Apparatus and method for winding stator teeth

Abstract

An apparatus for winding stator teeth includes at least one fly winder for winding wire around stator teeth. At least one stator teeth holder includes stator tooth retainers at spaced locations for retaining stator teeth thereon. The at least one stator tooth holder and fly winder are moveable relative to one another to present each stator tooth to the at least one fly winder for winding a wire coil thereon. The stator tooth retainers are relatively positioned on the at least one stator teeth holder to control a span of wire extending between the stator teeth after the stator teeth have been presented to the at least one fly winder and wound.

1 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth, comprising: 
 at least one fly winder for winding wire around stator teeth; and    at least one stator teeth holder including stator tooth retainers at spaced locations for retaining stator teeth thereon, said at least one stator tooth holder and fly winder being moveable relative to one another to present each stator tooth to said at least one fly winder for winding a wire coil thereon, wherein said stator tooth retainers are relatively positioned on said at least one stator teeth holder to control a span of wire extending between said stator teeth after said stator teeth have been presented to said at least one fly winder and wound.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 1  wherein said stator teeth holder is rotatable to present each stator tooth to said fly winder.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 2  wherein said stator tooth retainers are circumferentially spaced about said stator teeth holder.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 3  wherein said stator tooth retainers are vertically offset with respect to one another, said stator teeth holder also being vertically adjustable to present each stator tooth to said fly winder.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 4  wherein said stator teeth holder includes a pair of stator tooth retainers, each for retaining a single stator tooth.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 5  wherein said fly winder winds each stator tooth in a manner so that the coils on said stator teeth have opposite orientations.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 6  wherein each stator tooth retainer includes a channel shaped to accommodate a stator tooth.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 7  wherein said channel is defined by a clamp assembly accommodated by said stator teeth holder.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 8  wherein said clamp assembly includes a pair of side clamps for engaging opposite sides of a stator tooth.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 9  wherein said clamp assembly further includes a biasing member actuable between engaged and disengaged states, in said engaged state said biasing member biasing said stator tooth into engagement with said side clamps.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 9  wherein said channel is sized to form a friction fit with said stator tooth.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 8  wherein said stator teeth holder includes a main body including a pair of cutouts formed therein, each of said cutouts accommodating a respective clamp assembly, said main body presenting a generally arcuate outer surface bridging said cutouts.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 12  wherein said clamp assembly includes a pair of side clamps for engaging opposite sides of a stator tooth.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 13  wherein said clamp assembly further includes a biasing member actuable between engaged and disengaged states, in said engaged state said biasing member biasing said stator tooth into engagement with said side clamps.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 13  wherein said channel is sized to form a friction fit with said stator tooth.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 1  including a plurality of stator teeth holders, each of said stator teeth holders being moveable to present each stator tooth held thereby to said at least one fly winder for winding a wire coil thereon.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 16  wherein each stator teeth holder is rotatable to present each stator tooth held thereby to said fly winder.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 17  wherein the stator tooth retainers on each of said stator teeth holders are circumferentially spaced about said stator teeth holding tool.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 18  wherein said stator tooth retainers on each of said stator teeth holders are vertically offset with respect to one another, each stator teeth holder also being vertically adjustable to present each stator tooth held thereby to said fly winder.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 19  wherein each stator teeth holder includes a pair of stator tooth retainers, each for retaining a single stator tooth.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 20  wherein said fly winder winds each stator tooth in a manner so that the coils on said stator teeth have opposite orientations.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 1  including a plurality of stator teeth holders and fly winder pairs, each stator teeth holder being moveable to present each stator tooth held thereby to its associated fly winder for winding a wire coil thereon.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 22  wherein each stator teeth holder is rotatable to present each stator tooth held thereby to its associated fly winder.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 23  wherein said stator tooth retainers on each stator teeth holder are circumferentially spaced about said stator teeth holder.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 24  wherein said stator tooth retainers on each stator teeth holder are vertically offset with respect to one another, each stator teeth holder also being vertically adjustable to present each stator tooth held thereby to its associated fly winder.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 25  wherein each stator teeth holder includes a pair of stator tooth retainers, each for retaining a single stator tooth.  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 26  wherein each fly winder winds each stator tooth in a manner so that the coils on said stator teeth have opposite orientations.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth, comprising: 
 a fly winder for winding wire around stator teeth; and    a stator teeth holder including a rotatable turret having a main body and stator tooth retainers at spaced locations on said main body for retaining stator teeth, said turret being rotatable to present each stator tooth to said fly winder for winding a wire coil thereon, wherein said stator tooth retainers are relatively positioned on said turret in a manner such that after said stator teeth have been wound by said fly winder to include coils of opposite orientation, removed from said turret and placed side-by-side, the span of wire extending between said stator teeth includes substantially no excess length.    
   
   
       29 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 28  wherein said stator tooth retainers are vertically offset with respect to one another, said turret also being vertically adjustable to present each stator tooth to said fly winder.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 29  wherein said turret includes a pair of stator tooth retainers, each for retaining a single stator tooth.  
   
   
       31 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 30  wherein each stator tooth retainer includes a channel shaped to accommodate a stator tooth.  
   
   
       32 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 31  wherein said channel is defined by a clamp assembly accommodated by said main body.  
   
   
       33 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 32  wherein said clamp assembly includes a pair of side clamps for engaging opposite sides of a stator tooth.  
   
   
       34 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 33  wherein said clamp assembly further includes a biasing member actuable between engaged and disengaged states, in said engaged state said biasing member biasing said stator tooth into engagement with said side clamps.  
   
   
       35 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 33  wherein said channel is sized to form a friction fit with said stator tooth.  
   
   
       36 . An apparatus for winding stator teeth according to  claim 32  wherein said main body includes a pair of cutouts formed therein, each of said cutouts accommodating a respective clamp assembly, said main body presenting a generally arcuate outer surface bridging said cutouts.  
   
   
       37 . A method of winding stator teeth, comprising: 
 mounting a first stator tooth and a second stator tooth at spaced locations on a tool;    presenting said first stator tooth to a winding device and winding a coil having a first orientation thereon;    biasing said tool to present said second stator tooth to said winding device; and    winding a coil on said second stator tooth having an orientation opposite that of the coil wound on said first stator tooth, wherein the relative locations of said first stator tooth and said second stator tooth on said tool are such that the span of wire extending from said first stator tooth to said second stator tooth includes substantially no excess length when said first stator tooth and second stator tooth are positioned side-by-side.