US 12,316,177 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. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/537,203.
Application 18/537,203 is a continuation of application No. 16/974,278, filed on Dec. 14, 2020, granted, now 11,870,310.
Prior Publication US 2024/0136895 A1, Apr. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. H02K 15/50 (2025.01); F03B 13/08 (2006.01); F16C 43/02 (2006.01); G01N 29/04 (2006.01); H02K 1/30 (2006.01); H02K 7/18 (2006.01); F16C 17/04 (2006.01)
CPC H02K 15/50 (2025.01) [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)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for repairing a loss of support of a rim of a rotor of an electrical generator of a vertical hydrogenerator, the rotor of the electrical generator being disposed for rotation about a vertical axis when driven by a turbine of the hydrogenerator, the rotor comprising a shaft extending along the vertical axis, a plurality of spider legs attached to the shaft and extending radially away from the shaft, each of the spider legs having vertically spaced apart top and bottom sides with respect to the direction of gravity and a ledge, the rim surrounding the spider legs, the rim comprising vertically spaced apart top and bottom sides with respect to the direction of gravity, the weight of the rim normally being totally or partially supported on the ledges of the spider legs during normal operation of the hydrogenerator, the loss of support of the rim during operation of the hydrogenerator being caused by mechanical failure or loss of at least a portion of the ledges, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) fastening a plurality of thrust plates to the top side of the rim, each thrust plate of the plurality of thrust plates being placed adjacent to a respective spider leg and extending over the top side of the respective spider leg and is capable of being lifted off the respective spider leg, each thrust plate transferring at least a portion of the weight of the rim to the respective spider leg, wherein the ledges are no longer required to support the rim after performing step (a).