Method and device for testing the tightness of an electric machine stator core

• US 9,148,045 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd. (Alstom SA)
• Inventors: Visintin, Massimiliano
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunlap, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US13/662,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20130047748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 73/120.9, 73/121.2, 738/658, 180/9.21, 180/9.48
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 17/02 for measuring thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/04 specially adapted for measuring length or width of objects while moving
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/144 Measuring play on bearings
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/16 for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. by resistance strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 7/00 Vibration-testing of structures; Shock-testing of structures G01M9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 7/08 Shock-testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0039 Hammer or pendulum
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0617 Electrical or magnetic indicating, recording or sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0658 using acoustic or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/265 by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/00 Methods or apparatus specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining or repairing of dynamo-electric machines
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/02 of stator or rotor bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2201/03 Machines characterised by aspects of the air-gap between rotor and stator

Abstract

A method is provided for testing the tightness of an electric machine stator core includes: introducing a test instrument that is connected to a movable support into an air gap between a stator core and a rotor, locally placing the test instrument and locally testing defined zones of the generator stator core. A device for carrying out the method is also provided.

Claims

1. Method for testing the tightness of an electric machine stator core, wherein the electric machine comprises a stator core formed of iron sheets and a rotor defining an air gap therebetween, the method comprising:

introducing a test instrument connected to a support into the air gap, the test instrument including a plate, the support including a guide circumferentially connected to an outer face of the rotor core of the electric machine, and fixed in a longitudinal axial direction of the rotor core, and a cart being movable along the guide to reach circumferential positions of the stator core, the cart including a longitudinally extendable arm projecting along the longitudinal axis of the rotor core perpendicular to the guide, the test instrument being arranged on a terminal end of the arm distal to the cart;

locally placing the test instrument in a zone of the stator core; and

locally testing defined zones of the stator core by rotating the plate arranged on the arm about an axis defined within the plate between an insertion position and a testing position, from which the plate is introduced between the stator core iron sheets.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein tests are repeated a number of times at different axial and/or angular positions.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate is elliptical.

4. Device, for testing the tightness of a stator core, formed of iron sheets, of an electric machine, comprising:

a support, insertable in an air gap between an electric generator stator core and a rotor, the support including a guide circumferentially connected to an outer face of the rotor core of the electric machine, and fixed in a longitudinal axial direction of the rotor core and a cart movable along the guide to reach circumferential positions of the stator core;

a test instrument carried by the cart, the test instrument being locally positionable to locally test defined zones of the generator stator core wherein the cart is connected to a longitudinally extendable arm that carries the test instrument, the arm projecting along the longitudinal axis of the rotor core perpendicular to the guide and the test instrument being arranged on a terminal end of the arm distal to the cart; and

a plate arranged on the arm and configured to be rotatable about an axis defined within the plate, between an insertion position and a testing position, the plate configured to be introduced between the stator core iron sheets.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said support is arranged to place the test instrument over at least half of an axial length of the gap.

6. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plate is elliptical.

7. Method for testing the tightness of an electric machine stator core, wherein the electric machine comprises a stator core formed of iron sheets and a rotor defining an air gap therebetween, the method comprising:

introducing a test instrument connected to a support into the air gap, the test instrument including a plate, the support including a guide circumferentially connected to an outer face of the rotor core of the electric machine, and fixed in a longitudinal axial direction of the rotor core, and a cart being movable along the guide, the cart including an arm projecting along the longitudinal axis of the rotor core perpendicular to the frame, the test instrument being arranged on a terminal end of the arm distal to the cart;

locally placing the test instrument in a zone of the stator core; and

locally testing defined zones of the stator core by rotating the plate arranged on the arm about an axis defined within the plate between an insertion position and a testing position, from which the plate is introduced between the stator core iron sheets.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plate is elliptical.