Rotor assembly and method of cooling

A rotor assembly comprising:

• a rotatable shaft having a rotational axis and defining a coolant conduit in fluid communication with a source of coolant;
• a rotor core rotatably coupled to the rotatable shaft and defining at least one rotor post;
• a set of rotor windings wound around the rotor post and defining a corresponding set of rotor winding end turns;
• and
• a winding support assembly fixed to the rotatable shaft, the winding support assembly including:
• a first winding support disc axially spaced from the rotor core, having an axially inward facing first side defining a first surface, and an axially outward facing second side defining a second surface,
• the first side including an annular first wall having a radially inward facing third surface defining a bore sized to receive the rotatable shaft therethrough, and a radially outward facing fourth surface opposingly spaced from the third surface, the annular first wall being rotatably coupled to the rotatable shaft along the third surface,
• the first side further including a second wall and a third wall radially extending from the fourth surface and, axially extending from the first surface, and circumferentially spaced from each other,
• a fourth wall extending between the second wall and the third wall and radially opposingly spaced from the fourth surface;
• wherein the second wall, the third wall, the fourth wall, the first surface, and the fourth surface cooperatively define a first chamber therebetween;
• and
• wherein the set of rotor winding end turns is received in the first chamber;
• wherein the annular first wall defines a set of first channels extending radially therethrough from the third surface to the fourth surface in fluid communication with the coolant conduit;
• and
• wherein the third surface defines a groove thereon surrounding the rotatable shaft, the groove in fluid communication with the set of first channels.