← Back to Patent Explorer
US4633574A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for securing conductor bar in machine slot while closing slot

Assignee: General Electric Canada Co
•
Filing: 1985-03-29
•
Granted: 1987-01-06
•
Expires: 2005-03-29
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A slot closure arrangement for closing the slot opening of slots in the stator of a dynamoelectric machine and for providing a restraining force against conductors in the slot. The slots have opposing notches on opposite sides of the slot adjacent the slot opening. A flat rectangular spring member is placed in the slot opening with the opposite edges of the flat spring member each terminating in one of the opposing notches. A pair of wedges with complementary tapered surfaces is inserted between the spring member and the surface of the conductor in the slot adjacent and facing the slot opening. The wedges are advanced one over the other to increase the overall thickness. The surface of the wedge engaging the spring member has a thickness at the center greater than the thickness at the edges, and the center presses the spring member outwardly when the wedges are advanced, deforming the spring member which then provides a force through the wedges against the conductor in the slot. The spring member not only provides the restraining spring force but it serves as a slot closure member. Because there is no material covering the outer surface of the spring member (except for the extreme edge portions within the notches), nothing impedes heat dissipation from the spring member to the ventilating air.

Inventors

  • 👤 Duncan T. Bath
  • 👤 James H. Ferguson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 12:01
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K3/00; H02K3/46; H02K3/48; H02K3/487; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49009

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 143 words
A method for securing a conductor bar in a slot of a dynamoelectric machine and closing the opening of said slot, said slot having opposing notches adjacent said opening, comprising: inserting a wedge in said slot, said wedge having on one surface thereof an axially extending central portion of greater thickness than the side edges of said wedge; inserting a flat spring member into the slot opening, the side edges of said spring member terminating in said notches, said flat spring member engaging said central portion of greater thickness; and advancing said wedge in said slot to deform the central portion of said spring member outwardly, thereby providing an inwardly directed spring force to retain said conductor bar and closing said slot opening while maintaining the outwardly facing surface of said spring member exposed, thereby not impeding heat dissipation from said spring member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 143 words
A method for securing a conductor bar in a slot of a dynamoelectric machine and closing the opening of said slot, said slot having opposing notches adjacent said opening, comprising: inserting a wedge in said slot, said wedge having on one surface thereof an axially extending central portion of greater thickness than the side edges of said wedge; inserting a flat spring member into the slot opening, the side edges of said spring member terminating in said notches, said flat spring member engaging said central portion of greater thickness; and advancing said wedge in said slot to deform the central portion of said spring member outwardly, thereby providing an inwardly directed spring force to retain said conductor bar and closing said slot opening while maintaining the outwardly facing surface of said spring member exposed, thereby not impeding heat dissipation from said spring member.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 209 words
A method for securing a conductor bar in a slot of a dynamoelectric machine and closing the opening of said slot, said slot having opposing notches adjacent said opening, comprising: inserting a pair of wedges having complementary tapered surfaces in said slot with said tapered surfaces in engagement, the base surface opposite the tapered surface of one of said wedges engaging the conductor bar and the surface opposite the tapered surface of the other wedge having an axially extending central portion of greater thickness than the side edges of said wedge; inserting a flat spring member into the slot opening, the side edges of said spring member terminating in said notches, said flat spring member engaging said central portion of greater thickness; and forcing at least one of said wedges over the other of said wedges causing the tapered surfaces to slide one over the other to increase the overall thickness of said wedges and to thereby cause said spring member to deform, said spring member in its deformed condition providing an inwardly directed spring force to retain said conductor bar and also serving as a slot closure member, while maintaining the outwardly facing surface of said spring member exposed, thereby not impeding heat dissipation from said spring member.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 209 words
A method for securing a conductor bar in a slot of a dynamoelectric machine and closing the opening of said slot, said slot having opposing notches adjacent said opening, comprising: inserting a pair of wedges having complementary tapered surfaces in said slot with said tapered surfaces in engagement, the base surface opposite the tapered surface of one of said wedges engaging the conductor bar and the surface opposite the tapered surface of the other wedge having an axially extending central portion of greater thickness than the side edges of said wedge; inserting a flat spring member into the slot opening, the side edges of said spring member terminating in said notches, said flat spring member engaging said central portion of greater thickness; and forcing at least one of said wedges over the other of said wedges causing the tapered surfaces to slide one over the other to increase the overall thickness of said wedges and to thereby cause said spring member to deform, said spring member in its deformed condition providing an inwardly directed spring force to retain said conductor bar and also serving as a slot closure member, while maintaining the outwardly facing surface of said spring member exposed, thereby not impeding heat dissipation from said spring member.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2945140A Cited
US3139550A Cited
CH580351A5 Cited
CA1095108A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-01-05 1990-07-07 1991-01-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-01-05 1994-07-07 1995-01-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-01-05 1998-07-07 1999-01-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag