# US 12,113,408 B2 · Wind generator rotor connection replacement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,113,408 B2 - Document ID: US12113408B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/683,095 - Filed: 2022-02-28 - Published: 2022-09-01 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-26 - Assignees: Electromechanical Engineering Associates, Inc. - Applicants: Electromechanical Engineering Associates, Inc. - Inventors: Corey Allen Palmer; Lauren Theresa Haley; Christopher J. Mascaro; Thomas J. Schildkamp; Jason Sinkhorn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113408B2 ## CPC - H02K 15/50: Disassembling, repairing or modifying dynamo-electric machines (repairing of cooling fluid boxes H02K15/38) - H02K 1/24: Rotor cores with salient poles {; Variable reluctance rotors} - H02K 1/26: Rotor cores with slots for windings - H02K 3/28: Layout of windings or of connections between windings (windings for pole-changing H02K17/06, H02K17/14, H02K19/12, H02K19/32) - H02K 3/50: Fastening of winding heads, equalising connectors, or connections thereto - H01R 39/02: Details {for dynamo electric machines (for current collectors not particularly for dynamo electric machines H01R39/60, H01R39/64)} - H02K 7/1838: {Generators mounted in a nacelle or similar structure of a horizontal axis wind turbine} - H02K 2203/06: Machines characterised by the wiring leads, i.e. conducting wires for connecting the winding terminations - H02K 2203/09: Machines characterised by wiring elements other than wires, e.g. bus rings, for connecting the winding terminations - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract Devices, systems, and methods for repair and upgrade of the connection between a winding and a wye ring of a rotating electric machine. The system generally includes an attachment lug and a flexible lead having a curved central region formed of several layers of laminated copper. A first end of the flexible lead may be connected to the winding by the attachment lug and a second end of the flexible lead may be connected to the wye ring. The system may further include a wye ring assembly specifically configured to provide attachment for the connection elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for connection between a winding and a wye ring of a rotating electric machine, wherein the wye ring is spaced apart from a central rotor shaft of the rotating electric machine and the winding is spaced apart from the wye ring, the system comprising: an attachment lug; and a flexible lead having a longitudinal extent delimited by a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is configured for connection to the winding via the attachment lug and the second end portion is configured for connection to either of (i) the wye ring or (ii) a first end of a main lead connector, wherein the flexible lead is designed to absorb differential centrifugal displacement between the winding and the wye ring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a main lead connector having a first end configured for connection to the wye ring and a second end that extends radially inward toward the central rotor shaft and is configured for attachment of main leads that extend from the central rotor shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, comprising three main lead connectors and a plurality of flexible leads. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the connections between (a) the attachment lug and the flexible lead, (b) the flexible lead and the wye ring, (c) the flexible lead and the main lead connector, and (d) the main lead connector and the wye ring are via nut and bolt attachments. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment lug is connected to the winding via a coil post of the winding, wherein the connection is a brazed connection or a nut and bolt attachment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible lead comprises a curved central section spanning the region between the first and second end portions, wherein the curved central section is formed of two or more layers of copper. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the flexible lead has an extended length from a first end to a second end that is longer than a longitudinal distance between the first and second ends. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, further comprising a wye ring having an open central region configured to surround the central rotor shaft of the rotating electric machine, the wye ring comprising: a cover plate comprising three connection points on an inner diameter, each connection point configured to accept one of the three main lead connectors therein; a neutral ring comprising (i) two separate circumferential slots in a top surface thereof, each slot having a neutral ring connector positioned therein, or (ii) one continuous circumferential slot in the top surface thereof having one continuous neutral ring positioned therein; and a phase ring comprising three separate circumferential slots in a top surface thereof, each slot having a jumper positioned therein, wherein each of the neutral ring, phase ring, and cover plate are formed of an insulating material, and each of the neutral ring connectors and jumpers are formed of a conductive material, and wherein the cover plate, neutral ring, and phase ring form an axial stack with the cover plate position at one end and either of the neutral ring or the phase ring at the other end. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the cover plate is formed as three or more separate plates attachable to a top surface of the axial stack. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the neutral ring connectors and the jumpers comprise extensions that extend inward toward the inner diameter when the neutral ring connectors and the jumpers are positioned within the neutral ring and the phase ring, respectively, and wherein the extensions are configured for connection with the second end portion of the flexible lead. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising a mounting ring attachable to a bottom surface of the axial stack opposite the cover plate, wherein the mounting ring is configured to be shrunk fit or bolted onto the rotor shaft of the rotating electric machine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a wye ring having an open central region configured to surround the central rotor shaft of the rotating electric machine, the wye ring comprising: a neutral ring comprising connection points for the flexible leads along an outer diameter; a phase ring comprising discrete circumferential slots in a top surface, a bottom surface, or both the top and bottom surfaces, each slot having a jumper positioned therein; a cover plate attachable to a top surface of the phase ring with the neutral ring positioned therebetween, the cover plate comprising connection points on an outer diameter configured for attachment of main leads that extend from the central rotor shaft; and a mounting ring attachable to a bottom surface of the phase ring, wherein the mounting ring is configured to be shrunk fit or bolted onto the rotor shaft of the rotating electric machine, wherein the phase ring and cover plate are formed of an insulating material, and the neutral ring and jumpers are formed of a conductive material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the cover plate is configured as six discrete main lead restraints. ### Claim 14 A system for retrofitting a rotating electric machine comprising a central rotor shaft and a winding spaced apart therefrom, the system comprising: a wye ring having an open central region configured to surround the central rotor shaft of the rotating electric machine, the wye ring comprising: a cover plate comprising three connection points along an inner circumference thereof, each connection point configured to accept one of three main lead connectors thereon, a neutral ring comprising (i) two separate circumferential slots in a top surface thereof, each slot having a neutral ring connector positioned therein, or (ii) one continuous circumferential slot in the top surface thereof having one continuous neutral ring positioned therein, and a phase ring comprising three separate circumferential slots in a top surface thereof, each slot having a jumper positioned therein, wherein each of the neutral ring, phase ring, and cover plate are formed of an insulating material, and each of the neutral ring connectors and jumpers are formed of a conductive material, and wherein the cover plate, neutral ring, and phase ring form an axial stack with the cover plate at one end and either of the neutral ring or the phase ring at the other end; and a flexible connector system comprising: an attachment lug, and a flexible lead having a longitudinal extent delimited by a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is configured for connection to the winding via the attachment lug and the second end portion is configured for attachment to the wye ring, wherein the flexible lead is designed to absorb differential centrifugal strains between the winding and the wye ring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the flexible lead comprises a curved central section spanning the region between the first and second end portions, wherein the curved central section is formed of two or more laminated layers of copper, and wherein the flexible lead has an extended length from a first end to a second end that is longer than a longitudinal distance between the first and second ends. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the connection points in the cover plate are each configured to accept a first end of a main lead connector, wherein a second end of the main lead connector extends radially inward toward the central rotor shaft and is configured for attachment of main leads that extend from the central rotor shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the cover plate is formed as three or more separate plates attachable to a top surface of the axial stack. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the neutral ring connectors and the jumpers comprise extensions that extend inward toward the inner diameter when the neutral ring connectors and the jumpers are positioned within the neutral ring and the phase ring, respectively, and wherein the extensions are configured for connection with the second end portion of the flexible lead. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising a mounting ring attachable to a bottom surface of the axial stack opposite the cover plate, wherein the mounting ring is configured to be shrunk fit or bolted onto the rotor shaft of the rotating electric machine. ### Claim 20 A system for retrofitting a rotating electric machine comprising a central rotor shaft and a winding spaced apart therefrom, the system comprising: a wye ring having an open central region configured to surround the central rotor shaft of the rotating electric machine, the wye ring comprising: a neutral ring comprising connection points for flexible leads along an outer diameter, a phase ring comprising discrete circumferential slots in a top surface, a bottom surface, or both the top and bottom surfaces, each slot having a jumper positioned therein, a cover plate attachable to a top surface of the phase ring with the neutral ring positioned therebetween, the cover plate comprising connection points on an outer diameter configured for attachment of main leads that extend from the central rotor shaft, and a mounting ring attachable to a bottom surface of the phase ring, wherein the mounting ring is configured to be shrunk fit or bolted onto the rotor shaft of the rotating electric machine, wherein the phase ring and cover plate are formed of an insulating material, and the neutral ring and jumpers are formed of a conductive material; and a flexible connector system comprising: an attachment lug, and flexible leads having a longitudinal extent delimited by a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is configured for connection to the winding via the attachment lug and the second end portion is configured for connection to the connection points on the neutral ring and the jumpers, wherein the flexible lead is designed to absorb differential centrifugal displacement between the winding and the neutral ring and ring.