Turbine generator stator end winding support assembly with decoupling from the core

Claim 1

A dynamoelectric machine comprising: a stator with a core and a stator winding, said core having a generally cylindrical bore; said stator winding including inner portions within slots in said core and end portions extending axially from each end of said core; a support assembly for restraining said end portions of said stator winding, said support assembly comprising a brace and a bracket located at each of a plurality of spaced positions radially outside said end portions; said bracket being fixedly secured to said core and to said brace; said brace comprising a top rigid piece adjacent said end portions of said winding, a bottom rigid piece, radially outside said top piece, secured to said bracket, and an intermediate decoupler between said top and bottom pieces, said intermediate decoupler comprising an elastomer layer and a slip layer which together provide cushioning between said top and bottom pieces and low friction between said top and bottom pieces for permitting relative movement in an axial direction; said brace bottom piece being a generally plate-like member having its major surfaces disposed in a radial plane with an upper surface disposed transverse to said radial plane, said bottom piece extending axially over a substantial portion of said end portion of said winding; said brace top piece being a generally plate-like member having a lower major surface disposed parallel to said upper surface of said bottom piece; and, said elastomer layer and said slip layer are disposed between and parallel with said upper surface of said brace bottom piece and said lower major surface of said brace top piece.