Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electric machine stator. The electric machine stator includes a tubular body with a plurality of radial slots formed into a perimetrical surface thereof, each of the plurality of slots having a width that varies over at least a portion of a radial depth of the slot such that the slot width is narrower near the perimetrical surface than the slot width further from the perimetrical surface. The stator further includes at least one winding positioned within each of the plurality of slots and at least one of the at least one winding is deformed within the slot such that at least one dimension of the at least one winding is greater than a narrowest slot width dimension thereby retaining the winding within the slot.

Abstract: A belt-driven electric machine for a vehicle includes a front housing including at least one front housing opening and a rear housing including at least one rear housing opening. The electric machine further includes at least one fan capable of urging cooling air into the electric machine through the at least one front housing opening and out of the electric machine through the at least one rear housing opening. A method for cooling a belt-driven electric machine for a vehicle includes urging cooling air into the electric machine at substantially the front of the electric machine. The cooling air is flowed substantially rearward in the electric machine, and heat is radiated from the electric machine into the cooling air. At least a first portion of the cooling air is expelled from the rear of the electric machine in a substantially axial direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotor assembly for an electric machine includes a rotor core. The rotor core has at least one magnet slot with an increasing slot width as radial distance from a rotor shaft increases, and at least one slot lip extending at least partially across the slot width. The rotor assembly also includes at least one permanent magnet located in at least one magnet slot, the magnet having an increasing magnet width as radial distance from a rotor shaft increases. The rotor assembly further includes a retainer disposed in the magnet slot radially between the magnet and the at least one slot lip. Also disclosed is a method of securing at least one permanent magnet in a rotor assembly of an electric machine.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electric machine. The electric machine includes, a housing defining an internal volume, a stationary shaft fixedly attached to the housing, a stationary field coil attached to the shaft, a pole assembly rotatable about the shaft, and a pulley fixedly attached to the pole assembly being positioned externally of the internal volume.

Abstract: A solenoid includes a solenoid housing defining a solenoid centerline; and an ignition magnetic switch including an ignition magnetic switch coil disposed at least partially within the housing, the ignition magnetic switch coil having a magnetic field that encompasses the solenoid centerline.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electric machine rotor. The rotor includes, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of pole segments attached to the shaft, and a plurality of magnets attached to the plurality of pole segments such that one of the plurality of magnets is positioned circumferentially between adjacent pole segments and each of the plurality of magnets has nonparallel circumferentially opposing sides.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine insulator includes, a body having a plurality of holes therethrough at least some of the plurality of holes being receptive of a lead such that a lead extending through each of the plurality of holes is electrically isolated from a lead extending through each of the other of the plurality of holes, and at least one channel in the body extending arcuately along a perimetrical extent of the body. The at least one channel configured and dimensioned to insulate at least one lead routed therein.

Abstract: An automotive alternator including a rotor having a plurality of poles; a plurality of phases in operable communication with the plurality of poles; and a stator core in operable communication with the rotor, the stator having a number of slots defined by: S=(P×PH)+((M×PH)+N) where S=number of slots P=number of poles PH=number of phases M=a whole integer greater than or equal to 0 N=a whole integer selected from a group of integers ranging from, and including, 1 through the number of phases minus 1. A method for reducing magnetic noise in an automotive alternator includes selecting a number of poles, selecting a number of phases, selecting a number of stator core slots, the foregoing selections interacting in the automotive alternator to produce an order of frequency of a tangential force different than any multiple of the number of phases and different than an order of frequency of a radial force of the alternator.

Abstract: A method for communicating voltage regulator switching information to a vehicle computer includes generating a first output signal from a voltage regulator, the first output signal configured to regulate a field current of a generating device associated therewith. A second output signal is generated from the voltage regulator, the second output signal communicated to the vehicle computer, the second output signal further indicative of the state of the first output signal. The second output signal represents an average value of the first output signal, having transient values included within the first output signal filtered therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic package for an electrical machine including a slip ring end frame; a plurality of negative diodes dispersed in an angular fashion in the SRE frame acting as a negative heat sink; a plurality of positive diodes mounted on a separate electrically conductive plate located above a location of the plurality of negative diodes; a non-conductive separator fitted over a series of bosses, configured to electrically insulate; a terminal assembly configured to make appropriate electrical connections between the positive and negative diodes, stator phase leads, and a regulator, which is operably fastened to the SRE frame at a plurality of locations, the regulator electrically connects to the positive heat sink, a stator phase terminal extending from the terminal assembly, SRE frame, and a brush holder; wherein the regulator is perpendicular to the SRE frame.

Abstract: A method for implementing voltage regulation for an electrical generator device includes comparing an output voltage of the electrical generator device to a desired set point voltage thereof, and generating an output control signal configured to regulate a field current of the generating device. The output control signal is generated in accordance with a linear mode of operation during of one of an overvoltage condition and an undervoltage condition with respect to the desired set point voltage, and wherein the output control signal is automatically set to a predetermined value in a non-linear mode of operation during the other of the overvoltage condition and the undervoltage condition.

Abstract: A method for communicating voltage regulator switching information to a vehicle computer includes generating a first output signal from a voltage regulator, the first output signal configured to regulate a field current of a generating device associated therewith. A second output signal is generated from the voltage regulator, the second output signal communicated to the vehicle computer, the second output signal further indicative of the state of the first output signal. The second output signal represents an average value of the first output signal, having transient values included within the first output signal filtered therefrom.

Abstract: A method for protecting voltage regulator driver circuitry during a short circuit condition of an alternator field coil includes passively detecting a drop in field coil voltage during an on-portion of a duty cycle of the field coil voltage, wherein the passive detection of the drop in field coil voltage signifies an interrupt event. Responsive to the interrupt event, a logical state of a driver enable control signal is changed so as to deactivate driver circuitry associated with a switching device used to pass field current through the field coil, wherein the driver circuitry, when deactivated, prevents the switching device from passing current regardless of the state of a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal applied to the driver circuitry.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic package for an electrical machine including a slip ring end frame; a plurality of negative diodes dispersed in an angular fashion in the SRE frame acting as a negative heat sink; a plurality of positive diodes mounted on a separate electrically conductive plate located above a location of the plurality of negative diodes; a non-conductive separator fitted over a series of bosses, configured to electrically insulate; a terminal assembly configured to make appropriate electrical connections between the positive and negative diodes, stator phase leads, and a regulator, which is operably fastened to the SRE frame at a plurality of locations, the regulator electrically connects to the positive heat sink, a stator phase terminal extending from the terminal assembly, SRE frame, and a brush holder; wherein the regulator is perpendicular to the SRE frame.

Abstract: A cover assembly for one end of a rotating electrical machine includes a one-piece cover formed of plastic material attached to an end frame supporting at least one electrical component to protect said electrical component from external damage, the cover has an end wall and an axially extending side wall, the side wall has an end surface that engages the end frame; a mounting boss is disposed at the end frame; and a single fastener extends through the end surface. A clamp load at the single fastener securely holds the cover relative to the end frame.

Abstract: An electric machine is disclosed herein comprising a core with a plurality of slots, the core including an insertion side and an opposing side. A winding arrangement is provided in the plurality of slots of the core. The winding arrangement is comprised of a plurality of differently shaped hairpin conductors. Each of the plurality of differently shaped hairpin conductors includes at least one leg inserted into one of the plurality of slots, with a leg end of the at least one leg extending from the opposing side of the core. All the leg ends extending from the opposing side of the core are bent the same number of slots and connected to immediately adjacent leg ends at the opposing side of the core. Thus, all connections between the differently shaped hairpin conductors are provided at the opposing side of the core.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dynamoelectric machine rotor. The rotor includes, a plurality of first cavities positioned near a circumferential surface of the rotor, each first cavity receptive of at least one permanent magnet, and a plurality of second cavities positioned substantially between circumferentially adjacent first cavities.

Abstract: A bearing retainer for use with a bearing having an outside diameter which is to be received in the bearing retainer and to be mounted into a cavity having an inside diameter includes a bearing-engaging wall having a minimum inside diameter when the bearing retainer is in a non-deformed state approximately equal to but slightly less than the outside diameter of the bearing to be received therein, an outer cavity-engaging wall having a maximum outside diameter when the bearing retainer is in a non-deformed state approximately equal to the inside diameter of the cavity within which the bearing retainer is to be received, a web wall extending between and coupling the bearing-engaging wall and the cavity-engaging wall and wherein the bearing-engaging wall, cavity-engaging wall and web wall are fabricated from a material capable of elastic and plastic deformation so that upon insertion of the bearing into the bearing retainer the bearing-engaging wall is deformed to secure the bearing within the bearing retainer a

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a starter motor clutch. The clutch includes, a shell, a wedgable component support member operably positioned adjacent the shell, and at least one wedgable component positioned between the shell and the wedgable component support member. The at least one wedgable component is displaceable into engagement with the shell to lock the shell into synchronous movement with the wedgable component support member upon initial rotational movement of the wedgable component support member in either direction relative to the shell while allowing asynchronous movement of the shell relative to the wedgable component support member.

Abstract: An electric machine is disclosed herein comprising a stator and a rotor opposing the stator. A plurality of slots are formed in the rotor, each of the plurality of slots including a stator side and an opposing side. Each of the plurality of slots further include a central magnet retaining portion positioned between two opposing end portions of the slot. The central magnet retaining portion is defined by at least one protrusion formed on the stator side of the slot. The at least one protrusion forms a neck in the slot and separates the magnet retaining portion from one of the end portions. A magnet is positioned in the magnet retaining portion of the slot. The two opposing end portions of the slot are empty, providing voids at the ends of the slot.