Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Electrical device making
Patent
1997-01-13
2000-05-30
Bryant, David P.
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Electrical device making
29605, 2940701, 29593, 29742, 29705, 29732, 324546, 439391, 439410, 242432, H02K 1504, H01R 424, G01R 3106
Patent
active
060677023
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a stator manufacturing and testing method and apparatus. This invention is especially adapted for the manufacture and testing of 2-pole stators for electric motors or other electrical devices, but aspects of this invention may be applicable to other manufacturing methods and apparatus.
2. Prior Art and Other Considerations
Modern stator manufacturing production lines include several different stations at which different manufacturing operations are performed. One such operation that is frequently accomplished at an early stage in the process for manufacturing a 2-pole stator is to assemble stator coil terminals or supports therefor on an unwound stator core. Thereafter, the stator coils are wound on the stator core pole pieces at a stator winding station using magnet wire having an electrically insulating coating. A common practice in use at this time is to temporarily clamp the stator coil lead wires to wire clamps during the winding process. At a later stage, the lead wires are connected to the terminals mounted on the stator core. Usually at a still later stage in the manufacture of the stator, the stator coils are tested for continuity and resistance.
One type of stator manufacturing machine, known as a turret winder, such as the machine 50 disclosed in Beakes et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,405, granted Feb. 16, 1993, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, includes a turret by which unwound stators having cores on which terminal members have previously been assembled are moved to a stator winding station at which the stator coils are wound and by which the freshly wound stators are then moved to a lead connect station at which the stator coil lead wires are connected to the terminal members on the core. The coil winding process typically requires more time to complete than do the lead wire connecting operations or the testing operations. It has been suggested that there would be an advantage to testing the coils of each stator for resistance and shorts while the stator is still located on the turret of a turret winder. If the stator coils are tested immediately after being wound, the winding machine operations can be immediately halted in the event a stator fails a test procedure so that the condition which caused the failure can be promptly cured. This would avoid the possibility that a substantial number of similarly defective stators are wound before the defect is discovered.
SUMMARY
This invention provides a stator manufacturing and testing method and apparatus by which stator coils can be electrically tested immediately after they are wound. If a test indicates a defective stator, further processing can be interrupted until the defective condition is determined and appropriate remedial action taken.
An object of this invention is to provide a stator manufacturing and testing method and apparatus in which the stator coil lead wires having an electrically insulating coating are connected to temporary wire clamps at a winding station and in which the stator coils are electrically tested, such as for resistance and shorts, before the coil lead wires are removed from the temporary clamps.
In accordance with one aspect of this invention, the clamps each include a jaw formed with a wire-engaging surface, preferably a knife edge, which scrapes the insulating coating from a lead wire as it is inserted therein. The clamps are mounted on an electrically insulating support and are electrically connected to terminal members which are engageable by electrical test terminal members. In a modification, the wire-scraping or cutting jaw has, in addition to a body formed with a sharpened or knife edge, a wire-guiding shield having surfaces engageable by a lead wire being inserted into the clamp. The wire-guiding surfaces are located immediately adjacent the knife edge and are so positioned that the depth of the insulated wire scraped or cut away by the knife edge is only a few thousandths of an inch.
In the presently preferred pr
REFERENCES:
patent: 830675 (1906-09-01), Rosenberger
patent: 1188749 (1916-06-01), Frankel
patent: 1500641 (1924-07-01), Sabourin
patent: 2903064 (1959-09-01), Blonder
patent: 3455007 (1969-07-01), Green
patent: 3626358 (1971-12-01), Klassen
patent: 3706122 (1972-12-01), La Valle
patent: 3932811 (1976-01-01), Branch
patent: 4815673 (1989-03-01), Wheeler
patent: 4957452 (1990-09-01), Bolliger
patent: 4984353 (1991-01-01), Santandrea et al.
patent: 5186405 (1993-02-01), Beakes et al.
patent: 5186648 (1993-02-01), Senra
patent: 5269206 (1993-12-01), Yagawa
patent: 5370324 (1994-12-01), Beakes et al.
patent: 5651177 (1997-07-01), Newman
patent: 5742997 (1998-04-01), Beakes et al.
Globe Products Inc. drawing 165820, dated Feb. 15, 1991.
Globe Products Inc. drawing 166420, dated Dec. 22, 1992.
Clemenz Gary E.
Furlong Raymond S.
Newman Lawrence E.
Bryant David P.
Dybvig Roger S.
Globe Products Inc.
LandOfFree
Stator manufacturing and testing method and apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Stator manufacturing and testing method and apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stator manufacturing and testing method and apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1901692