Electric machine and rectifier assembly therefor
AssigneesPowerex, Inc., GE Aviation Systems LLC
InventorsPaul James Wirsch, JR., Hao Huang, Donald Kevin Morozowich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electric machine having a rectifier assembly placed within a rotating shaft of the electric machine to convert the AC output of the electric machine to DC prior to transmission of the electricity from the electric machine.
Claims20
A rectifier assembly for placement within a rotating shaft of an electric machine assembly having a first machine providing an alternating current output and a second machine receiving a direct current input, with the rectifier assembly converting the alternating current output to the direct current input, the rectifier assembly comprising:
- at least one electrical ring having at least one diode seat;
- at least one isolating ring adjacent the at least one electrical ring;
- a terminal bar overlying the at least one diode seat;
- and
- a clamping bar overlying the terminal bar;
- wherein the clamping bar is affixed to the at least one isolating ring to press the terminal bar toward the diode seat to clamp a diode seated on the diode seat between the terminal bar and the at least one electrical ring.
An electric machine assembly comprising:
- a first machine having a first rotor and a first stator and configured to provide an alternating current output;
- a second machine having a second rotor and a second stator and configured to receive a direct current input;
- a rotatable shaft on which are mounted the first rotor and the second rotor, with the shaft having a hollow portion;
- and
- a rectifier assembly located within the hollow portion and electrically coupling the alternating current output to the direct current input, the rectifier assembly comprising:
- a first electrical ring having at least one diode seat and a first direct current terminal;
- a second electrical ring having at least one diode seat and a second direct current terminal;
- an isolating ring separating the first and second electrical rings;
- a terminal bar overlying the at least one diode seat on each of the first and second electrical rings;
- and
- a clamping bar overlying the terminal bar;
- wherein the clamping bar is affixed to the isolating ring to press the terminal bar toward the diode seat to clamp a diode seated on the diode seat between the terminal bar and at least one of the first and second electrical rings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.