Method for manufacturing a wound, multi-cored amorphous metal transformer core

A process for the manufacture of a power transformer which includes a wound, multicored amorphous metal transformer core, which process comprises the steps of:

• producing a series of cut strips from an unannealed amorphous metal which is at least 90% glassy and has a nominal composition according to the formula
• M70-85Y5-20Z0-20
• wherein the subscripts are in atom percent, “M” is at least one of Fe, Ni and Co. “Y” is at least one of B, C and P, and “Z is at least one of Si, Al and Ge;
• with the proviso that (i) up to 10 atom percent of component “M” can be replaced with at least one of the metallic species Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ta and W, and (ii) up to 10 atom percent of components (Y+Z) can be replaced by at least one of the non-metallic species In, Sn, Sb, and Pb;
• assembling the unannealed cut strips into groups, each group comprising a plurality of cut strips layered in register;
• assembling the groups into a plurality of packers;
• forming the packets about a mandrel to form unannealed transformer cores having core windows, each core having a single laceable joint;
• assembling the unannealed transformer cores into a configuration suited for use within an assembled transformer;
• annealing the assembled unannealed transformer cores;
• unlacing each of the transformer cores to permit insertion of one or more transformer coils;
• inserting the coils onto one or more of the transformer cores;
• and
• subsequently replacing the transformer cores to reconstitute the transformer cores.