Apparatus and method for forming insulators and apparatus and method for inserting coil turn portions or insulators into the slots of a magnetic core

Claim 2

Apparatus for inserting coil side turn portions of a group of electrical coils formed of conductor wire into predetermined axially extending slots of a magnetic core of a given axial height within a preselected range of axial heights and having axially extending slots in communication with a periphery of the core, the apparatus comprising: means including a plurality of turn feeder blades and turn-receiving gaps for inserting side turn portions into the predetermined slots of the core; supporting means for mounting said turn feeder blades and the core for relative movement in an axial direction; drive means effecting movement of said turn feeder blades relative to the core during a selected increment of travel of said drive means for inserting the coil side turn portions into the predetermined slots; core securement means having a selectable first position restraining the core from axial movement and a second position removed therefrom; power means effective selectively to move saiD core securement means between its first and second positions; control means associated with said core securement means to halt said core securement means at a selected first position, elective means effective concurrently to set the length of the selected increment of travel of said drive means to conform to the given core axial height and to conform the selected first position of said core securement means to the given core axial height.

Claim 3

Apparatus for forming insulators of selected lengths from a strip of insulative material and for inserting the insulators and coil side turn portions of a group of electrical coils formed of conductor wire into predetermined axially extending slots of a core of a given axial height within a preselected range of core axial heights and having axially extending slots in communication with a periphery of the core; the apparatus comprising: means including a plurality of coil turn feeder blades and turn-receiving gaps to receive coil side turn portions for insertion into the predetermined slots of the core; supporting means for mounting said turn feeder blades and core for relative movement in an axial direction for inserting the coil side turn portions into the predetermined slots; an insulator guide housing having circumferentially spaced and axially extending guide apertures aligned with predetermined ones of the axially extending slots of the core to receive and guide insulators to be inserted into the predetermined slots of the core; insulator pushers slidably disposed with respect to said guide apertures and mounted for axial movement relative to the core to insert the insulators into the slots; drive means for moving said insulator pushers relative to said turn feeder blades during a first increment of travel of said drive means and thereafter concurrently moving said turn feeder blades and said insulator pushers relative to the core; guide means for containing a section of the strip of insulative material; feed means for repeatedly advancing the strip along said guide means; first control means for interrupting each strip advancing action of the feed means so that selected lengths of insulative material are advanced; means for severing each advanced length and inserting it into a corresponding guide aperture; and elective means effective concurrently to set said first control means to conform the selected lengths of advanced insulative material to the given core axial height and to set the first increment of travel of said drive means to place said insulator pushers in a preselected position with respect to said coil turn feeder blades which conforms to the given axial height.

Claim 4

Apparatus for forming insulators of selected lengths from a strip of insulative material and for inserting the insulators and coil side turn portions of a group of electrical coils formed of conductor wire into predetermined axially extending slots of a core of a given axial height within a preselected range of core axial heights and having axially extending slots in communication with a periphery of the core; the apparatus comprising: means including a plurality of coil turn feeder blades and turn-receiving gaps to receive coil side turn portions for insertion into the predetermined slots of the core; supporting means for mounting said turn feeder blades and core for relative movement in an axial direction for inserting the coil side turn portions into the predetermined slots; an insulator guide housing having circumferentially spaced and axially extending guide apertures aligned with predetermined ones of the axially extending slots of the core to receive and guide insulators to be inserted into the predetermined slots of the core; insulator pushers slidably disposed with respect to said guide apertures and mounted for axial movement relative to the core to insert the insulators into the slots; drive means for moving said insulator pushers relative to said turn feeder blades during a first increment of travel of said drive means and thereafter concurrently moving said turn feeder blades and said insulator pushers relative to the core; guide means for containing a section of the strip of insulative material; feed means for repeatedly advancing the strip along said guide means; first control means for interrupting each strip advancing action of the feed means so that selected lengths of insulative material are advanced; means for severing each advanced length and inserting it into a corresponding guide aperture; and elective means effective concurrently to set said first control means to conform the selected lengths of advanced insulative material to the given core axial height and to set the first increment of travel of said drive means to place said insulator pushers in a preselected position with respect to said coil turn feeder blades which conforms to the given axial height.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including: a divider blade section forming the gaps to receive the electrical coils of conductor wire for insertion into the core; connection means interconnecting said divider blade section and said turn feeder blades for moving said divider blade section relative to the core concurrently with said turn feeder blades; second control means associated with said divider blade section for halting movement of said divider blade section after a selected increment of travel of said divider blade section relative to the core; said elective means selectively setting said second control means to conform the selected increment of travel of said divider blade section to the given core axial height concurrently with the setting of the first increment of travel of said drive means.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including: core securement means having a selectable first position restraining the core from axial movement and a second position removed therefrom; power means effective selectively to move said core securement means between its first and second positions; third control means associated with said core securement means to halt said core securement means at a selected first position; said elective means selectively setting said third control means to conform the selected first position of said core securement means to the given core axial height concurrently with the setting of the first increment of travel of said drive means.

Claim 7

Apparatus for inserting coil side turn portions of a group of electrical coils formed of conductor wire into predetermined axially extending slots of a magnetic core of a given axial height within a preselected range of axial heights and having axially extending slots in communication with a periphery of the core, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of spaced apart divider blades to receive therebetween coils to be inserted into the core; a plurality of coil turn feeder blades, each coil turn feeder blade being positioned between an adjacent pair of divider blades; drive means for effecting movement of said coil turn feeder blades axially of the core during one increment of travel of said drive means and movement of said divider blades axially of the core concurrently with said coil turn feeder blades during a first portion of the one increment of travel of said drive means; a connector having a selectably variable effective length to operatively interconnect said drive means and said coil turn feeder blades to move said coil turn feeder blades during the one increment of travel of said drive means; a stop having a selectably variable length effective to halt said divider blades after the first portion of the one increment of travel of said drive means; and elective means for concurrently selecting the effective lengths of both said connector and said stop to conform both the one increment of travel of said drive means and the first portion of the one increment of travel of said drive means to the given core axial height.

Claim 8

Apparatus for inserting coil side turn portions of a group of electrical coils formed of conductor wire into predetermined axially extending slots of a magnetic core of a given axial height within a preselected range of axial heights and having axially extending slots in communication with a periphery of the core, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of spaced apart divider blades to receive therebetween coils to be inserted into the core; a plurality of coil turn feeder blades, each coil turn feeder blade being positioned between an adjacent pair of divider blades; drive means for effecting movement of said coil turn feeder blades axially of the core during one increment of travel of said drive means and movement of said divider blades axially of the core concurrently with said coil turn feeder blades during a first portion of the one increment of travel of said drive means; a connector having a selectably variable effective length to operatively interconnect said drive means and said coil turn feeder blades to move said coil turn feeder blades during the one increment of travel of said drive means; a stop having a selectably variable length effective to halt said divider blades after the first portion of the one increment of travel of said drive means; and elective means for concurrently selecting the effective lengths of both said connector and said stop to conform both the one increment of travel of said drive means and the first portion of the one increment of travel of said drive means to the given core axial height.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein: said connector and said stop each is a member having a base and a plurality of control surfaces spaced different predetermined lengths from said base, corresponding to different predetermined core axial heights within the predetermined axial height range; each of said connector and said stop being movably mounted so that only one of its control surfaces is effective at a time; said elective means concurrently moves said connector and said stop to make predetermined control surfaces of each of said connector and said stop effective, which predetermined control surfaces correspond to the given core axial height.

Claim 10

Apparatus for forming shaped insulators of different selected lengths from a strip of insulative material for insertion into selected slots of a slotted magnetic core, comprising: guide means for containing a section of the strip of insulative material; feed means engaging the strip for advancing the strip along said guide means; constant stroke power means operatively connected to said feed means for effecting periodic reciprocating movement of said feed means to repeatedly advance a section of the strip; and adjustable stop means effective to interrupt the material advancing action of said feed means upon advancement of a predetermined length of the strip so that selected lengths of the strip are repeatedly advanced for subsequent severance and formation into shaped insulators.

Claim 11

Apparatus for forming shaped insulators of different selected lengths from a strip of insulative material for insertion into selected slots of a slotted magnetic core, comprising: guide means for containing a section of the strip of insulative material; feed means engaging the strip for advancing the strip along said guide means; constant stroke power means operatively connected to said feed means for effecting periodic reciprocating movement of said feed means to repeatedly advance a section of the strip; and adjustable stop means effective to interrupt the material advancing action of said feed means upon advancement of a predetermined length of the strip so that selected lengths of the strip are repeatedly advanced for subsequent severance and formation into shaped insulators.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further including elective means effective to adjust said stop means for interrupting the material advancing action of said feed means so that the predetermined advance lengths of the strip conform to a selected core axial height within a predetermined range of core axial heights.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein: said adjustable stop means includes a member having a plurality of control surfaces aligned with different positions along the path of travel of said feed means; said member being selectively movable to bring a selected control surface into the path of travel of said feed means for interrupting the material advancing section of said feed means upon advancement of a selected length of the strip.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further including elective means effective to move said member to bring a selected stop into The path of travel of said feed means.

Claim 15

Apparatus for inserting coil side turn portions of a group of electrical coils formed of conductor wire into predetermined axially extending slots of a magnetic core of a given axial height within a preselected range of axial heights and having axially extending slots in communication with a periphery of the core, the apparatus comprising: means defining a plurality of turn-receiving gaps; turn insertion means for inserting coil side turn portions into the predetermined slots of the core; supporting means for mounting said turn insertion means and the core for relative movement in an axial direction; drive means for effecting movement of said turn insertion means relative to the core during a selected increment of travel of said drive means; control means having a variable effective length to operatively interconnect said drive means and said turn insertion means to move said turn insertion means relative to the core during the selected increment of travel of said drive means; and elective means for moving said control means so that the portion of said control means effective to interconnect said drive means and said turn insertion means is of a selected height, whereby said selected increment of travel of said drive means conforms to the given core axial height.

Claim 16

Apparatus for inserting coil side turn portions of a group of electrical coils formed of conductor wire into predetermined axially extending slots of a magnetic core of a given axial height within a preselected range of axial heights and having axially extending slots in communication with a periphery of the core, the apparatus comprising: means defining a plurality of turn-receiving gaps; turn insertion means for inserting coil side turn portions into the predetermined slots of the core; supporting means for mounting said turn insertion means and the core for relative movement in an axial direction; drive means for effecting movement of said turn insertion means relative to the core during a selected increment of travel of said drive means; control means having a variable effective length to operatively interconnect said drive means and said turn insertion means to move said turn insertion means relative to the core during the selected increment of travel of said drive means; and elective means for moving said control means so that the portion of said control means effective to interconnect said drive means and said turn insertion means is of a selected height, whereby said selected increment of travel of said drive means conforms to the given core axial height.

Claim 17

Apparatus for inserting coil side turn portions of a group of electrical coils formed of conductor wire into predetermined axially extending slots of a magnetic core of a given axial height within a preselected range of stack heights and having axially extending slots in communication with a periphery of the core, the apparatus comprising: means including a plurality of turn feeder members and turn-receiving gaps for inserting side turn portions into the predetermined slots of the core; supporting means for mounting said turn feeder members and the core for relative movement in an axial direction; drive means effecting movement of said turn feeder members relative to the core during a selected increment of travel of said drive means for inserting the coil side turn portions into the predetermined slots; core securement means having a selectable first position restraining the core from axial movement and a second position removed therefrom, said core securement means being movable so that at least the selectable first position thereof is conformable to the core of given axial height; control means associated with said core securement means for establishing different selected first positions of the core securement means for cores of different given axial heights; elective means effective concurrently to set the length of the selected increment of travel of said drive means to conform to the given core axial height and to conform the selected first position of said core securement means to the given core axial height.

Claim 18

Apparatus for inserting coil side turn portions of a group of electrical coils formed of conductor wire into predetermined axially extending slots of a magnetic core of a given axial height within a preselected range of stack heights and having axially extending slots in communication with a periphery of the core, the apparatus comprising: means including a plurality of turn feeder members and turn-receiving gaps for inserting side turn portions into the predetermined slots of the core; supporting means for mounting said turn feeder members and the core for relative movement in an axial direction; drive means effecting movement of said turn feeder members relative to the core during a selected increment of travel of said drive means for inserting the coil side turn portions into the predetermined slots; core securement means having a selectable first position restraining the core from axial movement and a second position removed therefrom, said core securement means being movable so that at least the selectable first position thereof is conformable to the core of given axial height; control means associated with said core securement means for establishing different selected first positions of the core securement means for cores of different given axial heights; elective means effective concurrently to set the length of the selected increment of travel of said drive means to conform to the given core axial height and to conform the selected first position of said core securement means to the given core axial height.

Claim 19

Apparatus for forming insulators of selected lengths from a strip of insulative material and for inserting the insulators and coil side turn portions of a group of electrical coils formed of conductor wire into predetermined axially extending slots of a core of a given axial height within a preselected range of core axial heights and having axially extending slots in communication with a periphery of the core; the apparatus comprising: means including a plurality of coil turn feeder members and turn-receiving gaps to receive coil side turn portions for insertion into the predetermined slots of the core; supporting means for mounting said turn feeder members and core for relative movement in an axial direction for inserting the coil side turn portions into the predetermined slots; an insulator guide housing having circumferentially spaced and axially extending guide apertures aligned with predetermined ones of the axially extending slots of the core to receive and guide insulators to be inserted into the predetermined slots of the core; insulator pushers slidably disposed with respect to said guide apertures and mounted for axial movement relative to the core to insert the insulators into the slots; drive means for moving said insulator pushers relative to said turn feeder members during a first extent of travel of said drive means and thereafter concurrently moving said turn feeder members and said insulator pushers relative to the core; guide means for containing a section of the strip of insulative material; feed means for repeatedly advancing the strip along said guide means; first control means for interrupting each strip advancing action of the feed means so that selected lengths of insulative material are advanced; means for severing each advanced length and inserting it into a corresponding guide aperture; and elective means effective concurrently to set said first control means to conform the selected lengths of advanced insulative material to the given core axial height and to establish the first extent of travel of the drive means.

Claim 20

Apparatus for forming insulators of selected lengths from a strip of insulative material and for inserting the insulators and coil side turn portions of a group of electrical coils formed of conductor wire into predetermined axially extending slots of a core of a given axial height within a preselected range of core axial heights and having axially extending slots in communication with a periphery of the core; the apparatus comprising: means including a plurality of coil turn feeder members and turn-receiving gaps to receive coil side turn portions for insertion into the predetermined slots of the core; supporting means for mounting said turn feeder members and core for relative movement in an axial direction for inserting the coil side turn portions into the predetermined slots; an insulator guide housing having circumferentially spaced and axially extending guide apertures aligned with predetermined ones of the axially extending slots of the core to receive and guide insulators to be inserted into the predetermined slots of the core; insulator pushers slidably disposed with respect to said guide apertures and mounted for axial movement relative to the core to insert the insulators into the slots; drive means for moving said insulator pushers relative to said turn feeder members during a first extent of travel of said drive means and thereafter concurrently moving said turn feeder members and said insulator pushers relative to the core; guide means for containing a section of the strip of insulative material; feed means for repeatedly advancing the strip along said guide means; first control means for interrupting each strip advancing action of the feed means so that selected lengths of insulative material are advanced; means for severing each advanced length and inserting it into a corresponding guide aperture; and elective means effective concurrently to set said first control means to conform the selected lengths of advanced insulative material to the given core axial height and to establish the first extent of travel of the drive means.

Claim 21

Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 further including: a divider blade section forming the gaps to receive the electrical coils of conductor wire for insertion into the core; connection means interconnecting said divider blade section and said turn feeder members for moving said divider blade section relative to the core concurrently with said turn feeder members; second means associated with said divider blade section for halting movement of said divider blade section after a selected increment of travel of said divider blade section relative to the core; said elective means selectively setting said second means to conform the selected increment of travel of said divider blade section to the given core axial height concurrently with the establishing of the first extent of travel of the drive means.

Claim 22

Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 further including: at least one core restrainer having a selectable first position restraining the core from axial movement and a second position removed therefrom; restrainer control means associated with said core restrainer for establishing the selected first position of the core restrainer; said elective means selectively setting the restrainer control means to conform the selected first position of said core securement means to the given core stack height concurrently with the establishing of the first extent of travel of the drive means.

Claim 25

The method of claim 16 further including the step of selectively setting the length of a conjoint increment of travel of the turn feeder members and a plurality of gap defining blades substantially concurrently with selectively setting the length of an increment of relative travel.

Claim 28

The method of claim 18 wherein the disengaging of the strip of material and mechanism is effected by interengaging the mechanism and a selectively movable stop means.

Claim 31

The method of claim 20 further including selectably setting a first position of core securement means concurrently with setting the length of a preselected increment of relative travel of the turn feeder member and divider blade members.