Multiple wire winding

Abstract

The present invention concerns forming wire coils by simultaneously winding a plurality of wires onto a dynamo-electric machine component. In order to maximize the amount of wire that can be placed in the spacings of the dynamo-electric machine component, the turns of the wire coil must be regularly disposed without twisting the plurality of wires onto each other. Current winding apparatus may allow certain portions of the wire turns to unevenly accumulate and locally bulge outward from the collection of wire coils. Such bulges, especially in consideration of the limited spacings available on an dynamo-electric machine component, may interfere with or access to the spacings by a wire dispensing member during the winding process. The present invention proposes to perform multiple-wire winding processes that avoid wire twisting and improper disposition of the wires. Further, the present invention proposes to improve the ability of the wire dispensing member to traverse the spacings on the component. As a consequence, the winding processes performed with the present invention are less likely to be hindered by interference and are capable of obtaining more wire fill within the component spacings and higher winding speeds.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for winding wire onto a dynamo-electric machine component comprising a wire nozzle configured to dispense the wire using relative movement between the component and the wire nozzle, wherein an angular orientation of the wire nozzle about an axis of the wire nozzle in a first plane is programmably controlled.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the wire nozzle is further configured to simultaneously dispense a plurality of wires.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the wire nozzle is further configured to dispense the plurality of wires in a corresponding number of adjacent planes that are parallel to each other, wherein each of the wires is dispensed in one of the adjacent parallel planes.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the wire nozzle has a plurality of wire exits corresponding to the plurality of wires, wherein each of the wire exits is disposed on one of the adjacent parallel planes.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the angular orientation of the wire nozzle is programmably determined by an instantaneous location of the wire nozzle with respect to the component.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the wire nozzle is further configured for relative translation and rotation with respect to a central axis of the component.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the angular orientation of the wire nozzle is programmably controlled to minimize a cross sectional area of the wire nozzle taken across a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to an instantaneous relative direction of movement of the wire nozzle in the first plane.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the angular orientation of the wire nozzle is programmably controlled to orient locations of the wire exits in the first plane with respect to an instantaneous relative direction of movement of the wire nozzle in the first plane, wherein a wire exit axis passing through the locations of the wire exits in the first plane is oriented with respect to the instantaneous relative direction of movement.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the wire nozzle is driven to rotate around the axis of the wire nozzle to control the orientation of the wire nozzle.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the wire nozzle is disposed on a distal end of a support arm, the support arm being configured to rotate the wire nozzle around the axis of the wire nozzle.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the support arm is further configured to stratify the wire nozzle in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the wire nozzle.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a component carriage on which the component is disposed, wherein the component carriage is configured to translate and rotate the component with respect to the central axis of the component.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a front portion of the wire nozzle leads the wire nozzle in an instantaneous relative direction of movement of the wire nozzle.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus for winding wire onto a dynamo-electric machine component comprising a wire nozzle configured to enter inside a gap of the component to dispense the wire by simultaneous relative translation and rotation within the gap with respect to a central axis of the component, wherein an angular orientation of the wire nozzle in a first plane is predetermined, and wherein an extension of the gap is inclined in the first plane at an angle away from the central axis of the component.  
     
     
         15 . A method for winding wire onto a dynamo-electric machine component comprising: 
 providing a wire nozzle configured to dispense the wire using relative movement between the component and the wire nozzle; and    controlling an angular orientation of the wire nozzle about a central axis of the wire nozzle in a first plane.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein providing the wire nozzle further comprises providing a wire nozzle having a plurality of wire exits for dispensing a plurality of wires wherein each of the wire exits is disposed on one of adjacent parallel planes.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein controlling the angular orientation of the wire nozzle further comprises determining the angular orientation of the wire nozzle by an instantaneous location of the wire nozzle with respect to the component.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising providing the wire nozzle with relative translation and rotation with respect to a central axis of the component.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein controlling the angular orientation of the wire nozzle further comprises minimizing a cross sectional area of the wire nozzle taken across a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to an instantaneous relative direction of movement of the wire nozzle in the first plane.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein controlling the angular orientation of the wire nozzle further comprises orienting a wire exit axis passing through locations of the wire exits in the first plane with respect to an instantaneous relative direction of movement of the wire nozzle in the first plane.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein controlling the angular orientation of the wire nozzle further comprises driving the wire nozzle for rotation around the central axis of the wire nozzle.  
     
     
         22 . A method for winding wire onto a dynamo-electric machine component comprising: 
 providing a wire nozzle configured to enter into a gap of the component;    dispensing the wire using simultaneous relative translation and rotation of the wire nozzle within the gap with respect to a central axis of the component, wherein angular orientation of the wire nozzle about a central axis of the wire nozzle in a first plane is predetermined, and wherein an extension of the gap is inclined in the first plane at an angle away from the central axis of the component.