1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for fixing an annular segment package with a cylindrical outer wall in an annular housing.
2. Prior Art
Annular segment packages are known. They operate in different areas and must be assembled in advance from their individual segments before installation in the annular housings. Like the annular housings in which the annular segment packages are intended to be fixed, such annular segment packages are generally composed of metallic materials. In practice, the housings are in this case heated for fixing, and thus expand. The annular segment packages are then introduced into the respective annular housings, and each combination is then cooled. The cooling effect results in the housing contracting, which leads to the annular segment package being fixed firmly in the annular housing by compression. However, this procedure has the disadvantage that the annular housing must be heated homogeneously, which is often not easy to do. During the final cooling process, different force effects often occur on the annular segment packages, which is likewise undesirable in many cases.
The invention is therefore based on providing a method for fixing an annular segment package with a cylindrical outer wall in an annular housing that be carried out with relatively few problems and simply, avoiding the different disadvantageous force effects on the annular segment package.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the method for fixing an annular segment package with a cylindrical outer wall in an annular housing, whose inner wall is in the form of an inner cone, in which the annular segment package is either first of all introduced into the annular housing and then an annular sleeve, whose outer wall is in the form of an outer cone which is designed to be compatible with the inner cone of the annular housing, is introduced between the annular segment package and the annular housing and is compressed on both sides, or it is first of all introduced into the annular sleeve and is compressed, and the annular sleeve is then introduced into the annular housing, together with the annular segment package, and is compressed.
The compression of the annular segment package in the annular sleeve ensures that the annular sleeve has a cylindrical inner wall whose diameter corresponds virtually to the diameter of the cylindrical outer wall of the annular segment package. In engineering terms, the respective internal diameter or external diameter are in this case chosen such that the annular segment package is introduced into the annular sleeve by an appropriate force effect, and is compressed by a force fit. The annular sleeve is compressed in a similar manner in the annular housing. The inner cone of the annular housing is in this case designed to be compatible with the outer cone formed on the annular sleeve, such that the annular sleeve is introduced into the annular housing by an appropriate force effect, and is compressed by an interlock. Both the annular sleeve and the annular housing are in this case preferably composed of metallic materials, although this is not absolutely essential. Surprisingly, it has been found that the annular segment package can be fixed in the annular housing in a relatively simple, unproblematic manner, when the corresponding annular sleeve is compressed between the annular segment package and the annular housing, in which case it is possible to completely dispense with the disadvantageous heating of the annular housing. The corresponding mutually compatible configuration of the inner cone and outer cone in this case ensures that the annular segment package has forces applied to it uniformly, seen over its circumference, during the fixing process, thus making it possible to avoid damage to the annular segment package caused by widely differing force effects.
Two alternatively technically equivalent process methods are feasible for carrying out the method. According to the first method, the annular segment package is first of all introduced into the annular housing, and the annular sleeve is then compressed between the annular segment package and the annular housing, on both sides. According to the second method, provision is made for the annular segment package to first of all be introduced into the annular sleeve, and to be compressed with it. The combination of the annular segment package and the annular sleeve is then introduced into the annular housing, and is compressed with it. The second method is particularly advantageous when initial assembly is envisaged. Which method is chosen differs from case to case, and is governed, for example, by the customer's wish.
One preferred embodiment of the invention provides that a common angle γ for the inner cone and for the outer cone is chosen in the range from 2 to 5°. This ensures good compression of the annular sleeve between the annular segment package and the annular housing, and this is particularly suitable for many purposes.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, an annular sleeve is used which, starting from the outer edge with the smallest external diameter of the outer cone, has longitudinal slots arranged alongside one another parallel to the longitudinal axis of the annular sleeve and whose respective length l is less than the width of the annular sleeve. The arrangement of the longitudinal slots allows tolerances during the fixing process to be compensated for relatively easily and advantageously, thus simplifying the respective compression process.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the length l of the respective longitudinal slots is chosen to be greater than the width b of the annular segment package.
This optimizes the compression process, and makes it easier to fix the annular segment package in the annular housing.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the annular sleeve is arranged with its outer edge having the smallest external diameter of the outer cone resting on a stop, in the state in which it is compressed in the annular housing. In this case it is particularly advantageous for the stop itself to be a part of the annular housing. This results in the annular sleeve being seated particularly well in the annular housing, thus optimally fixing the annular segment package.
According to one embodiment of the invention, an annular stator laminated core of an electric motor is arranged as the annular segment package, and a stator housing of an electric motor is arranged as the annular housing. To make it easier to arrange the stator windings, it has been found to be particularly advantageous for the stator for an electric motor to be a package of individual stator laminate units. Each stator laminate unit in this case contains a portion of the windings, which together then form the overall stator winding. When the annular stator laminated core is being fixed in the stator housing, it can be particularly advantageous to avoid the need to heat the stator housing. The method allows particularly advantageous fixing of the annular stator laminated core in the stator housing, in which case it is possible to entirely dispense with the disadvantageous heating of the stator housing as a preparatory measure.
According to one embodiment of the invention, an electric motor for a hybrid car is the electric motor. In general, electric motors for hybrid cars are subject to stringent requirements. These also include the need to fix the annular segment package, which is then in the form of an annular stator laminated core, particularly well in the stator housing. The method complies with the stringent requirements in a particularly advantageous and simple manner.
The invention will be explained in more detail and by way of example in the following text with reference to the drawing.
Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2007 048 499.4 | Oct 2007 | DE | national |
This is a U.S. national stage of application No. PCT/EP2008/063321, filed on 6 Oct. 2008. which claims priority to the German Application No.: 10 2007 048 499.4, filed: 10 Oct. 2007; the content of which is incorporated here by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2008/063321 | 10/6/2008 | WO | 00 | 7/13/2010 |