Superconductive dynamoelectric machine with improved cryogenic support arrangement
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorDonald C. Litz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A superconducting dynamoelectric machine has a cryogenic portion of the rotor supported on the ambient temperature portion of the rotor by relatively long and thin spokes. The spokes extend between the ambient temperature portion and a flange located on a cryogenic temperature portion. The materials of the flange and spokes are selected so that contraction of the spokes along their length will be compensated for by contraction of the flange in that direction. Contraction in the transverse direction is compensated for by an appropriate displacement of the end of the spoke connected to the ambient temperature portion. Alignment and tension of the spoke is accurately achieved by an appropriate adjusting arrangement.
Claims12
A superconducting dynamoelectric machine comprising:
- a generally cylindrical stator;
- a generally cylindrical first rotor portion at ambient temperature concentric with said stator;
- a generally cylindrical second rotor portion at cryogenic temperature concentric with said first rotor portion;
- a generally cylindrical support ring associated with said second rotor portion, said support ring being constructed of a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion;
- and
- a plurality of generally radially extending support spokes interconnecting said first and second rotor portions, each of said spokes having one end connected to said first rotor portion and the other end connected to said support ring, said support spokes being constructed of a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion selected so that said support ring and said support spokes contract an equal amount in the radial direction when said second rotor portion is cooled to cryogenic temperature.
A superconducting dynamoelectric machine rotor comprising:
- a generally cylindrical first rotor portion at ambient temperature;
- a generally cylindrical second rotor portion at cryogenic temperature concentric with said first rotor portion;
- a support ring associated with said second rotor portion, said support ring being constructed of a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion;
- and
- a plurality of generally radially extending support spokes interconnecting said first and second rotor portions, each of said spokes having one end connected to said first rotor portion and the other end connected to said support ring, said support spokes being constructed of a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion selected so that said support ring and said support spokes contract an equal amount in the radial direction when said second rotor portion is cooled to cryogenic temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.