Torque support member for rotating electrical machine
AssigneeAmerican Superconductor Corporation
InventorPeter M. Winn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A support module is provided for use in a rotor assembly of a rotating machine. The support module is disposed on the rotor body, supports high temperature superconductor rotor windings within the rotor assembly, and thermally decouples the cold portions of the rotor assembly, including windings and support tube, from the ambient temperature rotor body and drive shaft. The support module includes a frame disposed on the rotor body, a support block connected to the rotor winding and suspended within the frame, and thermally non-conductive straps extending from each of a pair of opposed sides of the support block to the frame, the straps suspending the support block within the frame.
Claims21
A support device for use in a rotor assembly of a rotating machine, the rotor assembly including a rotor winding and a rotor body,
- the support device comprising:
- a frame configured to be disposed on the rotor body;
- a support block configured to be connected to the rotor winding and suspended within the frame;
- and
- straps extending from each of a pair of opposed sides of the support block to the frame, the straps suspending the support block within the frame,
- the support device providing a connection between, and fixing relative positions of, the rotor winding and rotor body.
(canceled)
A rotor assembly of an electric rotating machine, the rotor assembly comprising:
- a rotor shaft coincident with a longitudinal axis of the rotor assembly;
- a cylindrical rotor body coaxial with and fixed to the rotor shaft;
- a winding assembly including a superconducting rotor winding wound around an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, the rotor winding extending in a longitudinal direction and being radially spaced apart from the rotor body;
- and a support device disposed between the rotor winding and the rotor body, the support device comprising:
- a frame configured to be disposed on the rotor body;
- a support block configured to be connected to the rotor winding and suspended within the frame;
- and
- straps extending from each of a pair of opposed sides of the support block to the frame, the straps suspending the support block within the frame.
A method of assembling a rotor assembly, the rotor assembly including a rotor winding and a rotor body, the method comprising:
- providing a support device including
- a frame fixed to the rotor body,
- a support block fixed to the rotor winding and suspended within the frame;
- and
- elongate straps extending from each of a pair of opposed sides of the
- support block to the frame so as to suspend the support block within the frame,
- applying a predetermined pre-tension load to the straps;
- disposing the frame on the radially outward surface of the rotor body;
- and
- connecting the support block to a radially inward surface of the rotor winding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.