Method of in slot tightness measuring of stator coil

1. A method for measuring a tangential tightness of a stator coil within an armature slot of a stator assembly in an electric generator comprising:

exciting said stator coil to create a vibratory response of said stator coil;

detecting said vibratory response of said stator coil;

determining a frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil; and

estimating a tangential tightness of said stator coil within said armature slot based on said frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating a tangential tightness of said stator coil within said armature slot comprises comparing said frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil to data in a frequency-to-tightness correlation database.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said data in said frequency-to-tightness correlation database corresponds to particular reference frequency response functions of previously measured stator coils within stator assemblies having known stator coil tangential tightnesses.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein estimating a tangential tightness of said stator coil within said armature slot further comprises determining which of said previously measured stator coils within stator assemblies having known stator coil tangential tightnesses corresponds to an output of a reference frequency response function most nearly matching an output of said frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said output of said reference frequency response function of said comprises a local mode of said frequency response function, and wherein said output of said frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil comprises a local mode of said frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein exciting said stator coil to create a vibratory response of said stator coil comprises an exciter having a load cell directly impacting a radially inner side of said stator coil to create a vibratory response of said stator coil.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein exciting said stator coil to create a vibratory response of said stator coil comprises exciting said stator coil to create one of a tangential vibratory response and a radial vibratory response of said stator coil.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting said vibratory response of said stator coil comprises temporarily attaching an accelerometer to said stator coil, wherein said accelerometer detects said vibratory response of said stator coil.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing at least one stator wedge from said armature slot prior to exciting said stator coil.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising removing at least one of a top slot filler and a top ripple spring from said armature slot prior to exciting said stator coil.

11. A method for measuring a vibratory response of a stator coil to estimate a tangential tightness of said stator coil within an armature slot of a stator assembly in an electric generator comprising:

removing at least one of a stator wedge, a top slot filler, and a top ripple spring from said armature slot;

exciting said stator coil by directly impacting a radially inner side of said stator coil with an exciter having a load cell to create a vibratory response of said stator coil, said vibratory response comprising one of a tangential vibratory response and a radial vibratory response;

detecting said vibratory response of said stator coil;

determining a frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil; and

estimating a tangential tightness of said stator coil within said armature slot based on said frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein estimating a tangential tightness of said stator coil within said armature slot comprises comparing said frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil to data in a frequency-to-tightness correlation database.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said data in said frequency-to-tightness correlation database corresponds to particular reference frequency response functions of previously measured stator coils within stator assemblies having known stator coil tangential tightnesses.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein estimating a tangential tightness of said stator coil within said armature slot further comprises determining which of said previously measured stator coils within stator assemblies having known stator coil tangential tightnesses corresponds to an output of a reference frequency response function most nearly matching an output of said frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said output of said reference frequency response function comprises a local mode of said frequency response function, and wherein said output of said frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil comprises a local mode of said frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil.

16. A method for reducing spark erosion of a stator coil in an armature slot of an electric generator comprising:

exciting said stator coil to create a vibratory response of said stator coil;

detecting said vibratory response of said stator coil;

determining a frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil;

estimating a tangential tightness of said stator coil within said armature slot based on said frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil; and

inserting at least one filler member between said stator coil and a wall defining said armature slot if said estimated tangential tightness of said stator coil within said armature slot is not within a predetermined range.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising removing at least one of a stator wedge, a top slot filler, and a top ripple spring from said armature slot prior to exciting said stator coil.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein estimating a tangential tightness of said stator coil within said armature slot comprises comparing said frequency response function of said vibratory response of said stator coil to data in a frequency-to-tightness correlation database.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein exciting said stator coil to create a vibratory response of said stator coil comprises an exciter having a load cell directly impacting a radially inner side of said stator coil to create one of a tangential vibratory response of said stator coil and a radial vibratory response of said stator coil.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein inserting at least one filler member between said stator coil and a wall defining said armature slot comprises inserting one of a side slot filler and a side ripple spring between said stator coil and said wall defining said armature slot.