Rotary electric machine and method of manufacturing the same

[0002] The present application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application Hei 11-197366 filed on Jul. 12, 1999, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a rotary electric machine and a method of manufacturing the same, particularly, a stator core of the rotary electric machine.

[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0006] WO98/54823 discloses a rotary electric machine, in which conductor segments are inserted into slots of a stator core in the axial direction of the stator core. The stator core is formed from an iron core sheet laminated into a plurality of layers. The iron core sheet is usually thicker than 0.5 mm.

[0007] Although a thinner core sheet is more preferable to decrease an eddy current loss, it becomes more difficult to manufacture. Thin core sheet is easy to deform and difficult to reduce burrs on the sheared corners if it is press-formed.

[0008] Such burrs may damage an insulation structure of a rotary machine unless any appropriate arrangement is made.

[0009] A main object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of a rotary electric machine which is resistant to deformation force.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and reliable insulation structure of a rotary electric machine.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of manufacturing such a simple and reliable rotary electric machine.

[0012] In a rotary electric machine according to a main feature of the invention, each slot has chamfered corners extending from opposite ends of the stator core over a distance longer than a thickness of the core sheet that forms a multi-layered stator core to engage another layer of the core sheet.

[0013] Accordingly, edges of burrs of a core sheet of one layer is bent inward to engage a side edge of the core sheet of the adjacent layer, so that the layers of the core sheet can be prevented from being peeled off. This structure also prevents insulators from being damaged.

[0014] Other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention as well as the functions of related parts of the present invention will become clear from a study of the following detailed description, the appended claims and the drawings. In the drawings:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a step of forming a stator core of a rotary electric machine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the stator core cut along line II—II in FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a step of inserting a conductor segment into the stator core according to the preferred embodiment;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic view of the stator core according to the preferred embodiment with the conductor segment being inserted therein;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a step of chamfering according to the preferred embodiment;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a step of chamfering according to the preferred embodiment; and

[0021] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a chamfered portion of the stator core according to the preferred embodiment.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, stator core 2 of a rotary electric machine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, such as a vehicle AC generator, is formed from a 0.35 mm-thick strip of iron core sheet 20, which is coiled and laminated into a plurality of layers. Stator core 2 has a plurality of slots 21 at the inner periphery thereof at circumferentially equal intervals.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a stator winding is formed from a plurality of pairs of insulation-film-coated conductor segments 3a, and 3b, which are inserted into slots 21 to be covered with insulators 4, bent and welded to one another in a prescribed manner. Each insulator 4 has upwardly spreading skirt portion 41. Skirt portion 41 prevents insulator 4 from being dragged by conductor segments 3aand 3bwhen those are inserted into slot 21.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of slot holes 22 are punched in iron core sheet 20 before it is coiled and laminated. Core sheet 20 is coiled and laminated so that burrs extend in the same direction. After core sheet 20 has been laminated to a prescribed number of layers to form a cylindrical core, the outer periphery thereof is welded at a plurality of portions to fix together.

[0025] Thereafter, internal corner of each slot 21 of the cylindrical core is pressed by a tool to form chamfers extending over a distance longer than the thickness of core sheet 20. As a result, each slot 21 has smooth corner surfaces with the above described burrs bent radially inward to engage with the side edge of core sheet 20 of the adjacent layer.

[0026] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, chamfering tool 51 is inserted into each slot 21 from the upper side of the core in the direction designated by arrow X and pressed against the upper corner of slot 21 so that chamfer 25 extends over distance L that is longer than thickness T (e.g. 0.35 mm) of core sheet 20ain the uppermost layer or core sheet 20bof the second layer. Accordingly, edge of the burr 23ais bent radially inward to engage and press the side edge of core sheet 20bof the second layer so that another burr 23bpresses core sheet 20 of the third layer.

[0027] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, chamfering tool 52 is inserted into each slot 21 from the lower side of the core in the direction designated by arrow Y and pressed against the lower corner of slot 21 so that chamfer 27 extends over distance M that is longer than thickness T of core sheet 20zof the lowermost layer. Burr 23yextending from adjacent core sheet 20yis also chamfered and bent to engage the side edge of core sheet 20z.

[0028] It is preferable that the above-described chamfering steps are carried out concurrently to prevent the core from deforming.

[0029] Distance L or M of the chamfer can be extended to longer than 2T to join three or more layers of core sheet 20 together.

[0030] Thus, conductor segments 3aand 3band insulators 4 can be inserted into slots 21 smoothly so that the layers of core sheet 20 can be prevented from being peeled off or damaged. This also prevents insulators 4 from being damaged.

[0031] The above chamfering steps can be applied to a stator core comprised of a plurality of separate core sheets.

[0032] In the foregoing description of the present invention, the invention has been disclosed with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to the specific embodiments of the present invention without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Accordingly, the description of the present invention in this document is to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than restrictive, sense.