Abstract: According to the present invention, an alternator includes a rotor, a stator, and at least one cooling fan. The rotor includes a rotary shaft, a field core, and a field coil. The field coil has first and second ends that are opposite to each other in an axial direction of the rotary shaft. The stator includes an armature core and an armature coil. The armature core has first and second ends that are opposite to each other in the axial direction. The first end of the armature core is closer to the first end than the second end of the field coil. An axial distance between the first and second ends of the field coil is less than that between the first and second ends of the armature core. The first end of the field coil protrudes outward from the first end of the armature core in the axial direction.

Abstract: In a tandem AC generator for a vehicle having dual armature core-Lundel type field core pairs placed in series, an intermediate ring as a cylindrical spacer is placed between the dual armature cores. One armature core, the intermediate ring, and the other armature core are pressed and tightly fastened to each other in the direction of a rotary shaft by front and rear housings by a through bolt. A circumference wall part of the front housing accommodates one armature core and the intermediate ring completely and further accommodates a part of an outer circumference surface of the other armature core. This simple construction of the tandem AC generator provides improved and superior vibration proof.

Abstract: The vehicle-use tandem electric rotating machine includes a first stator-rotor pair, a second stator-rotor pair, and a controller individually controlling a first field current flowing into a first field coil of the first stator-rotor pair and a second field current flowing into a second field coil of the second stator-rotor pair. The first stator-rotor pair is configured to generate electric power to be supplied to essential electric loads, and the second stator-rotor pair is configured to generate electric power to be supplied to non-essential electric loads. The controller is configured to restrict the second field current from flowing into the second field coil when rotational speed of a vehicle engine driving the tandem electric rotating machine is lower than a predetermined threshold speed set above an idle speed of the vehicle engine.

Abstract: In a SPM synchronous motor has a rotor and a stator, a permanent magnet is divided to magnet parts magnetized in a diameter direction of the rotor and serve as rotor magnetic poles. The rotor magnetic poles are alternately arranged along a circumferential direction of the rotor. The rotor core has a plurality of salient poles made of soft magnetic material. Each salient pole projects from the circumferential surface of the rotor core toward a gap between the rotor and the stator, and is placed at a central part of the corresponding magnet part in the circumferential direction. This structure increases a magnitude of a d-axis inductance Ld and enhances the effects obtained by performing a weakening magnetic flux control using a negative d-axis current Id during a high speed rotation of the motor within a power source voltage limiting range.

Abstract: A tandem type rotary generator has a rotary shaft, and two power generating sections disposed adjacent to each other along an axial direction. Each power generating section has a Lundell type rotor core fixed to the rotary shaft, a field coil wound on the rotor core, a stator core disposed on an outside of the rotor core opposite to the rotary shaft in a radial direction, and a stator coil wound on the stator core. A center of the field coil of each power generating section is positioned away from a center of the stator core of the power generating section in the axial direction toward the other power generating section. Two cooling fans cooling the power generating sections are disposed on both sides of the pair of rotor cores in the axial direction.

Abstract: A starter for cranking an internal combustion engine is composed of an electric motor, an output shaft driven by the electric motor, a pinion gear unit helical-spline-coupled to the output shaft, and a magnetic switch for supplying electric power to the electric motor in an ON-and-OFF fashion and for engaging or disengaging the pinion gear unit with a ring gear of the engine. The pinion gear unit is made by fixedly connecting a pinion gear, a rotation-restricting ring and a bearing member together. These components are separately formed from one another and then assembled to a unitary body of the pinion gear unit. Therefore, they can be forged with simple dies, or may be manufactured by other methods such as machining.

Abstract: In a tandem AC generator for a vehicle having dual armature core-Lundel type field core pairs placed in series, an intermediate ring as a cylindrical spacer is placed between the dual armature cores. One armature core, the intermediate ring, and the other armature core are pressed and tightly fastened to each other in the direction of a rotary shaft by front and rear housings by a through bolt. A circumference wall part of the front housing accommodates one armature core and the intermediate ring completely and further accommodates a part of an outer circumference surface of the other armature core. This simple construction of the tandem AC generator provides improved and superior vibration proof.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an alternator includes a rotor, a stator, and at least one cooling fan. The rotor includes a rotary shaft, a field core, and a field coil. The field coil has first and second ends that are opposite to each other in an axial direction of the rotary shaft. The stator includes an armature core and an armature coil. The armature core has first and second ends that are opposite to each other in the axial direction. The first end of the armature core is closer to the first end than the second end of the field coil. An axial distance between the first and second ends of the field coil is less than that between the first and second ends of the armature core. The first end of the field coil protrudes outward from the first end of the armature core in the axial direction.

Abstract: A rotary electric apparatus, such as on-vehicle three-phase AC generator (i.e., alternator) comprises a main rotary unit, a semiconductor power converter, and an air cooling mechanism. The main rotary unit is provided with a rotor and an armature disposed as a stator around the armature. The armature has armature windings wound therearound. The semiconductor power converter is disposed together with the main rotary unit. The air cooling mechanism cools down the semiconductor power converter. This mechanism comprises a fan motor driven in response to an AC (alternating current) excitation by current coming from the armature windings.

Abstract: The vehicle-use tandem electric rotating machine includes a first stator-rotor pair, a second stator-rotor pair, and a controller individually controlling a first field current flowing into a first field coil of the first stator-rotor pair and a second field current flowing into a second field coil of the second stator-rotor pair. The first stator-rotor pair is configured to generate electric power to be supplied to essential electric loads, and the second stator-rotor pair is configured to generate electric power to be supplied to non-essential electric loads. The controller is configured to restrict the second field current from flowing into the second field coil when rotational speed of a vehicle engine driving the tandem electric rotating machine is lower than a predetermined threshold speed set above an idle speed of the vehicle engine.

Abstract: A tandem type rotary generator has a rotary shaft, and two power generating sections disposed adjacent to each other along an axial direction. Each power generating section has a Lundell type rotor core fixed to the rotary shaft, a field coil wound on the rotor core, a stator core disposed on an outside of the rotor core opposite to the rotary shaft in a radial direction, and a stator coil wound on the stator core. A center of the field coil of each power generating section is positioned away from a center of the stator core of the power generating section in the axial direction toward the other power generating section. Two cooling fans cooling the power generating sections are disposed on both sides of the pair of rotor cores in the axial direction.

Abstract: A rotary electric apparatus, such as on-vehicle three-phase AC generator (i.e., alternator) comprises a main rotary unit, a semiconductor power converter, and an air cooling mechanism. The main rotary unit is provided with a rotor and an armature disposed as a stator around the armature. The armature has armature windings wound therearound. The semiconductor power converter is disposed together with the main rotary unit. The air cooling mechanism cools down the semiconductor power converter. This mechanism comprises a fan motor driven in response to an AC (alternating current) excitation by current coming from the armature windings.

Abstract: A starter for cranking an internal combustion engine is composed of an electric motor, an output shaft driven by the electric motor, a pinion gear unit helical-spline-coupled to the output shaft, and a magnetic switch for supplying electric power to the electric motor in an ON-and-OFF fashion and for engaging or disengaging the pinion gear unit with a ring gear of the engine. The pinion gear unit is made by fixedly connecting a pinion gear, a rotation-restricting ring and a bearing member together. These components are separately formed from one another and then assembled to a unitary body of the pinion gear unit. Therefore, they can be forged with simple dies, or may be manufactured by other methods such as machining.

Abstract: Two or more rolling-contact bearings, each having rolling members, are aligned in an axial direction. A pinion shaft, inserted in an inner cylindrical bore of each rolling-contact bearing, is supported by a housing via the rolling-contact bearings. The pinion shaft is disposed rotatably on the output shaft via a plain bearing and is shiftable on the output shaft in the axial direction. A pinion gear is attached in a cantilever fashion to a distal end of the pinion shaft opposed to the motor. The pinion gear selectively meshes with a ring gear of an engine in a startup operation to transmit the rotational force of a motor to the ring gear.