Stator coil lacing machine

A needle assembly for use in a stator coil lacing machine, the needle assembly comprising

• a needle shaft that terminates in a needle tip,
• a thrust block fixed to the needle shaft, the thrust block including
• a needle shaft bore that receives the needle shaft therethrough, and
• a pin that secures the needle shaft to the thrust block,
• a drive block that includes a clearance bore that receives the needle shaft therethrough, the drive block connected to an actuator that is configured to drive the needle shaft along a longitudinal axis of the needle shaft, and
• a safety release device disposed between the thrust block and the drive block,
• wherein the safety release device is configured to secure the drive block to the thrust block during normal operation of the needle assembly, and to release the drive block from the thrust block upon an abnormal operation of the needle assembly including impact of the needle assembly with a stator coil being laced in the stator coil lacing machine.

A stator coil lacing machine comprising:

• a frame;
• a carriage including
• a fixed housing connected to the frame;
• a moveable housing rotatably connected to the fixed housing via a first pin;
• a needle assembly supported on the moveable housing in a manner such that the needle assembly is moveable relative to the moveable housing;
• a lift housing rotatably connected to the moveable housing by a second pin;
• and
• a cord guide assembly having a first end supported on the moveable housing and a second end supported on the lift housing;
• a first actuator connected to the moveable housing, the first actuator configured to rotate the moveable housing about the first pin;
• and
• a second actuator connected to the lift housing, the second actuator configured to rotate the lift housing about the second pin.