Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation

Siemens Energy, Inc.

Siemens Power Generation, Inc.

William Cannon Gardner

Randy Edward Whitener

Jiping Zhang

Peter Jon Clayton

Kevin Michael Light

Thomas Leonard Schuchart

Stephen Thomas Soto

Justin Nathaniel England

Phillip R Keaton

Raul Ricardo Rico

Larry L Zeller

Calvin L Paris

David J Shore

Henk vanRavenswaay

Henk Roel Jan Van Ravenswaay

Mark Steven Peavy

A rotor pole crossover connection joint for use in a rotating electrical machine is disclosed. The connection joint integrally couples a bottom rotor coil strap to a rotor pole crossover connector with a single piece connector that reduces, distributes or otherwise tolerates stress concentrations in the connector. A corresponding method of forming a rotor pole crossover connection and a rotor assembly including a rotor pole crossover connection joint are also disclosed.

Rotor pole crossover connection

An electric machine includes a shaft and a rotor carried by the shaft and having a rotor body, a plurality of rotor windings carried by the rotor body, and a retaining ring surrounding the rotor windings adjacent an end of the rotor body. An electrically conductive stud extends radially outwardly from the shaft adjacent the end of the rotor body. An electrically conductive member includes a first end section coupled to the electrically conductive stud and having a loop shape, a second end section coupled to a corresponding one of the rotor windings, and an intermediate section between the first and second end sections. An insulation assembly is between the shaft and the retaining ring and surrounding the intermediate section to define at least one gap with adjacent portions thereof.

Electric machine having electrically conductive member and associated insulation assembly and related methods

The present invention facilitates keeping the slot cellsof a generator rotor from migrating during operation of the rotor. The present invention utilizes a slot cell catchthat hold slot cells, both U-shaped and L-shaped, in position within a rotor body slot. The catchlimits movement to a pre-determined amount, usually only a fraction of an inch. The catch can withstand the forces of rotor in operation, and the limitation in migration reduces the need for inspection on the slot cellsas well as lowering the risk of grounds being created between the windings and the rotor body

Unified assembly for slot cell insulation

An improved generator rotor () and a method of repairing an existing generator rotor () are disclosed. Methods consistent with the present invention provide techniques for repairing existing stress-damaged rotors () to remove stress-induced cracks (), without requiring new retaining rings (), to significantly extend the useful life of a generator without the cost and complexity of conventional repair techniques. Improved generator rotors () consistent with the present invention provide a tooth-top design that is more resistant to stress-induced cracking than conventional designs, resulting in new generators with longer useful lives.

Generator rotor

A joined assembly and kit for a rotor of a dynamoelectric machine are provided. The joined assembly is part of a conductive path generally extending from a radially inward section of the rotor to a radially outward section of the rotor. The conductive path includes a flexible connecting member from the radially inward section of the rotor to the joined assembly. The joined assembly includes a stacked winding energizable in response to excitation current carried by the conductive path to a top of the stacked winding located at the radially outward section of the rotor. The joined assembly further includes a connector with a first leg providing an electrically insulated mechanical point of contact relative to a bottom of the stacked winding. A second leg is electromechanically connected to the top of the stacked winding, and a third leg provides an electrically conductive path between the first and the second legs, wherein the stacked winding is captured by the connector to constitute such joined assembly, which is jointly movable in response to axial and/or radial forces that may develop during operation of the dynamoelectric machine.

Generator rotor conductive path for connecting to a top-turn of a winding

Method for repairing generator rotor

A dynamoelectric machine includes a rotor assembly and a main lead insulating assembly . The rotor assembly includes a shaft having a main lead receiving recess in its outer surface, a rotor mounted to the shaft , and a stator surrounding the rotor . The main lead insulating assembly lines the main lead receiving recess and includes at least one insulating bottom block axially secured to the shaft and at least one insulating sidewall block secured to the at least one insulating bottom block with at least one interlocking joint . A main lead is received in the main lead insulating assembly

Dynamoelectric machine including insulator and associated methods

A generator rotor lead path configuration includes a plurality of electrically conductive components attached to each other. These components may include an axial lead, a flexible connector, an intermediary, a radial lead, and/or a J-strap. The improved lead path inhibits, if not prevents, lead path failure. A method of assembling or fitting the lead path into a generator is also provided, as well as a method of replacing or retrofitting a lead path that is susceptible to failure with the improved lead path configuration. Assistance in determining causes of lead path failure and ways to overcome lead path failure are also provided.

Generator rotor lead path configuration

A method and associated apparatus (,) are provided for tightening slot wedges (,) of a generator rotor. The method preferably includes the steps of positioning an electrically-conductive slot tightening member (,) within a recess (,) formed in at least one slot filler member (,) positioned within a rotor slot (,) and positioning at least two end portions of electrically-conductive slot wedges (,) to overlie the recess (,) and abuttingly contact at least portions of the slot tightening member (,) so that an electrically-conductive path is provided from one of the at least two end portions of the slot wedges (,), through the slot tightening member (,), and to another one of the at least two end portions of the slot wedges (,). The apparatus (,) preferably includes at least one slot filler member (,) for positioning within a rotor slot (,). The at least one slot filler member (,) has a recess (,) formed therein. An electrically-conductive slot tightening member (,) is positioned within the recess (,), and at least two electrically-conductive slot wedges (,) are positioned so that respective end portions thereof overlie the recess (,) so that an electrically-conductive path is provided from one of the respective end portions of the slot wedges (,), through the slot tightening member (,), and to another one of the respective end portions of the slot wedges (,).

Generator rotor slot tightening method and associated apparatus

An electrical generator having a keyway for a retaining ring key formed in only the pole portion of the rotor and not in the tooth region of the rotor, and a method of repairing an electrical generator by forming such a keyway. The present invention lengthens the operating life of the rotor by eliminating a stress-concentrating discontinuity and by reducing the loads in the highly stressed tooth region of the rotor.

Generator with retaining ring key that reduces rotor tooth stress

A method for repairing stress-induced cracks in a generator rotor keyway is disclosed. The method comprises disassembling the retaining ring and ring key from the rotor, and machining away the crack and surrounding rotor metal from the rotor keyway. The machining step may be performed in a lathe or milling machine. This method diminishes the labor cost, equipment cost, and down time required for crack repairs because the slot contents may remain in the slots during the entire repair process. A spacer ring and an enlarged key that may be inserted into the machined, enlarged keyway are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Rock Hill, SC, United States of America

William Cannon Gardner