Patent Abstract:
A cooling sleeve includes a first end that extends to a second end, and at least one coolant inlet member. The cooling sleeve also includes a second sleeve portion. The second sleeve portion includes a first end section that extends to a second end section, and a coolant outlet member. The first and second ends of the first sleeve portion are operatively connected to corresponding ones of the first and second end sections of the second sleeve portion to form a continuous cooling zone. The coolant passing into the inlet member circulates through the cooling zone to create a localized temperature reduction.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The subject matter disclosed herein relates to the art of component cooling and, more particularly to a cooling sleeve configured for in situ repair components requiring protection from localized heat. 
         [0002]    Over time components wear, age, or become damaged and require repair. In situ repair is desirable, particularly for larger components or components that require significant disassembly to move. There exist several challenges with in situ repair including access to a repair site and a potential for damage to adjacent components. When the repair requires a heat generating process, heat damage to adjacent components is of high concern. Welding processes, for example, generate significant heat that may be conducted through the component requiring repair to adjacent components. Heat sensitive articles such as electronics, wiring, heat sensitive polymers, and the like could be damaged if exposed to heat levels associated with welding repairs. As such, welding is not appropriate for in situ repair when the adjacent components comprise or contain heat sensitive articles. Thus, when welding or another heat generating repair process is necessary adjacent to heat sensitive articles, in situ repair is not practical. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to one aspect of the exemplary embodiment a cooling sleeve includes a first end that extends to a second end, and at least one coolant inlet member. The cooling sleeve also includes a second sleeve portion. The second sleeve portion includes a first end section that extends to a second end section, and a coolant outlet member. The first and second ends of the first sleeve portion are operatively connected to corresponding ones of the first and second end sections of the second sleeve portion to form a continuous cooling zone. The coolant passing into the inlet member circulates through the cooling zone to create a localized temperature reduction. 
         [0004]    According to another aspect of the exemplary embodiment, a method of cooling a component during an in situ heat intensive repair process includes positioning a first cooling sleeve portion about a portion of the component. The first cooling sleeve portion includes a coolant inlet member. A second cooling sleeve portion is positioned about another portion of the component. The second cooling sleeve portion includes a coolant outlet member. The first cooling sleeve portion is connected to the second cooling sleeve portion to form a cooling sleeve extending about the portion of the component. A flow of coolant is circulated into the coolant inlet member, about the component through a cooling zone defined by the cooling sleeve, and discharged from the cooling sleeve through an outlet member, a temperature of the component is lowered, and a high temperature repair process is initiated on the component adjacent the cooling sleeve. 
         [0005]    According to yet another aspect of the exemplary embodiment, a generator rotor includes a plurality of winding sections. Each of the plurality of winding sections includes at least one conductor. A bearing land is positioned adjacent one of the plurality of winding sections, and a cooling sleeve is arranged about the one of the plurality of winding sections adjacent the bearing land. The cooling sleeve includes a first end that extends to a second end, and at least one coolant inlet member. The cooling sleeve also includes a second sleeve portion. The second sleeve portion includes a first end section that extends to a second end section, and a coolant outlet member. The first and second ends of the first sleeve portion are operatively connected to corresponding ones of the first and second end sections of the second sleeve portion to form a continuous cooling zone. The coolant passing into the inlet member circulates through the cooling zone to create a localized temperature reduction. 
         [0006]    These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0007]    The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a component shown in the form of a generator rotor including a cooling sleeve in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an upper left perspective view of the cooling sleeve in accordance with an exemplary embodiment 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a detail view of a seal member of the cooling sleeve of  FIG. 4   
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the generator rotor of  FIG. 1  illustrating the cooling sleeve being positioned about a portion of the generator rotor; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the generator rotor of  FIG. 1 , illustrating first and second cooling guns connected to the cooling sleeve in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an upper right perspective view of a cooling sleeve in accordance with another aspect of the exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of a portion of the cooling sleeve of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
       [0015]    The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a generator rotor is indicated generally at  2 . Generator rotor  2  includes a rotor body  4  having a first end  6  that extends to a second end  7 . Generator rotor  2  includes a plurality of winding sections  9 - 11  that include conductors (not shown) which, when rotated in a magnetic field, generate an electrical current. Rotor body  4  also includes a number of bearing lands, one of which is indicated at  14  that rotatably support generator rotor  2  in a generator housing (also not shown). During operation, the bearing lands will occasionally wear. Conventionally, repair of a bearing land was a difficult if often times impossible process. If the repair required welding, exposure of the conductors in the winding sections to intense heat could cause additional damage. As such, often times, generator rotors would be replaced in their entirety when a bearing land required welding or another repair process that involved intense heat. 
         [0017]    In the event that bearing land  14  requires welding, a cooling sleeve  20  constructed in accordance with the exemplary embodiment, is mounted to rotor body  4 . Cooling sleeve  20  is positioned between bearing land  14  and winding section  10 . As will become more fully evident below, cooling sleeve  20  provides localized cooling to rotor body  4  to protect conductors in winding section  10  from exposure to excessive heat generated during a welding or other heat intensive repair to bearing land  14 . 
         [0018]    As best shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , cooling sleeve  20  includes a first sleeve portion  30  and a second sleeve portion  32 . First sleeve portion  30  includes a first end  37  that extends to a second end  38  through an intermediate portion  40 . Intermediate portion  40  includes a first outer edge  42  and a second, opposing outer edge  43 . In the exemplary aspect shown, first outer edge  42  includes a seal member  46 . Seal member  46  is configured to abut rotor body  4  to substantially limit any escape of cooling fluid from cooling sleeve  20 . In order to further prevent leakage, seal member  20  may be provided with a cloth seal strip (not shown). First sleeve portion  30  is also shown to include a first flange member  48  positioned at first end  37 , and a second flange member  49  positioned at second end  38 . Each flange member  48  and  49  includes a mounting member, shown in the form of openings  50  and  51  respectively. Openings  50  and  51  receive fasteners (not shown) that secure first sleeve portion  30  to second sleeve portion  32  as will be discussed more fully below. 
         [0019]    In further accordance with the exemplary aspect shown, second sleeve portion  32  includes a first end section  54  that extends to a second end section  55  through an intermediate section  57 . Intermediate section  57  includes a first outer edge section  59  and a second, opposing outer edge section  60 . In a manner similar to that described above, first outer edge section  59  includes a seal element  63 . In a manner also similar to that described above, second sleeve portion  32  includes a first flange element  66  provided at first end section  54  and a second flange element  67  provided at second end section  55 . Each flange element  66 ,  67  includes a mounting element, such as opening  68  shown on flange element  67  in  FIG. 4 . With this arrangement, fasteners (not shown) pass through opening  50  and an opening (not shown) on flange element  66  and opening  51  and opening  68  to join first sleeve portion  30  is joined to second sleeve portion  32  to establish a cooling zone  70 . More specifically, first sleeve portion  30  is positioned about a first portion (not separately labeled) of bearing land  14  and second sleeve portion  32  is positioned about a second portion (also not separately labeled) of bearing land  14 . Once in position, first flange member  48  is joined to first flange element  66  and second flange member  49  is joined to second flange element  67  with bearing land  14  extending though cooling zone  70 . 
         [0020]    In still further accordance with the exemplary aspect shown, first sleeve member  30  include first and second coolant inlet members  74  and  75  that extend outward from intermediate portion  40 . Each coolant inlet member is fluidly connected to cooling zone  70 . Second sleeve portion  32  includes an outlet member  78  that extends outward from intermediate section  57 . Outlet member  78  includes an opening  80  that is exposed in cooling zone  70 . As will be discussed more fully below, a cooling fluid is introduced into each coolant inlet member  74  and  75 . The cooling fluid passes into cooling zone  70  and flows about bearing land  14 . The cooling fluid then exits from cooling zone  70  through outlet member  78 . 
         [0021]    During a welding repair, cooling sleeve  20  is positioned about bearing land  14  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Once in place, a first cooling gun  88  is fluidly connected to coolant inlet member  74  and a second cooling gun  89  is connected to coolant inlet member  75 . At this point, a cooling fluid, such as low temperature air or coolant is passed from each cooling gun  88 ,  89  into cooling zone  70 . The cooling fluid circulates about bearing land  14  before exiting through outlet member  78  creating a localized low temperature zone at a portion of at bearing land  14  adjacent to winding section  10 . The localized low temperature zone allows a high temperature repair process to be carried out on bearing land  14  without damaging conductors in winding section  10 . At this point it should be understood that while the cooling fluid is described as low temperature air, other cooling fluids both gaseous and liquid could be employed. 
         [0022]    At this point reference will be made to  FIGS. 6 and 7  in describing a cooling sleeve  110  in accordance with another aspect of the exemplary embodiment. Cooling sleeve  110  includes a first sleeve portion  114  and a second sleeve portion  117 . First sleeve portion  114  includes a first end  121  that extends to a second end  122  through an intermediate portion  124 . First sleeve portion  114  includes an outer sleeve section  126  and an inner sleeve section  127  that collectively define a first coolant passage section  129 . Intermediate portion  124  includes a first outer edge  132  and a second outer edge  133 . First outer edge  132  is provided with a seal member  135  in a manner similar to that described above. First sleeve portion  114  is also shown to include a first flange member  138  positioned at first end  121  and a second flange member  139  positioned at second end  122 . Each flange member  138 ,  139  includes a corresponding mounting member shown in the form of openings  141  and  142  respectively. 
         [0023]    Similarly, second sleeve portion  117  includes a first end section  156  that extends to a second end section  157  through an intermediate section  159 . Second sleeve portion  117  includes an outer sleeve member  166  and an inner sleeve member  167  that collectively define a second coolant passage section  170 . Intermediate section  159  includes a first outer edge section  178  and an opposing second outer edge section  179 . In a manner similar to that described above, first outer edge section  178  includes a seal element  181  formed in a manner similar to that described above. Second flange portion  117  also includes a first flange element  184  positioned at first end section  156  and a second flange element  185  positioned at second end section  157 . In a manner also similar to that described above, each flange element  184 ,  185  includes a corresponding mounting element such as shown in the form of openings  187  on flange  184 . With this arrangement, first sleeve portion  114  is joined to second sleeve portion  117 . Depending upon the diameter of bearing land  14 , a gap may exist between flange member  138  and flange element  184 , and flange member  139  and flange element  185 . 
         [0024]    In further accordance with the exemplary aspect shown, first sleeve portion  114  includes a coolant inlet member  194  that extends outwardly from intermediate portion  124 . Coolant inlet member  194  is fluidly connected to first coolant passage sections  129 . Similarly, second sleeve portion  117  includes a coolant inlet member  195  that extends outwardly from intermediation section  159  and is fluidly connected to second coolant passage section  170 . In addition, coolant sleeve  110  includes a plurality of outlet members or openings  197 - 202  formed on inner sleeve member  167 . Although not shown, additional outlet members or openings are formed on inner sleeve section  127 . With this arrangement, a cooling fluid is introduced into coolant inlet member  194 . The cooling fluid passes into first and second coolant passage portions  129  and  170  and circulates about bearing land  14  before exiting from outlet members  197 - 202  into cooling zone  190 . In a manner similar to that described above, coolant sleeve  110  is positioned about rotor body  4  to provide localized cooling to protect conductors from excessive heat during, for example, a welding repair. 
         [0025]    At this point it should be appreciated that while shown and described in connection with protecting a winding section of a generator rotor from excessive hear during a welding repair, the cooling sleeve in accordance with the exemplary embodiment, can be employed in a wide range of applications that require the establishment of a localized cooling zone. In addition, it should be appreciated that while shown as having a circular cross-section, the cooling sleeve in accordance with the exemplary embodiment can take on a variety of forms. Finally it should be appreciated that the temperature of the cooling fluid may vary depending upon specific application requirements. 
         [0026]    While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5