Powder coating for generator stator bar end fitting and method for applying the powder coating

• US 7,417,341 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wang, Yu, Lusted, Roderick Mark, Mall, Waheed Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRAN N
• Application Number:
  US11/594,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20070051779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 310/45, 310/52, 310/54, 310/57, 310/58, 310/60.R, 310/60.A, 310/201, 294/020.3, 294/020.8, 294/021.6, 295/96
• US Class Current: 310/59
• 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 15/12 Impregnating, heating or drying of windings, stators, rotors or machines
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/44 Protection against moisture or chemical attack; Windings specially adapted for operation in liquid or gas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49009 Dynamoelectric machine

Abstract

A method of sealing a generator stator bar and a stator bar end fitting receiving the end including the steps of: brazing the fitting to the end of the stator bar with a braze material; applying a powder coating material to the end of the stator bar in the fitting; and curing the powder coating material to form a barrier coating on the end of the stator bar and the adjoining interior surfaces of the fitting.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising a stator bar end and a fitting member for receiving the stator bar end to define a seal substantially impermeable to liquid, the fitting member having a chamber for receiving a liquid through an opening in the fitting member and in communication with hollow strands forming at least a portion of said stator bar end for flow of the liquid through the hollow strands, wherein at least a portion of an interior surface of said chamber has a polymer layer powder coated and cured on a surface thereof.

2. An assembly as in claim 1, wherein said polymer layer extends substantially continuously over a junction of said fitting member and said stator bar end.

3. An assembly as in claim 1, wherein said polymer comprises a thermosetting epoxy.

4. An assembly as in claim 1, wherein the polymer layer has a thickness of about 0.002 to about 0.050 inches.

5. An assembly as in claim 4, wherein the polymer layer has a thickness of about 0.018 to about 0.020 inches.

6. A fitting member for a stator bar of a generator comprising:

a fitting housing having a collar at a first end and a cooling fluid coupling at an opposite end, wherein said collar is configured to be brazed to an end of the stator bar;

a chamber extending from the first end to the opposite end of the fitting housing; and

a polymer layer powder coated on an end of the stator bar in said chamber and forming a seal between the stator bar end and a remaining portion of the chamber.

7. A fitting member as in claim 6, wherein said polymer layer extends substantially continuously over a junction of said fitting housing and said stator bar end.

8. A fitting member as in claim 6, wherein said polymer comprises a thermosetting epoxy.

9. A fitting member as in claim 6, wherein the polymer layer has a thickness of about 0.002 to about 0.050 inches.

10. A fitting member as in claim 9, wherein the polymer layer has a thickness of about 0.018 to about 0.020 inches.