US 11,870,310 B2
Method of repairing a hydrogenerator
Jason Sinkhorn, Greensburg, PA (US); J. Barry Sargeant, DeLand, FL (US); Lauren Haley, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and Thomas Schildkamp, Greensburg, PA (US)
Assigned to Electromechanical Engineering Associates, Inc., Monroeville, PA (US)
Filed by Electromechanical Engineering Associates, Inc., Monroeville, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/974,278.
Prior Publication US 2022/0190694 A1, Jun. 16, 2022
Int. Cl. H02K 15/00 (2006.01); H02K 7/18 (2006.01); H02K 1/30 (2006.01); F03B 13/08 (2006.01); G01N 29/04 (2006.01); F16C 43/02 (2006.01); F16C 17/04 (2006.01)
CPC H02K 15/0006 (2013.01) [F03B 13/083 (2013.01); F16C 43/02 (2013.01); G01N 29/043 (2013.01); H02K 1/30 (2013.01); H02K 7/1823 (2013.01); F05B 2230/80 (2013.01); F16C 17/04 (2013.01); F16C 2360/00 (2013.01); G01N 2291/0289 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for repairing a loss of support of a rim of a rotor during operation of an electrical generator, the rotor of the electrical generator being disposed for rotation about a vertical axis, the rotor comprising a shaft extending along the vertical axis, a spider attached to the shaft and extending radially away from the shaft, the spider having vertically spaced apart top and bottom sides with respect to the direction of gravity, the rim carrying poles and surrounding the spider, the weight of the rim normally being totally or partially supported on ledges disposed on the spider during normal operation of the electric generator, the loss of support of the rim being caused by mechanical failure or loss of at least a portion of the ledges, the method comprising:
fastening at least one support member on a top side of the rim adjacent the top side of the spider, each of the at least one support member extending away from the rim and over the top side of the spider,
wherein the at least one support member transfers at least a portion of the weight of the rim to the spider to support at least a portion of the rim against the top side of the spider and thereby relieve some or all of the weight of the rim being supported by the ledges without the need to repair any of the failed or lost portions of the ledges,
wherein the at least one support member comprises a plurality of thrust plates and fastening the at least one support member on the top side of the rim comprises fastening the plurality of thrust plates to the top side of the rim, the plurality of thrust plates being spaced apart from one another and extending over the top side of the spider.