Core clamp device and wire winding method using core clamp device

Abstract

A core clamp device (20) compresses a laminated core (6) constituted by a plurality of laminated magnetic steel sheets in the lamination direction of the magnetic steel sheets. The core clamp device (20) comprises: a pair of clamping pieces (31, 31) provided so as to respectively face the end surfaces of the laminated core (6) on both sides in the lamination direction; a support part (21) that extends in the lamination direction and swingably supports the pair of clamping pieces (31, 31); and an elastic member (41) that is provided between the pair of clamping pieces (31, 31) and imparts a biasing force to the pair of clamping pieces (31, 31), said biasing force compressing the laminated core (6) in the lamination direction.

Description

Core clamping device and wire winding method using the core clamping device

[0001] The present invention relates to a core clamping device and a wire winding method using the core clamping device.

[0002] Conventionally, stators used in rotating electrical machines such as electric motors and generators are composed of a stator core and coils fitted into slots in the stator core. The wire that forms the coil is a conducting wire covered with insulation, and the coil is insulated from the stator core.

[0003] For example, if the stator core is a laminated core made of magnetic steel plates, when a coil is formed by winding wire around the laminated core, the tension pulling the wire during winding can compress the laminated core in the lamination direction, reducing the lamination gap and causing winding tightening. When winding tightening like this occurs, the laminated core, which serves as the winding core for the wound wire, shrinks, causing slack in the wire at the start of winding, resulting in winding irregularities in the coil.

[0004] In order to prevent such irregular winding of the coil during winding, a winding device has been proposed (see, for example, JP2019-129550A) that is equipped with a pressure mechanism that compresses the stator core in the lamination direction by compressing the laminated core before winding to prevent the laminated core from shrinking during winding.

[0005] The pressure mechanism in this winding device has a support plate that supports the lower surface of the stator core, a compression plate that abuts the upper surface of the stator core, and a pressing unit that moves the compression plate. Furthermore, in this winding device, the pressing unit of the pressure mechanism has a rotating shaft and a drive unit that rotates the rotating shaft. In this winding device, when the drive unit rotates the rotating shaft, the compression plate moves and compresses the stator core in the lamination direction.

[0006] However, providing a pressure mechanism to the winding device complicates the structure of the winding device, which may increase the cost of the winding device and the unit price of the stator. Furthermore, providing a pressure mechanism may require the winding device to be dedicated to a laminated core, which may reduce the versatility of the winding device.

[0007] Therefore, it is conceivable to use a conventional winding device by compressing and holding the laminated core using a conventional clamping device, without providing a pressure mechanism to the winding device.

[0008] An example of a conventional clamping device is a screw-type clamping device 5 shown in Fig. 15, which has a C-shaped or U-shaped main body 2, one end of the main body 2 constituting an opening through which an article to be clamped is inserted, and a male screw 3 for clamping an article between the other end constituting the opening. Here, reference numeral 4 in Fig. 15 denotes a handle 4 for rotating the male screw 3.

[0009] It is also conceivable to use such a general screw-type clamp device 5 to compress and hold the laminated core 6 from the outside in the lamination direction, separate from the winding device, and then wind wire around the laminated core 6 using a conventional winding device.

[0010] However, since the stator core is a laminate of magnetic steel plates, it is relatively heavy, and in order to eliminate the gaps between the magnetic steel plates and prevent shrinkage in the lamination direction, it is necessary to compress it with a relatively large force. However, with a typical screw-type clamping device 5, there is a limit to the tightening force of the male screws 3, and it may not be possible to ensure sufficient tightening force. Furthermore, when the male screws 3 are tightened manually, variations in the tightening force may occur, making it difficult to achieve uniform quality in the windings.

[0011] Furthermore, the general screw-type clamp device 5 has a relatively large main body 2, and the male screw 3 provided on the main body 2 also protrudes relatively far from the main body 2. For this reason, if a conventional winding device is used to wind a stator core clamped by the screw-type clamp device 5, it is conceivable that the clamp device 5 will come into contact with the winding portion of the winding device, such as a nozzle that moves while unwinding the wire. Therefore, it is conceivable that it would be difficult to wind a laminated core 6 compressed by a general conventional screw-type clamp device 5 using a conventional winding device.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a core clamping device for compressing a laminated core that allows the use of conventional winding equipment.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, a core clamping device that compresses a laminated core made up of a plurality of stacked magnetic steel plates in the stacking direction of the magnetic steel plates includes a pair of clamping pieces arranged to face each other on both end faces in the stacking direction of the laminated core, a support portion that extends in the stacking direction and supports the pair of clamping pieces so that they can swing, and an elastic member that is arranged between the pair of clamping pieces and applies a spring force to the pair of clamping pieces to compress the laminated core in the stacking direction.

[0014] FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of portion A in FIG. 11 , and is a structural cross-sectional view of a state in which a core clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention has compressed a laminated core. FIG. 2 is a structural cross-sectional view of a state immediately before the core clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention compresses a laminated core. FIG. 3 is a structural cross-sectional view of a state in which the compression of the laminated core of the core clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention is released. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the shape of a bracket of the core clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the shape of a fixing block of the core clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the shape of an elastic member holder of the core clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a front view of the core clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the laminated core side. FIG. 8 is a rear view of the core clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a side view of the core clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the core clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a winding device for winding a laminated core compressed and held by the core clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an outer rotor type stator core formed from a laminated core and wound by a winding device. Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an inner rotor type stator core made of a laminated core and wound by a winding device. Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing another conventional winding device for winding an inner rotor type stator core. Fig. 15 is a view showing a state in which the laminated core is compressed and held using a general screw-type clamping device.

[0015] Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] Generally, a stator used in a rotating electric machine such as an electric motor or a generator is composed of a stator core and coils fitted in its slots. The stator core of this embodiment is a laminated core formed by punching magnetic steel plates into a predetermined shape and laminating them.

[0017] 1 to 3, the core clamp device 20 compresses the laminated core 6, which is made by laminating a plurality of magnetic steel plates, in the lamination direction. The compressed laminated core 6 can be wound using a conventional winding device 10 (FIG. 11).

[0018] In the following, an example will be described in which the laminated core 6 is an outer rotor type as shown in Fig. 12. As shown in Fig. 12, the outer rotor type laminated core 6 includes a circular annular portion 6a and a plurality of teeth 6b that protrude radially from the outer peripheral surface of the annular portion 6a toward the outside in the radial direction of the annular portion 6a.

[0019] Fig. 11 shows an example of an existing winding device 10 that winds wire around the teeth 6b of the laminated core 6. The winding device 10 shown in Fig. 11 includes a support 11 that supports the laminated core 6, a swing servomotor 12 as a laminated core operating mechanism that operates the laminated core 6 so that the teeth 6b swing together with the support 11, and a nozzle moving mechanism 14 that moves a nozzle 13 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the teeth 6b, i.e., in the lamination direction of the magnetic steel plates in the laminated core 6 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "stacking direction").

[0020] 11, the support 11 has a rod-shaped core member 11a that extends vertically and has an upper edge on which the laminated core 6 is placed horizontally, and a pressing member 11b that presses from above the annular portion 6a of the laminated core 6 placed on the upper edge of the core member 11a. The lower end of the core member 11a is attached to a rotation shaft 12a of a swing servomotor 12.

[0021] 11 denotes a fluid pressure cylinder 17 that raises and lowers the pressing member 11b. By lowering the fluid pressure cylinder 17, the pressing member 11b presses the annular portion 6a of the laminated core 6 from above.

[0022] The nozzle moving mechanism 14 is configured by, for example, a servo motor. A control panel 14a is attached to the rotation shaft of the servo motor, and the control panel 14a rotates when the rotation shaft is rotated. Furthermore, a lift plate 15 to which the nozzle 13 is attached is connected to the control panel 14a. The lift plate 15 moves up and down in the vertical direction as the control panel 14a rotates. Therefore, by rotating the nozzle moving mechanism 14 (servo motor), the nozzle 13 can be moved in the vertical direction.

[0023] The winding device 10 then rotates the small diameter portion 13a at the tip of the nozzle 13 around the tooth portion 6b by combining the oscillation of the laminated core 6 and the movement of the nozzle 13 in the stacking direction, thereby winding the wire fed out from the nozzle 13 around the tooth portion 6b.

[0024] The core clamp device 20 compresses, in the stacking direction, the tips of the teeth 6b of the laminated core 6 supported by the support 11 of the winding device 10. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the core clamp device 20 includes a pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 provided to face each other on both end faces of the laminated core 6 in the stacking direction, a support part 21 extending in the stacking direction and supporting the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 so that they can swing, and an elastic member 41 that applies a biasing force to the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 to compress the laminated core 6 in the stacking direction.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the support part 21 includes a shaft 22 extending in the stacking direction of the laminated core 6, and a pair of brackets 23, 23 that are provided at both ends of the shaft 22 so as to be movable relative to the shaft 22 and to which clamping pieces 31 are respectively attached.

[0026] The pair of brackets 23, 23 have the same structure, and therefore the following description will focus on only one of the brackets 23. As shown in Figure 4, the bracket 23 includes a pair of rising pieces 23a, 23a between which an intermediate pivot portion 31a of a clamping piece 31, which will be described later, is inserted, and a connecting portion 23b connecting the base ends of the pair of rising pieces 23a, 23a. The connecting portion 23b is coaxially formed in the center with an insertion hole 23c through which the connecting pin 24 is inserted, and a countersunk hole 23d that is larger in diameter than the insertion hole 23c and into which the head 24a of the connecting pin 24 is embedded.

[0027] 1 to 3, the connecting pin 24 has a head 24a, an externally threaded portion 24b formed to protrude axially from the head 24a, and a pin portion 24c formed coaxially with the externally threaded portion 24b and protruding axially from the externally threaded portion 24b in the opposite direction from the head 24a. The pin portion 24c has a circular cross section and is formed with a smaller diameter than the externally threaded portion 24b. The connecting pin 24 has the pin portion 24c and the externally threaded portion 24b inserted into the insertion hole 23c from the counterbore 23d side of the connecting portion 23b, and the externally threaded portion 24b is threaded into an internally threaded hole 26a of a fixing block 26 described later.

[0028] 5, the fixed block 26 in this embodiment has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and is provided with a female threaded hole 26a at its center into which the male threaded portion 24b of the connecting pin 24 can be threaded. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connecting portion 23b of the bracket 23 is sandwiched between the fixed block 26 and the head 24a of the connecting pin 24, so that the connecting pin 24 is integrated with the bracket 23.

[0029] The shaft 22 is provided between a pair of brackets 23, 23. The shaft 22 is a rod-shaped member with a circular cross section. Pin holes 22a extending in the axial direction are formed at both ends of the shaft 22, and into which the pin portion 24c of the connecting pin 24 is slidably inserted. The pin holes 22a are formed to be longer than the length of the pin portion 24c. By inserting the pin portions 24c of the connecting pin 24 into the pin holes 22a on both sides of the shaft 22, the pair of brackets 23 are each movably supported on the shaft 22.

[0030] 7 to 10, the clamping piece 31 has an intermediate pivotal support portion 31a that is inserted between the pair of rising pieces 23a, 23a of the bracket 23 and is swingably supported by the bracket 23, a clamping portion 31b that is formed on one end of the intermediate pivotal support portion 31a and faces the end face in the stacking direction of the laminated core 6, and an operating portion 31c that is formed on the other end of the intermediate pivotal support portion 31a. A pivotal support hole 31d that passes through the intermediate pivotal support portion 31a is formed in the intermediate pivotal support portion 31a (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

[0031] With the support hole 23e of the bracket 23 and the pivot hole 31d of the clamping piece 31 arranged coaxially, the pivot pin 32 is inserted into the support hole 23e and the pivot hole 31d, so that the clamping piece 31 is pivotally supported on the bracket 23 so that the clamping portion 31b faces the end face of the laminated core 6 in the stacking direction.

[0032] The clamping portions 31b of each pair of clamping pieces 31 are formed to have a width equivalent to the width of the tip portions of the teeth 6b (FIG. 12) to be compressed of the laminated core 6. In addition, the clamping portions 31b of each pair of clamping pieces 31 are formed in a shape such that their tips come into surface contact with the end faces of the tip portions of the teeth 6b of the laminated core 6.

[0033] 1 to 3, the core clamp device 20 further includes an operation connecting portion 36 that swings the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31. The operation connecting portion 36 in this embodiment includes a pair of bendably connected arm members 37, 38.

[0034] As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the pair of arm members 37, 38 are each formed from a long, rod-shaped steel plate. One end of the arm members 37, 38 is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 39 serving as a pivot point. The other end of the arm members 37, 38 is pivotally supported to the operating portions 31c of the clamping pieces 31 provided via brackets 23 at both ends of the shaft 22. From another perspective, the operating connecting portion 36 formed by the pair of arm members 37, 38 is provided to connect the operating portions 31c of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 provided at both ends of the shaft 22. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the arm members 37, 38 can be bent so that the pivot pin 39 moves toward and away from the shaft 22.

[0035] The width of the pair of arm members 37, 38 is formed, for example, to be approximately equal to the outer diameter of the elastic member 41 fitted onto the shaft 22. Furthermore, the pair of arm members 37, 38 are restricted from bending from the extended state shown in Fig. 1 etc. towards the shaft 22 side when the pivot pin 39 comes into contact with the elastic member 41 fitted onto the shaft 22 or with an elastic member holder 43 described later.

[0036] The operating portions 31c of the clamping pieces 31 provided on both ends of the shaft 22 extend from the respective intermediate pivot portions 31a in a direction along the shaft 22 and are formed to approach each other. As shown in Figure 8, the operating portions 31c of the clamping pieces 31 are formed to have approximately the same width as the pair of arm members 37, 38.

[0037] As described above, the pair of arm members 37, 38 are bendable by having one end pivoted by the pivot pin 39. As a result, when the pair of arm members 37, 38 are extended as shown in Fig. 1, the other ends (operating portions 31c) of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 are separated from each other, and when the pair of arm members 37, 38 are bent as shown in Fig. 3, the other ends (operating portions 31c) of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 are moved closer to each other.

[0038] The length of the shaft 22 and the length in the extended state of the pair of arm members 37, 38 that form the operating connecting portion 36 are determined according to the length in the lamination direction of the laminated core 6 that is to be compressed and held.

[0039] As shown in Figure 3, when the pair of arm members 37, 38 that make up the operating connecting portion 36 are bent to bring the operating portions 31c of the pair of clamping pieces 31 closer to each other, the clamping portions 31b of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 move away from each other, and the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 reach a separated position where the clamping portions 31b move away from the end faces of the laminated core 6 and the clamping of the laminated core 6 is released.

[0040] 1, when the pair of arm members 37, 38 are extended to move the operating portions 31c of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 away from each other, the clamping portions 31b of the pair of clamping pieces 31 approach each other, and the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 assume a clamping position where the clamping portions 31b come into contact with the end faces of the laminated core 6 and clamp the laminated core 6 from the stacking direction. At this time, the pair of brackets 23 move away from both ends of the shaft 22.

[0041] 1, an elastic member 41 that biases the pair of brackets 23, 23 toward each other is fitted to the shaft 22. In this embodiment, the elastic member 41 is a compression spring, and is configured to be compressed via elastic member holders 43 attached to the pair of brackets 23, 23, respectively.

[0042] The pair of elastic member holders 43 have the same structure, and therefore only one will be described below. As shown in Fig. 6, the elastic member holder 43 includes a disk-shaped abutment portion 43a having a circular hole 43e formed at the center through which the shaft 22 is inserted, a pair of support portions 43b, 43c extending parallel to each other from both sides of the abutment portion 43a in the direction of the central axis of the abutment portion 43a, and a fixing portion 43d provided at the tip of each of the pair of support portions 43b, 43c and protruding radially inward. One of the pair of elastic member holders 43 corresponds to a "first elastic member holder" in the claims, and the other corresponds to a "second elastic member holder" in the claims. Furthermore, the abutment portion 43a and the fixing portion 43d of the "first elastic member holder" correspond to a "first abutment portion" and a "first fixing portion," respectively. The contact portion 43a and the fixing portion 43d of the "second elastic member holder" correspond to the "second contact portion" and the "second fixing portion" in the claims, respectively.

[0043] 5, the fixed block 26 is formed with a recess 26b into which the fixing portion 43d of the elastic member holder 43 fits. With the fixing portion 43d of the elastic member holder 43 fitted in the recess 26b of the fixed block 26, the connecting pin 24 is inserted into the insertion hole 23c of the bracket 23 and the male threaded portion 24b of the connecting pin 24 is screwed into the female threaded hole 26a of the fixed block 26, whereby the elastic member holder 43 is connected to the bracket 23.

[0044] When the shaft 22 is inserted through the round hole 43e provided in the abutting portion 43a of the elastic member holder 43 and the fixing portion 43d is attached to one of the brackets 23, the abutting portion 43a faces the end face opposite to the end face facing the fixing portion 43d of the elastic member 41 fitted onto the shaft 22. The pair of elastic member holders 43 are attached to the brackets 23, 23 respectively so that the angular positions of the support portions 43b, 43c and the fixing portion 43d are different from each other.

[0045] Then, by inserting the pin portions 24c of the connecting pin 24 into the pin holes 22a on both sides of the shaft 22, the pair of brackets 23 are movably supported on the shaft 22. As a result, the elastic member 41 fitted onto the shaft 22 is sandwiched between the abutment portions 43a of the pair of elastic member holders 43.

[0046] When such an elastic member holder 43 is used, a pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 are pivotally supported on brackets 23 provided on both ends of the shaft 22, and then the operating connecting portion 36 (the other end of each of the pair of arm members 37, 38) is attached so as to connect the respective operating portions 31c of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 to each other.

[0047] In the core clamp device 20 configured in this manner, when the pair of arm members 37, 38 are extended and the pair of brackets 23, 23 are separated, the abutting portions 43a of the pair of elastic member holders 43 approach each other. As a result, the elastic members 41 provided between the abutting portions 43a of the elastic member holders 43 are compressed by the abutting portions 43a approaching each other.

[0048] Furthermore, the compressed elastic member 41 acts to widen the spacing between the contact portions 43a of the elastic member holders 43, thereby exerting a force in the direction of narrowing the spacing between the brackets 23 on which the elastic member holders 43 are provided.

[0049] The type of compression spring that constitutes the elastic member 41 is determined by the required biasing force, and in this embodiment, the compression spring is exemplified as consisting of multiple disc springs that are fitted onto the shaft 22 and stacked. A disc spring is a spring formed by turning a disk-shaped plate with a hole in the center into a cone shape, like a bottomless dish. A disc spring achieves its spring action by applying a load to the upper and lower parts of the cone, causing it to bend in a direction that lowers its height.

[0050] Disc springs can withstand large loads in a small mounting space, and various spring characteristics can be obtained by adjusting the number of layers, etc. In this embodiment, multiple disc springs are fitted onto the shaft 22 to maintain the stacked state of the disc springs and prevent the disc springs from shifting.

[0051] Known methods for stacking disc springs include parallel stacking, in which disc springs are stacked in the same direction to achieve the effect of a parallel spring, and series stacking, in which disc springs are stacked alternately to achieve the effect of a series spring. As shown in the enlarged view of Figure 1, the elastic member 41 is fitted onto the shaft 22 using an appropriate combination of stacking methods for multiple disc springs to generate the required spring force. In this way, by adjusting the stacking direction of the disc springs (such as stacking in the same direction or stacking in different directions), it is easy to adjust the characteristics of various loads.

[0052] Next, the operation of compressing the laminated core 6 by the core clamp device 20 configured as described above will be described.

[0053] First, as shown in Fig. 3, the pair of arm members 37, 38 that form the operation connecting portion 36 are bent. Specifically, the pivot pin 39 that forms the pivot point is moved in a direction away from the shaft 22. As a result, the operation portions 31c, 31c of the clamping pieces 31 approach each other, and the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 swing around the pivot pin 32 provided on the bracket 23 as a fulcrum. As a result, the clamping portions 31b, 31b of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 move to a separated position where they are separated from each other.

[0054] Then, with the clamping portions 31b, 31b of the pair of clamping pieces 31 in the separated position, the laminated core 6 is inserted between the clamping portions 31b, 31b.

[0055] In this embodiment, the core clamp device 20 compresses, in the lamination direction, the tips of the teeth 6b that protrude radially outward from the annular portion 6a (see FIG. 12) of the laminated core 6. To this end, the tips of the teeth 6b of the laminated core 6 are inserted between the clamping portions 31b, 31b of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 so that the lamination direction is parallel to the shaft 22 (see FIG. 3).

[0056] Next, as shown in Figure 2, the pivot pins 39 of the pair of arm members 37, 38 are moved closer to the shaft 22. Specifically, the pair of arm members 37, 38 are extended. As a result, the operating portions 31c of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 move in directions away from each other, and the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 rotate and swing around the pivot pins 32 provided on the bracket 23. As a result, the clamping portions 31b of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 move closer to each other and come into contact with both end surfaces of the laminated core 6, respectively.

[0057] From this state, when the pivot pins 39 of the pair of arm members 37, 38 are further pushed toward the shaft 22, the operating portions 31c of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 move further apart. As a result, the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 rotate and swing around the clamping portions 31b of the clamping pieces 31, 31 that are in contact with both end surfaces of the laminated core 6. As a result, the pair of brackets 23, 23 that pivotally support the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 move apart from each other.

[0058] When the pair of brackets 23, 23 move away from each other in this manner, the abutting portions 43a of the elastic member holders 43 attached to the pair of brackets 23, 23 move closer to each other, causing the abutting portions 43a of the pair of elastic member holders 43 to abut against the ends of the elastic members 41 fitted onto the shaft 22 (see FIG. 2).

[0059] Thereafter, when the pivot pins 39 of the pair of arm members 37, 38 are further pushed toward the shaft 22, the pair of arm members 37, 38 are further extended (see FIG. 1). In this state, the pair of brackets 23, 23 move further apart, causing the abutting portions 43a of the elastic member holders 43 to move even closer to each other. As a result, the elastic member 41 fitted to the shaft 22 is compressed by the abutting portions 43a of the elastic member holders 43 approaching each other.

[0060] In this way, by extending the pair of arm members 37, 38 and separating the pair of brackets 23 from both ends of the shaft 22, the elastic member 41 (compression spring) fitted to the shaft 22 is compressed. Note that the restoring force of the elastic member 41 causes the elastic member 41 to generate a biasing force that tends to bring the brackets 23 closer to each other.

[0061] The pair of arm members 37, 38 connecting the operating portions 31c of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 are slightly bent when the clamping portions 31b of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 abut against both end surfaces of the laminated core 6, and the force that extends the pair of arm members 37, 38 by the principle of leverage is extremely small compared to the force that directly compresses the elastic member 41. By using a disc spring with a relatively high biasing force as the elastic member 41, the multiple laminated elastic members 41 can be reliably compressed.

[0062] 1, the pair of arm members 37, 38 in the stretched state have their pivot pins 39 move toward the elastic member 41 and come into contact with the elastic member 41 or the support portions 43b, 43c of the elastic member holder 43 that sandwich the elastic member 41. This restricts further bending of the pair of arm members 37, 38.

[0063] Then, by slightly bending the pair of arm members 37, 38 toward the shaft 22 from a state in which the pair of arm members 37, 38 are aligned, the biasing force of the elastic member 41 acts in a direction that brings the pair of brackets 23, 23 closer to each other. As a result, a biasing force acts on the pair of arm members 37, 38 in a direction that moves the pivot pin 39 toward the elastic member 41, so the pair of arm members 37, 38 are maintained in the state shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, the elastic member 41 is maintained in a compressed state.

[0064] The biasing force of the compressed elastic member 41, which tends to bring the pair of brackets 23, 23 raised from both ends of the shaft 22, closer to each other, biases the intermediate pivot portions 31a of the clamping pieces 31 provided on the brackets 23 toward each other, i.e., in a direction to bend the pair of arm members 37, 38 toward the shaft 22. However, as described above, when the pivot pin 39 contacts the support portions 43b, 43c of the elastic member 41 or the elastic member holder 43, further bending of the pair of arm members 37, 38 is restricted. Therefore, with the operating portions 31c of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 acting as a fulcrum, a force acts on the clamping portions 31b of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 such that the clamping portions 31b approach each other. As a result, the clamping portions 31b of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 clamp and compress the laminated core 6 from both sides in the stacking direction.

[0065] After the laminated core 6 is compressed using the core clamping device 20 in this manner, a wire is wound around the teeth 6 b of the laminated core 6 using a conventional winding device 10 .

[0066] The winding device 10 shown in Figure 11 has a nozzle 13 wound around the teeth 6b that protrude radially from the annular portion 6a of the laminated core 6, and winds the wire 16 that is unwound from the tip of the nozzle 13 around the teeth 6b.

[0067] In the method of winding wire using the winding device 10, the tips of all of the teeth 6b that are formed to protrude radially and that require winding are compressed by the core clamping device 20. Then, the nozzle 13 is wound around the teeth 6b of the laminated core 6 that have been compressed in the lamination direction by the core clamping device 20, and the wire 16 is wound.

[0068] In the winding method of this embodiment, first, the laminated core 6, with the tips of the teeth 6b compressed, is mounted on the winding device 10 using the core clamp device 20. In the winding device 10 shown in Fig. 11, the annular portion 6a of the laminated core 6 is placed horizontally on the upper edge of a rod-shaped core material 11a extending vertically, and the annular portion 6a of the laminated core 6 is pressed from above by the pressing member 11b, thereby mounting the laminated core 6 on the winding device 10.

[0069] In the subsequent winding, the tip of the nozzle 13 is wound around the teeth 6b by combining the oscillation of the laminated core 6 and the movement of the nozzle 13, and the wire 16 fed out from the nozzle 13 is wound around the teeth 6b.

[0070] When the core clamping device 20 compresses the tips of the teeth 6 b, it is preferable that the outer diameter of the elastic member 41 fitted to the shaft 22 is smaller than the width of the tips of the teeth 6 b. This configuration prevents the core clamping device 20 from extending beyond the width of the teeth 6 b and protruding into the slot between the teeth 6 b into which the nozzle 13 enters. This prevents interference between the nozzle 13 entering and moving in the slot and the core clamping device 20 of the present invention.

[0071] Furthermore, in the conventional winding device 10, the tip of the nozzle 13 is inserted into the slot between the teeth 6b from outside the teeth 6b, and the wire is wound around the teeth 6b. The core clamping device 20 of this embodiment has a configuration in which the elastic member 41 is fitted to the shaft 22 that is parallel to the lamination direction of the teeth 6b, so that the core clamping device 20 can be prevented from protruding significantly radially outward from the tip of the teeth 6b. This prevents interference between the revolving nozzle 13 and the core clamping device 20.

[0072] Even if there is a risk of interference, by using a nozzle 13 that is longer than the amount of protrusion of the core clamping device 20 that protrudes radially from the tooth portion 6b, interference between the circumferential nozzle 13 and the core clamping device 20 can be reliably avoided.

[0073] The nozzle 13 also rotates around the teeth 6b outward in the stacking direction, but as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the core clamping device 20 is configured so that only a pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 provided on both sides of the shaft 22 protrudes from the end face of the laminated core 6. Therefore, the amount of protrusion of the laminated core 6 in the stacking direction can be made significantly smaller than the amount of protrusion of the male screw 3 when a screw-type clamping device 5 such as that shown in Figure 15 is used. This makes it possible to avoid interference between the rotating nozzle 13 and the core clamping device 20.

[0074] In this way, even when the laminated core 6 is compressed and held by the core clamp device 20, winding can be performed by the conventional winding device 10.

[0075] Furthermore, because the laminated core 6 is a laminate of magnetic steel plates, slight gaps exist between the magnetic steel plates. However, by compressing the tips of the teeth 6b of the laminated core 6 with the core clamp device 20 and compressing the annular portion 6a with the support 11, it is possible to eliminate the gaps in the lamination direction at the start of winding. This prevents the laminated core 6 from shrinking when the winding device 10 is winding the teeth 6b to form a coil, thereby preventing irregular winding of the formed coil.

[0076] In particular, in the core clamping device 20 of this embodiment, a stack of disc springs with relatively large spring force is used as the elastic member 41 (compression spring), making it possible to compress the laminated core 6 with a large spring force, and reliably eliminating gaps between the magnetic steel plates.

[0077] In this embodiment, a disc spring is used as the elastic member 41. Because disc springs are small and flat, the entire core clamping device can be made compact. The biasing force of the elastic member 41 in this embodiment is determined by the type, number, and arrangement of the disc springs, making it easy to create a variety of load characteristics.

[0078] Furthermore, when changing the biasing force of the elastic member 41, the biasing force can be easily changed by changing the type, number and arrangement of the disc springs.

[0079] Furthermore, if it becomes necessary to change the length of the laminated core 6 in the stacking direction, a core clamping device 20 of a different length can be easily obtained simply by changing the length of the shaft 22 and the pair of arm members 37, 38, etc.

[0080] In the above-described embodiment, the laminated core 6, the tips of which have been pre-compressed, of the teeth 6b are mounted on the winding device 10 using the core clamping device 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The laminated core 6 may be mounted on the winding device 10 in advance, and then the tips of the teeth 6b of the laminated core 6 may be compressed using the core clamping device 20.

[0081] In the above-described embodiment, the laminated core 6 is an outer rotor type having a plurality of teeth 6b that protrude radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the annular portion 6a as shown in Fig. 12. However, the laminated core 6 is not limited to this, and may be an inner rotor type having a plurality of teeth 6b that protrude from the annular portion 6a toward the center (radially inward) as shown in Fig. 13, for example.

[0082] An example of a winding device for winding wire around the teeth 6 b of the inner rotor type laminated core 6 is a winding device having a nozzle 63 attached to the tip of a support rod 62 that can enter the inside of the annular portion 6 a of the laminated core 6, as shown in Figure 14.

[0083] Even in the winding device 60 shown in Figure 14, by combining the oscillation of the laminated core 6 and the movement of the nozzle 63, the tip of the nozzle 63 can be rotated around the tooth portion 6b, and the wire 16 unwound from the nozzle 63 can be wound around the tooth portion 6b.

[0084] In the above embodiment, the case where the tips of the teeth 6b of the laminated core 6 are compressed by the core clamp device 20 has been described, but as long as irregular winding of the coil can be prevented, winding may be performed by compressing the annular portion 6a of the laminated core 6 by the core clamp device 20. Furthermore, both the annular portion 6a and the tips of the teeth 6b of the laminated core 6 may be compressed by the core clamp device 20, and winding may be performed by the winding devices 10, 60 in that state.

[0085] In particular, when winding a so-called divided laminated core 6, which is an inner rotor type laminated core in which the annular portion 6a is divided into individual teeth 6b, it is sufficient to compress both the divided annular portions 6a and the tips of the teeth 6b protruding from the divided annular portions 6a using the core clamp device 20. In this way, it is possible to wind a divided laminated core using a conventional winding device, and it is possible to prevent the resulting coil from becoming distorted.

[0086] In the above embodiment, the stator of a rotating electrical machine is the target for winding. However, if the rotor of the rotating electrical machine has a laminated core (not shown), the core clamp device 20 may be used to eliminate gaps between the laminated magnetic steel plates in the laminated core of the rotor, and winding may be performed.

[0087] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the elastic member 41 (compression spring) is described as being constituted by a disc spring fitted onto the shaft 22, but the elastic member 41 (compression spring) is not limited to a disc spring and may be another spring, such as a coil spring, as long as it can compress and hold the laminated magnetic steel plates that make up the laminated core 6, thereby eliminating the gaps between the magnetic steel plates.

[0088] The configuration, operation, and effects of the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0089] The core clamp device 20 compresses the laminated core 6, which is made up of a plurality of stacked magnetic steel plates, in the stacking direction of the magnetic steel plates. The core clamp device 20 includes a pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 provided to face each other on both end faces of the laminated core 6 in the stacking direction, a support portion 21 extending in the stacking direction and supporting the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 so that the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 can swing, and an elastic member 41 provided between the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 and applying a biasing force to the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 to compress the laminated core 6 in the stacking direction.

[0090] In this configuration, a pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 that compress the laminated core 6 is provided on the support portion 21 that is arranged along the laminated core 6, and an elastic member 41 that applies a biasing force that compresses the laminated core 6 in the stacking direction is provided between the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31. This prevents the length of the core clamping device 20 from increasing in the stacking direction. In other words, the core clamping device 20 can be made compact because it does not have any parts that significantly protrude from the outer surface of the compressed portion of the laminated core 6. Furthermore, the core clamping device 20 can avoid interference with winding parts such as a nozzle that moves during winding, so even with a conventional winding device, winding can be performed with the laminated core 6 compressed by the core clamping device 20.

[0091] Furthermore, the laminated core 6 compressed by the core clamp device 20 can eliminate gaps in the lamination direction between the laminated magnetic steel plates at the start of winding. As a result, even when a coil is formed by winding using a winding device, the gaps are not reduced during winding, preventing irregular winding of the coil.

[0092] In addition, in the core clamping device 20, the support portion 21 has a shaft 22 extending in the stacking direction of the laminated core 6, and a pair of brackets 23, 23 that are detachably attached to both ends of the shaft 22 and support a pair of clamping pieces 31, 31, respectively, and an elastic member 41 is fitted onto the shaft 22 and urges the pair of brackets 23, 23 toward each other.

[0093] In this configuration, the elastic member 41 is fitted onto the shaft 22, so that the core clamping device 20 can be made more compact.

[0094] The core clamp device 20 further includes an operation connecting portion 36 that swings the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31, and each of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 has an intermediate pivot portion 31a that is supported by the bracket 23 so that it can swing freely, a clamping portion 31b that is provided on one end of the intermediate pivot portion 31a and faces the end face of the laminated core 6 in the stacking direction, and an operation portion 31c that is provided on the other end of the intermediate pivot portion 31a and is connected to the operation connecting portion 36, and the operation connecting portion 36 swings the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 between a clamping position in which the clamping portions 31b of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 are brought closer to each other by moving the operation portions 31c of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 apart from each other, and a separated position in which the clamping portions 31b of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 are separated from each other by moving the operation portions 31c of the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 closer to each other.

[0095] In this configuration, the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 can be swung simultaneously by one operating connecting portion 36.

[0096] The core clamping device 20 has an operating connecting portion 36 that connects the other ends of a pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 and has a pair of bendable arm members 37, 38, and the pair of clamping pieces 31, 31 move to a clamping position by extending the pair of arm members 37, 38, and move to a separated position by bending the pair of arm members 37, 38.

[0097] In this configuration, the operation connecting portion 36 is made up of a pair of arm members 37, 38, so the number of parts can be reduced and costs can be kept down.

[0098] In the core clamping device 20, the elastic member 41 is a compression spring fitted onto the shaft 22, and the core clamping device 20 further includes an elastic member holder 43 (first elastic member holder) having an abutment portion 43a (first abutment portion) that abuts against one end face of the elastic member 41 and a fixed portion 43d (first fixed portion) that is connected to the abutment portion 43a (first abutment portion) and is attached to a bracket 23 located on the other end face side of the elastic member 41, and an elastic member holder 43 (second elastic member holder) having an abutment portion 43a (second abutment portion) that abuts against the other end face of the elastic member 41 and a fixed portion 43d (second fixed portion) that is connected to the abutment portion 43a (second abutment portion) and is attached to a bracket 23 located on one end face side of the elastic member 41.

[0099] In this configuration, a pair of elastic member holders 43 (first and second elastic member holders) allows the bracket 23 to move while transmitting the biasing force of the elastic member 41 to the clamping pieces 31, 31 via the bracket 23.

[0100] In the core clamping device 20, the elastic member 41 is fitted onto the shaft 22 and is made up of a plurality of stacked disc springs.

[0101] In this configuration, the elastic member 41 is made of a disc spring, and therefore the elastic member 41 can be fitted, preventing the length in the stacking direction of the core clamp device 20 from increasing. In addition, the biasing force can be easily changed by changing the type, number, and arrangement of the disc springs.

[0102] In addition, in a wire winding method in which wire is wound around tooth portions 6b of a laminated core 6 made up of a plurality of stacked magnetic steel plates, the laminated core 6 has a circular annular portion 6a and a plurality of tooth portions 6b that protrude radially from the annular portion 6a and are arranged in a circumferential direction, and a core clamping device 20 is used to compress at least one of the annular portion 6a and the tooth portions 6b in the stacking direction of the magnetic steel plates, and a nozzle 13 that unwinds wire from its tip is rotated to wind the wire around the tooth portions 6b.

[0103] With this configuration, the laminated core 6 compressed by the core clamp device 20 can eliminate gaps in the lamination direction between the laminated magnetic steel plates at the start of winding. As a result, even when a coil is formed by winding using a winding device, the gaps are not reduced during winding, preventing irregular winding of the coil.

[0104] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments merely illustrate some of the application examples of the present invention, and it is not intended that the technical scope of the present invention be limited to the specific configurations of the above embodiments.

[0105] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-199750, filed with the Japan Patent Office on November 27, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A core clamping device that compresses a laminated core composed of a plurality of stacked magnetic steel plates in the stacking direction of the magnetic steel plates, comprising: a pair of clamping pieces arranged to face each other on both end faces of the laminated core in the stacking direction; a support portion extending in the stacking direction and supporting the pair of clamping pieces so that the pair of clamping pieces can swing; and an elastic member arranged between the pair of clamping pieces and applying a biasing force to the pair of clamping pieces to compress the laminated core in the stacking direction.

2. A core clamping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support portion has a shaft extending in the stacking direction of the laminated core, and a pair of brackets which are removably attached to both ends of the shaft and support the pair of clamping pieces, respectively, and the elastic member is fitted onto the shaft and biases the pair of brackets to move closer to each other.

3. A core clamping device as described in claim 2, further comprising an operation connecting part for swinging the pair of clamping pieces, each of the pair of clamping pieces having an intermediate pivot part supported by the bracket so as to be freely swingable, a clamping part provided on one end side of the intermediate pivot part and facing the end face in the stacking direction of the laminated core, and an operation part provided on the other end side of the intermediate pivot part and connected to the operation connecting part, the operation connecting part swinging the pair of clamping pieces between a clamping position in which the clamping parts of the pair of clamping pieces are brought close to each other by moving the operation parts of the pair of clamping pieces away from each other, and a separated position in which the clamping parts of the pair of clamping pieces are moved close to each other by moving the operation parts of the pair of clamping pieces toward each other.

4. A core clamping device as described in claim 3, wherein the operating connection portion connects the operating portions of the pair of clamping pieces and has a pair of bendable arm members, and the pair of clamping pieces move to the clamping position by bringing the pair of arm members into an extended state, and move to the separated position by bringing the pair of arm members into a bent state.

5. A core clamping device as described in claim 4, wherein the elastic member is a compression spring fitted onto the shaft, and further comprising: a first elastic member holder having a first abutment portion abutting one end face of the elastic member and a first fixed portion connected to the first abutment portion and attached to the bracket located on the other end face side of the elastic member; and a second elastic member holder having a second abutment portion abutting the other end face of the elastic member and a second fixed portion connected to the second abutment portion and attached to the bracket located on the one end face side of the elastic member.

6. A core clamping device according to claim 5, wherein said elastic member is constituted by a plurality of disc springs which are fitted onto said shaft and stacked together.

7. A method of winding wire in which wire is wound around teeth of a laminated core formed of a plurality of stacked magnetic steel plates, the laminated core having a circular annular portion and a plurality of teeth protruding radially from the annular portion and arranged in the circumferential direction, the method using the core clamp device described in claim 1 to compress at least one of the annular portion and the teeth in the stacking direction of the magnetic steel plates, while rotating a nozzle that pays out wire from its tip, to wind the wire around the teeth.

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