Rotor retaining ring system

Abstract

A retaining ring system for a rotating electrical device such as a generator, motor, or condenser, including an auxiliary ring adapted to be removably mounted around the end portion of the rotor of the rotating electrical device bridging the rotor winding slots, and a retaining ring removably mounted around the first ring. The retaining ring supports the amortisseur and the field end windings of the rotating electrical device. An external first taper defined by the auxiliary ring and an internal second taper defined by the retaining ring provide mating, continuous first and second tapered surfaces. The assembly process is begun by sliding or jacking the auxiliary ring onto the rotor. A high pressure feed fluid line defined in the auxiliary ring includes an inlet port and an outlet port opening at a circumferential groove between the mating first and second tapered surfaces between O-ring seals. For either assembly or disassembly, a high pressure fluid is sent between the first and second tapered surfaces sufficient to decrease the diametrical dimension of the first tapered surface of the auxiliary ring and to increase the diametrical dimensions of the second tapered surface of the retaining ring and thus to separate the auxiliary ring from the retaining ring devoid of the application of heat and also thus to allow either the mounting of the retaining ring to the auxiliary ring devoid of the application of heat or the disassembly of the retaining ring from the rotor devoid of the application of heat.