Radially clamped ball and socket series and phase connector

• US 7,321,179 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
• Inventors: Ward, Robert Alan, Renda, Anthony Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRAN N
• Application Number:
  US11/150,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 30/71, 30/91, 302/60, 302/70, 439/798, 439/782, 439/883
• US Class Current: 310/260
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/38 utilising a clamping member acted on by screw or nut H01R4/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/12 arranged in slots
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/505 for large machine windings, e.g. bar windings H02K3/51 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention comprises a U-bolt connector for connecting pairs of stator coil headers 2 with ball headers 6 comprising, a U-bolt 16, top capping pieces 18,20, bottom capping pieces 20, 21, a variable piece 24, and a tightening mechanism 26. The top capping pieces 18,20 secure one ball connector in the pair of stator coil headers and the bottom capping pieces 20, 21 secure another ball connector in the pair of stator coil headers, while the variable piece 24 is disposed between the top capping pieces and the bottom capping pieces. The U-bolt 16 embraces the top capping pieces 18,20, the bottom capping pieces 20, 21 and the variable piece 24, where the tightening mechanism 26 holds the U-bolt tightly to the top capping pieces, the bottom capping pieces and the variable piece and is located at the end of the U-bolt.

Claims

1. A U-bolt connector for connecting pairs of stator coil headers with ball headers comprising:

a U-bolt;

top capping pieces;

bottom capping pieces;

a variable piece; and

a tightening mechanism;

wherein said top capping pieces secure one ball connector in said pair of stator coil headers and said bottom capping pieces secure another ball connector in said pair of stator coil headers;

wherein said variable piece is disposed between said top capping pieces and said bottom capping pieces;

wherein said U-bolt embraces said top capping pieces, said bottom capping pieces and said variable piece;

wherein said tightening mechanism holds said U-bolt tightly to said top capping pieces, said bottom capping pieces and said variable piece and is located at the end of said U-bolt.

2. The U-bolt connector of claim 1, wherein said U-bolt, said top capping pieces and said bottom capping pieces are of a standard size for each type of stator coil to which said pairs of stator coil headers are parts of.

3. The U-bolt connector of claim 1, wherein said tightening mechanism comprises one of bolts, levers, cranks, cams, removable hydraulic tensioners, and slides.

4. The U-bolt connector of claim 1, wherein a bottom plate is located at the bottom of said U-bolt connector.

5. The U-bolt connector of claim 1, wherein an additional tightening mechanism is present at the end of said U-bolt.

6. The U-bolt connector of claim 5, wherein said additional tightening mechanism is a jack bolt and bottom plate.

7. The U-bolt connector of claim 1, wherein said variable piece comprises a stack of variable pieces.

8. The U-bolt connector of claim 1, wherein said U-bolt connector is connected to said stator coil headers upside-down.

9. The U-bolt connector of claim 1, wherein said top capping pieces, said bottom capping pieces and said variable piece are interlocking.

10. A variable connector for or connecting pairs of stator ball headers comprising;

a top cap;

two common center sections;

a bottom cap;

a variable piece;

a U-bolt; and

a tightening mechanism;

wherein said top cap and one of said two common center sections secure one of said pair of stator ball headers, and wherein said bottom cap and another of said two common center sections secure the other of said pair of stator ball headers;

wherein said variable piece is disposed between said two common center sections;

wherein said U-bolt embraces said top cap, said two common center sections, said variable piece and said bottom cap;

wherein said tightening mechanism holds said U-bolt tightly to said top cap, said two common center sections, said variable piece and said bottom cap and is located at the end of said U-bolt;

wherein changing said variable piece adjusts the size of said variable connector.

11. The variable connector of claim 10, wherein said variable piece comprises a plurality of pieces.

12. The variable connector of claim 10, wherein said tightening mechanism comprises a nut and compressible washer at the two terminuses of said U-bolt.

13. The variable connector of claim 10, wherein said U-bolt further embraces a bottom plate.

14. The variable connector of claim 10, wherein said variable section and one of said two common center sections are a single unit.