Rotor for a prime mover and/or driven machine and the use of the rotor

Abstract

The present invention discloses a rotor ( 1 ) for a prime mover or driven machine having a multiplicity of intake passages ( 5 ) for rotor cooling air which discharge axially outward. In the region of the axial discharge of the intake passages ( 5 ), their inner walls each form funnel-shaped inlet regions ( 8 ) which widen outward and open into a common radially extending end face ( 9 ). The transitions from the inner walls of the intake passages ( 5 ) into the inlet regions ( 8 ) and from the inlet regions ( 8 ) into the common end face ( 9 ) are designed to be smooth in order to avoid sharp transition edges. In this way, the cooling of the rotor ( 1 ) can be markedly improved compared with rotors of a similar type of construction.

1 . A rotor of a prime mover and/or driven machine, having one or more intake passages ( 5 ) which open axially outward and are intended for drawing in a cooling medium, and the orifice openings of which are arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation of the rotor ( 1 ), and the inner walls of which, in the region of the orifice, open outward via a funnel-shaped inlet region ( 8 ) into an essentially radially extending end face ( 9 ), characterized in that, at some of the intake passages ( 5 ) or at all of the intake passages ( 5 ), the transition from the inner wall into the inlet region ( 8 ) and/or from the inlet region ( 8 ) into the end face ( 9 ) is designed to be smooth in order to avoid transition edges.  
     
     
         2 . The rotor as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the intake passages ( 5 ), in the region of their transition into the inlet region ( 8 ), have an essentially round, in particular circular, cross section.  
     
     
         3 . The rotor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet region ( 8 ) is shaped like a trumpet in such a way that its inner wall, as viewed in radial section with regard to its center, at various positions on the periphery of the same, describes identical or different arcs having in each case a constant radius and/or a radius decreasing axially outward.  
     
     
         4 . The rotor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet region ( 8 ), at different positions on its periphery, extends axially into the intake passage ( 5 ) to a varying degree and/or extends radially from its center into the end face ( 9 ) to a varying degree.  
     
     
         5 . The rotor as claimed in  claim 4 , characterized in that the inlet region ( 8 ) extends radially from its center into the end face ( 9 ) to a smaller degree and/or extends axially into the intake passage ( 5 ) to a smaller degree at those positions on its periphery which lie on a radial line (A-A) which leads from the rotor center through its center than at positions on its periphery which lie on a perpendicular (B-B) to this radial line (A-A), this perpendicular (B-B) leading through its center.  
     
     
         6 . The rotor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that this rotor ( 1 ) is a rotor ( 1 ) which is cooled by self-ventilation and is designed in such a way that the intake passages ( 5 ) are connected to radial cooling passages ( 7 ) in the rotor ( 1 ) and, in particular, that the intake passages ( 5 ) extend axially through the rotor ( 1 ).  
     
     
         7 . The rotor as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that this rotor is a rotor ( 1 ) for an electrical prime mover and/or driven machine which has rotor windings ( 4 ).  
     
     
         8 . The use of the rotor ( 1 ) as claimed in one of the preceding claims in a gas-cooled, in particular air-cooled, prime mover and/or driven machine, in particular in an electric generator and/or motor.