Patent · US Expired

Rotor assembly for homopolar generator

US4800311A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
10References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 2, 1985
Grant dateJan 24, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 2, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49012
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A homoplanar generator (HPG) having the stator and an inner brush mechanism housed within the machine support structure utilizes a rotor separated into halves electrically insulated from each other, so as to fit around the stator and brush mechanism. A shaft is mounted in the support structure to carry the rotor. A first rotor half is thermally shrunk-fit onto the shaft, and the second rotor half is hydraulically expansion fit thereon. To hydraulically fit the second rotor on the shaft, a shaft is provided having a downward taper from its midpoint toward one end. The shaft also has a circumferential groove and a port therethrough from the end of the taper, for communicating high pressure oil from an external pump to the shaft-rotor interface. High-pressure seals on each side of the groove prevent leakage. The application of high-pressure oil expands the bore in the rotor half and shrinks the shaft diameter. A hydraulic ram then pushes the rotor half onto the tapered shaft, whereupon the pressure is released and the rotor half bore contracts against the shaft.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.