Abstract: A drive coupling configured to operate with an electrical power system of a machine is disclosed. The drive coupling includes a planetary gear system including a ring gear configured to receive input from an engine and a sun gear configured to drive a drive shaft of a generator, a plurality of planet gears each arranged on a planet gear shaft, the plurality of planet gears meshing with the sun gear and the ring gear, and a planet carrier includes a first planet carrier deck and a second carrier deck having an open portion therebetween to receive the sun gear and the plurality of planet gears. The drive coupling further includes a bearing arranged in the planet carrier configured to support the drive shaft of the generator.

Abstract: A liquid-cooled stator and rotor assembly for use as an electric motor or generator includes a housing having a first end bell, a second end bell, and at least one fluid orifice in the first end bell. A stator is fixed within a stator cavity of the housing. The stator includes a stator core and a plurality of windings for conducting a flow of electricity. A rotor for magnetically interacting with the stator is also included, the rotor being rotatably mounted between the first end bell and the second end bell within a rotor cavity. A first sealing ring and a second sealing ring are provided to form a fluid seal against the respective end bells and against a portion of the stator such that a cooling fluid entering the stator cavity via the orifice does not enter the rotor cavity.

Abstract: A machine, such as an electrically powered track type tractor, includes an engine configured to rotate a generator. A drive coupling has a first element fixed to rotate with the engine and a second element fixed to rotate with the generator. The first and second elements are configured to rotationally couple together for transmitting torque from the engine to the generator, but configured to allow relative slip between the first and second elements. The relative slip may occur during engine start up as rotational rates pass through a range associated with the excitation of resonance torsional vibrations. A centering ring has a radial outer surface in contact with the first element and a radial inner surface in contact with the second element. The centering ring assists in avoiding an off center drive coupling arrangement while electrically isolating the first element from the second element.

Abstract: A liquid-cooled stator and rotor assembly for use as an electric motor or generator includes a housing having a first end bell, a second end bell, and at least one fluid orifice in the first end bell. A stator is fixed within a stator cavity of the housing. The stator includes a stator core and a plurality of windings for conducting a flow of electricity. A rotor for magnetically interacting with the stator is also included, the rotor being rotatably mounted between the first end bell and the second end bell within a rotor cavity. A first sealing ring and a second sealing ring are provided to form a fluid seal against the respective end bells and against a portion of the stator such that a cooling fluid entering the stator cavity via the orifice does not enter the rotor cavity.

Abstract: A machine, such as an electrically powered track type tractor, includes an engine configured to rotate a generator. A drive coupling has a first element fixed to rotate with the engine and a second element fixed to rotate with the generator. The first and second elements are configured to rotationally couple together for transmitting torque from the engine to the generator, but configured to allow relative slip between the first and second elements. The relative slip may occur during engine start up as rotational rates pass through a range associated with the excitation of resonance torsional vibrations. A centering ring has a radial outer surface in contact with the first element and a radial inner surface in contact with the second element. The centering ring assists in avoiding an off center drive coupling arrangement while electrically isolating the first element from the second element.

Abstract: An electric motor/generator cooling mechanism is presented. The cooling mechanism includes a hollow cooling jacket having an inner and outer coaxial surface, where the inner surface defines a generally cylindric cavity for receiving a stator in heat transference contact with the inner surface, and the outer surface has a cast spiral groove section with jogged cooling passages. The disclosure includes an outer case having one or more inlet ports, an outlet port, and a vent for purging air, cooling fluid flowingly encased between the cooling jacket and the outer case, flowing through the jogged cooling passages, and a flanged end surface on an end of the outer case for boltingly connecting the cooling jacket to the outer case.

Abstract: A method of lubricating a clutch disposed on a driven-side of a flywheel that is connected to a crankshaft includes rotating the flywheel and providing a flow of lubrication fluid spilling onto a driver-side of the flywheel. At least a portion of the flow of lubrication fluid is received through at least one passageway extending through the flywheel and expelled from the passageway on a driven-side of the flywheel. A clutch disposed on the driven-side of the flywheel is lubricated with the expelled lubrication fluid.

Abstract: A flywheel includes a hub portion concentrically defined around a center of the flywheel. A body portion located peripherally around the hub portion has a driver-side face and a driven-side face. A plurality of passageways in the body portion extend through the flywheel and fluidly connect the driver-side face with the driven-side face. Each of the plurality of passageways is adapted to receive a flow of lubricant spilling onto the driver-side of the body portion when the flywheel is rotating, and to expel lubricant out of the driven-side face of the body portion.

Abstract: An electric motor/generator cooling mechanism is presented. The cooling mechanism includes a hollow cooling jacket having an inner and outer coaxial surface, where the inner surface defines a generally cylindric cavity for receiving a stator in heat transference contact with the inner surface, and the outer surface has a cast spiral groove section with jogged cooling passages. The disclosure includes an outer case having one or more inlet ports, an outlet port, and a vent for purging air, cooling fluid flowingly encased between the cooling jacket and the outer case, flowing through the jogged cooling passages, and a flanged end surface on an end of the outer case for boltingly connecting the cooling jacket to the outer case.

Abstract: A flywheel includes a hub portion concentrically defined around a center of the flywheel. A body portion located peripherally around the hub portion has a driver-side face and a driven-side face. A plurality of passageways in the body portion extend through the flywheel and fluidly connect the driver-side face with the driven-side face. Each of the plurality of passageways is adapted to receive a flow of lubricant spilling onto the driver-side of the body portion when the flywheel is rotating, and to expel lubricant out of the driven-side face of the body portion.

Abstract: A machine and electrical power system includes a generator having a speed range that includes a resonance speed associated with resonance vibrations of the system. A drive coupling is disposed between the generator and an engine configured to rotate the generator and is further configured to transmit torque from the engine to the generator, the drive coupling being configured to allow relative slip between first and second elements when the generator is rotated at its resonance speed. A machine operation method includes rotating a generator with an engine, and generating resonance vibrations of at least one of the engine and the generator by rotating the generator at a resonance speed. The method further includes inhibiting transmitting resonance vibrations between the generator and the engine by allowing relative rotational slip within a drive coupling disposed between the engine and the generator.