald E., McDowall, Gregor J. S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hanh, Nguyen N
• Application Number:
  US10/754,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 310/270, 310/260, 310/59, 310/216, 310/218
• US Class Current: 310/270
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/24 Rotor cores with salient poles ; Variable reluctance rotors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/527 applicable to rotors only

Abstract

A new improved system and method for end turn retention for wires on a generator rotor for use in high speed applications such as in aircraft applications. The rotor includes a shaft, spokes, supports, and wire winding coils, and at least one cap device. The spokes extend radially outwardly from the shaft, and each support is positioned on an associated spoke. Each coil wraps around an associated support and spoke. Each cap device is coupled to an end of its associated spoke to prevent the windings from moving radially outwardly while the rotor spins. Each support is coupled to an associated cap device, and includes at its radially inward edge a flange protruding away from the respective spoke. Because of the flange and the cap device, slack of the wire coil between the flange and the associated cap is taken up.

Claims

1. An assembly for implementation on a spoke extending outward radially from a shaft of a rotor, the assembly comprising:

a support configured to be positioned on the spoke, the support including;

a U-shaped main portion having an outer face and an inner face, wherein the support is configured so that the inner face of the support is in physical contact with the spoke when the support is supported thereby, and wherein the support is further configured to support a wire coil that is wrapped around the support along the outer face,

first and second sides of the U-shaped main portion that are substantially transverse with respect to the outer and inner faces and also with respect to a channel along the loner face through the U-shaped main portion, the channel being configured to receive the spoke, and

a flange proximate the first side of the U-shaped main portion and extending outward away from the channel beyond the outer face, wherein the support is configured to be positioned on the spoke so that the first side is closer to the shall than the second side and

an end cap coupled to the support, the end cap including;

a physical barrier,

a first fastening element by which the end cap is coupled to the spoke, and

a second fastening element by which the end cap is coupled to the support.

2. A support for implementation on a spoke extending outward radially from a shall of a rotor, the support comprising:

a U-shaped main portion having an outer face and an inner face, wherein the support is configured so that the inner face of the support is in physical contact with the spoke when the support is supported thereby, and wherein the support is further configured to support a wire coil that is wrapped around the support along the outer face;

first and second sides of the U-shaped main portion that are substantially transverse with respect to the outer and inner faces and also with respect to a channel along the inner face through the U-shaped main portion, the channel being configured to receive the spoke; and

a flange proximate the first side of the U-shaped main portion end extending outward away from the channel beyond the outer face;

wherein the support is configured to be positioned on the spoke so that the first side is closer to the shaft than the second side; and

wherein the support is configured to allow for coupling of the support to a cap hat.

3. An end cap device for implementation in a rotor, wherein the rotor includes an appendage extending outward radially from a shaft of the rotor and further includes a support positioned on the appendage, wherein the support is capable of supporting end turns of a wire coil of the rotor and includes a flange at an inner radial position that limits movement of the end turns radially inward toward the shaft, the end cap device comprising:

a physical barrier that does not form part of the support, the physical barrier including at least a first fastener opening and a second fastener opening extending therethrough;

a first fastener configured to extend through the first fastener opening and couple the end cap device to the appendage; and

a second fastener configured to extend through the second fastener opening and couple the end cap device to the support.