The present invention concerns an improved construction for a rotor end-winding support for a high-speed electrical machine, in particular a turbogenerator, comprising an overhung rotor end bell of high-strength antimagnetic material surrounding the end-winding, one end of the bell being shrunk on the rotor body and the other end enclosing the shaft with a clearance. A support of this kind is known from the German published patent specification DT-OS 1 538 755, for example filed on Dec. 17, 1966.
The numerous known rotor end-winding supports with an overhung rotor and bell all consist of a heavy cylindrical ring having one end shrunk on the rotor body. The designs differ essentially in the manner of locating and fixing the end bells on the rotor body, this being achieved, for example, by spring rings or inserted threaded rings or braced ring sections. All known end bells serving as rotor end-winding supports, however, have the disadvantage that the solid ring absorbing the centrifugal forces of the end-winding is subjected to a substantial inherent loading due to the centrifugal force acting on its own mass.
The object of the invention is to improve the known forms of rotor end-winding support incorporating an overhung end bell, in particular to reduce their mass and hence the large centrifugal forces resulting from their own mass.
This object is achieved in that the end bell surrounding the end-winding comprises at least two concentric rings, the inner ring being shrunk on the end of the rotor body and secured against axial movement, and the outer ring enclosing the inner ring being fitted round the inner ring. The material of the component rings can be of different strengths. The inner ring is of less strength than the outer ring and constitutes the mechanically rigid connection to the rotor body by means of shrinkage and axial bracing. The outer ring is of much greater strength and absorbs the centrifugal forces due to the inner ring and its own mass. By dividing the end bell into a number of component parts it is possible to use combinations of materials, the respective component rings being allotted functions which correspond to their particular properties. This division into parts has advantages even with a steel/steel combination, as from the standpoint of cross-section and weight alone this offers advantages in forging, machining and installation. The quality of the material of each ring can also be matched to the respective stress conditions.
According to another version of the invention, the outer ring of the end bell is of greater strength than the inner ring. The inner ring, for example, can be of high-strength antimagnetic steel and the outer ring of a non-magnetic alloy having a high ratio of strength to specific weight. According to the invention the outer ring can be of titanium, for example.
The object of the invention can be achieved in a particularly advantageous manner in that the inner ring is of high-strength antimagnetic shrinkable steel and the outer ring a is made from a non-metallic material which cannot be expanded by heating such as carbon-fibre-reinforced material. In this case the ring of carbon-fibre-reinforced material can be strengthened on its inner surface by means of a sheet of non-magnetic metal. It is also possible to divide the ring of carbon-fibre-reinforced material axially and graduate the fit of the individual rings.
The outer ring can be fitted as described above. In the case of a ring of carbon-fibre-reinforced material, however, it is preferable to expand the outer ring by hydraulic means. For this, the outer surface of the inner ring must be provided with the holes and slots necessary for introducing the hydraulic medium.
To secure the end bell, the surface of the inner ring facing the rotor body is provided with teeth which coincide with the slots in the rotor body. The junction between rotor body and inner ring is covered by a bayonet ring which can be inserted over the inner ring through the gaps between the teeth. The rotor body and inner ring are locked together by turning the bayonet ring through a distance of half the spacing between slots. The bayonet ring is also preferably of high-strength antimagnetic steel. There can then be a radial and axial shrink fit between the bayonet ring and the braced parts of the teeth. A similar arrangement for one-piece end bells is known from DGbm 1 753 706 filed in Germany on Aug. 3, 1956.
Further details and versions of the invention are described in the following and shown in the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a section through the end bell with the inner and outer ring and the bayonet ring,
FIG. 2 shows the end bell without the outer ring,
FIG. 3 is a detail of FIG. 1 showing the bayonet ring for axially securing the end bell to the rotor body in the fitted condition,
FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of the bayonet ring with its teeth,
FIG. 5 shows the end portion of the rotor body with end-bell seating and chamfered tooth for engaging the bayonet ring,
FIG. 6 is an axial section through the bayonet ring and the rotor teeth showing the overlap of the teeth of the two parts,
FIG. 7 shows the teeth at the end of the inner ring facing the rotor body through which the teeth of the bayonet ring are inserted on assembly,
FIG. 8 shows a hydraulically fitted ring of carbon-fibre-reinforced reinforced material, together with slots on the surface of the inner ring,
FIG. 9 shows a ring of carbon-fibre-reinforced material while being fitted hydraulically, with holes in the inner ring for introducing a hydraulic medium,
FIG. 10 shows a ring of carbon-fibre-reinforced material strengthened by non-magnetic material on the inner surface, in the assembled condition, and
FIG. 11 shows a ring of carbon-fibre-reinforced material strengthened by non-magnetic material on the inner surface, during assembly.
In the drawings, the end bell is denoted 1, the inner ring 1.1 and the outer ring 1.2. A further ring shrunk on to the inner ring 1.1 of the end bell, termed the bayonet ring, is denoted 2. Rotor body 3 has rotor teeth 3.1. The inner ring 1.1 is provided with teeth 1.3 which have the same pitch as the rotor teeth 3.1. When assembled, therefore, each tooth of teeth 1.3 is opposed by one of the rotor teeth 3.1. The two are axially braced together by way of tooth extensions 2.1 and the shoulder 2.2 of the bayonet ring 2.
The inner ring 1.1 is also shown to incorporate surface slots 1.4 and bores 1.5 through which a pressure medium is admitted for purposes of hydraulic fitting. With this form of fitting a hydraulic fluid, e.g. oil, is introduced and exerts pressure on ring 1.2 to expand it so that it can be slid on inner ring 1.1 at the rotor-body end without heating.
A sheet 1.6 of non-magnetic metal between the outer ring 1.2 and the inner ring 1.1 for reinforcing the inner surface of the outer ring 1.2 is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.