Methods and apparatus for winding two-pole electric motor stators

Abstract

A machine for winding two-pole electric motor stators has a housing for holding the stator during winding. Winding forms are pressed against both ends of the stator and clamped to the housing. The clamping structure is partly operated by the structure which presses the winding forms against the stator so that the clamping structure automatically compensates for differences in stator dimension parallel to the axis along which the winding forms are pressed against the stator.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for use in winding an electric motor stator of hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, said stator having a central longitudinal axis and first and second annular surfaces substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis at respective opposite ends of the cylindrical shape, said apparatus comprising: a .[.housing for holding.]. .Iadd.structure external to .Iaddend.the stator;   first means for respectively pressing first and second winding forms against said first and second annular surfaces;   second means mounted on said .[.housing.]. .Iadd.structure .Iaddend.for releasably securing said first winding form where, relative to said stator, said first means presses said first winding form against said first annular surface;   third means for releasably securing said second winding form where, relative to said stator, said first means presses said second winding form against said second annular surface; and   means for allowing said second and third means to move relative to one another substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis so that said apparatus adjusts to various stator dimensions parallel to said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said first means includes: resilient means for pressing said first winding form against said first annular surface so that said first means automatically adjusts to various stator dimensions parallel to said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said first means moves said first winding form substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis in order to press said first winding form against said first annular surface, wherein said second means includes clamp means movable relative to said .[.housing.]. .Iadd.structure .Iaddend.substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, and wherein said first means includes coupling means for causing said clamp means to move with said first winding form as said first means moves said first winding form to press said first winding form against said first annular surface, said second means further including fourth means for releasably retaining said clamp means in the position parallel to said longitudinal axis to which said clamp means is moved by said coupling means. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said first winding form includes a latching surface transverse to said longitudinal axis, and wherein said clamp means includes a clamp member movable relative to said .[.housing.]. .Iadd.structure .Iaddend.transverse to said longitudinal axis for selectively engaging said latching surface to releasably secure said first winding form in said position relative to said stator in which said first means presses said first winding form against said first annular surface. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 further comprising: fifth means for controlling the position of said clamp member transverse to said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said fourth means comprises: sixth means disposed on said second means for resiliently urging said clamp member to move into engagement with said latching surface; and   seventh means for selectively causing said clamp member to move out of engagement with said latching surface.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus defined in claim 3 further comprising: eighth means for selectively releasing said fourth means.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said second means further comprises: ninth means for resiliently urging said clamp means to remain in a home position which is its position prior to displacement by said coupling means.   
     
     
       9. The method of winding an electric motor stator of hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, said stator having a central longitudinal axis and first and second annular surfaces substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis at respective opposite ends of the cylindrical shape, said method comprising the steps of: positioning said stator in a .[.housing.]. .Iadd.structure external to said stator.Iaddend.;   pressing first and second winding forms against said first and second annular surfaces, respectively;   securing said first winding form to said .[.housing.]. .Iadd.structure .Iaddend.in the position relative to said stator in which said first winding form is positioned in said pressing step; and   securing said second winding form in the position relative to said stator in which said second winding form is positioned in said pressing step, wherein said pressing step includes the step of:   relatively pressing said first winding form against said first annular surface so that said method automatically adapts itself to various stator dimensions parallel to said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
       10. The method defined in claim 9 wherein said pressing step includes the step of: moving said first winding form substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis in order to press said first winding form against said first annular surface.   
     
     
       11. The method defined in claim 10 wherein said step of securing said first winding form to said .[.housing.]. .Iadd.structure .Iaddend.comprises the steps of: providing clamp means movable relative to said .[.housing.]. .Iadd.structure .Iaddend.substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis;   moving said clamp means with said first winding form as said first winding form is moved to press it against said first annular surface; and   latching said clamp means in the position parallel to said longitudinal axis to which said clamp means is moved during said step of moving said clamp means.   
     
     
       12. The method defined in claim 11 wherein said first winding form includes a latching surface transverse to said longitudinal axis, wherein said clamp means includes a clamp member movable relative to said .[.housing.]. .Iadd.structure .Iaddend.transverse to said longitudinal axis, and wherein said step of securing said first winding form to said .[.housing.]. .Iadd.structure .Iaddend.further comprises the step of: moving said clamp member transverse to said longitudinal axis to cause said clamp member to engage said latching surface.   
     
     
       13. The method of winding an electric motor stator of hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, said stator having a central longitudinal axis and first and second annular surfaces substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis at respective opposite ends of the cylindrical shape, said method comprising the steps of: positioning said stator in a housing;   moving first and second winding form delivery means respectively including first and second winding forms toward said first and second annular surfaces in order to press said first and second winding forms against said first and second annular surfaces, respectively;   securing said first and second winding forms in the positions relative to said stator in which said first and second winding forms are positioned in said pressing step;   releasing said first and second winding .Iadd.forms from said first and second winding .Iaddend.form delivery means;   winding said stator;   re-engaging said first and second winding forms with said first and second winding form delivery means;   releasing said first and second winding forms from the positions in which said first and second winding forms are secured in said securing step;   moving said first and second winding form delivery means and said first and second winding forms away from said stator; and   removing said stator from said housing, wherein said step of securing said first and second winding forms comprises the step of securing said first winding form to said housing.   
     
     
       14. The method defined in claim 13 wherein said step of securing said first winding form to said housing comprises the step of causing a clamp member to extend transverse to said longitudinal axis from said housing into an aperture in said first winding form. 
     
     
       15. Apparatus for winding an electric motor stator of hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, said stator having a central longitudinal axis and first and second annular surfaces substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis at respective opposite ends of the cylindrical shape, said apparatus comprising: a .Iadd.structure external to said stator and including a .Iaddend.housing for holding said stator;   means for positioning a stator in said housing;   means for moving first and second winding form delivery means respectively including first and second winding forms toward said first and second annular surfaces in order to press said first and second winding forms against said first and second annular surfaces, respectively;   first means mounted on said .[.housing.]. .Iadd.structure .Iaddend.for releasably securing said first winding form in the position relative to said stator in which said means for moving presses said first winding form against said first annular surface;   second means mounted on said .[.housing.]. .Iadd.structure .Iaddend.for releasably securing said second winding form in the position relative to said stator in which said means for moving presses said second winding form against said second annular surface, said first and second means being movable relative to one another substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis so that said apparatus automatically adjusts to various stator dimensions parallel to said longitudinal axis;   means for releasing said first and second winding forms from said first and second winding form delivery means;   means for winding said stator;   means for re-engaging said first and second winding forms with said first and second winding form delivery means;   means for releasing said first and second winding forms from the positions in which said first and second winding forms are secured by said first and second means;   means for moving said first and second winding form delivery means and said first and second winding forms away from said stator; and   means for removing said stator from said housing. .Iadd.   
     
     
       16.  The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said structure includes a housing for holding said stator, said wherein said second means is mounted on said housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The method defined in claim 9 wherein said structure includes a housing for holding said stator, and wherein said step of securing said first winding form comprises securing said 
     
     
        first winding form to said housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18.  The apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein said first means and second means are mounted 
     
     
        on said housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19.  The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said structure includes a housing for holding said stator and said apparatus further comprises: a table mounted for rotation about a first substantially vertical axis, wherein said housing is mounted on said table;   first, second, and third stations spaced from one another around said table; and   means for selectively rotating said table about said first axis so that said table moves relative to said first, second, and third stations. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The method defined in claim 9 wherein said structure includes a housing for holding said stator and said method further comprises the steps of:   providing a table mounted for rotation about a first substantially vertical axis;   providing a first station and a second station spaced from one another around said table, wherein said first station is a stator loading and unloading station and wherein said second station is a stator winding station; and   providing the housing on the periphery of said table, said housing being adapted to receive and hold a stator at said first station and to hold the stator so that it is wound at the winding station with its longitudinal   
     
     
        axis oriented substantially horizontal. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21.  The apparatus defined in claim 15 further comprising: a table mounted for rotation about a first substantially vertical axis, wherein said housing is mounted on said table;   first, second, and third stations spaced from one another around said table; and   means for selectively rotating said table about said first axis so that said table moves relative to said first, second, and third stations. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A machine for winding a plurality of stators, each having a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, an associated longitudinal axis, and first and second annular surface substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis at respective opposite ends of the cylindrical shape, said first and second annular surfaces defining a respective stator core height, said machine comprising:   a table mounted for rotation about a first substantially vertical axis;   first, second, and third stations spaced from one another around said table;   means for selectively rotating said table about said first axis so that said table moves relative to said first, second, and third stations;   a plurality of stator supports spaced around the periphery of said table, each stator support being adapted to receive and hold a stator;   a first pair of clamping members for clamping a first winding form to one of said stators held in a respective stator support;   a second pair of clamping members for clamping a second winding form to said one of said stators; and   means responsive to the core height of said one of said stators for automatically moving said second pair of clamping members relative to said first pair of clamping members and substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said one of said stators so that said machine is able to automatically accommodate a plurality of stators having different core   
     
     
        heights. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23.  The machine defined in claim 22 wherein said first station includes a means for winding said plurality of stators and wherein said second station includes a means for terminating said 
     
     
        plurality of said stators. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24.  The machine defined in claim 23 having four stator supports equally spaced around the periphery 
     
     
        of said table. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25.  The machine defined in claim 24 wherein said first pair of clamping members clamps said first winding form to said first annular surface of said one stator and said second pair of clamping members clamps said second winding form to said second annular 
     
     
        surface of said one stator. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26.  A method for winding a plurality of stators, each having a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, an associated longitudinal axis, and first and second annular surfaces substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis at respective opposite ends of the cylindrical shape, said first and second annular surfaces defining a respective stator core height, said method comprising the steps of: providing a table mounted for rotation about a first substantially vertical axis;   providing a first station and a second station spaced from one another around said table, wherein said first station is a stator loading and unloading station and wherein said second station is a stator winding station;   providing a plurality of stator supports spaced around the periphery of said table, each stator support being adapted to receive and hold a stator at said first station and to hold the stator so that it is wound at the winding station with its longitudinal axis oriented substantially horizontal;   providing a first pair of clamping members for clamping a first winding form to said plurality of stators;   providing a second pair of clamping members for clamping a second winding form to said plurality of stators;   sensing the core height of each of said plurality of stators; and   moving said second pair of clamping members relative to said first pair of clamping members and substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of each of said plurality of stators by an amount dependent on the core height sensed in said sensing step so that said machine is able to automatically accommodate a plurality of stators having different core   
     
     
        heights. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27.  The method defined in claim 26 wherein said step of providing a plurality of stator supports includes the step of providing four stator supports equally spaced around the periphery of said 
     
     
        table. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28.  The method defined in claim 27 wherein said step of clamping said first winding form to said plurality of stators includes the step of clamping said first winding form to said first annular surfaces of said plurality of stators and said step of clamping said second winding form to said plurality of stators includes the step of clamping said second winding form to said second annular surfaces of said 
     
     
        plurality of stators. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29.  Apparatus for use in winding an electric motor stator of hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, said stator having a central longitudinal axis and first and second axial ends adjacent respective opposite ends of said cylindrical shape, said apparatus comprising: first means external to said stator for supporting said stator;   second means for sensing the location of said first axial end relative to said second axial end substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis; and   third means responsive to said means for sensing for positioning a winding form at a predetermined location relative to said first axial end substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and for holding said winding form at said predetermined location, said third means being   
     
     
        mounted on said first means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30.  Apparatus for use in winding an electric motor stator of hollow substantially cylindrical shape, said stator having a central longitudinal axis and first and second axial ends adjacent respective opposite ends of said cylindrical shape, said apparatus comprising: means external to said stator for supporting said stator;   means for positioning a winding form at a predetermined location relative to said first axial end;   means mounted on said means for supporting for holding said winding form at said predetermined location; and   means for automatically moving said means for holding substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis so that said apparatus adjusts to various stator dimensions parallel to said longitudinal axis. .Iaddend.