Electrical generator or motor structure – Dynamoelectric – Rotary
Patent
1994-07-06
1995-12-19
Dougherty, Thomas M.
Electrical generator or motor structure
Dynamoelectric
Rotary
310 44, 29598, H02K 122, H02K 1502
Patent
active
054770920
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rotor, and more particularly but not exclusively, to a rotor for use in high speed applications.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
High speed rotors have been proposed for use in a number of applications particularly as electric motor/generators. They can act as a motor or generator depending on whether electrical energy is being fed into or extracted from an electrical coil on a stator associated with the rotor. Such an arrangement is proposed for example in FR 2614367 as a means of energy storage and conversion.
Prior art rotors for motor/generator applications have constructions which are not ideal for high speed applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a rotor comprising fibre-reinforced plastics material incorporating magnetic filler material, the fibre-reinforced plastics material being arranged as a multi-layered cylindrical portion of the rotor, the magnetic filler material being disposed within and between the layers. The said cylindrical portion may be a hollow tubular portion. The said portion may be enclosed in a non-composite, eg wear resistant, layer.
Rotors of the present invention beneficially allow an efficient electromagnetic interaction between the rotor and a neighbouring stator to be maintained along the length of the body of the rotor and out of balance regions in the rotating mass can be avoided when the rotor is employed at high speeds.
Preferably, the said portion in the rotor according to the present invention comprises a first layer of windings of fibres, at least one intermediate layer of windings of fibres superimposed thereon and defining helical spaces therebetween, magnetic filler material in the spaces, and an outer layer of windings of fibres superimposed about the intermediate layer(s).
The said portion might be superimposed on a substrate.
The said plastics material may comprise any one or more of the known matrix materials employed in fibre reinforced composite materials. For example the material may comprise a thermosetting or cold setting or thermoplastic polymeric material, eg selected from one or more of epoxy resins, polyester resins, Friedel Crafts resins, polyimides, polyamides, polyether sulphones and polyether ketones (PEEK) optionally together with known hardeners, fillers and the like. The fibres may be wound as a collection in tows. They may be wound helically and/or in hooped fashion. within the composite.
The invention also provides a method of manufacturing a rotor, the method including the steps of: fibres; fibres about the initial layer so as to define spaces between the fibres of the intermediate layer; matrix material in the spaces; intermediate layer; required orientation whilst the resin is in the liquid state prior to gelling and during the gelling process;
The resin may be a thermosetting resin and curing may be carried out by heating to an appropriate known curing temperature; cooling may follow step f) before step g).
Preferably, the fibres comprise carbon fibres, or may comprise glass fibres, or KEVLAR (polyaramid) plastics or aluminium tape, boron, nylon, polyolefin or mixtures of these or any other suitable known fibres.
The magnetic material employed as the said magnetic filler material may comprise particles, spheroids, whiskers, fibres or the like. Desirably, the material is a powder material. The magnetic material may comprise iron, nickel, cobalt or an alloy containing one or more of these. It may comprise a ferrite, eg barium ferrite. Alternatively, and preferably, the material comprises a known hard magnetic material (ie hard to de-magnetise) comprising a rare-earth element, eg cobalt-samarium or neodymium-boron. The magnetic material may suitably be incorporated between tows of fibres within the composite.
It will be understood that the invention also includes a rotor having a portion thereof made by the method of the invention, and an electric motor or an electric generator or a combined motor-generator i
REFERENCES:
patent: 3488837 (1970-01-01), Massouda
patent: 4360871 (1982-11-01), Blaney
patent: 4508567 (1985-04-01), Mizuno et al.
patent: 4674178 (1987-06-01), Patel
patent: 5285699 (1994-02-01), Walls et al.
patent: 5382219 (1995-01-01), Malekmadani
Patent Abstracts of Japan, E Field, vol. 11, No. 240, Aug. 6, 1987, p. 142 E 529; No. 62-53 161.
Derwent Abstract; SU-708464.
British Nuclear Fuels PLC
Dougherty Thomas M.
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