Electromagnetic component for a stator segment of an electrical machine

• US 9,148,040 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Anthony, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez Quinones, Jose
• Application Number:
  US13/530,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20130020888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 310/52, 310/49.43, 310/156.57, 310/216.106, 310/54, 310/58, 310/402, 310/403, 310/418
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/12 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/10 Liquid cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/141 consisting of C-shaped cores
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/185 to outer stators
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2213/06 Machines characterised by the presence of fail safe, back up, redundant or other similar emergency arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2213/12 Machines characterised by the modularity of some components
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/18 Windings for salient poles
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/24 with channels or ducts for cooling medium between the conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/04 Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/197 in which the rotor or stator space is fluid-tight, e.g. to provide for different cooling media for rotor and stator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

An electromagnetic component for mounting in a framework 47 so as to provide a stator segment 20 of an electrical machine 12. The component comprises a magnetic flux guide 32 and an electrical winding 34 for electromagnetic interaction with the magnetic flux guide 32. The component further comprises electrical terminals 52 for connecting the electrical winding 34 to an electrical network 61, at least one fluid pathway 42 for receiving a flow of cooling fluid in normal use, and at least one fluid connector 54 for coupling the fluid pathway 42 to a source of cooling fluid.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic stator segment for mounting in a framework so as to provide a separately removable stator segment of an electrical machine comprising a plurality of modular stator segments, the stator segment comprising:

a magnetic flux guide;

an electrical winding for electromagnetic interaction with the magnetic flux guide;

electrical terminals for connecting the electrical winding to an electrical network;

at least one fluid pathway for receiving a flow of cooling fluid in normal use;

at least one fluid connector for coupling the fluid pathway to a source of cooling fluid; and

a mounting arrangement for cooperating with the framework to mount one or both of the fluid connector and the electrical terminals to a respective electrical or fluid location point of the electrical machine;

wherein the mounting arrangement comprises a rail or channel, which cooperates in use with a corresponding channel or rail of the framework.

2. An electromagnetic component according to claim 1, wherein the component is arranged such that one or both of the fluid connector and the electrical terminals are connected when the component is mounted in the framework.

3. An electromagnetic component according to claim 2, wherein the component is arranged to be connected by a push fit connector.

4. An electromagnetic component according to claim 1, further comprising a casing.

5. An electromagnetic component according to claim 4, wherein the casing is formed of a non-magnetic material.

6. An electromagnetic component according to claim 1, wherein the mounting arrangement is arranged such that the component is mounted by translation in an axial direction relative to a principal axis of a gas turbine engine for installation or removal in the gas turbine engine.

7. An electromagnetic component according to claim 1, wherein the mounting arrangement is arranged such that the component is mounted by translation in a radial direction for installation or removal in a gas turbine engine.

8. An electrical machine comprising a plurality of stator segments as claimed claim 1.

9. An electrical machine according to claim 8, wherein a number of rotor poles and stator segments is chosen so as to minimise the magnetic flux flow between adjacent segments.

10. An electrical machine according to claim 9, comprising a fractional slot, single layer concentrated winding electrical machine.

11. A gas turbine engine comprising an electrical machine according to claim 8.

12. A gas turbine engine according to claim 11, wherein the electrical machine is located within the front bearing housing of the gas turbine engine.

13. A gas turbine engine low pressure spool according to claim 11, wherein one of the stator and the rotor is driven by a spool of the gas turbine engine.