871,011. Winding stators of electric motors. MICAFIL A.G. Sept. 18, 1959 [Sept. 18, 1958], No. 31853/59. Class 35. A slotted stator core 1 is wound by a wire laying head 5 which reciprocates to and fro through the stator bore, and at each end position rotates in alternate directions through the required coil pitch, the wire 4 being caught at the end of each axial stroke by hooks 9, 10 which move radially outwardly to draw the wire into the slot, and then after turning slightly to release the wire from their hooked ends (see Fig. 2), move inwardly again to catch the next wire. As described, the machine winds four-pole coils simultaneously, so that there are four sets of hooks 9, 10, and the wire laying head has four sets of wire guiding pulleys 6. The magnitudes of the motions of the various parts are regulated to provide the various concentric coils needed in the stator. Movement of wire hooks 9, 10.-The wire hooks 9, 10 move in opposite radial directions under the influence of pneumatic pistons 16 in tubular elements 14, 14<SP>1</SP> which are rotatably mounted. The piston 16 is connected by piston rod 15 to a tappet 20 whereby the hook is moved in an outwardly direction, the return inward motion being provided by another piston 22. The rotational movement of the hooks is provided by gears 27, 27<SP>1</SP> on the tubular support elements 14, 14<SP>1</SP>, these gears being engaged by internally toothed ring gears 28, 29 moving in opposite directions. The rings 28, 29 derive equal and opposite motions from the axial movement of a rack 31 through suitable gearing (e.g. gear 30 for ring 28 in Fig. 6). In order to wind coils of various pitches it is necessary to adjust the circumferential positions of the hook supports 14, 14<SP>1</SP>, and this in turn necessitates adjustment of their angular drive through the rack 31. To this end the rack 31 is itself mounted in a rack 42 engaging a gear 44 (on its under side). The hook supports 14, 14<SP>1</SP> are mounted in externally toothed rings 45, 46 respectively, by means of which their circumferential position may be adjusted. A doubleacting piston in cylinder 47 drives (through a rack and pinion linkage, not shown) a rack 52 which turns the ring 45 directly and ring 46 in equal and opposite amount through reversing gearing, one pinion of which is shown at 56. Simultaneously this gearing rotates pinion 44 which meshes with the rack 42 carrying the rack 31 which controls the angular position of the hooks 9, 10 through rings 28, 29 and pinions 27, 27<SP>1</SP> as described above. By this means, the circumferential adjustment of the hook positions does not rotate the hooks. The circumferential position of the hooks is accurately defined by a selected micrometer abutment engaging a further pinion-linked rack (60, Fig. 8, not shown), these micrometers being carried in a turret head which is pneumatically turned to bring the appropriate micrometer into use by the selective energization of one piston or another. Formation of coil overhangs.-In order to wind different coils, it is necessary to provide different overhang spacings, and so the axial spacing of the hook mountings from the stator must be adjusted simultaneously with the mutual rotation of the rings 45, 46. To this end, the whole winding stocks 11 are carried on axial slide rails 74 and are moved equal and opposite amounts through rods 82, 82<SP>1</SP> connected to pinion linked racks in a pneumatically powered jack unit (76, not shown). The motion is limited by a turret of micrometer heads forming selective abutments of a pinion-linked rack, in a similar way to that described above for the control of the rings 45, 46 (see Figs. 11, 12, 13, not shown). Axial reciprocation of mire-laying head.-The wire-laying head 5 is reciprocated by means of a piston 93, supplied with hydraulic pressure supplied through channels 96, 97. This hydraulic pressure is derived from air pressure supplied at 101, 101<SP>1</SP> through sealing membranes 99, 99<SP>1</SP>. The stroke is varied by adjustment of a piston in a cylinder on the hydraulic side through a micrometer 111. Fixed to the reciprocating element 5, 8 is a control rod moving between positions 112, 113 and 112<SP>1</SP>, 113<SP>1</SP>, and this movement is used through cams (not shown) to supply control impulses to the pneumatic control system of the whole machine. Angular oscillation of the wire-laying head.- The rotational oscillation of the head 5 is provided by a pinion 118, rack 119 and piston 120, the motion being transmitted to the head by mutually splined tubes 8, 116. The operation and control of piston 120 is similar to that provided for the piston 93.