DC Generators, Armature, Commuters and DC Motors

In this PDH or CE course the student will learn about the basics of DC generator, armature, commuters and Dc motors. The course shows how a DC voltage is generated. This is accomplished by showing a single wire loop rotating through a series of positions within a magnetic field.

Most devices in an airplane, from the starter to the automatic pilot, depend upon mechanical energy furnished by direct current motors. A direct current motor is a rotating machine, which transforms direct current energy into mechanical energy. It consists of two principal parts – a field assembly and an armature assembly. The armature is the rotating part in which current carrying wires are acted upon by the magnetic field.

The armature assembly of a generator consists of many armature coils wound on an iron core, a commutator, and associated mechanical parts. These additional loops of wire are actually called windings and are evenly spaced around the armature so that the distance between each winding is the same. Mounted on a shaft, it rotates through the magnetic field produced by the field coils. The core of the armature acts as an iron conductor in the magnetic field and, for this reason, is laminated to prevent the circulation of eddy currents.

The commutator is located at the end of an armature and consists of wedge shaped segments of hard drawn copper, insulated from each other by thin sheets of mica. The segments are held in place by steel V-rings or clamping flanges fitted with bolts. Rings of mica insulate the segments from the flanges. The raised portion of each segment is called a riser, and the leads from the armature coils are soldered to the risers. When the segments have no risers, the leads are soldered to short slits in the ends of the segments.

Learning Objective:

The learning objective of this PDH or CE continuing education course is for the student to learn the basics the basics of DC generator, armature, commuters and Dc motors.

Review the quiz before studying the course.

Course Content

Course Author: Franco F. Davati, P.E.