Abstract: A rotor in an electrical machine, the rotor comprises a magnetic core having at least two poles, a plurality of winding assemblies, one for each pole, and a cylindrical tube enclosing the magnetic core and winding assemblies, the tube including a plurality of rings having different axial widths. Each of the rings is axially spaced apart from an adjacent ring. The respective axial widths of the rings become progressively smaller than the axial width of the ring axially located at or near the center of the tube as the axial distance away from the center of the tube increases. A plurality of winding braces are coupled to at least one of the winding assemblies, the winding braces having different radial heights.

Abstract: Locking strips secure winding modules to a rotor. The locking strips have paired deep and shallow recesses along a long edge and are disposed in a groove along the rotor. Upon assembly of the winding module, the deep recesses of the locking strips are aligned, enabling the winding supports of the winding module to engage in the deep recesses. The strips are then axially displaced in opposite directions relative to one another to engage portions of the strips within grooves of the winding supports and edges of the shallow recesses to straddle the winding supports. Pins are received in aligned holes of the locking strips in the locked configuration. Consequently, the modular winding is retained against axial and peripheral movement and outward displacement along a parallel face of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: The rotor body of an electrical machine has end windings supported by a plurality of circumferentially spaced rakes having tines between which the end windings pass in an arcuate pattern from and for return to an axial orientation within the rotor body. The rakes are supported on axial beams secured to the rotor body. An end disk is secured at the opposite ends of the beams and to a shield overlying the end windings. The rakes, beams and end disks provide axial end winding restraint. The end disk is weighted at selected circumferential locations to resist tendencies of the end windings to distort, e.g., toward an elliptical or non-concentric configuration about the rotor axis.

Abstract: Winding modules are secured about pole regions of a rotor body with assembly being accomplished in radial directions. Plug-in type electrical connectors oriented parallel to the direction of assembly facilitate both mechanical and electrical connection between the rotor body and the modules with one another. The modules include filler strips having tongue-and-groove or dovetail connections with adjacent pairs of the support elements of the support brace.

Abstract: A connector design for connecting rotor coil end turns and an exciter/rectifier assembly to a rotor bore copper conductor in a dynamoelectric machine. The design includes a terminal stud or pin sized to be closely received in a telescoping manner in a cylindrical receptacle which is fixedly attached to the rotor windings. A similar cylindrical receptacle extends from the other end of the rotor toward the exciter/rectifier assembly. The stud or pin in each case is also modified to include grooves for accepting resilient, sliding electrical contacts so that a resilient electrical contact is obtained when the stud is positioned within the receptacle. The connector elements are also sufficiently rigid as to withstand shock, centrifugal forces at operational speeds, and rotation direction reversal, but which also allows sufficient radial and axial movement to accommodate coil movement associated with rotor temperature and speed changes while simultaneously maintaining a low resistance current path.