Patent ID: 8058764

Claim:
A winding former for a high temperature superconductor (HTSC) saddle coil winding disposed on a cylindrical armature of an electrical machine, the armature having an armature circumference and an armature axis, the winding former comprising: a HTSC saddle coil winding formed from band-shaped HTSC, the saddle coil winding including: a first winding end, a second winding end, and two longitudinal legs disposed between the winding ends, wherein the longitudinal legs are oriented parallel to the armature axis; a first plate disposed under the HTSC saddle coil winding and a second plate disposed over the HTSC saddle coil winding; and a winding support oriented between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the winding support has a bearing surface for each winding end, wherein the first plate and the second plate comprise hollow cylinder segments shaped to match to the armature circumference in the region of the longitudinal legs, and wherein each bearing surface for a respective winding end is twisted such that a maximum distance (d o ) separating upper edges of the bearing surfaces measured parallel to a cylinder axis is smaller than a maximum distance (d u ) separating lower edges of the bearing surfaces measured parallel to the cylinder axis.