Coil segment circular alignment device

Abstract

To provide a circular ring aligning device of a coil segment which can prevent a leg of the coil segment from easily escaping in a direction where centrifugal force is applied in the vicinity of merging.SOLUTION: A circular ring aligning device of a coil segment according to the present invention includes: a structure which has a circular part that rotates around the central axis of the circle; storage grooves which are provided at a prescribed pitch in the rotation direction on the outer periphery of the circular part; a guide part which guides the second leg to the other storage groove while rotating it around the shaft of the first leg when storing the first leg in the first leg and the second leg that are parallel to each other in the coil segment in the storage groove and rotating the structure having the circular part in the rotation direction; and an end guide which supports the first end being the end of the first leg and the second end being the end of the second leg.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a circular alignment device for coil segments. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in the manufacturing process of segment motors, a circular alignment device is used to align multiple coil segments in a circular shape. In this circular alignment device for coil segments, the inner legs of the U-shaped coil segments are inserted into the grooves of the gears, causing them to rotate, and then the outer legs of the coil segments join the grooves of the rotating gears, aligning the multiple coil segments in a circular shape.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a circular alignment device for a segment motor is provided with a jamming detection unit that detects jamming of a coil segment into a gear. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-312946 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in principle, the circular alignment device for coil segments has a problem in that the rotational movement of the gears applies centrifugal force to the coil segments, creating gaps at the tips of the gear teeth near where the outer legs join, which means that the inner or outer legs of the coil segments tend to escape outward from the groove.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a circular alignment device for coil segments that can prevent the legs of the coil segments from easily escaping in the direction in which centrifugal force is applied near the junction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the coil segment circular alignment device of the present invention comprises a structure having a circular portion that rotates around the central axis of the circle, storage grooves provided at a predetermined pitch in the rotational direction on the outer periphery of the circular portion, a guide portion that, when the first leg of parallel first and second legs of a coil segment is stored in the storage groove and the structure having the circular portion is rotated in the rotational direction, guides the second leg to the other storage groove while rotating it around the axis of the first leg, and an end guide that supports a first end that is an end of the first leg and a second end that is an end of the second leg. The end guide has an inclined surface with which the second end comes into contact in a section until the second leg is stored in the storage groove by the guide portion, and the inclined surface is an upward inclined surface. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the legs of the coil segments from easily escaping in the direction in which centrifugal force is applied near the junction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a circular alignment device for coil segments according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the coil segment circular alignment device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a structural explanatory view of an end guide configured in the coil segment circular alignment device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the circular alignment operation in the coil segment circular alignment device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Below, a circular coil segment alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and the components in the following embodiment include those that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art, those that are substantially the same, and those that are within the scope of what is called equivalent. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations of the components can be made without departing from the spirit of the following embodiment.

[0011] <Embodiment> An example of a coil segment circular alignment device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. The coil segment circular alignment device does not manufacture coils by winding a typical copper wire, but rather manufactures coils by inserting divided coil segments and aligning them in a circular shape. The coil segments shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4 are made by cutting a single copper wire and shaping it into the same U-shape, so that two parallel legs are connected by a bent or curved bend. Note that the shape of the coil segment is merely an example and is not limited to this shape.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a circular alignment device for coil segments according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a side view of the circular alignment device for coil segments shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a structural explanatory diagram of an end guide configured in the circular alignment device for coil segments shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the circular alignment operation in the circular alignment device for coil segments according to an embodiment.

[0013] First, the overall configuration of the coil segment circular alignment device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. When detailed explanation is required, Figures 3 and 4 will be referred to as appropriate.

[0014] In the following, for convenience, the first leg of the two legs of the coil segment will be referred to as the inner leg and the second leg as the outer leg, but these names are given to make it easier to understand intuitively. In the following, when the legs are aligned in the circular alignment device for coil segments, the first leg that passes through the inner track will be referred to as the inner leg, and the second leg that passes through the outer track will be referred to as the outer leg, to distinguish them.

[0015] (Configuration of the coil segment circular alignment device) The coil segment circular alignment device 1 includes a circular structure 11, storage grooves 12 provided in the circular structure 11 at a predetermined pitch, a guide portion 13, and an end guide 14 mounted on a base 15. The circular structure 11 is a structure having a circular portion. The circular structure 11 rotates around the Z axis. In this embodiment, as an example, a first circular portion 11a and a second circular portion 11b are provided, and the first circular portion 11a and the second circular portion 11b rotate together around the Z axis. The first circular portion 11a and the second circular portion 11b are disposed at different heights. The direction of the Z axis corresponds to the height direction.

[0016] The first circular portion 11a and the second circular portion 11b each have storage grooves 12 at a predetermined pitch on the circular edge corresponding to the "outer periphery." As an example, the first circular portion 11a is a gear, and the storage grooves 12 are storage grooves 12a between teeth at a predetermined pitch. The second circular portion 11b is also a gear, and has grooves at the same pitch as the first circular portion 11a. When the circular structure 11 is viewed in plan from above, that is, from the Z-axis direction, the storage grooves 12a and 12b overlap at the same pitch.

[0017] The guide portion 13 has a first guide portion 13a, a second guide portion 13b, and a third guide portion 13c. The guide portion 13 is supported on a base 15 by a plurality of support members 16. The first guide portion 13a and the second guide portion 13b are provided at different heights. In this embodiment, as an example, the first guide portion 13a is provided at a position slightly lower than the height of the first circular portion 11a, and the second guide portion 13b is provided at a position slightly lower than the height of the second circular portion 11b. The first guide portion 13a and the second guide portion 13b have the same shape and are arranged in the same section along the rotation direction of the circular structure 11.

[0018] The inner edge of the first induction portion 13a, i.e., the edge closer to the circular structure 11, has a shape that follows the outer periphery of the first circular portion 11a, and the first induction portion 13a is provided at a predetermined width apart from the circular structure 11. This width is such that the inner leg 200a (see FIG. 4), which is the first leg of the coil segment 20, does not move from one storage groove 12 of the circular structure 11 to another storage groove 12 in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the outer edge of the first induction portion 13a, i.e., the outer edge farther from the circular structure 11, has a shape with a larger radius of curvature than the inner edge. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the first induction portion 13a and the second induction portion 13b have shapes whose widths gradually narrow along the rotational direction of the circular structure 11.

[0019] The third induction portion 13c is provided at the same height as the first induction portion 13a. The third induction portion 13c is provided along the outer edge of the first induction portion 13a, with a width between the third induction portion 13c and the outer edge of the first induction portion 13a that allows the outer leg 200b of the coil segment 20 to pass through when the coil segment 20 is guided.

[0020] The section in which the first induction section 13a and the second induction section 13b are arranged is the section from the storage position where the inner leg 200a (see Figure 4), which is the first leg of the coil segment 20, is stored in the storage groove 12 to the junction point where, as the circular structure 11 rotates in the rotational direction, the outer leg 200b (see Figure 4), which is the second leg of the coil segment 20, is stored in another storage groove 12 along the edge of the induction section 13.

[0021] Therefore, in the coil segment circular alignment device 1, when the inner leg 200a is stored in the storage groove 12 and the circular structure 11 is rotated in the rotational direction, the outer leg 200b rotates around the axis of the inner leg 200a and moves in an orbit guided by the guide part 13 to another storage groove 12.

[0022] The end guide 14 is a structure that guides the end of the coil segment 20 while supporting the entire coil segment 20. The end guide 14 supports the entire coil segment 20 by receiving a first end 201a (see FIG. 4), which is the end of the inner leg 200a of the coil segment 20, and a second end 201b (see FIG. 4), which is the end of the outer leg 200b, from below. For convenience, the first end 201a of the inner leg 200a may be referred to as the inner leg end, and the second end 201b of the outer leg 200b may be referred to as the outer leg end below. As an example, the structure of the end guide 14 having an inclined portion with an inclination angle θ1 will be described.

[0023] (Structure of end guide 14) Fig. 3 is a structural explanatory diagram of the end guide 14 configured in the coil segment circular alignment device 1 shown in Fig. 1. The structure of the end guide 14 will be described with reference to Fig. 3 as needed.

[0024] 3(a) is a plan view of the end guide 14 from above, i.e., from the Z-axis direction. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the end guide 14 has a first guide surface 14a that supports the inner leg end 201a of the coil segment 20 and a second guide surface 14b that supports the outer leg end 201b.

[0025] The first guide surfaces 14a are provided at the same height along the circumferential direction of the circular structure 11. The first guide surfaces 14a are aligned with the arrangement of the storage grooves 12 provided at a predetermined pitch on the outer periphery of the circular structure 11, and guide the inner leg end portions 201a of the inner legs 200a of each coil segment 20 and the outer leg end portions 201b of the outer legs 200b of each coil segment 20 stored in each storage groove 12 at the joining point in an arc shape.

[0026] The illustrated first guide surface 14a has a predetermined width in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction, which is a width that can support at least the inner leg end portions 201a of the inner legs 200a of each coil segment 20 housed in each storage groove 12 and the outer leg end portions 201b of the outer legs 200b of each coil segment 20 housed in each storage groove 12 at the joining point from below across the circumferential direction of the circular structure 11.

[0027] The other second guide surface 14b is provided along the arc (radius r) of the first guide surface 14a. Unlike the first guide surface 14a, the second guide surface 14b is provided midway through the guide section of the guide unit 13 in the rotation direction of the circular structure 11. The second guide surface 14b guides the outer leg 200b guided by the guide unit 13 while supporting it with the outer leg end portion 201b.

[0028] The view shown in FIG. 3(b) is a side view of the end guide 14 in the direction A. As shown in FIG. 3(b), the end guide 14 has a second guide surface 14b that is an inclined surface. The inclined surface is an upward inclined surface indicated by an inclination angle θ1 in FIG. 2, and is an upward inclined surface that exceeds the height of the first guide surface 14a. In this embodiment, as an example, the inclined surface gradually increases from a position lower than the first guide surface 14a, and finally reaches a position higher than the first guide surface 14a. In other words, the outer leg end 201b of the coil segment 20 is free until it comes into contact with the inclined surface midway through the guidance section of the guidance section 13 and is subjected to the force of the inclined surface.

[0029] Compared with the height h1 (see FIG. 2) of the first guide surface 14a, the height h2 reached by the second guide surface 14b is h1+Δh, and is slightly higher by Δh.

[0030] (Coil segment alignment operation) The outer legs 200b of the coil segments 20 are guided to the joining point and stored in other storage grooves 12 in the order of (a) to (d) shown in FIG.

[0031] 4(a) shows the state after the inner leg 200a of the coil segment 20 has been inserted into the storage groove 12 (the upper side is storage groove 12a, and the lower side is storage groove 12b). The outer leg 200b of the coil segment 20 has been inserted into the induction portions 13 (first induction portion 13a, second induction portion 13b, and third induction portion 13c).

[0032] In this state, the inner leg end 201a is on the first guide surface 14a, and the outer leg end 201b is above the second guide surface 14b and is free.

[0033] 4(b) shows the state immediately after the outer leg end 201b of the coil segment 20 comes into contact with the second guide surface 14b. After the outer leg end 201b comes into contact with the second guide surface 14b, the entire coil segment 20 is supported by the support of the inner leg end 201a by the first guide surface 14a and the support of the outer leg end 201b by the second guide surface 14b.

[0034] 4(c) shows the state of the junction when the outer leg end 201b of the coil segment 20 has reached a height h2 due to the upward inclined surface of the second guide surface 14b. Because it is the junction, the width of the induction portion 13 (first induction portions 13a, 13b) is narrowed, and immediately after this, the induction portion 13 (first induction portions 13a, 13b) disappears.

[0035] In this state, because height h2 of second guide surface 14b is slightly higher than height h1 of first guide surface 14a, coil segment 20 is pushed up and tilted by second guide surface 14b via outer leg end portion 201b. Coil segment 20 is subjected to a force in the opposite direction to the centrifugal force received in the radial direction from the rotation shaft, and tilts toward storage groove 12 (upper storage groove 12a, lower storage groove 12b) and presses against inner leg 200a.

[0036] In this state, the outer legs 200b of the coil segment 20 are also subjected to a force in the opposite direction to the centrifugal force, and are stored in storage grooves 12 (upper storage groove 12a, lower storage groove 12b) separate from the inner legs 200a.

[0037] FIG. 4(d) shows the state after the outer leg 200b of the coil segment 20 has been stored in another storage groove 12 (the upper side is storage groove 12a-n, and the lower side is storage groove 12b-n). This state is the state immediately after the outer leg 200b has transferred from the second guide surface 14b to the first guide surface 14b. As can be seen from FIG. 4(d), the end guide 14 is configured so that the outer leg end 201b, which has transferred to the first guide surface 14b, does not return to the second guide surface 14b due to the step between the first guide surface 14b and the second guide surface 14b.

[0038] By the above-mentioned operation, the coil segment circular alignment device 1 performs smooth circular alignment at the joining point.

[0039] In this embodiment, the structure having the circular portions is provided with the first circular portion 11a and the second circular portion 11b, but is not limited to this. For example, the structure having the circular portions may be a cylindrical structure having portions corresponding to the first circular portion 11a and the second circular portion 11b.

[0040] Furthermore, the rotation of the structure 11 having a circular portion may be performed manually or automatically.

[0041] The inclined surface of the second guide surface 14b may be a curved surface instead of a flat surface. For example, the curved surface may have a downward slope toward the structure 11 having a circular portion.

[0042] (Effects of the embodiment) The coil segment circular alignment device is configured so that centrifugal force is applied to the coil segments due to the rotational motion of the gears, and has a structure that creates gaps on the tip side of the gear teeth near where the outer legs join. This makes it easy for the inner or outer legs of the coil segments to escape outward from the storage grooves, but the coil segment circular alignment device of this embodiment is configured with end guides that support the ends of the first leg and the second leg, thereby preventing the legs of the coil segments from escaping in the direction of the applied centrifugal force. This prevents the legs of the coil segments from moving into the adjacent storage groove or getting caught in the gaps with the tips of the teeth at the joining point.

[0043] Furthermore, by providing an inclined surface that comes into contact with the outer leg end in the section where the outer leg is stored in the storage groove by the coil guide portion, the space required for arranging the end guide can be reduced.

[0044] Furthermore, by making the second guide surface an upwardly inclined surface that exceeds the height of the second guide surface that guides the inner leg, it is possible to further prevent the leg of the coil segment from escaping in the direction in which centrifugal force is applied. In addition, the height difference acts as a stopper, preventing the leg from falling out of the storage groove.

[0045] In this embodiment, the coil segments are supported by the end portions of the legs of the coil segments, which are the peeled portions that are not covered with enamel, thereby preventing damage to the enamel coating of the coil segments.

[0046] In addition, in this embodiment, support is provided at the ends of the legs of the coil segments, so even if coil segments with different lengths or shapes are used, they can be used without changing any parts, except in special cases. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1. Coil segment circular alignment device 11 Circular Structure 11a First circular section 11b Second circular section 12 Storage groove 13 Guidance part 13a 1st guidance section 13b 2nd induction part 13c 3rd induction section 14 End guide 14a first guide surface 14b Second guide surface 15 Pedestal 16 Support member 20 coil segments 200a 1st leg 200b 2nd leg 201a First end 201b Second end

Claims

1. a structure having a circular portion that rotates around a central axis of the circle; storage grooves provided at a predetermined pitch in the rotational direction on the outer periphery of the circular portion; a guide portion that guides the second leg to the other storage groove while rotating the second leg about the axis of the first leg when the first leg of the coil segment, which is one of parallel first and second legs, is stored in the storage groove and the structure having the circular portion is rotated in a rotational direction; an end guide that supports a first end portion that is an end portion of the first leg and a second end portion that is an end portion of the second leg; and the end guide has an inclined surface with which the second end comes into contact in a section until the second leg is stored in the storage groove by the guide portion, The inclined surface is an upward inclined surface. Circular coil segment alignment device.

2. The end guide guides the first end and the second end in an arc shape along the outer periphery of the circular portion. The coil segment circular alignment device according to claim 1 .

3. The end guide has a guide surface that guides the second end and has an upwardly inclined surface that is higher than the height of the guide surface that guides the first end. The coil segment circular alignment device according to claim 1 or 2.

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