Impregnation device for electric motor components and corresponding device for supporting and handling individual components

Abstract

Described herein is an impregnation apparatus for an axially symmetric component (100) of an electric motor, the impregnation apparatus comprising a support frame (12), one or more component heating stations (14), one or more motor-driven equipments (16), one or more component impregnation equipments (18), and one or more component transport and loading / unloading equipments (20), one or more of the motor-driven devices (16) are used to support and manipulate components. Each supporting and manipulating motor-driven device (16) comprises at least one clamping device (22) for a respective component, a motor-driven device (24) for rotating the clamping device (22), and a motor-driven means (26) for translatory movement (26) of the respective motor-driven supporting and manipulating device (16). Each gripping device (22) comprises an annular body (28) provided with an axially symmetric inner cavity (30) having a maximum dimension that is greater than the maximum dimension of each component such that said inner cavity (30) can receive a component inside it. Each annular body (28) comprises at least one clamping means (32) facing the inner cavity (30) to clamp an outer side surface of each component and to retain each component in the inner cavity (30).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates generally to an impregnation apparatus for electric motor components and, more particularly, to equipment for supporting and manipulating individual components being processed in the apparatus, each component having an axisymmetric structure (i.e., the axisymmetric structure being characterized by radial symmetry) and, in particular, each component comprising a stator for an electric motor.

[0002] As is known, an electric motor is formed by a stator and a rotor. These two components are generally axisymmetric components, more specifically, they are cylindrical, and when they are properly combined together, they generate the magnetic field required for the operation of the electric motor. The stator and / or the rotor of the electric motor can be respectively provided with an electrical winding, which traditionally comprises a coil of copper wire and, in the specific case of the stator, is usually housed in a corresponding internal cavity (called a "slot") of the stator itself. Alternatively, the stator of the electric motor can be provided with a plurality of metal strips, typically made of copper, instead of the coils of copper wire (so-called "hair pin" stator). Conversely, the rotor of the electric motor can be manufactured by using permanent magnets instead of the coils of copper wire. Both the coils of copper wire and the metal strips (but not the permanent magnets) need to be impregnated with a specific impregnation substance, typically made of resin, to increase their mechanical strength and electrical insulation as required, as well as to improve heat dissipation.

[0003] The impregnation process for stators and / or rotors for electric motors can be achieved using at least three different application techniques. In the first technique, so-called "trickling" (or "drop by drop"), a continuous stream of resin drips onto the wires of the stator or rotor, a continuous stream of resin is driven to rotate around a horizontal axis, or a continuous stream of resin drips onto the copper strips of the stator. The resin penetrates into the pores between the wires or copper strips by capillary action until the empty spaces between these wires or copper strips are filled.

[0004] In the second technique, the so-called "dipping" technique, the stator or rotor is driven to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis. While rotating, each component is at least partially immersed in a resin pool. In the third technique, the so-called "dipping" technique, the stator or rotor is immersed in a resin pool, in which case the axis of the stator or rotor is substantially vertical and no longer rotates.

[0005] Regardless of the technique used, during the impregnation process for impregnating the stator and / or rotor for an electric motor, the following steps should be performed in sequence. In a first preheating step, each stator and / or rotor is heated to a temperature that is ideal for the application resin. This temperature is typically in the range of 80°C to 120°C. During this preheating step, it is not necessary to keep the parts rotating and heating can be performed in a variety of ways, such as, for example, by using hot air, induction, a combination of hot air and induction, or by heating such as, for example, by the Joule effect (i.e., by passing an electric current through a copper strip or wire). The preheating step can be performed in a special oven or by using other suitable equipment.

[0006] The preheating step is followed by an impregnation step during which each component is contacted with a liquid resin. The liquid resin fills the cavities between the individual wires or between the copper strips and covers the exposed parts of the copper. During this impregnation step, in the case of impregnation of the stator using the "trickling" technique, the component should be kept rotating, the axis of the component is usually horizontal, or the axis of the component may have an angle of inclination of approximately +15° to -15° relative to the horizontal plane. The best impregnation result can be achieved by acting on the rotation speed and / or the rotation direction. The impregnation step is usually carried out by using a dedicated impregnation equipment separate from the oven.

[0007] After being impregnated, each component undergoes a gelling step. During this gelling step, the temperature of the component is raised in order to initiate a cross-linking process of the resin, thereby initiating hardening of the resin. Also during this gelling step, in the case of the "drip" and "roll dip" techniques, the component should be kept rotating to prevent the resin, which is still in a liquid state, from dripping. The gelling step may take a duration of from eight minutes to fifteen to twenty minutes to complete, depending on the type of resin. In contrast, in the case of the immersion technique, gelling can be achieved by passing an electric current through a copper strip or wire (Joule effect) while the component is immersed in a vertical direction. Once the component is removed from the pool, the resin surrounding the wire has therefore thickened and will not drip.

[0008] In the next baking step, the resin has gelled and therefore thickened, thus completing the resin cross-linking process. During the baking step, each part should be kept at a certain temperature, but it is no longer necessary for each part to be kept rotating. The baking step can be carried out inside the same oven in which the previous step is performed, or it can be carried out using another suitable equipment. Once the baking step is over, the part will undergo a final cooling step, during which the part itself is cooled by forced ventilation (using ambient air or cooling air) or by leaving the part to stand in the environment for a predetermined period of time.

[0009] In conventional impregnation plants for electric motor components, the equipment used to support these components usually comprises one or more collets. Each collet is equipped with a clamping device, for example consisting of a gripper, which acts on the internal side surface of a hollow axisymmetric body constituting a component of the electric motor (typically but not exclusively a stator). Thus, the clamps, which are usually operated to open and close via appropriate actuators, are configured to hold each axisymmetric component from the inside during all its processing steps in the impregnation plant.

[0010] Document US 2021 / 162450 A1 filed in the name of the same applicant discloses an impregnation device for electric motor components according to the preamble of claim 1. Further devices for impregnating electric motor components according to the prior art are disclosed, for example, in documents US 2016 / 126816 A1, US 2022 / 094245 A1 and US 5685910 A.

[0011] A possible frequent drawback of conventional impregnation equipment for electric motor components is caused by leakage of resin from the copper strips or wires of the component. In fact, in the specific case of a stator, the wires or strips are housed in corresponding cavities or grooves on the axisymmetric internal surface of the stator itself, i.e. close to the contact point of the gripping element of the collet with this internal surface.

[0012] Therefore, the resin which has not yet solidified and which runs along the copper strips or wires in the slots of the stator, filling these slots by capillary action, may be attracted by the thermal mass of the gripping piece of the spring clamp. Therefore, the resin may leak from these slots, despite the fact that there is usually a layer of insulating paper which at least partially coats the axisymmetric inner surface of the stator. This layer of insulating paper is not always able to contain the extremely fluid resin, and therefore, due to the known capillary phenomenon, the resin easily diffuses into the narrowest pores.

[0013] Resin leakage can mean at least two major problems. A particularly serious first problem involves contamination of the axisymmetric inner surface of the stator, into which the rotor will subsequently be placed. A less serious second problem (but a nuisance in any case) involves contamination of the clamping grips of the chuck, which then requires maintenance (collection cleaning).

[0014] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an impregnation apparatus for electric motor components, in particular a device for supporting and manipulating the various components being processed in the apparatus, which is able to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art in an extremely simple, cost-effective and particularly practical manner.

[0015] In detail, the object of the invention is to provide an impregnation device for axisymmetric components of electric motors, the equipment of which for supporting and manipulating the various components is capable of minimizing the leakage of resin from the body of the component itself in order to preserve the construction quality of the impregnation device.

[0016] Another object of the invention is to provide an impregnation plant for axisymmetric components of electric motors, the equipment of which for supporting and manipulating the individual components requires as little corrective maintenance and / or cleaning operations as possible.

[0017] A further object of the invention is to provide an impregnation device for axisymmetric components of electric motors, the equipment of which for supporting and handling the individual components is provided with simple and reliable clamping means.

[0018] These objects are achieved according to the invention by implementing an impregnation device for axisymmetric components of electric motors as disclosed in claim 1 .

[0019] Further characteristics of the invention are highlighted by the dependent claims, which are an integral part of the present disclosure.

[0020] The characteristics and advantages of an impregnation device for an axisymmetric component of an electric motor according to the invention will become more apparent from the following illustrative and non-limiting description made with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the main parts of a preferred embodiment of an impregnation device for an axisymmetric component of an electric motor according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a single heating station of the apparatus of claim 1, showing it in a heating configuration or a baking configuration;

[0023] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A perspective view of a heating station of FIG. 1 , shown in a first impregnation configuration;

[0024] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A perspective view of a heating station of FIG. 1 , shown in a second impregnation configuration;

[0025] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 A perspective view of a heating station of FIG. 1 , shown in a third impregnation configuration;

[0026] Figure 6 Belongs to Figure 1 A perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for supporting and manipulating components of the device;

[0027] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Magnified view of the detail identified by VII.

[0028] Figure 8 yes Figure 6 an enlarged view of the detail identified by VIII;

[0029] Fig. 9 yes Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of an apparatus of , wherein the dipping nozzle is shown in a first operating position;

[0030] Fig.10 yes Figure 6 Another cross-sectional view of the equipment, wherein the dipping nozzle is shown in a second operating position;

[0031] Fig.11 is a perspective view of a single support device for holding an axisymmetric (in particular cylindrical) part of an electric motor, wherein part of the means for manipulating such a support device is shown;

[0032] Fig.12 is another perspective view of a single support device for holding an axisymmetric (particularly cylindrical) part of an electric motor;

[0033] Fig.13 yes Fig.12 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of a support device and an axisymmetric component, i.e. a cross-sectional view taken along the axis of symmetry.

[0034] Fig.14 yes Fig.12 a cross-sectional view of the support device and the axisymmetric component shown, i.e. a cross-sectional view taken orthogonally with respect to the axis of symmetry; and

[0035] Fig.15 yes Fig.12 Another cross-sectional view of the support device and the axisymmetric component.

[0036] With reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of an impregnation apparatus for axisymmetric components of an electric motor according to the present invention is shown. The impregnation apparatus is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The impregnation apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of workstations and equipment, which are monitored and controlled by a central processing unit. The impregnation apparatus 10 comprises at least one support frame 12 and one or more heating stations 14, one or more of which are configured to heat each component 100 to a predetermined temperature.

[0037] The impregnation apparatus 10 further comprises one or more motor-driven equipment 16 for supporting and manipulating the component 100. Each of these motor-driven equipment 16 comprises: at least one clamping device 22 for the corresponding component 100; and a first motor-driven rotating device 24, which is configured to impart a rotational movement in two rotational directions to each clamping device 22 about a predetermined rotation axis, which coincides with the symmetry axis of the component 100 when it is held by the corresponding clamping device 22. Each of these motor-driven equipment 16 also includes a second motor-driven translation device 26, which is configured to impart a translation movement from the inside of the corresponding heating station 14 to the outside of the corresponding heating station 14, and to impart a translation movement from the outside of the corresponding heating station 14 to the inside of the corresponding heating station 14 to each motor-driven equipment 16 for supporting and manipulating the component 100 together with the corresponding clamping device 22 of the component 100.

[0038] The impregnation plant 10 further comprises: one or more impregnation equipment 18 configured for at least partially coating each component 100 with an impregnation substance while such component 100 is held by a respective holding device 22; and one or more transport and loading / unloading equipment 20 configured for conveying the components 100 to and from the heating station 14. The impregnation substance may comprise a resin or other similar impregnation fluid in a manner known per se.

[0039] The support frame 12 is preferably provided with one or more handling and guiding means 82, 84. Thus, the impregnation equipment 18 and the transport and loading / unloading equipment 20 can be movably mounted on these handling and guiding means 82, 84. For example, the handling and guiding means 82, 84 can include one or more upper sliding guides 82 positioned on the support frame 12 at one upper end of the support frame 12 and one or more lower sliding guides 84 positioned on the support frame 12 and on the bearing surface. Figure 1 As shown, each dipping device 18 can be moved along the upper sliding guide 82, and each dipping device 18 is electrically controlled by the central processing unit to move and selectively position the dipping device 18 above each of the heating stations 14 when the respective component 100 undergoes a dipping step.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment of the impregnation device 10 shown in the attached figures, each heating station 14 comprises an oven equipped with at least an interior chamber 88 and at least one front closing door 90, i.e. a door arranged on one side of said oven 14. Thus, each motor-driven device 16 for supporting and manipulating the parts 100 together with the respective gripping device 22 of said motor-driven device 16 is configured to be in a retracted position (inside the interior chamber 88 of the oven 14) (see Figure 2 , wherein the motor-driven device 16 for supporting and manipulating the part 100 is not visible, only because the motor-driven device 16 is located inside the interior chamber 88 of the oven 14) and the advanced position (outside the interior chamber 88 of the oven 14) (see Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 , where a motor-driven device 16 for supporting and manipulating the part 100 is visible from the outside of the oven 14).

[0041] Each impregnation device 18 is provided with a plurality of dispensing nozzles 86 configured to drip a continuous stream of impregnation substance (resin) onto each component 100. The impregnation substance is dispensed by the dispensing nozzles 86 whenever each component 100 rotates on the corresponding holding device 22 and when the holding device 22 is sequentially located outside the inner chamber 88 of one of the ovens 14, for example. Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown in .

[0042] According to the present invention, in particular Figures 6 to 15 As shown in , each clamping device 22 includes at least one annular body 28, and the annular body 28 is provided with at least one axisymmetric internal cavity 30. The internal cavity 30 has a maximum dimension D1 measured in the radial direction, and the maximum dimension D1 of the internal cavity 30 measured in the radial direction is greater than the maximum dimension D2 measured in the radial direction of each component 100, so that the internal cavity 30 can accommodate the corresponding component 100 inside the internal cavity 30. The annular body 28 of each clamping device 22 also includes at least one clamping device 32, which faces its corresponding internal cavity 30 to clamp the outer side surface of the hollow axisymmetric body constituting each component 100 and to hold such a component 100 inside the internal cavity 30 of its corresponding clamping device 22.

[0043] Thus, each clamping device 22 operates as an "external clamp", i.e., is capable of clamping the corresponding component 100 (typically comprising a stator of hollow cylindrical shape) on its external side surface. In other words, each clamping device 22 does not in any way grip the internal side surface of each component 100, allowing the dispensing nozzle 86 to be positioned at a common point usually used to obtain an effective coating of the electrical winding, while the impregnation device 18 is dispensed with the impregnation substance. For example, as Fig. 9 and Fig.10 As shown in , these positioning points are typically located at the outer diameter of the front ring, the inner diameter of the front ring, the outer diameter of the rear ring, and the inner diameter of the rear ring of each component 100.

[0044] Each holding device 22 should hold its corresponding component 100 in rotation and each holding device 22 should be able to allow the reversal of the rotational movement and each holding device 22 should be able to change the rotational speed of its corresponding component 100. Therefore, each motor-driven device 16 for supporting and manipulating components 100 together with its corresponding holding device 22 is conveniently designed to be housed in the internal chamber 88 of each oven 14 and each motor-driven device 16 for supporting and manipulating components 100 should be able to tilt together with the oven 14 itself. In fact, at least one of the ovens 14 of the impregnation plant 10 is provided with a tilting device 80 configured to impart a tilting movement to the oven 14 relative to the support plane of the support frame 12, when each component 100 is mounted on the corresponding holding device 22 and the motor-driven device 16 for supporting and manipulating components 100 is placed outside the oven 14, and thus to impart a tilting movement to such component 100 relative to the support plane of the support frame 12.

[0045] Since each component 100 is typically formed by a hollow cylindrical stator, each annular body 28 of the corresponding clamping device 22 is also a cylindrical body, and each internal cavity 30 is characterized by a cylindrical shape. Therefore, the maximum dimension D1 of the internal cavity 30 corresponds to the diameter of such internal cavity 30, such as Fig.15 As shown in .

[0046] like Figures 13 to 15As shown in , each clamping device 32 comprises at least one rod-shaped pusher element 34, which can move according to a reciprocating motion in a corresponding guide hole 48 obtained in the radial direction on the annular body 28 of the corresponding clamping device 22. Each pusher element 34 also comprises at least one gripping element 36 at the end of the pusher element 34 facing the internal cavity 30, which is configured to bear by friction on the outer side surface of the hollow axisymmetric body constituting each component 100 placed in such an internal cavity 30. Each annular body 28 preferably comprises at least two or more clamping devices 32, which are equidistantly spaced from each other in the circumferential direction, so as to exert an effective holding effect on the component 100.

[0047] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, and in particular Fig.13 and Fig.14 As shown in , all the gripping devices 32 are operated simultaneously by a mechanism that sequentially includes:

[0048] at least one catch key 38 , at least one of which is provided on the outer circumferential surface of each annular body 28 and which is operable to rotate;

[0049] at least one toothed wheel 40 on which the gripping key 38 meshes and which is operable to rotate by a corresponding rotation of this gripping key 38;

[0050] at least one revolving ring 42 on which the corresponding toothed wheel 40 meshes and which is movable in a circumferential motion within the annular body 28;

[0051] at least one pin 44 formed integrally with the revolving ring 42 on one side and integrally with the corresponding pusher element 34 on the other side and arranged perpendicularly to the direction of extension of the pusher element 34; and

[0052] - at least one groove 46, which extends inside the annular body 28 between a first end 46A having a greater distance from the geometric center of the annular body 28 and a second end 46B having a smaller distance from the geometric center of the annular body 28, so that the sliding movement of the pin 44 between the first end 46A of the corresponding groove 46 and the second end 46B of the corresponding groove 46 inside the corresponding groove 46 will cause its corresponding pusher element 34 to perform corresponding sliding movement in the guide hole 48 along a direction closer to the outer side surface of the hollow axisymmetric body of each component 100 placed in the internal cavity 30, and the sliding movement of the pin 44 between the second end 46B of the corresponding groove 46 and the first end 46A of the corresponding groove in the corresponding groove 46 will cause its corresponding pusher element 34 to perform corresponding sliding movement in the guide hole 48 in a direction away from the outer side surface of the hollow axisymmetric body of each component 100 placed in the internal cavity 30.

[0053] In other words, the assembly formed by the gripping key 38, the toothed wheel 40, the revolving ring 42, the pin 44 and the “eccentric” slot 46 forms an eccentric mechanism configured to impart to each rod-like pusher element 34 a reciprocating movement within its respective guide hole 48 presented on the annular body 28. Each rod-like pusher element 34 may also conveniently be provided with at least one compression spring element 50 configured to compensate for any thermal expansion of the component 100 placed inside the internal cavity 30 of the annular body 28. In fact, such thermal expansion may cause an elevation on the lateral surface of each component 100 in the impregnation device 10 during its respective processing step, in particular a heating step.

[0054] like Figure 6 The embodiments shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown in the enlarged view in FIG. 1 , the first motor-driven rotating device 24 of each motor-driven equipment 16 for supporting and manipulating a component 100 may sequentially include: at least one first electric motor 52, a gear unit 54, at least one annular gear 58, and at least one second transmission shaft 60, at least one of which is formed integrally with the annular body 28 of a single clamping device 22. The first transmission shaft 56 is operably connected to the first electric motor 52 at a first end of the first transmission shaft 56, and a gear 64 is keyed to a second end of the first transmission shaft 56, which is configured to impart rotational motion from the first electric motor 52 to the gear unit 54. The second transmission shaft 60 is operably connected to the gear unit 54 at a first end of the second transmission shaft 60, and a drive pinion 66 is keyed to a second end of the second transmission shaft 60, which is configured to transmit motion from the gear unit 54 to the annular gear 58. Regardless of the embodiment of the first motor-driven rotating device 24 of each motor-driven equipment 16 for supporting and manipulating the parts 100, it is emphasized here that the rotational movement can be imparted to the clamping devices 22 when these clamping devices 22 are in the retracted position (i.e., in the internal chamber 88 of each oven 14) or when these clamping devices 22 are in the advanced position (i.e., under the dispensing nozzle 86 of each dipping device 18).

[0055] Preferably, each motor-driven device 16 for supporting and manipulating the component 100 may include one or more idler pinions 62 (e.g., Figure 6 and Fig.11 ), one or more of these idler pinions 62 are configured for transmitting movement from the ring gear 58 operated by the drive pinion 66 to one or more gripping devices 22, the ring gear 58 of which meshes with the corresponding idler pinion 62. Thus, a plurality of gripping devices 22 can be driven in rotation by using a motor-driven rotating device 24 of a motor-driven equipment 16 for supporting and manipulating a component 100. In fact, it is convenient to use a plurality of (for example, three as shown in the figure) parallel-arranged gripping devices 22 to enable the motor-driven equipment 16 at her / his disposal to support and manipulate the component 100. The advantage is that, by imparting rotational movement and tilting to a single gripping device 22, these movements are automatically transmitted to all the remaining parallel-arranged gripping devices 22, while maintaining the phase relationship of the individual gripping devices 22. Furthermore, preferably, each clamping device 22 is mounted on a support frame 70, and each clamping device 22 is rotatable relative to such support frame 70 through the intervention of a plurality of rolling bearings 68, for example, Fig.11 As shown in .

[0056] In particular Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the second motor-driven translation device 26 of each motor-driven equipment 16 for supporting and manipulating the component 100 may sequentially include:

[0057] at least one slide 72 which supports the holding device 22 and which is movable in a reciprocating manner along a guide 74 which is integral with the corresponding heating station 14;

[0058] - at least one second electric motor 76; and

[0059] at least one spline shaft 78 operatively connected to the second electric motor 76 at a first end of the spline shaft 78 and operatively connected to the slide 72 at a second end of the spline shaft 78 .

[0060] The spline shaft 78 is configured for converting the rotary motion imparted by the second electric motor 76 into a reciprocating motion of the slide 72. In this way, the gripping device 22 will obtain a translation from the outside to the inside of each internal chamber 88 of the corresponding oven 14, and the gripping device 22 will obtain a translation from the inside to the outside of each internal chamber 88 of the corresponding oven 14. As an alternative to the embodiment of the second motor-driven translation means 26 of each motor-driven equipment 16 for supporting and manipulating the parts 100 as described above, these motor-driven translation means can also be formed by an anthropomorphic robot mounted on an axis.

[0061] It can be seen that the impregnation device for axisymmetric components of electric motors according to the present invention achieves the above outstanding objectives. The clamping device of the impregnation device for axisymmetric components of electric motors according to the present invention does not interact with the internal side surface of any component, and the impregnation device for axisymmetric components of electric motors according to the present invention enables the nozzle for dispensing the impregnation substance to easily reach the key dispensing points (the outer diameter of the front ring, the inner diameter of the front ring, the outer diameter of the rear ring, and the inner diameter of the rear ring of each component).

[0062] The impregnation device for the axisymmetric components of electric motors according to the invention, when conceived, can in any case be subjected to numerous modifications and variations, all of which fall within the scope of the same inventive concept; moreover, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used and their shapes and dimensions may depend on the technical requirements. Therefore, the scope of protection of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An impregnation device (10) for a hollow axisymmetric component (100) of an electric motor, the device (10) comprising a plurality of workstations and equipment, the plurality of workstations and equipment being managed and controlled by a central processing unit, the device (10) comprising: - at least one supporting frame (12); - one or more heating stations (14), one or more of said heating stations (14) being configured to heat each component (100) to a predetermined temperature; - one or more motor-driven devices (16) for supporting and manipulating the component (100), wherein each motor-driven device (16) for supporting and manipulating the component (100) comprises: - at least one holding device (22) for a corresponding component (100), - first motor-driven rotating means (24) configured to impart to each holding device (22) a rotational movement in two rotational directions about a predetermined rotational axis, said predetermined rotational axis coinciding with an axis of symmetry of said component (100) when said component (100) is held by the respective holding device (22), - second motor-driven translation means (26) configured to impart to each motor-driven device (16) for supporting and manipulating the component (100) together with the respective holding device (22) of the component (100) a translational movement from the interior of the respective heating station (14) to the exterior of the respective heating station (14), and from the exterior of the respective heating station (14) to the interior of the respective heating station (14); one or more impregnation devices (18) configured to coat at least part of each component (100) with an impregnation substance while the component (100) is held by a respective holding device (22); and - one or more transport and loading / unloading equipment (20), one or more of said transport and loading / unloading equipment (20) being arranged for transporting said components (100) out of one or more of said heating stations (14) and for transporting said components (100) to one or more of said heating stations (14), The impregnation device (10) is characterized in that each clamping device (22) comprises at least one annular body (28), the annular body (28) being provided with at least one axisymmetric internal cavity (30), wherein the internal cavity (30) has a maximum dimension (D1) measured in the radial direction, the maximum dimension (D1) of the internal cavity (30) measured in the radial direction being greater than the maximum dimension (D2) measured in the radial direction of each component (100), so that the internal cavity (30) can accommodate the component (100) inside the internal cavity (30), and wherein the annular body (28) comprises at least one clamping device (32), the clamping device (32) facing the internal cavity (30) so as to clamp the outer side surface of the hollow axisymmetric body forming each component (100) and to hold the component (100) in the internal cavity. The inner cavity (30) is provided with a plurality of retaining members (32) arranged in a plurality of opposite ends of the inner cavity (30), wherein the plurality of retaining members (32) are ...

2. The impregnation device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The annular body (28) comprises two or more clamping means (32), which are equally spaced from each other in the circumferential direction.

3. The impregnation device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that All gripping devices (32) are operated simultaneously by a mechanism comprising sequentially: - at least one catch key (38), at least one catch key (38) being arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the annular body (28) and at least one catch key (38) being operable to rotate; at least one toothed wheel (40) on which the gripping key (38) engages and which is operable to rotate by a corresponding rotation of the gripping key (38); at least one revolving ring (42) on which the toothed wheel (40) engages and which is movable in a circumferential motion within the annular body (28); at least one pin (44) formed integrally with the revolving ring (42) on one side and integrally with the corresponding pusher element (34) on the other side and arranged perpendicularly to the direction of extension of the pusher element (34); as well as - at least one groove (46) extending inside the annular body (28) between a first end (46A) of the groove (46) at a greater distance from the geometric center of the annular body (28) and a second end (46B) of the groove (46) at a smaller distance from the geometric center of the annular body (28), so that the sliding movement of the pin (44) between the first end (46A) and the second end (46B) in the corresponding groove (46) can cause its corresponding pusher element (34) to slide in the guide hole ( The pin (44) performs a corresponding sliding movement in the guide hole (48) in a direction closer to the outer side surface of the hollow axisymmetric body of each component (100) placed in the internal cavity (30), and the sliding movement of the pin (44) in the corresponding groove (46) between the second end (46B) and the first end (46A) can cause its corresponding pusher element (34) to perform a corresponding sliding movement in the guide hole (48) in a direction away from the outer side surface of the hollow axisymmetric body of each component (100) placed in the internal cavity (30).

4. The impregnation device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that Each rod-shaped pusher element (34) is provided with at least one compression spring element (50), wherein the spring element is configured to compensate for any thermal expansion of a component (100) placed within the inner cavity (30).

5. The impregnation device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The first motor-driven rotating device (24) comprises: - at least one first electric motor (52); - a gear unit (54); - at least one first transmission shaft (56) operatively connected to the first electric motor (52) at a first end of the first transmission shaft (56) and having a gear (64) keyed to a second end of the first transmission shaft (56), the gear (64) being configured to impart a rotational movement from the first electric motor (52) to the gear unit (54); - at least one annular gear (58), at least one of said annular gears (58) being formed integrally with the annular body (28) of a single clamping device (22); and - at least one second transmission shaft (60) operably connected to the gear unit (54) at a first end of the second transmission shaft (60) and having a drive pinion (66) keyed to a second end of the second transmission shaft (60), the drive pinion (66) being configured to transmit movement from the gear unit (54) to the ring gear (58).

6. The impregnation device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that Each motor-driven device (16) for supporting and manipulating the component (100) includes one or more idler pinions (62), which are arranged to transmit movement from a ring gear (58) driven by the drive pinion (66) to one or more clamping devices (22), the ring gear (58) of which meshes with a corresponding idler pinion (62).

7. The impregnation device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that Each clamping device (22) is mounted on a single support frame (70) and each clamping device (22) is rotatable relative to the support frame (70) through the intervention of a plurality of rolling bearings (68).

8. The impregnation device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The second motor-driven translation device (26) comprises: - at least one slide (72) supporting the holding device (22) and being movable in a reciprocating manner along a guide (74) formed integrally with the heating station (14); - at least one second electric motor (76); and - at least one spline shaft (78), the spline shaft (78) being operably connected to the second electric motor (76) at a first end of the spline shaft (78), and the spline shaft (78) being operably connected to the slider (72) at a second end of the spline shaft (78), the spline shaft (78) being configured to convert a rotational motion imparted by the second electric motor (76) into a reciprocating motion of the slider (72).

9. An impregnation device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that At least one of the heating stations (14) is provided with a tilting device (80), which is configured to impart a tilting movement to the heating station (14) relative to the support plane of the support frame (12) when the component (100) is mounted on the corresponding clamping device (22) of the component (100) and the motor-driven equipment (16) for supporting and manipulating the component (100) is placed outside the heating station (14), thereby imparting a tilting movement to each component (100) relative to the support plane of the support frame (12).

10. The impregnation device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The support frame (12) is provided with one or more manipulating and guiding means (82, 84), on which one or more impregnation equipment (18) and one or more transport and loading / unloading equipment (20) are movably mounted.

11. The impregnation device (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that The handling and guiding means (82, 84) comprise one or more upper sliding guides (82) and one or more lower sliding guides (84), one or more of the upper sliding guides (82) being positioned on the support frame (12) and at the upper end of the support frame (12), and one or more of the lower sliding guides (84) being positioned on the support frame (12) and on the supporting surface, wherein each impregnation device (18) moves along the upper sliding guides (82), and each impregnation device (18) is electrically controlled by the central processing unit to move and selectively position the impregnation device (18) in front of each heating station (14) when performing the impregnation step of the component (100).

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