Methods and apparatus for winding two-pole electric motor stators

The method of winding an electric motor stator of hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, said stator having a central longitudinal axis and first and second annular surfaces substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis at respective opposite ends of the cylindrical shape, said method comprising the steps of:

• positioning said stator in a [housing] structure external to said stator ;
• pressing first and second winding forms against said first and second annular surfaces, respectively;
• securing said first winding form to said [housing] structure in the position relative to said stator in which said first winding form is positioned in said pressing step;
• and
• securing said second winding form in the position relative to said stator in which said second winding form is positioned in said pressing step, wherein said pressing step includes the step of:
• relatively pressing said first winding form against said first annular surface so that said method automatically adapts itself to various stator dimensions parallel to said longitudinal axis.

The method of winding an electric motor stator of hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, said stator having a central longitudinal axis and first and second annular surfaces substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis at respective opposite ends of the cylindrical shape, said method comprising the steps of:

• positioning said stator in a housing;
• moving first and second winding form delivery means respectively including first and second winding forms toward said first and second annular surfaces in order to press said first and second winding forms against said first and second annular surfaces, respectively;
• securing said first and second winding forms in the positions relative to said stator in which said first and second winding forms are positioned in said pressing step;
• releasing said first and second winding forms from said first and second winding form delivery means;
• winding said stator;
• re-engaging said first and second winding forms with said first and second winding form delivery means;
• releasing said first and second winding forms from the positions in which said first and second winding forms are secured in said securing step;
• moving said first and second winding form delivery means and said first and second winding forms away from said stator;
• and
• removing said stator from said housing, wherein said step of securing said first and second winding forms comprises the step of securing said first winding form to said housing.

Apparatus for winding an electric motor stator of hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, said stator having a central longitudinal axis and first and second annular surfaces substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis at respective opposite ends of the cylindrical shape, said apparatus comprising:

• a structure external to said stator and including a housing for holding said stator;
• means for positioning a stator in said housing;
• means for moving first and second winding form delivery means respectively including first and second winding forms toward said first and second annular surfaces in order to press said first and second winding forms against said first and second annular surfaces, respectively;
• first means mounted on said [housing] structure for releasably securing said first winding form in the position relative to said stator in which said means for moving presses said first winding form against said first annular surface;
• second means mounted on said [housing] structure for releasably securing said second winding form in the position relative to said stator in which said means for moving presses said second winding form against said second annular surface, said first and second means being movable relative to one another substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis so that said apparatus automatically adjusts to various stator dimensions parallel to said longitudinal axis;
• means for releasing said first and second winding forms from said first and second winding form delivery means;
• means for winding said stator;
• means for re-engaging said first and second winding forms with said first and second winding form delivery means;
• means for releasing said first and second winding forms from the positions in which said first and second winding forms are secured by said first and second means;
• means for moving said first and second winding form delivery means and said first and second winding forms away from said stator;
• and
• means for removing said stator from said housing.

A machine for winding a plurality of stators, each having a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, an associated longitudinal axis, and first and second annular surface substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis at respective opposite ends of the cylindrical shape, said first and second annular surfaces defining a respective stator core height, said machine comprising:

• a table mounted for rotation about a first substantially vertical axis;
• first, second, and third stations spaced from one another around said table;
• means for selectively rotating said table about said first axis so that said table moves relative to said first, second, and third stations;
• a plurality of stator supports spaced around the periphery of said table, each stator support being adapted to receive and hold a stator;
• a first pair of clamping members for clamping a first winding form to one of said stators held in a respective stator support;
• a second pair of clamping members for clamping a second winding form to said one of said stators;
• and
• means responsive to the core height of said one of said stators for automatically moving said second pair of clamping members relative to said first pair of clamping members and substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said one of said stators so that said machine is able to automatically accommodate a plurality of stators having different core
• heights.

A method for winding a plurality of stators, each having a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, an associated longitudinal axis, and first and second annular surfaces substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis at respective opposite ends of the cylindrical shape, said first and second annular surfaces defining a respective stator core height, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a table mounted for rotation about a first substantially vertical axis;
• providing a first station and a second station spaced from one another around said table, wherein said first station is a stator loading and unloading station and wherein said second station is a stator winding station;
• providing a plurality of stator supports spaced around the periphery of said table, each stator support being adapted to receive and hold a stator at said first station and to hold the stator so that it is wound at the winding station with its longitudinal axis oriented substantially horizontal;
• providing a first pair of clamping members for clamping a first winding form to said plurality of stators;
• providing a second pair of clamping members for clamping a second winding form to said plurality of stators;
• sensing the core height of each of said plurality of stators;
• and
• moving said second pair of clamping members relative to said first pair of clamping members and substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of each of said plurality of stators by an amount dependent on the core height sensed in said sensing step so that said machine is able to automatically accommodate a plurality of stators having different core
• heights.

Apparatus for use in winding an electric motor stator of hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, said stator having a central longitudinal axis and first and second axial ends adjacent respective opposite ends of said cylindrical shape, said apparatus comprising:

• first means external to said stator for supporting said stator;
• second means for sensing the location of said first axial end relative to said second axial end substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis;
• and
• third means responsive to said means for sensing for positioning a winding form at a predetermined location relative to said first axial end substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and for holding said winding form at said predetermined location, said third means being
• mounted on said first means.

Apparatus for use in winding an electric motor stator of hollow substantially cylindrical shape, said stator having a central longitudinal axis and first and second axial ends adjacent respective opposite ends of said cylindrical shape, said apparatus comprising:

• means external to said stator for supporting said stator;
• means for positioning a winding form at a predetermined location relative to said first axial end;
• means mounted on said means for supporting for holding said winding form at said predetermined location;
• and
• means for automatically moving said means for holding substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis so that said apparatus adjusts to various stator dimensions parallel to said longitudinal axis.