Device for detection of contact between rotor and stator

Claim 1

A device for detecting electrical contact between the stator and rotor of an electric motor and disabling the rotor to minimize the damage between the rotor and stator, comprising a plurality of spaced elongated insulting wedges about the stator for retaining coils of electrical conductors located in spaces of a stator between teeth of stator and providing a generally uniform smooth face with the rotor facing surfaces of the stator teeth, a plurality of elongated spaced non-magnetic generally round electrical conductors extending across the face of the stator, said non-magnetic conductors being embedded substantially within the upper surface of selected ones of said insulation wedges at widely spaced circumferential locations around the face of the stator, said non-magnetic conductors being fixed in said selected wedges in close proximity to the face of the rotor, insulation means overlying each of said non-magnetic conductors without inhibiting removal of said wedges from stator, said upper surface of said wedges containing said non-magnetic conductors and said insulation means being above the upper surfaces of the other of said wedges and above the face of the stator, means connected to said non-magnetic conductors for disabling the motor when the rotor causes a break in one of said insulation means and causes an electrical contact to be made between said rotor and one of said non-magnetic conductors beneath said one insulation means.

Claim 2

A device for detecting electrical contact between the stator and rotor of an electric motor and disabling the rotor to minimize the damage between the rotor and stator, comprising a plurality of spaced elongated insulting wedges about the stator for retaining coils of electrical conductors located in spaces of a stator between teeth of stator and providing a generally uniform smooth face with the rotor facing surfaces of the stator teeth, a plurality of elongated spaced non-magnetic generally round electrical conductors extending across the face of the stator, said non-magnetic conductors being embedded substantially within the upper surface of selected ones of said insulation wedges at widely spaced circumferential locations around the face of the stator, said non-magnetic conductors being fixed in said selected wedges in close proximity to the face of the rotor, insulation means overlying each of said non-magnetic conductors without inhibiting removal of said wedges from stator, said upper surface of said wedges containing said non-magnetic conductors and said insulation means being above the upper surfaces of the other of said wedges and above the face of the stator, means connected to said non-magnetic conductors for disabling the motor when the rotor causes a break in one of said insulation means and causes an electrical contact to be made between said rotor and one of said non-magnetic conductors beneath said one insulation means.

Claim 7

A system for detecting electrical contact between the stator and the rotor of an electric motor and disabling the motor to minimize damage between the stator and rotor wherein the rotor is mounted on a shaft journaled in bearings in a motor frame in which said stator is fixed, said stator comprising an annular iron body having a plurality of spaced teeth extending radially inward to a cylindrical surface in which the rotor rotates, the spaces between adjacent teeth being filled with coils of electrical conductors and the end of each space at said cylindrical surface being closed by a non-magnetic, electrically insulating wedge to retain the coil therein; selected ones of said wedges having non-magnetic generally round electrical conductors extending lengthwise thereof an substantially beneath the upper surface thereof and partially exposed over their entire length at said cylindrical surface, insulation means overlying each of said non-magnetic conductors without inhibiting removal of said wedges from said stator, said selected wedges containing said non-magnetic electrical conductors being spaced circumferentially around said cylindrical surface and connected to an electrical circuit, said electrical circuit including means for disabling said motor when the rotor causes a break in at least one of said insulation means and any physical contact is made between said rotor and one said mon-magnetic electrical conductor beneath said one insulation means.

Claim 8

A system for detecting electrical contact between the stator and the rotor of an electric motor and disabling the motor to minimize damage between the stator and rotor wherein the rotor is mounted on a shaft journaled in bearings in a motor frame in which said stator is fixed, said stator comprising an annular iron body having a plurality of spaced teeth extending radially inward to a cylindrical surface in which the rotor rotates, the spaces between adjacent teeth being filled with coils of electrical conductors and the end of each space at said cylindrical surface being closed by a non-magnetic, electrically insulating wedge to retain the coil therein; selected ones of said wedges having non-magnetic generally round electrical conductors extending lengthwise thereof an substantially beneath the upper surface thereof and partially exposed over their entire length at said cylindrical surface, insulation means overlying each of said non-magnetic conductors without inhibiting removal of said wedges from said stator, said selected wedges containing said non-magnetic electrical conductors being spaced circumferentially around said cylindrical surface and connected to an electrical circuit, said electrical circuit including means for disabling said motor when the rotor causes a break in at least one of said insulation means and any physical contact is made between said rotor and one said mon-magnetic electrical conductor beneath said one insulation means.