Conductor bundle edge-bending tool for a dynamoelectric generator

Claim 1

A conductor bundle edge bending tool for a dynamoelectric generator, said generator having a plurality of winding coils, each of said coils having conductor bundle means including a plurality of elongated metallic conductors, each of said conductors having a thin substantially rectangular cross-section, said cross-section of each of said conductors having substantially equal dimensions and having a relatively wide face portion and a relatively narrow edge portion, said conductor bundle means including a plurality of layers of said conductors, each of said layers formed by a plurality of said conductors, each of said conductors of each of said layers disposed such that at least one face portion of each of said conductors is adjacent another face portion of another of said conductors and said edge portions of said conductors of each of said layers are aligned to form a top portion and a bottom portion of said layer, said layers stacked in predetermined position to form said conductor bundle means, said conductor bundle means having a top layer and a bottom layer, said tool comprising: (a) gear means including a first shaft, said first shaft having a driver gear mounted thereon, a second shaft, said second shaft having a driven gear mounted thereon, said driven gear in operable engagement with said driver gear, gear housing means enclosing and supporting said driver gear and said driven gear; (b) cylindrical mandrel means affixed to one end of said second shaft, said mandrel means positioned exterior of said gear housing means, said mandrel means in bending relationship with said conductor bundle upon engagement of said bundle with said tool; (c) bending roller means comprising a cylindrical roller of predetermined dimensions, bracket means affixed to said driven gear, bending roller housing means including a front plate and a rear plate, said bending roller means mounted in predetermined position between said front and rear plates, said bending roller means rotatably hinged at one end of said bracket means to enable said bending roller to engage and disengage said conductor bundle; (d) adjustable front clamp means comprising second bracket means, said second bracket means affixed to said gear housing, said adjustable clamp means engageable with said top portion of said top layer of said conductor bundle, said clamp positioned in predetermined position ahead of said mandrel means; (e) adjustable guide means disposed in predetermined positions for prevention of lateral deformation of said conductor bundle means during bending of said bundle means; (f) first handle means including an elongated handle member affixed at one end to said gear housing means; (g) second handle means engaging the other end of said first shaft, whereby said conductor bundle means is positioned so as to contact said mandrel, said clamp means is adjusted to engage said top portion of said top layer of said conductor bundle means and said roller is positioned to engage said top portion of said top layer of said conductor bundle, said adjustable guide means is positioned adjacent said bundle means and said second handle is turned thereby forcing said bending roller means against said conductor bundle means causing said bundle means to bend around said mandrel, to form the bend desired, while said guide means prevents lateral deformation of said bundle means.