With Control Means Patents (Class 310/53)
  • Patent number: 7033144
    Abstract: A oil-cooled type screw compressor of the present invention includes a compressor main unit storing a pair of male and female screw rotors driven by a motor and meshing with each other, a cooling fan provided independently to the motor for blowing air toward the motor, and control means for receiving a detected temperature signal from a temperature detector for detecting the coil temperature of the motor, and conducting control for increasing/decreasing the fan rotation speed of the cooling fan according to the coil temperature so as to maintain the coil temperature within a permissible range. It is possible to use the coil current of the motor or the motor rotation speed and the discharge pressure in place of the detected temperature signal. This constitution provides a screw compressor which offers fan-removed heat quantity not excessive or insufficient with respect to the motor heat generation quantity, and realizes sufficient cooling for the motor, and energy saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Shoji Yoshimura, Hajime Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7009318
    Abstract: In an electrical compressor having a motor and an electrical circuit integrated with a compression portion, a part of electrical components of the electrical circuit is disposed in spaces between a cylindrical outer surface of a motor housing and an imaginary flat surface that imaginarily contacts the cylindrical outer surface. Therefore, the spaces can be used effectively, and the electrical compressor can be downsized. Further, the part of the electrical components can be effectively cooled by refrigerant in the motor housing. On the other hand, the outer surface of the motor housing is used as one surface defining an inner space of a casing for accommodating the electrical circuit. In this case, the electrical circuit can be effectively cooled by refrigerant in the motor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kunio Iritani, Hiroyuki Kawata, Kenji Funahashi, Yuji Takeo, Yusuke Shindo, Tsuyoshi Takemoto
  • Patent number: 7002273
    Abstract: A magnetic bearing of a rotor shaft relative to a stator is described, which has the following features: (a) the rotor shaft (1) contains an arrangement of permanent-magnet elements (2) arranged side by side in the region of the stator (3); (b) the stator (3) has a structure (6a) with high-Tc superconductor material with grains; (c) the high-Tc superconductor material is located in/on the surface of a heat sink (6) that is arranged coaxially with the rotor shaft (1); (d) the heat sink (1) either has a cooling channel (8), which is also arranged coaxially with the rotor shaft (1), or is formed as a solid piece and is in contact with a cold head; and (e) the heat sink (6) is located inside an evacuated housing (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventor: Klaus Schippl
  • Patent number: 6927511
    Abstract: A generator incorporating a double sided fan operable to generate dual, spaced apart, simultaneous cooling airflows within the generator to more efficiently cool internal components located on opposite sides of the fan. The double sided fan generates a first cooling airflow into a permanent magnet generator (PMG) assembly and a second cooling airflow through an electronics assembly. The first cooling airflow cools a stator disposed within the PMG assembly, while the second cooling airflow cools a plurality of circuit boards disposed within the electronics assembly. The fan exhausts both cooling airflows radially outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Aris C. Cleanthous, Michael A. Nelson, Daniel J. White
  • Patent number: 6919656
    Abstract: An electric asynchronous motor for driving a shaft, a roll shell or a similar machine element includes an annular rotor and an annular stator, each having an end face at each of their respective ends. The rotor is connected to a motor shaft by way of spokes. A motor cooling system includes an internal cooling air circuit wherein an air stream flows between the rotor and the motor shaft as well as through an annular heat exchanger for transferring heat from the rotor and/or the stator to a cooling liquid. The annular heat exchanger is positioned within the motor's housing in the area of an end face of the rotor. The cooling air stream also passes over blower vanes and at least one annular series of air circulation channels in the annular body of the stator and/or of the rotor with air streams flowing from the one end face to the other end face of the stator and/or of the rotor, so that the cooling air circuit forms an internal toroidal air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Viktor Soitu, Jaakko Sailakivi, Pekka Laakkonen
  • Patent number: 6914354
    Abstract: Methods and related systems providing removal of heat from electric motors via fluid baths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Corporation
    Inventors: David Seniawski, Jason M. Cardinal, Sayeed Ahmed
  • Patent number: 6900560
    Abstract: The holdable multi-functional rotary device comprises a casing suitable to be held by users. The interior thereof is formed with a receiving space for arranging a driving unit and a battery. The driving unit has a motor and a driving shaft extending out of the casing. The power of the motor and driving shaft is transferred by speed change gear set. By changing speed change gear set, the rotary speed of the driving shaft is changeable. A plurality of rotary pieces are arranged around the driving shaft. The rotary pieces are capable to achieving predetermined effects with the rotation of the driving shaft. Thereby, the whole rotary device can be combined with rotary pieces and the rotary speed of the rotary pieces are adjustable. The rotary pieces can be attached to a fan, a massage device, a dust absorbing mask, a shoe brush, a golf rod brush, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Inventor: Hua-Sern Ji
  • Patent number: 6900714
    Abstract: A system and method for protecting a superconductor. The system may comprise a current sensor operable to detect a current flowing through the superconductor. The system may comprise a coolant temperature sensor operable to detect the temperature of a cryogenic coolant used to cool the superconductor to a superconductive state. The control circuit is operable to estimate the superconductor temperature based on the current flow and the coolant temperature. The system may also be operable to compare the estimated superconductor temperature to at least one threshold temperature and to initiate a corrective action when the superconductor temperature exceeds the at least one threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xianrui Huang, Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, Kiruba Haran Sivasubramaniam, James William Bray, David Thomas Ryan, James Michael Fogarty, Albert Eugene Steinbach
  • Patent number: 6864603
    Abstract: An automotive alternator comprises: a stator provided with a stator coil; a rotor supported for rotation in the stator to apply an alternative magnetic field to the stator; a regulator for regulating output; a rectifier for rectifying generated current; a plurality of housings holding the stator and the rotor; and a coolant path through which a coolant flows through at least one of the plurality of housings to transfer heat generated in the stator coil outside the automotive alternator. Fastening devices formed of a material having good heat conductance fasten the regulator and a heatsink for the regulator together to the housing at a position apart from the housing to transfer heat generated by the regulator to the housing. Thus, the automotive alternator can maintain a stable cooling ability in a hot atmosphere for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Yamazaki, Wasei Horioka, Masami Takano, Susumu Tajima, Susumu Terumoto
  • Patent number: 6727610
    Abstract: In an electromagnetic generator with a reverse-flow ventilation scheme, a baffle structure is provided to guide the outside space block cooling gas all the way to the stator core inner diameter. The baffle structure helps cool the first package by preventing hot air recirculations that conventionally occur at the tip of the flange and next to the first tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wei-Min Ren, Mohamed Ezz Osama
  • Patent number: 6688136
    Abstract: A cooling system for an electric generator involves connecting a centrifugal chiller to the electric generator. The centrifugal chiller circulates a refrigerant throughout the hot spots of the electric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Alexander Abram Lemberg
  • Publication number: 20040021382
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic bearing (2) for magnetically suspending a rotating shaft (3) within a stator. Said magnetic bearing comprises a first bearing element (5) rigidly linked with the shaft which is enclosed by a second bearing element (13) pertaining to the stator, thereby defining a bearing clearance (12). A system of magnets (7) of the first bearing element with permanent magnet elements (8i) and a cooled superconducting system (14) of the second bearing element with high Tc superconducting material are commonly enclosed by at least one insulating compartment (V1, V2). An additional compartment (25) which is separate from said insulating compartment encloses the bearing clearance (12) and partial compartments (25a, 25b; 26a, 26b) that radially extend on lateral sides of the superconducting system and of the system of magnets up to the shaft (3) and are sealed from the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Florian Steinmeyer
  • Patent number: 6657335
    Abstract: A stepping motor which includes: exciting coils; a rotor provided with a plurality of N/S poles so as to rotate following a change of an excitation state of the exciting coils; and a detecting coil provided separately from the exciting coils so as to generate induction voltage according to rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeki Totsuka
  • Patent number: 6639334
    Abstract: An assembly for cooling an electric motor, the assembly comprising a housing, a stator, a rotor, a winding, an end-winding integrally formed with the winding, and a jet impingement device operable for exposing the end-winding to a temperature controlled stream of fluid. A method for transferring heat between a stream of impinging fluid and the surface of an electric motor end-winding. An electric motor comprising a jet impingement cooling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kanghua Chen, Abul Masrur, Sayeed Ahmed, Vijay K Garg
  • Patent number: 6583525
    Abstract: The subject invention is a valve for regulating the viscosity of fluid utilized by an integrated drive generator (IDG). The valve includes a housing defining a bore having a first inlet supplying “cold” hydraulic fluid at a first viscosity and a second inlet supplying “hot” hydraulic fluid at a second viscosity. A spool valve disposed within the bore has at least one land to proportionally control the flow of hydraulic fluid through the inlets. Hydraulic fluid from the first and second inlets mixes within the valve and exits the valve through an outlet at an optimum viscosity for the operation of the IDG. A flow restrictor creates a pressure force on the spool valve that is proportional to the viscosity of the hydraulic fluid flowing to the IDG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand
    Inventors: Gerald P. Dyer, Richard Hector Bostiga
  • Patent number: 6552904
    Abstract: A power tool such as a drill has an activation switch which energizes a motor which, in turn, drives an output. The switch includes a field effect transistor coupled to a heat sink to dissipate heat from the transistor. The heat sink is positioned at a free end of the handle remote from the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: George CH Fung
  • Patent number: 6531795
    Abstract: A drive system for a motor vehicle includes a drive shaft and an electric machine operatively connected to the shaft for rotating the shaft and obtaining electric energy during rotation of the drive shaft. The electric machine includes a stator arrangement and a rotor arrangement which can be rotated with the aid of the drive shaft and is operated by permanent magnet. A heat transfer arrangement arranged in the drive system for bringing the rotor arrangement to a desired operating temperature and/or to maintain the desired operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventor: Jürgen Weimer
  • Patent number: 6424062
    Abstract: The cooling system cools the stator and/or the rotor of a generator. Oxidation-resistant cooling channels are provided in the stator and/or in the rotor. Low conductivity for the coolant flowing through the cooling circuit is ensured by feeding fresh coolant into the cooling circuit, whereby the fresh coolant has a lower electric conductivity than the coolant in the cooling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Adelmann, Kurt Becher, Uwe Eickelbeck, Horst-Werner Emshoff, Rainer Fischer, Christoph Lehmann, Karl Spiegelhoff
  • Publication number: 20020024262
    Abstract: A winding structure of induction electric apparatus capable of cooling plural disc windings within a cooling block evenly is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Gaku Hayase, Satoru Kotoh, Akihiro Unemi, Takashi Hoshino, Yuta Ichinose
  • Patent number: 6346753
    Abstract: A cooling system for a rotating electrical machine, such as a power generator, includes a cooling fan that serves to exhaust hot gas from an interior of the machine, a seal ring surface defining a passage for the exhausted hot gas, and a clearance seal positioned in the passage between a rotating body of the machine, such as a generator rotor, and a non-rotating body of the machine, such as a generator stator, to prevent the exhausted gas from entering an inlet to the rotating body. The seal ring surface is shaped to impart sufficient momentum to the exhausted hot gas to prevent the exhausted hot gas from leaking into the rotating body inlet. The contoured shape of the seal ring surface immediately downstream of the rotor is positioned such that the high velocity fan discharge stream is directed to flow along this surface. The high through-flow momentum of this gas stream does not allow any backward flow, thereby eliminating hot gas leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Emil Donald Jarczynski, Sang Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 6324858
    Abstract: The motor power consumption and motor winding temperature are monitored and, responsive thereto, the flow of refrigerant to the motor is controlled so as to control the temperature of the motor. The motor power consumption in the primary control input because it anticipates cooling requirements whereas the motor temperature indicates current cooling requirements. The cooling flow may be provided in an on-off manner or there may be a constant flow portion with an on-off parallel cooling flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Holden
  • Patent number: 6211586
    Abstract: In a gas-cooled electrical machine, the conductor bars (3, 4) in the winding overhang are cooled directly by a flow element of the cooling gas flow which is passed through cooling channels (8) located within the eyes (5a, 5b) of the bar ends. To this end, the bar levels of the winding bars, which are designed as a two-level bar, are spaced apart from one another in the eye region, and thus form a radial cooling channel (8). These radial cooling channels (8) are coupled to the discharge eyes (5b) by pipe connections (10) which are connected electrically, and in terms of the flow, to round connections (20). The cooling channels (9) in the round connections (20) are connected by insulating tubes (31) or insulating hoses to an induction area (32) of the machine fan, which is separated from the winding overhang area (30) by a bulkhead wall (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Daniel Hediger, Francesco Stallone
  • Patent number: 6191511
    Abstract: In order to assure efficient cooling and a temperature balance between the stator and the rotor, an asynchronous electric motor is provided containing a closed cooling liquid circuit which passes successively into the stator (1) and into the shaft (3) of the rotor, over the entire length of the stator and the rotor. A pump (15) is incorporated in the rotor shaft. The liquid is injected into the pump by a stationary axial tube (16) and comes out again between the shaft and this tube. The pump includes a centrifugal pumping member (20) fixed to the bottom of the bore of the shaft, and longitudinal-blades (21) fixed to the shaft facing an external helicoid rib (17) of the injection tube. The liquid is cooled by the ambient air along the periphery of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Management Services AG
    Inventor: Ernst Zysset
  • Patent number: 6121698
    Abstract: Disclosed is a motor and pump which operate completely submerged in the pump fluid which uses surrounding fluid to cool the heat generated within the motor. The motor is also built with the intention that it can run in non-submerged applications by placing a cooling jacket around the stator portion of the motor and passing a cooling fluid through the jacket to absorb the motor heat. The cooling system disclosed is such that it can be filled with a fluid circulated within the system but not in direct contact with the fluid being pumped within the pump. Preferably the cooling system includes a flow control tube for use in controlling the flow rate of the cooling liquid and an expansion tank for use in limiting the pressure of the cooling fluid in the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Fairbanks Morse Company
    Inventor: James H Sexton
  • Patent number: 5905318
    Abstract: An electric motor comprises a flange at one end, the corner portions of the flange projecting over the outline of the stator. A ventilator is provided at the opposite end, having outlets which are in alignment with the corner portions. The ventilator does not project over the borderline of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Frankl & Kirchner GmbH & Co. KG Fabrik fur Elektromotoren u. elektrische Apparate
    Inventors: Michael Faulhaber, Walter Ripplinger
  • Patent number: 5831365
    Abstract: A magnet carrier assembly for holding and carrying a high-energy-product permanent magnet is arranged for releasable attachment to a rotor of an axial disc or drum type rotor in an electric machine. The permanent magnet placed in a container which then receives a cover. The magnet carrier assembly includes a mounting flange at one end and a locating and mounting tab at an opposite end for attaching the assembly to the rotor. In certain applications, the rotor has recesses which have a size and shape complementary to the size and shape of the magnet carrier assembly. The recesses are circumaxially located around the radial periphery of the rotor at the poles of the rotor. In other embodiments, the magnet carrier assembly includes a key which is received in a mating groove in a rotor surface and is used to transfer to the rotor the electromagnetic shear force developed by the high-energy-product permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Kaman Electromagnetics Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Keim, Peter P. Mongeau, Thomas Dade
  • Patent number: 5763969
    Abstract: An integrated motor drive system includes a variable speed electric motor, a fan connected to the electric motor to generate an air flow as the motor rotates, and a motor drive connected to the electric motor, the drive including a heat sink disposed between the motor and the drive and having a plurality of asymmetrically spaced apart heat transfer fins transferring heat generated by power components in the drive to the air flow. The fan is connected to a one of either the rotor of the variable speed motor or to an auxiliary fan motor controlled independently of the variable speed motor. A fan shroud on one end of the motor acts as an air duct member adapted for dividing and directing the flow of air from the fan to sets of heat transfer fins on the heat sink. A method of operating the drive integrated type motor system includes generating motor speed command signals in the drive based on inputs from an operator through an operator interaface unit on the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Industrial Company
    Inventors: Larry J. Metheny, Douglas H. Sudhoff, Anthony D. Thompson, Richard J. Budzynski
  • Patent number: 5731644
    Abstract: An integral cooling air diffuser for a starter/generator of the type having an air inlet and a cooling fan for blowing cooling air from the air inlet into the starter/generator through the diffuser, the diffuser having a number of aerodynamic vanes for efficiently directing air flow into the starter/generator. In one embodiment the vanes are in the general shape of an aerodynamic air foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Lucas Aerospace Power Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: Martin F. Drlik
  • Patent number: 5731643
    Abstract: An induction motor includes a stator defining stator inner and outer diameters extending about a longitudinal axis, the stator includes a plurality of windings extending longitudinally and circumferentially between the stator inner diameter and the stator outer diameter and passing an electric current therethrough to create a magnetic field, a rotor extending along the longitudinal axis having a rotor outer diameter less than the stator inner diameter, the rotor rotates about the longitudinal axis relative to the stator in response to the magnetic field, and a stator thermal exchanging fluid circuit extending both through and about the stator whereby the stator thermal exchanging circuit exchanges thermal energy with the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Chrysler Coporation
    Inventors: Kevin M. Avakian, John R. Oleksy, Dariusz A. Bushko, Gary M. Colello
  • Patent number: 5701044
    Abstract: In order to monitor the temperature of an electric generator, the temperatures of a plurality of rods of a stator winding of the generator being cooled by a coolant, preferably a water-cooled stator winding, are detected. In order to detect a temperature deviation in each winding rod, a measured actual or real temperature value of each winding rod is compared with a reference value for the winding rod. The reference value is derived from parameters previously determined for the winding rod by reference measurement and from presently or currently detected, operation-relevant parameters of the generator. The parameters for each winding rod are derived from a temperature of the winding rod detected during the reference measurement and from a number of functions that corresponds to the number of parameters. The functions are derived from operation-relevant parameters detected during the reference measurement in different states of operation of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst-Werner Emshoff, Lutz Intichar, Hermann Scheil
  • Patent number: 5698912
    Abstract: A brushless electric motor has a fluid-tight housing, an internal rotor which is connected to an output shaft, stator plates which are disposed at a radial spacing from the rotor, a coolant delivery line leading into the interior of the housing, and a coolant discharge line leading out of the housing. A control arrangement, which as a function of the rotational speed and torque adjusts the volume flow of the coolant flowing through the interior of the housing, is provided to keep the efficiency of the arrangement as a whole high and to provide an electric motor having high power density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Grundl und Hoffmann GmbH Gesellschaft fur elektrotechnishe
    Inventors: Reinhard Rasch, Andreas Grundl, Bernhard Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 5696419
    Abstract: An electrical generator has a plurality of C-shaped stator members which are made of magnetically permeable material. Each C-shaped stator member includes a respective stator winding, and the stator members are positioned such that the ends of the members form first and second planar rings of equal diameter to establish a gap therebetween. A flat, ring-shaped rotor defines a periphery, and a plurality of permanent magnets are positioned around the periphery. The rotor is positioned with the magnets of the rotor disposed in the gap defined by the stator members. Consequently, when the rotor is rotated by a prime mover to move the magnets through the gap, an electrical current is induced in the stator windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Alternative Generation Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Rakestraw, Alan E. Rakestraw
  • Patent number: 5517072
    Abstract: An improved electric motor having a commutator and brushes incorporates a fluid comprising one or more stable halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons which is liquid from ambient temperatures up to about 150.degree. F., and means for applying said fluid continuously to brushes adjacent said commutator while the apparatus is running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Efficient Propulsion, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Hildebrandt
  • Patent number: 5420469
    Abstract: A generator engine set includes a brush partition for separating a space defined between an air blower housing and an enclosure into two areas so that an air flow from one area to the other area is substantially prohibited. The brush partition includes a flexible bristle portion and a rigid spline portion. The spline portion is retained in a receiving member on an outer surface of the air blower housing by a clip. The bristle portion extends toward the enclosure and engages an inner surface of the enclosure. Accordingly, a warmed air flow is prohibited from recirculating back into cooling air inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Onan Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5408152
    Abstract: A method of cooling an electrodynamic machine having an inner-cooled stator winding consisting of a stator coil surrounding a cooling tube, including the steps of locating a hot-spot along a length of the stator coil through which the cooling tube runs, deforming the cooling tube at a tube location generally adjacent the hot-spot so as to increase the flow resistance of the cooling tube, and flowing a cooling medium through the cooling tube during operation of the electrodynamic machine to effect a heat transfer between the stator coil and the cooling medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Roger M. Finnerty, Kathleen M. Biseli, James R. Pipkin, Lon W. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 5177385
    Abstract: A simplified, readily removable air gap baffle ring for a gas cooled dynamoelectric machine, such as a turbine generator. The baffle ring comprises two composite rings with a seal material sandwiched therebetween and bonded into a single ring structure. The seal ring attaches to finger plate extensions which are an integral part of the generator core, and forms an air gap seal between the rotor retaining ring and end wedges which extend from the stator coil slots. The air gap baffle assembly of the present invention effectively seals the high pressure zone of the exciter end of the generator, from the lower pressure radial air gap zone located between the generator rotor and stator, to thereby force cooling gas to flow into the rotor and stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Glenn D. Cooper, Harry S. Loh, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5144815
    Abstract: A temperature control system and a thermal valve for said system composed of a housing having a gas inlet port connected to the refrigerant return line and a gas outlet port disposed in a compressor interior. A helical thermostat metal coil is fixed within and at one end of the housing, the other end of the coil being free to rotate with change in temperature. The thermostat metal for the coil is preferably chosen so that no movement thereof takes place until some predetermined temperature is reached, at which temperature rotation of the free coil end commences. The free coil end, either along or in conjunction with a baffle or the like, normally blocks the gas inlet port and prevents refrigerant gas from entering the housing and passing therethrough onto the compressor motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry Ty, Richard J. Lisauskas, Matthew L. Behler, Narendra R. Zaveri
  • Patent number: 5121341
    Abstract: A method for automatically replenishing oil in a coolant system of an electric generator produces a first signal representative of the speed of the generator and a second signal representative of the pressure of oil in the coolant system of the generator. These signals are combined with a reference signal to produce a control signal representative of a low oil condition in the coolant system. When such low oil condition exists, additional oil is delivered to the coolant system in response to the control signal. In the preferred embodiment, this additional oil is supplied from a source of high pressure oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Jack L. McCabria, Robert A. Bayles
  • Patent number: 5097669
    Abstract: A system for cooling hydrogen which is used for cooling an electric power generator, cooling of the hydrogen being effected by transfer of heat from hydrogen leaving the generator to cooling water extracted from a source which has a temperature determined by external conditions. The system is composed of an indirect heat exchanger for bringing cooling water into heat exchange communication with hydrogen leaving the generator and cooling water is supplied to the heat exchanger partially from the source and partially from cooling water leaving the heat exchanger. A temperature monitoring unit produces an indication of the temperature of the cooling water extracted from the source and a control unit is coupled to the temperature monitoring unit to cool the hydrogen to a desired temperature while maintaining a constant flow rate of cooling water into the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Homer G. Hargrove, Lon W. Montgomery, James R. Pipkin
  • Patent number: 5066882
    Abstract: In a stator core assembly composed of a plurality of steel punchings, and a plurality of fastening devices including bolts holding the punchings together in a stack and pressing adjacent punchings against one another, the bolts being of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion different from that of the steel punchings, the bolts are constituted by hollow tubes and the assembly further includes a temperature control device for introducing a fluid having a selected temperature to the interior of the tubes in order to minimize temperature dependent changes in the compressive force exerted by the fastening devices on the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: John B. Sargeant
  • Patent number: 4959569
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring hydrogen leakage from a generator frame into the stator coil water cooling system. The monitor is designed to alert the operator should leakage exceed a rate of twenty cubic feet per day (20 cfd). A pressure relief valve set at four (4) psig and orifice are provided, along with a second relief valve having a higher setpoint than the first, such that pressure will increase in the holding tank if leakage exceeds 20 cfd setpoint of the orifice. A high pressure alarm, set at a level higher than the first relief valve but less than that of the second, will then sound to alert the operator to protect the system from an overly large or gross failure of the system. By continusouly monitoring a relatively small steady state leakage rate, the operator can be aware of a minor problem which can be corrected at a scheduled maintenance outage, before a gross failure of the system, requiring a costly shutdown of the turbine-generator, would otherwise occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Owen R. Snuttjer, Michael J. Rasinski
  • Patent number: 4922147
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for thermally balancing the rotor of a dynamo-electric machine by adjusting the flow of coolant through the rotor. According to one embodiment of the invention, the cooling flow is adjusted by inserted baffles into the axial coolant flow passages in the body portion of the rotor. According to another embodiment of the invention the cooling flow is adjusted by inserting adjustable orifices into the radial cooling passages in the body portion of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Albert C. Sismour, Jr., Robert T. Hagaman, Sui-Chun Ying
  • Patent number: 4916340
    Abstract: Movement guiding device includes two parallel stationary guides provided on a surface plate, a plurality of hydrostatic gas bearing members provided in relation to the surface plate and the stationary guides for supporting a Y stage, a plurality of hydrostatic gas bearing members provided in relation to the surface plate and the Y stage for supporting an X stage, two linear motors provided outside the stationary guides for moving the Y stage in a Y direction, and a linear motor coupled integrally to the Y stage for moving the X stage in an X direction. The Y stage moving linear motor has a stator fixed to the surface plate and a moving element fixed to the Y stage. The X stage driving linear motor has a stator fixed to the Y stage and a moving element fixed to the X stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mahito Negishi
  • Patent number: 4864974
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for electrical accessories such as a generator and a starter motor for a car comprises a cooling liquid conduit for feeding a part of a cooling liquid for cooling an engine to a starter motor for starting the engine, and/or an A.C. generator and having at least one sensor for detecting the temperature of the cooling liquid and at least one valve provided in the cooling liquid conduit so that opening and closing operations are controlled on the basis of an output from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Aso
  • Patent number: 4837469
    Abstract: A cooling system for the parallel rings of an electrical generator. The system includes a coolant supply tank, supply and return lines, and a plurality of parallel, tubular liquid cooled conductor rings for conducting current generated in the stator windings of an electrical generator. Each ring has a coolant inlet, a coolant outlet, a central coolant passage and an adjustable flow controller which is selectively positionable so that its end portion lies inside the temperature coolant passage in the parallel rings to restrict the coolant flow for control purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Robert T. Ward
  • Patent number: 4766557
    Abstract: Apparatus which provides an indication of gas leakage from the interior of an electric generator into a closed circuit water-cooling system for the generator's stator coils. The closed circuit water-cooling system includes a water tank for degasification with the closed volume above the water level being occupied by a gas of the same type as the generator interior. Sensors are provided for obtaining indications of pressure, temperature and volume of the gas, and from these indications the number of moles of gas in the tank are calculated in periodic time increments. The gas is maintained within certain pressure limits by the addition or venting of gas, and if an addition or venting has taken place from one calculation to a next, a projected value for the number of moles is calculated after the change, had the change not occurred. The difference between the actual and projected value is then added onto subsequent calculated values to obtain a history of gas leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Michael Twerdochlib
  • Patent number: 4753284
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit branch of a cooling system in thermal contact with the stator winding of a hydraulic power generator is provided with a feed tube divided into two separate input tube sections. The downstream ends of the input tube sections are connected to respective multiplicities of subsidiary hydraulic circuit branches in the form of winding bars via a pair of semicircular manifolds. The current throughput through the winding bars is monitored by determining the difference between the rates of coolant flow through the approximately identical input tube sections. If the rates of coolant flow or throughputs in the input tube sections differ from one another by an amount which itself differs from a predetermined reference value by more than a preselected threshold, a warning signal is generated indicating that heat removal from the hydraulic power generator is being impaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ingo-Edgar Krause, Gerhard Rossger, Otto Perner
  • Patent number: 4751412
    Abstract: A cam locked air gap baffle assembly and method of installing same within a stator of a large, gas-cooled dynamoelectric machine utilizes a plurality of segmented baffles spaced by insulated tubes. Each baffle segment includes a wedge portion with a rotatable cam which serves to expand the wedge portion against the stator slot thereby locking it in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Gary R. Lowther, Warren W. Jones
  • Patent number: 4698756
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an electrical generator winding which has first and second passages for conduction of cooling gas. The temperature of the gas exiting the passages is determined and converted to a normalized value which may be either high, low or normal. A diagnostic computer determines the existence of predetermined combinations of high, low or normal for the two readings and these predetermined combinations are utilized by the computer which generates respective confidence factors in the existence of certain abnormal generator conditions such as open conductors, broken or blocked cooling gas passages, and sensor malfunctions, by way of example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Avelino J. Gonzalez, Franklin J. Murphy, Franklin T. Emery, Perry A. Weyant, William G. Craig
  • Patent number: 4647805
    Abstract: Windage losses in a liquid cooled dynamoelectric machine having a stator 10 including an armature 14, a rotor 20 journalled for rotation about an axis within the armature 14, a pump 50, a sump 56 and a liquid flow path 24 within the rotor 20 are avoided through the use of a first transfer tube 58 connecting the pump 50 and one end 68 of the flow path along with a second transfer tube 92 coaxially surrounding the first transfer tube 58 and connected to the other flow path end 91 and to the sump 56.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne A. Flygare, Vallabh V. Vaghani, John Readman