Abstract: An electro-dynamic machine has a rotor and stator with a gap therebetween. The machine has a frame defining a hollow interior with end cavities on axially opposite ends of the frame. A gas circulating system has an inlet that supplies high pressure gas to the frame interior and an outlet to collect gas passing therethrough. A liquid coolant circulating system has an inlet that supplies coolant to the frame interior and an outlet that collects coolant passing therethrough. The coolant inlet and gas inlet are generally located on the frame in a manner to allow coolant from the coolant inlet to flow with gas from the gas inlet to the gap. The coolant outlet and gas outlet are generally located on the frame in a manner to allow the coolant to be separated from the gas with the separated coolant and gas collected for circulation through their respective circulating systems.

Abstract: An electric machine has a stator that comprises a plurality of laminations with teeth and cooling apertures about a central opening. When the laminations are stacked to form the stator core, the teeth of adjacent laminations cooperate to form slots disposed circumferentially about the central opening that are configured to receive a plurality of stator windings, and the cooling apertures angularly spaced about the central opening cooperate to form cooling manifolds that extend along a length of the stator core. A portion of the laminations has their cooling apertures offset from other laminations in the stack in a manner to create a plurality of flow paths transverse to the manifolds. The transverse flow paths extend angularly between laminations and adjacent manifolds. A header assembly directs flow into and out of the stator core.

Abstract: An electric machine has a stator that comprises a plurality of laminations with an outer periphery, and each of the laminations has teeth about a central opening such that when the laminations are stacked side-by side to form the stator core, the plurality of teeth of adjacent laminations cooperate to form slots disposed circumferentially about the central opening that are configured to receive a plurality of stator windings. Each of the laminations has a plurality of cooling apertures angularly spaced about the central opening. The cooling apertures of adjacent laminations cooperate to form cooling manifolds that extend along a length of the stator core. A portion of the laminations has their cooling apertures offset from other laminations in the stack in a manner to create a plurality of flow path transverse to the manifolds and angularly between laminations and adjacent manifolds.

Abstract: An electro-dynamic machine has a rotor and stator with a gap therebetween. The machine has a frame defining a hollow interior with end cavities on axially opposite ends of the frame. A gas circulating system has an inlet that supplies high pressure gas to the frame interior and an outlet to collect gas passing therethrough. A liquid coolant circulating system has an inlet that supplies coolant to the frame interior and an outlet that collects coolant passing therethrough. The coolant inlet and gas inlet are generally located on the frame in a manner to allow coolant from the coolant inlet to flow with gas from the gas inlet to the gap. The coolant outlet and gas outlet are generally located on the frame in a manner to allow the coolant to be separated from the gas with the separated coolant and gas collected for circulation through their respective circulating systems.

Abstract: An electric machine has a stator that comprises a plurality of laminations with an outer periphery, and each of the laminations has teeth about a central opening such that when the laminations are stacked side-by side to form the stator core, the plurality of teeth of adjacent laminations cooperate to form slots disposed circumferentially about the central opening that are configured to receive a plurality of stator windings. Each of the laminations has a plurality of cooling apertures angularly spaced about the central opening. The cooling apertures of adjacent laminations cooperate to form cooling manifolds that extend along a length of the stator core. A portion of the laminations has their cooling apertures offset from other laminations in the stack in a manner to create a plurality of flow path transverse to the manifolds and angularly between laminations and adjacent manifolds.

Abstract: An electric machine has a stator that comprises a plurality of laminations with teeth and cooling apertures about a central opening. When the laminations are stacked to form the stator core, the teeth of adjacent laminations cooperate to form slots disposed circumferentially about the central opening that are configured to receive a plurality of stator windings, and the cooling apertures angularly spaced about the central opening cooperate to form cooling manifolds that extend along a length of the stator core. A portion of the laminations has their cooling apertures offset from other laminations in the stack in a manner to create a plurality of flow paths transverse to the manifolds. The transverse flow paths extend angularly between laminations and adjacent manifolds. A header assembly directs flow into and out of the stator core.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a rotor assembly. The exemplary rotor assembly includes a plurality of rotor laminations, which cooperate to form a rotor core, capped at each end by end members. Extending through the rotor core and the end members, a plurality of rotor channels is configured to receive electrically conductive members therethrough. Each of the electrically conductive members has external portions, which extend beyond the rotor channel, and an interior portion that is housed within the rotor channel. By flexing the external portions, a compression force that secures the laminations and the end members with respect to one another may be provided. Advantageously, the external portions may be fused to one another and/or to the end members. As one example, the external portions may be fused through the introduction of a molten metal into the end member.

Abstract: An extended stator core in a motor/generator can be utilized to mitigate losses in end regions of the core and a frame of the motor/generator. To mitigate the losses, the stator core can be extended to a length substantially equivalent to or greater than a length of a magnetically active portion in the rotor. Alternatively, a conventional length stator core can be utilized with a shortened magnetically active portion to mitigate losses in the motor/generator. To mitigate the losses in the core caused by stator winding, the core can be extended to a length substantially equivalent or greater than a length of stator winding.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the present technique provides a rotor assembly formed of a plurality of rotor laminations that are bonded to one another. Specifically, the rotor laminations are bonded to one another via a bonding agent disposed between end surfaces of adjacent rotor laminations. Advantageously, the bonding of the rotor laminations increases the overall stiffness of the rotor assembly, thereby facilitating high-speed operation. Moreover, the bonding of the rotor laminations increases the consistency in construction of the rotor assembly, thereby facilitating more accurate modeling of the rotor assembly.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a rotor assembly. The exemplary rotor assembly includes a plurality of rotor laminations, which cooperate to form a rotor core, capped at each end by end members. Extending through the rotor core and the end members, a plurality of rotor channels is configured to receive electrically conductive members therethrough. Each of the electrically conductive members has external portions, which extend beyond the rotor channel, and an interior portion that is housed within the rotor channel. By flexing the external portions, a compression force that secures the laminations and the end members with respect to one another may be provided. Advantageously, the external portions may be fused to one another and/or to the end members. As one example, the external portions may be fused through the introduction of a molten metal into the end member.

Abstract: An extended stator core in a motor/generator can be utilized to mitigate losses in end regions of the core and a frame of the motor/generator. To mitigate the losses, the stator core can be extended to a length substantially equivalent to or greater than a length of a magnetically active portion in the rotor. Alternatively, a conventional length stator core can be utilized with a shortened magnetically active portion to mitigate losses in the motor/generator. To mitigate the losses in the core caused by stator winding, the core can be extended to a length substantially equivalent or greater than a length of stator winding.

Abstract: A system for cooling a superconductor device includes a cryocooler located in a stationary reference frame and a closed circulation system external to the cryocooler. The closed circulation system interfaces the stationary reference frame with a rotating reference frame in which the superconductor device is located. A method of cooling a superconductor device includes locating a cryocooler in a stationary reference frame, and transferring heat from a superconductor device located in a rotating reference frame to the cryocooler through a closed circulation system external to the cryocooler. The closed circulation system interfaces the stationary reference frame with the rotating reference frame.

Abstract: A torsional joint assembly and method of making same having members of formed of dissimilar materials bonded together at calculated angles to result in essentially singularity-free joints.

Abstract: An extended stator core in a motor/generator can be utilized to mitigate losses in end regions of the core and a frame of the motor/generator. To mitigate the losses, the stator core can be extended to a length substantially equivalent to or greater than a length of a magnetically active portion in the rotor. Alternatively, a conventional length stator core can be utilized with a shortened magnetically active portion to mitigate losses in the motor/generator. To mitigate the losses in the core caused by stator winding, the core can be extended to a length substantially equivalent or greater than a length of stator winding.

Abstract: A torsional joint assembly and method of making same having members of formed of dissimilar materials bonded together at calculated angles to result in essentially singularity-free joints.

Abstract: A rotating coupling allows a vacuum chamber in the rotor of a superconducting electric motor to be continually pumped out. The coupling consists of at least two concentric portions, one of which is allowed to rotate and the other of which is stationary. The coupling is located on the non-drive end of the rotor and is connected to a coolant supply and a vacuum pump. The coupling is smaller in diameter than the shaft of the rotor so that the shaft can be increased in diameter without having to increase the size of the vacuum seal.

Abstract: A system for cooling a superconductor device includes a cryocooler located in a stationary reference frame and a closed circulation system external to the cryocooler. The closed circulation system interfaces the stationary reference frame with a rotating reference frame in which the superconductor device is located. A method of cooling a superconductor device includes locating a cryocooler in a stationary reference frame, and transferring heat from a superconductor device located in a rotating reference frame to the cryocooler through a closed circulation system external to the cryocooler. The closed circulation system interfaces the stationary reference frame with the rotating reference frame.

Abstract: A rotating coupling allows a vacuum chamber in the rotor of a superconducting electric motor to be continually pumped out. The coupling consists of at least two concentric portions, one of which is allowed to rotate and the other of which is stationary. The coupling is located on the non-drive end of the rotor and is connected to a coolant supply and a vacuum pump. The coupling is smaller in diameter than the shaft of the rotor so that the shaft can be increased in diameter without having to increase the size of the vacuum seal.

Abstract: A system for cooling a superconductor device includes a cryocooler located in a stationary reference frame and a closed circulation system external to the cryocooler. The closed circulation system interfaces the stationary reference frame with a rotating reference frame in which the superconductor device is located. A method of cooling a superconductor device includes locating a cryocooler in a stationary reference frame, and transferring heat from a superconductor device located in a rotating reference frame to the cryocooler through a closed circulation system external to the cryocooler. The closed circulation system interfaces the stationary reference frame with the rotating reference frame.

Abstract: A cryogenic rotary transfer coupling for a superconducting electromechanical rotating machine delivers supply flow from a cryogenic cooler to a rotor so as to cool the superconducting coils. The flow is then returned to the cooler and recirculated throughout the system. The structure includes a relative motion gap between stationary and rotating portions of the coupling. The gap is configured to greatly simplify the manufacture of the coupling while 1) being compatible with cooling systems having both cool return flow capability and warm return flow capability and 2) maintaining a high efficiency for the coupling.