Thermal expansion absorber
AssigneeDresser Industries, Inc.
InventorsJohn W. Erickson, Samuel D. Fegan
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Abstract
A pressure variable sealed container such as a length of rubber tubing is filled with a compressible, thermally conductive fluid such as helium or hydrogen and is placed in a sealed motor stator chamber otherwise filled with a heat conductive liquid, such as oil, before final assembly. As the oil in the stator chamber expands with temperature, the thermally conductive fluid in the container is compressed thereby absorbing the expansion of the oil in the stator chamber.
Claims12
In an electric motor having an interior including a rotor and a stator and a stator chamber substantially completely filled with a first thermally conductive fluid, an improved means for accommodating thermal expansion of said fluid comprising:
- a. at least one resilient sealed container having an inner spaced filled with a compressible second thermally conductive fluid, said inner space being completely sealed to prevent communication of said compressible second thermally conductive fluid with said interior, and
- b. said resilient sealed container being mounted in said stator chamber to accommodate expansion of said first fluid as it absorbs heat within said motor.
An improved method for accommodating thermal expansion of a first thermally conductive fluid substantially filling the stator chamber of an electric motor having a rotor and a stator, the improved method comprising the steps of:
- a. filling and sealing a resilient container with a compressible second thermally conductive fluid thereby preventing said compressible second thermally conductive fluid from communicating other than with the interior of said resilient container, and
- b. mounting said resilient container in said stator chamber to accommodate expansion of said first fluid as it absorbs heat from said motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.