Wedge for an electric motor

A wedge for a rotor, the rotor including a laminate core that defines a rotational axis, poles, and pole shoes, wherein the rotor defines slots for receiving wire coils, the wedge comprising:

• an outer wedge that defines a wedge central axis perpendicular to the rotational axis, wherein the outer wedge is disposed in the slots, the outer wedge including:
• a top portion disposed at an outer diameter of the rotor, the top portion including:
• an upper surface that slopes away from the wedge central axis while moving radially outward and perpendicular from a rotor axis, wherein the upper surface compresses against the pole shoe to create a seal;
• and
• a lower surface that slopes towards the wedge central axis while moving radially outward and perpendicular from the rotor axis, wherein the lower surface seals to the pole when a radial load is present,
• wherein the upper surface and the lower surface create a continuous curve;
• and
• a bottom portion continuously connected to the top portion, the bottom portion including:
• a winding support surface connected to the lower surface of the top portion;
• and
• a wedge tip surface, wherein the wedge tip surface extends towards the laminate core along the wedge central axis,
• wherein the winding support surface and the wedge tip surface are adjacent to the wire coils;
• and
• an inner wedge, disposed within a groove of the outer wedge, wherein the inner wedge creates compression against the pole shoes and the winding support surface.

A rotor for a separately excited synchronous motor, the rotor comprising:

• a laminate core, wherein the laminate core includes poles and pole shoes that define slots;
• a copper winding wrapped around the poles;
• a wedge, the wedge comprising:
• an outer wedge that defines a wedge central axis perpendicular to the rotational axis, wherein the outer wedge is disposed in the slots, the outer wedge including:
• a top portion disposed at an outer diameter of the rotor, the top portion including:
• an upper surface, wherein the upper surface compresses against the pole shoes to create a first seal;
• and
• a lower surface, wherein the lower surface compresses against the pole shoes to create a second seal;
• a bottom portion continuously connected to the top portion, the bottom portion including:
• a winding support surface connected to the lower surface of the top portion;
• and
• a wedge tip surface, wherein the wedge tip surface extends towards the laminate core along the wedge central axis;
• and
• an inner wedge, disposed within a groove of the outer wedge, wherein the inner wedge creates compression against the pole shoes and the winding support surface.