US3686735A

US3686735A - Coil transfer tool

Info

Publication number: US3686735A
Application number: US609976A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald Everett Hill; Robert G Walker
Original assignee: IND PRODUCTS Inc
Current assignee: Advanced Machine and Tool Corp; IND PRODUCTS Inc
Priority date: 1966-12-13
Filing date: 1966-12-13
Publication date: 1972-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-29

Abstract

Armature coils are picked up, moved, and put on a placing machine by a transfer tool having spacer pins for separately carrying the coils. The tool has alignment pins that insure proper position of the tool when the coils are picked up or put on the placing machine. The tool may have a clamp to hold the coils on the tool during the time the coils are moved.

Description

United States Patent Hill Aug. 29, 1972 54 COIL TRANSFER TOOL [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Donald Everett Hill; Robert G.

Walker, both of Fort Wayne, Ind. 65 55 Z 3? PATENTS l, 0, 8 ll 1 27 t6 ..29/205 [73] Assgnees- :g a 2,272,263 2/1942 Cullin ..29/20s W W 2,721,374 10/1955 Pilas ..29/203 J Flledl 1 1966 2,755,760 7/1956 Fermanian et al. ..29/203 J [21] Appl. No; 609 976 3,130,484 4/1964 Zdanis ..29/203 H Related US. Application Data Primary Examiner-Thomas Eager Att0rneyJefiers and Young [63] Contmuatlon-m-part of Ser. No. 536,118,

March 21, 1966, abandoned. 57 ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl. .29/205 R 140/921 Armature are Picked P moved and P" a 51 Int. Cl. ..Hl)2k 15/06 Placing machine by a transfer having Space Pins [58] Field of S h ""29/205 R, 203 200 H, 203 H, for separately carrying the coils. The tool has align- 29/203 D, 203 L, 203 J, 205 D; 140/92.l

ment pins that insure proper position of the tool when the coils are picked up or put on the placing machine. The tool may have a clamp to hold the coils on the tool during the time the coils are moved.

9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnuszs I972 SHEET 2 OF 8 INVENTOR v. @MQ ma? PATENTEDA BZ IB 1 3.686.735

SHEET 3 OF 8 @5547 6 Mwse PATENTEmuszs I972 3. 686, 735

sum 5 [1F 8 INVENTORS. DONALD E. H/LL ROBERT G. WALKER ATTORNEYS PATENTEDnuszs m2 SHEET 5 OF 8 INVENTORS. DONALD E. H/LL ROBERT a. WALKER A TTORNE YS PATENTED AUG 2 9 I972 snzsf 7 OF 8 INVENTORS DONALD E. H/LL ROBERT G. WALKER ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAUBZQ 1912 3.686, 7'35 SHEET 8 BF 8 INVENTORS.-

DONALD E. HILL ROBERT G. WALKER ATTORNEYS COIL TRANSFER TOOL Our invention relates to a coil transfer tool, and particularly to a tool for transferring one or more wound coils from a winding form to a utilization device, such as a stator winding placing machine. This application is a continuation-in-part of our application entitled, Coil Transfer Tool, filed Mar. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 536,118, and now abandoned.

In the manufacture of electrical devices such as motors, one or more coils are wound on a composite form, and then transferred to a machine that places the wound coils in stator winding slots of electric motors. Generally, each stator slot has a relatively narrow opening through which one side of the coil for the slot must pass in order to be placed in the slot. The coil is usually placed in the slot by being passed through the narrow slot opening along the edge of the coil. If the coil turns pile up or bunch, they form a thickness that cannot pass through the slot opening. It is therefore desirable that the coils retain their wound shape during removal from the winding form, and during handling and manipulating, until the coils are actually in their final position in the stator slots.

Accordingly, an object of our invention is to provide an improved tool for handling a coil or winding of wire.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved tool with which one or more wound electrical coils can be removed from a form and transported without disturbing the form or shape of the wound coils.

Another object of our invention is to provide a new and improved transfer tool that can transfer one or more coils from a winding form to a machine or utilization device and maintain the coil in its initially wound condition.

Where a number of coils are to be placed in an electric motor stator, it is desirable that these coils be wound and placed in the stator slots in series without their continuous interconnecting leads being cut.

Accordingly, another object of our invention is to provide a coil transfer tool that can transfer one or more wound coils, which are still connected to a coil winding machine, or to previously wound coils, or to both the machine and coils, to a placing machine without the connections being cut or broken.

Another object of our invention is to provide a coil transfer tool that can transfer a plurality of coils which are serially connected but positioned in particular locations to motor stator slots and which are maintained in their particular locations.

Another object of our invention is to provide a coil transfer tool for transferring a plurality of coils, each of which can be picked up after being wound and held in a particular location on the tool.

Another object of our invention is to provide a coil transfer tool for picking up and holding a coil or coils after it or they are wound without the connections between the coils being broken, for holding the coils picked up in desired relative positions, and transferring the coils picked up to another location or device.

Briefly, these and other objects are achieved in accordance with our invention by a transfer tool which, in one embodiment, is hand-held and operated. The tool has one or more alignment pins which are arranged to engage a corresponding structure on the coil winding form and on the machine or device to which the coils are to be transferred. The tool also has one or more sets of spacer pins for carrying the coils. Each set of spacer pins preferably comprises two pins correspondingly and symmetrically positioned relative to the alignment pins so as to support a respective coil. And, there are preferably enough sets of spacer pins so that each coil has a set of pins on the inside of its turns and on the outside of its turns. A clamping bar, hand operated in the one embodiment, is fastened to the transfer tool so as to hold the coils on the spacer pins after the coils have been picked up on the spacer pins. The clamping bar preferably has projections which hold the coils in the proper relation along the coil length or axis. When the transfer tool is used to transfer coils, the clamping bar is opened and the alignment pins are inserted in the corresponding winding form structure. This step insures that each coil has a set of spacer pins on each side of its turns. The clamping bar is closed, and the coils are securely held by the clamping bar and the spacer pins. The transfer toolwith the coils is then withdrawn from the winding form, and carried to any desired location such as the placing machine. The alignment pins are aligned with corresponding placing machine structure, and the spacer pins and clamping bar insure that the coils are at the proper initial locations on the placing machine structure. The clamping bar is then opened, and the coils are easily moved into the final pre-insertion locations on the placing machine tool fingers. The transfer tool is withdrawn to leave the coils in the proper position on the placing machine for final insertion. The transfer tool can then be used to transfer more coils from the winding forms to the placing machine.

In another embodiment of our invention, the spacer pins are arranged in a generally circular fashion on the transfer tool to hold all of the coils to be transferred to a device in the relative positions that the coils are to be inserted in the device. Alignment pins are arranged on the transfer tool relative to the spacer pins so that the individual coils or sets of coils can be picked up from the winding machine on the spacer pins in the proper locations relative to the pins and the coils. After all of the individual coils or sets of coils have been picked up, the coils can be transferred to the utilization device, and inserted in or placed on the utilization device. This then frees the transfer tool for another transfer operation.

Our invention may be better understood from the following description given in connection with the accompanying drawing. The scope of our invention will be pointed out in the claims. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of two wound coils on a coil form with a structure for the transfer tool pins, and shows part of a transfer tool in accordance with our invention for picking up these two wound coils;

FIG. 2 shows a full perspective view of the transfer tool in accordance with our invention after the two coils of FIG. 1 have been picked up by the transfer tool;

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal cross sectional view of the transfer tool and coils of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the clamping bar latching mechanism of the transfer tool;

FIG. 5 shows an end view of the transfer tool and coils of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the two coils and transfer tool pins after being positioned on a stator winding placing machine, a portion of which is shown in plan view;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of two wound coils on a coil form with a structure for the transfer tool pins, and shows a transfer tool in accordance with another embodiment of our invention for picking up these two wound coils;

FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal cross-section view of the transfer tool of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows an end view of the transfer tool of FIGS. 7 and 8 with a plurality of windings or coils positioned or mounted thereon;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective of the transfer tool of FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 with a plurality of coils mounted thereon; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 show end views of the transfer tool of FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10 with dashed lines indicating how other types, arrangements, or numbers of windings may be transferred thereon.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a part of a transfer tool 10 in accordance with the invention and a coil form 12. The coil form 12 includes a large winding form 14 and a small form 16 on which a large coil 18 and a small coil 20 have been respectively wound. The large and

small coils

18, 20 have cross sections which are generally irregular polygons. In FIG. 1, the

coils

18, 20 are irregular hexagons, and are shown as single layer coils. The coil form 12 with two forms 14, 16 have been selected to illustrate and explain the invention, but it is to be understood that the transfer tool 10 in accordance with the invention may be used to transfer only one wound coil, or to transfer any number of wound coils of various sizes, depending upon the particular application in which the transfer tool is to be used. The coil forms 14, 16 comprise respective upper portions which are preferably fixed, and respective lower portions which can preferably be moved vertically up and down, as viewed in FIG. 1, to permit the coils to be more easily removed after winding. The upper portion of the small form 16 has a pair of generally cylindrical, alignment pin holes or slots 22, and a pair of generally cylindrical, spacer pin holes or slots 23. The upper portion of the large form 14 has a pair of generally cylindrical, spacer pin holes or slots 24. These slots 22, 23, 24 are symmetrically positioned about a vertical plane passing centrally through the coil form 12 from front to back, and extend horizontally from front to back in the coil form 12. As shown in FIG. 1, these slots 22,23, 24 are almost or substantially cylindrical, but have a portion of their cylindrical configuration opening into the outer surfaces or edges of their respective forms 14, 16. These openings facilitate insertion of alignment pins and spacer pins of the transfer tool 10. The slots 22, 23, 24 insure that the pins are positioned in the proper place with respect to the turns of the

coils

18, 20. When the

coils

18, 20 are wound, the lower portions of the forms 14, 16 are in their downward position to provide the full size coil form. A winding machine flyer wraps the turns about the two coil forms 14, 16 after which the

coils

18, 20 are ready to be transferred to a placing machine or other utilization device. However, the same device could transfer coils from a single rotating coil form of the same shape as illustrated.

With reference to FIG. 2 as well as FIG. 1, the transfer tool 10 is used with the coil form 12 for picking up and transferring the wound coils 18, Zil. The transfer tool 10 comprises a body orbody portion 26 which supports the various tool structures. These structures include a set (in the embodiment shown a set being two) of cylindrical alignment pins 27, and three sets of cylindrical spacer pins 28, 29, 30. Corresponding sets or pairs of pins are symmetrically positioned about a vertical plane passing through the center of the transfer tool along its front to back axis. The transfer tool 10 also includes a clamping bar 34 having two

projections

35, 36 positioned on the forward lower face of the clamping bar 34. The clamping bar is movably attached to the body 26 by a pivot 37. The clamping bar 34 may be moved or pivoted by an operating handle 38 attached to the clamping bar 34 on the front side of the pivot 37. The clamping bar 34 is maintained in a normally clamped position by a compression spring 40 which urges the clamping bar 34 toward its closed or clamped position. A tool handle 39 is also fastened to the body 26 and provides a means for holding the transfer tool 10, and provides a structure against which the operating handle 38 may be pressed. The operating handle 38 may be held in its open or unclamped position against the force of the spring 40 by a latch 41 which is attached to the tool handle 39 and which passes through an opening in the operating handle 38.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show further details of the transfer too] 10, and will be discussed before operation of the transfer tool 10 is explained. FIG. 3 shows the clamping bar 34 in its closed or clamped position, shows (in phantom) the clamping bar 34 in its open or unclamped position, and shows the corresponding positions of the operating handle 38. When the clamping bar 34 is in its closed position, it is near the various pins of the transfer tool; and when it is in its open position, it is up above or removed from these pins. FIG. 4 shows how the operating handle 38 may be latched in its unclamped or open position by the latch 41. When the operating handle 38 is pressed against the tool handle 39, the latch 41 is automatically pivoted by a latch spring 42 so that a notch 43 in the latch 41 engages the operating handle 38 and holds the operating handle 38 in its unclamped or open position as shown in phantom in FIGS. 3 and 4. And FIG. 5 shows an end view of the transfer tool 10, and particularly shows the symmetrical and corresponding positions of the sets of

pins

27, 28, 29, 30. FIG. 5 also shows how the

pins

27, 28, 29, 30 may be attached to the body 26 by any suitable means such as a set screw 50 which permits the pins to be moved longitudinally.

When the wound coils 18, 20 shown in FIG. 1 are to be transferred, the transfer tool is brought into position. The operating handle 38 is depressed to raise the clamping bar 34. Then the alignment pins 27 are inserted in their corresponding alignment pin slots 22, and the spacer pins 28, 29 are inserted in their corresponding spacer pin slots 23, 24. The spacer pins 30 do not need corresponding slots, since they are on the outside of the large coil 18. With the transfer tool 10 in this position, the latch 41 is operated so that the clamping bar 34 can pivot around and press against the top surface of the turns of the

coils

18, 20. With the clamping bar 34 in this position, the front projection 35 is over the edge of the coil 18, and the rear projection 36 is over the edge of the coil 20, as shown in FIG. 3. The lower portions of the forms 14, 116 are then preferably moved upward so as to release the

coils

18, 28. The transfer tool may then be withdrawn. As the tool is withdrawn, it brings the two

coils

18, 20 with it. In FIGS. 2 and 5, it will be seen that the large coil 18 is held between both sets of spacer pins, 29, 30, and the small coil 20 is held between both sets of spacer pins 29, 28. That is, there is one more set of spacer pins than the number of coils. And, these figures show how the clamping bar 34 holds the upper surface of the

coils

18, 20 down against the alignment pins 27. Thus, the two

coils

18, 20 are securely held in position in their proper position as wound, and their turns are held in the single layer in which they were wound. In this connection, the distance between adjacent spacer pins is adjusted to permit the edge of the coil to pass between adjacent spacer pins with sufficient clearance, but so that these turns cannot pile up or bunch.

With the

coils

18, 20 on the transfer tool 10, the coils can be carried or transferred to any location or position desired without being disturbed, or disarranged, or disarrayed. FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a portion of a placing machine which can place wound coils in the slots of an electric motor stator. The portion of the placing machine shown comprises a plurality of placing machine fingers 55, There is one corresponding finger 55 for each stator slot of the motor which is to be built, and these fingers are placed in a configuration corresponding to the inside configuration of the stator. Each finger 55 has a groove 56 which fits the interior bore of the stator with the edges of the grooves 56 protecting the wires being pulled in from the sharp edges of the stator slot. When the

coils

18, 20 are to be placed on the fingers 55, the tool spacer pins 28, 29, 38 are slid along the grooves 56 and the tool alignment pins 27 are slid between adjacent fingers 55 on the opposite side thereof from the grooves 56. With the tool and coils 18, 20 in this position, the edges of the coil are slid between the appropriate placing machine fingers 55. When the

coils

18, 20 are positioned between the appropriate placing machine fingers 55, the operating handle 38 can be operated to open the clamping bar 34 upward and away from the

coils

18, 20. The

coils

18, 20 are then in position between the fingers 55, and the transfer tool 10 is removed. The coils are then moved vertically upward from the plane of FIG. 6 to force the coils into the stator slots by the use of a stripper 58 fitting throughout the center space of and projecting between the fingers 55 to approximately the outer edge. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, the

coils

18, 20 are placed on the utilization device, in this case a stator winding placing machine, without being disturbed or disarranged. It is to be noted that the transfer tool 10 provides this transfer without the coils I8, 20 being separated or cut apart. And, the transfer tool 10 can provide this transfer with a wire connected to the previously transferred coil or coils, and with a wire connected back to the coil winding machine for subsequent coils.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a transfer tool 60 in accordance with another embodiment of our invention and a coil form 62. This transfer tool 60 is arranged to pick up or transfer six sets of coils or motor stator windings, each set comprising a large coil or winding 68, and a small coil or winding 70. One set of coils or windings is picked up at a time and each'set is retained on the transfer tool 66 until all of the sets of coils or windings are picked up. After all sets of coils are picked up, a transfer is made. The coil form 62 includes a large winding form 64 and a small winding form 66 on which the large coil 68 and the small coil 70 have been respectively wound. The coil form 62 shown in FIG. 7 is similar in structure and operation to the coil form 12 shown in FIG. 1, so further explanation is not believed to be needed. However, the coil form 62 does contain a different slot arrangement. Specifically, the coil form 62 contains a single generally cylindrical, alignment pin hole or slot 71, and three pairs of generally cylindrical, spacer pin holes or

slots

72, 73, 74. The

spacer slots

72, 73, 74 are symmetrically positioned about a vertical plane passing centrally through the coil form 62 and the alignment pin slot 71' from front to back, and extend horizontally from front to back in the coil form 62. The

slots

71, 72, 73, 743 are almost or substantially cylindrical, but have a portion of their cylindrical configuration opening into the outer edges or surfaces of their respective forms, 64, 66 to facilitate insertion of an alignment pin and spacer pins of the transfer tool 68.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10, the transfer tool 68 shown is used with the coil form 62 for picking up and transferring a set of wound coils 68, 70. This set of

coils

68, 76 is one of six sets which the transfer tool 66 is intended to transfer to a utilization device such as the stator of a six pole electric motor. The transfer tool 60 comprises a body or body portion 75 which is generally cylindrical in shape and which supports a plurality of pins. In this embodiment, 24 spacer pins are positioned on the body 75 in a circular fashion, and equally spaced 15 apart. These spacer pins are preferably elongated and cylindrical in shape, and extend in parallel directions from the body 75. The spacer pins may be fastened or mounted on the body 75 in any suitable way, such as fitting in cylindrical holes or openings and held in place by set screws as shown, or by being threaded into holes or openings in the body 75. For the embodiment, shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10, three pairs of spacer pins 78, 80, 82 (i.e. six pins) are used to pick up the set of two

windings

68, 70. The three pairs of spacer pins 78, 80, 82 form one of six sets of spacer pins, each set having its respective alignment pin 76. Thus, there are six alignment pins 76. The alignment pins 76 are preferably elongated and cylindrical in shape, and extend from the body 75 parallel to the spacer pins. The alignment pins 76 may be mounted on the body 75 in the same manner as the spacer pins, and are located 60 apart on a circle inside the spacer pins. The six spacer pins 78, 80, 82 of a set are symmetrically positioned about a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the transfer tool 60, and through the longitudinal axis of the associated alignment pin 76. In FIGS. 7 and 10, only one set of spacer pins 78, 86, 82 and the respective alignment pin 76 is provided with reference numerals in order to reduce crowding. FIG. 9 shows two sets of spacer pins 78, 80, 82 and the respective alignment pins 76 provided with reference numerals. In FIG. 9, it will be noted that the outer pairs of spacer pins 80, 82 of a given set would also serve as the outer spacer pins of an adjacent set.

push plate 84 at the location where the turns or parts of two adjacent sets of coils or windings lie between the same spacer pins, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. It was found that when a plurality of sets of coils are positioned on the transfer tool 60, removal of all of these coils at one time is facilitated by the push plate elements 86 at the turns of the coils which occupy the same locations between spacer pins. Without such elements 86 at these coil turns, the turns tend to bunch or pile up and jam on the transfer tool 60. The push plate elements 86 also have respective lengths so that the forward or upper ends of each of the elements 86 engage their respective coil turns at the same time. It should be noted that five elements 86 will suffice in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 through 10 since the push plate 84 engages the turns of one set of coils. When the push plate 84 is actuated, the coil turns of each set and the coil turns of each adjacent set are pushed or moved at the same time so that bunching or piling up is eliminated or substantially reduced. The push plate elements 86 may be adjustable, such as by having them threaded as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 10, or may be adjustable in an opening and held by a set screw, as in the manner shown for the spacer pins. The upper or wire engaging surface of the push plate elements 86 may be suitably shaped and coated with a protective material to provide the best pushing or movement of the wound coils.

When the

coils

68, 70 shown in FIG. 7 are to be transferred, the transfer tool 60 is brought into position. Normally, the push plate handle 85 is pulled back so that the push plate 84 is retracted or in contact or engagement with the body 75. The alignment pin 76 is inserted into its corresponding alignment pin slot 71, and the spacer pins 78, 80, 82 are inserted into their corresponding and respective

spacer pin slots

72, 73, 74. With the transfer tool 60 in this position, the

coils

68, 70 can be pulled back on the spacer pins 78,80, 82 until they engage the push plate 84. This set of coils would correspond to the set of coils at the lower left in FIG. 10. At this point, it should be noted that the leads or windings interconnecting the

coils

68, 70 need not be cut, and the lead or winding from the last coil to be wound may still be connected to the winding machine. Another set of

coils

68, 70 may then be wound on the coil form 62. The transfer tool 60 is then rotated 60 so that another alignment pin 76 and its corresponding sets of spacer pins 78, 80, 82 are in position for insertion into the coil form 62. The transfer tool 60 is then inserted, and the second set of coils or windings is withdrawn onto the spacer pins 78, 80, 82. As shown in F IGS. 9 and 10, the outer turns or windings of the large coil 68 lie between the same spacer pins as the outer turns or windings of the large coil 68 of the previous set. As also shown in FIG. 9, the windings between the sets are continuous and interconnected, without leads being cut.

Four additional sets of windings are similarly mounted on the transfer tool 60. Six sets of windings are mounted on the transfer tool as shown in phantom in the end view of FIG. 9 and in the perspective view of FIG. 10. With the six sets mounted, the last lead of the last coil to be wound and mounted may be cut off from the winding machine so that the transfer tool 60 contains six sets of windings all serially interconnected in the proper fashion, and with an end lead coming out from the beginning winding and from the ending winding. These windings may then be transferred by the tool 60 to a stator winding placing machine, by the insertion of the pins in the proper slots and the pushing of the handle 85. The placing machine may function as described previously in connection with FIG. 6.

The transfer tool 60 described in connection with FIGS. 7 through 10 has been described with six sets of windings. Accordingly, there are six alignment pins 76 symmetrically spaced 60 apart, as shown in FIG. 9. Such a tool would be used for a six pole electric motor. FIG. 9 also shows two openings which are provided mid-way between the upper pair of alignment pins 76 and the lower pair of alignment pins 76. These two openings 90 permit four sets of coils or windings to be picked off of the coil form, properly located, and transferred. This is done with alignment pins in the two openings 90 and the alignment pins 76 at the extreme left and extreme right of FIG. 9, a total of four alignment pins spaced 90 apart. FIG. 11 shows an end view of a transfer tool with four alignment pins 92 and corresponding spacer pins symmetrically positioned 90 apart. FIG. 11 shows four sets of windings in dashed lines (each set having three windings) positioned on the spacer pins symmetrically positioned about the respective alignment pins 92. Such an arrangement would be desirable for a four pole electric motor. FIG. 12 shows an end view of a transfer tool which utilizes two alignment pins 94 symmetrically positioned apart, and with corresponding spacer pins. Two sets of windings (each set having five windings) are shown in dashed lines on the spacer pins symmetrically positioned about the alignment pins 94. Such an arrangement would provide the windings for a two pole electric motor.

The transfer tool described in connection with FIGS. 7 through 12 may have other forms. For example, any desired number of alignment pins and spacer pins may be used, depending upon the quantity, type, and arrangement of windings to be transferred. Thus, one coil, two coils (FIGS. 7 through 10), three coils (FIG. 11), five coils (FIG. 12), or any number of coils may be picked up at one time. The push plate elements may be modified or constructed to conform with the number of windings so used. Since the windings of adjacent turns may lie between the same spacer pins, it has been found that the clamping bar 34, described in connection with FIGS. 1 through 6, is not essential. However, if a clamping bar is needed, it may be positioned to clamp or hold the last set of windings or coils picked up by the transfer tool 60. Also, the spacer pins may be arranged so that the windings of adjacent turns do not lie between the same spacer pins.

The transfer tool shown and described is a relatively simple device, yet efiectively transfers one or more coils without the turns of the coils being disturbed or disarranged or disarrayed. And, importantly, the

transfer tool prevents the turns from piling up or bunching, a feature which is very important where the coils are to be inserted in small spaces such as stator slots. While the transfer tool has been described with reference to particular embodiments, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made. For example, the number of spacer pins and alignment pins may be changed, depending upon the exact configuration and application of the transfer tool'. More pins per set may be provided if additional coils are to be picked up at one time, or if additional support or guidance is needed for the particular coils being wound. Less pins per set may be provided if only one coil is to be picked up at one time. Or, for the tool of FIGS. 7 through 12, the various sets of pins may have different numbers and arrangements of pins. And, the pins may have other cross-sectional configurations, such as flat surfaces or irregular surfaces other than the circular cross section shown. The tool can also transfer coils with more than one layer of turns by the provision of the requisite clearance between spacer pins. The transfer tool is designed on the basis of the gap or slot opening of the placing machine and the number of wire layers which can pass through that opening at the same time. The spacer pin spacing is then designed to hold the calculated number of wire layers within the dimension of the gap or slot opening. Additional coils or less coils may also be transferred by the tool, with such additional or less spacer pins being provided. If additional spacer pins are provided for these additional coils, the clamping bar, if needed, would preferably be modified to include additional projections. Normally, a transfer tool is designed for a particular application and configuration of placing machine fingers. However, if a single transfer tool must be used for a number of configurations, the pins (in addition to being extendable or withdrawable by the release of the set screw 50 in FIG. may be movable with respect to the body by having the pins fit into grooves, and held at the desired place in these grooves by lockable shims or spacers. Or, the body of the tool may be provided with a configuration of tapped holes into which the pins can be threaded or screwed at the desired locations. The push plate and its elements may also take different configurations, such as fitting inside the spacer and alignment pins. It is also possible to mechanize any part or all of the transfer tool to operate automatically in the manner described, although the tool was shown and described as hand operated. Therefore, while our invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A tool for transferring a plurality of coils, individually wound and positioned on a form from said form to an arrangement for utilizing said wound coils in their respective configurations, comprising:

a. a main body portion;

b. a plurality of sets of pins fastened to said main body, each of said sets of pins comprising at least 6 two pins which are correspondingly and symmetrically positioned relative to said main body for supporting one of said wound coils; and

c. means movably fastened to said main body for holding said wound coils supportably on'said sets of pins.

2. A tool for transferring a plurality of coils, wound and positioned on respective forms of respective configurations, from said forms to an arrangement for utilizing said wound coils in their respective configurations, comprising:

a. a main body portion;

b. an alignment element fastened to said main body and adapted to engage a mating structure on said forms and on said utilization arrangement for aligning said tool therewith; and

c. a plurality of sets of pins fastened to said main body, each of said sets of pins comprising at least two pins which are correspondingly and symmetrically positioned relative to said alignment element for supporting one of said wound coils.

3. A tool for transferring a plurality of coils, wound and positioned on respective forms of respective configurations, from said forms to an arrangement for utilizing said wound coils in their respective configurations, comprising:

a. a main body portion;

b. an alignment element fastened to said main body and adapted to engage a mating structure on said forms and on said utilization arrangement for aligning said tool therewith;

c. a plurality of sets of pins fastened to said main body, each of said sets of pins comprising at least two pins which are correspondingly and symmetrically positioned relative to said alignment element for supporting one of said wound coils; and

(1. means movably fastened to said main body for holding said wound coils supportably on said sets of pins.

4. The tool of claim 3 wherein said plurality of sets of pins comprises one more than said plurality of coils for supporting each of said wound coils with two pins on the inside of each of said wound coils and with two pins on the outside of each of said wound coils.

5. A tool for transferring N coils, where N is any integer, wound and positioned on respective forms of respective configurations, from said forms to an arrangement for utilizing said wound coils in their respective configurations, comprising:

a. a main body;

b. an alignment structure fastened to said main body and adapted to engage a mating structure on at least one of said forms and on said utilization arrangement for aligning said tool therewith;

c. N plus one sets of pins fastened to said main body, each of said sets of pins comprising a pair of pins which are correspondingly and symmetrically positioned relative to said alignment structure for supporting said wound coils with a set of pins on the inside of each of said wound coils and with a set of pins on the outside of each of said wound coils; and

d. means movably fastened to said main body for holding a wound coil supportably on a respective set of pins, said movable means having spaced projections thereon for holding each of said coils along its length.

3,686,735 ll a l 6. A tool for transferring a plurality of coils, each 8. A tool for transferring sets of coils wound on a being separately wound and positioned on a form, from machine, where each of said sets comprises at least one said form to an arrangement for utilizing said wound coil, from said machine to a utilization device, said tool coils in a predetermined configuration while maintaincomprising: ing a connection between said wound coils, comprising: a. a body portion;

a. a main body portion; b. a plurality of elongated spacer pins mounted on b. a plurality of alignment elements fastened to said said body porti Said Spacer P being arranged main body in a symmetrical arra em t with in a generally circular configuration and extending respect to said main body, each of said alignment in the Same direction from Said y Portion elements being adapted to engage a mating struc- Stamiauy 6361103161; and on id f d on id ili i arrangec. aplurality of elongated alignment pins mounted on ment for aligning said tool therewith; and

. a plurality of sets of pins fastened to said main body, each of said sets of pins comprising at least said body portion, said alignment pins being symmetrically arranged with respect to selected groups of said spacer pins and extending from said two pins Whigh are correspondingly and Symmetrh 15 body portion in the same direction as and substancally positioned relative to a respective one of said tlauy Parallel to Said Spacer P alignment elements for supporting one of said tool of Claim and further comprising P wound i1 ing device movably 'mounted on said body portion for 7 The tool f claim 6 and f th comprising apush ejecting coils mounted on said spacer pins from said ing device mounted on said main body for simultanetoolously engaging the coils mounted on said pins.

Claims

1. A tool for transferring a plurality of coils, individually wound and positioned on a form from said form to an arrangement for utilizing said wound coils in theiR respective configurations, comprising: a. a main body portion; b. a plurality of sets of pins fastened to said main body, each of said sets of pins comprising at least two pins which are correspondingly and symmetrically positioned relative to said main body for supporting one of said wound coils; and c. means movably fastened to said main body for holding said wound coils supportably on said sets of pins.

2. A tool for transferring a plurality of coils, wound and positioned on respective forms of respective configurations, from said forms to an arrangement for utilizing said wound coils in their respective configurations, comprising: a. a main body portion; b. an alignment element fastened to said main body and adapted to engage a mating structure on said forms and on said utilization arrangement for aligning said tool therewith; and c. a plurality of sets of pins fastened to said main body, each of said sets of pins comprising at least two pins which are correspondingly and symmetrically positioned relative to said alignment element for supporting one of said wound coils.

3. A tool for transferring a plurality of coils, wound and positioned on respective forms of respective configurations, from said forms to an arrangement for utilizing said wound coils in their respective configurations, comprising: a. a main body portion; b. an alignment element fastened to said main body and adapted to engage a mating structure on said forms and on said utilization arrangement for aligning said tool therewith; c. a plurality of sets of pins fastened to said main body, each of said sets of pins comprising at least two pins which are correspondingly and symmetrically positioned relative to said alignment element for supporting one of said wound coils; and d. means movably fastened to said main body for holding said wound coils supportably on said sets of pins.

5. A tool for transferring N coils, where N is any integer, wound and positioned on respective forms of respective configurations, from said forms to an arrangement for utilizing said wound coils in their respective configurations, comprising: a. a main body; b. an alignment structure fastened to said main body and adapted to engage a mating structure on at least one of said forms and on said utilization arrangement for aligning said tool therewith; c. N plus one sets of pins fastened to said main body, each of said sets of pins comprising a pair of pins which are correspondingly and symmetrically positioned relative to said alignment structure for supporting said wound coils with a set of pins on the inside of each of said wound coils and with a set of pins on the outside of each of said wound coils; and d. means movably fastened to said main body for holding a wound coil supportably on a respective set of pins, said movable means having spaced projections thereon for holding each of said coils along its length.

6. A tool for transferring a plurality of coils, each being separately wound and positioned on a form, from said form to an arrangement for utilizing said wound coils in a predetermined configuration while maintaining a connection between said wound coils, comprising: a. a main body portion; b. a plurality of alignment elements fastened to said main body in a symmetrical arrangement with respect to said main body, each of said alignment elements being adapted to engage a mating structure on said form and on said utilization arrangement for aligning said tool therewith; and c. a plurality of sets of pins fastened to said main body, each of said sets of pins comprising at least two pins which are correspondingly and symmetrically positioned relative to a reSpective one of said alignment elements for supporting one of said wound coils.

7. The tool of claim 6, and further comprising a pushing device mounted on said main body for simultaneously engaging the coils mounted on said pins.

8. A tool for transferring sets of coils wound on a machine, where each of said sets comprises at least one coil, from said machine to a utilization device, said tool comprising: a. a body portion; b. a plurality of elongated spacer pins mounted on said body portion, said spacer pins being arranged in a generally circular configuration and extending in the same direction from said body portion substantially parallel to each other; and c. a plurality of elongated alignment pins mounted on said body portion, said alignment pins being symmetrically arranged with respect to selected groups of said spacer pins and extending from said body portion in the same direction as and substantially parallel to said spacer pins.

9. The tool of claim 8, and further comprising a pushing device movably mounted on said body portion for ejecting coils mounted on said spacer pins from said tool.