Patent ID: 7122931
Filing Date: 2006-10-17
Classification: H02K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A generator rotor, comprising: a rotor tooth having a tooth root and a tooth top, said tooth top including an outboard and an inboard region for supporting a retaining ring, wherein said outboard and inboard regions each comprise a retaining-ring land, a wedge land, and a fillet, wherein said outboard retaining-ring land has smaller surface area than said inboard retaining-ring land, with substantially radial sidewalls that transitions to a fillet having a radius of about 0.5″, a wedge having a radially-outer retaining-ring-containing surface and a tooth-top-facing surface, wherein said tooth-top-facing surface and said inboard region wedge land are spaced apart by a wedge relief disposed therebetween, and a retaining ring, wherein said wedge ring-contacting surface and said wedge relief are sized and configured to allow said ring-contacting surface to move radially a first distance and to allow said inboard region wedge land to move radially a second distance, said first distance being smaller than said second distance by an amount of effective to allow transfer of centrifugal loads to said retaining ring at speed, wherein said ring-contacting surface and said wedge relief cooperatively reduce tensile loading of said tooth-top by said wedge during operation.