Generator with improved lubrication and cooling system

A high speed generator, comprising:

• a housing having at least two ends;
• a rotor shaft rotationally mounted within the housing;
• a rotor assembly mounted on the shaft;
• a stator assembly mounted within the housing and surrounding at least a portion of the rotor assembly;
• a substantially hollow rotor shaft rotationally mounted within the generator housing, the rotor shaft having a first end, a second end, an outer circumferential surface, and an inner circumferential surface;
• at least one rotor cooling supply port positioned proximate the rotor shaft second end and extending between the rotor shaft inner circumferential surface and the rotor shaft outer circumferential surface;
• at least one rotor cooling return port positioned proximate the rotor shaft first end and extending between the rotor shaft inner circumferential surface and the rotor shaft outer circumferential surface;
• an oil supply conduit coupled to the generator housing and having an inlet end in fluid communication with a pressurized oil source and an outlet end extending a first predetermined distance into the hollow rotor shaft;
• at least one rotor assembly cooling flow path extending through the rotor, each rotor cooling flow path having an inlet end in fluid communication with each rotor cooling supply port and an outlet end in fluid communication with each rotor cooling return port;
• an oil return conduit coupled to the generator housing and surrounding at least a portion of the oil supply conduit, the oil return conduit having an inlet end extending a second predetermined distance into the hollow shaft and an outlet end in fluid communication with the rotor cooling return port;
• at least one stator cooling flow path positioned adjacent the stator, each stator cooling flow path having an inlet in fluid communication with the oil return conduit second end and an outlet in fluid communication with a supply oil return path;
• and
• a substantially hollow shaft insert having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, the shaft insert concentrically mounted within the hollow rotor shaft to define a space between at least a portion of the rotor shaft inner circumferential surface and the shaft insert outer circumferential surface.

A high speed generator, comprising:

• a housing having at least two ends;
• a rotor shaft rotationally mounted within the housing;
• a rotor assembly mounted on the shaft;
• a stator assembly mounted within the housing and surrounding at least a portion of the rotor assembly;
• a substantially hollow rotor shaft rotationally mounted within the generator housing, the rotor shaft having a first end, a second end, an outer circumferential surface, and an inner circumferential surface;
• at least one rotor cooling supply port positioned proximate the rotor shaft second end and extending between the rotor shaft inner circumferential surface and the rotor shaft outer circumferential surface;
• at least one rotor cooling return port positioned proximate the rotor shaft first end and extending between the rotor shaft inner circumferential surface and the rotor shaft outer circumferential surface;
• an oil supply conduit coupled to the generator housing and having an inlet end in fluid communication with a pressurized oil source and an outlet end extending a first predetermined distance into the hollow rotor shaft;
• at least one rotor assembly cooling flow path extending through the rotor, each rotor cooling flow path having an inlet end in fluid communication with each rotor cooling supply port and an outlet end in fluid communication with each rotor cooling return port;
• an oil return conduit coupled to the generator housing and surrounding at least a portion of the oil supply conduit, the oil return conduit having an inlet end extending a second predetermined distance into the hollow shaft and an outlet end in fluid communication with the rotor cooling return port;
• at least one stator cooling flow path positioned adjacent the stator, each stator cooling flow path having an inlet in fluid communication with the oil return conduit second end and an outlet in fluid communication with a supply oil return path;
• a substantially hollow shaft insert having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, the shaft insert concentrically mounted within the hollow rotor shaft to define a space between at least a portion of the rotor shaft inner circumferential surface and the shaft insert outer circumferential surface;
• a diode cooling supply port extending between the rotor shaft inner circumferential surface and the rotor shaft outer circumferential surface;
• at least one rectifier diode assembly coupled within the generator housing proximate the diode cooling supply port;
• at least one bearing assembly surrounding the rotor shaft;
• at least one bearing oil supply path extending between the stator cooling supply path and the bearing assembly;
• an oil deflector positioned within each bearing oil supply path proximate the bearing assembly;

An end bell for coupling to a high speed generator, comprising:

• a housing;
• a first fluid inlet port;
• a second fluid inlet port;
• a first fluid outlet port;
• a second fluid outlet port;
• a substantially hollow oil supply conduit having an inlet end coupled to the housing and an outlet end extending a first predetermined distance from the housing;
• a substantially hollow oil return conduit surrounding at least a portion of the oil supply conduit, the oil return conduit having an inlet end extending a second predetermined distance from the housing and an outlet end coupled to the housing;
• a first flow path extending through the housing and in fluid communication between the first and second fluid inlet ports and the supply conduit inlet end;
• and
• a second flow path extending through the housing and in fluid communication between the first and second outlet ports and the return conduit outlet end.

A high speed generator, comprising:

• a housing having at least two ends;
• a rotor shaft rotationally mounted within the housing on at least two generator bearings;
• a rotor assembly mounted on the shaft;
• and
• a stator assembly mounted within the housing and surrounding at least a portion of the rotor assembly,
• wherein a path for fluid communication is provided to the generator on either end of the housing that directs a lubricating and cooling medium to the housing, and
• wherein a portion of the lubricating and cooling medium is supplied to generator bearings, and a remaining portion then flows through the rotor shaft, through the rotor, back to the rotor shaft, through the stator, and out of the generator.