Abstract: An alternating current generator for vehicles includes a stator, a rotor having a Lundell type core and a magnetic field winding, first and second cooling fans which are fixed to an axial end surface of the Lundell type core and generate cooling air along with the rotation of the rotor, and a fan base which is disposed between the second cooling fan and the Lundell type core and regulates the cooling air. The Lundell type core includes a plurality of U-shaped clearances formed in the outer periphery of the axial end surface being circumferentially spaced apart from each other. The fan base includes a plurality of alternately and circumferentially disposed large-diameter portions and small-diameter portions, with at least one of the small-diameter portions being disposed axially confronting a U-shaped clearance.

Abstract: An alternating current generator for vehicles includes a stator, a rotor having a Lundell type core and a magnetic field winding, first and second cooling fans which are fixed to an axial end surface of the Lundell type core and generate cooling air along with the rotation of the rotor, and a fan base which is disposed between the second cooling fan and the Lundell type core and regulates the cooling air. The Lundell type core includes a plurality of U-shaped clearances formed in the outer periphery of the axial end surface being circumferentially spaced apart from each other. The fan base includes a plurality of alternately and circumferentially disposed large-diameter portions and small-diameter portions, with at least one of the small-diameter portions being disposed axially confronting a U-shaped clearance.

Abstract: In a controller, a voltage controller operates, in an initial excitation mode, to turn selectively on and off a switch to supply an excitation current as an initial excitation current to the field winding, and operates, in a power generation mode, to selectively increase and reduce the excitation current to be supplied to the field winding to regulate an output voltage of the power generator to a target value. A mode-shift determiner determines, while the voltage controller operates in the initial excitation mode, whether to shift an operation mode of the voltage controller from the initial excitation mode to the power generation mode based on: a measured rotation number of a rotor, a threshold rotation number of the rotor, and a preset time period, the time period being equal to or longer than an expected maximum value of cycle of pulsations of rotation of the engine.

Abstract: In a controller, a voltage controller operates, in an initial excitation mode, to turn selectively on and off a switch to supply an excitation current as an initial excitation current to the field winding, and operates, in a power generation mode, to selectively increase and reduce the excitation current to be supplied to the field winding to regulate an output voltage of the power generator to a target value. A mode-shift determiner determines, while the voltage controller operates in the initial excitation mode, whether to shift an operation mode of the voltage controller from the initial excitation mode to the power generation mode based on: a measured rotation number of a rotor, a threshold rotation number of the rotor, and a preset time period, the time period being equal to or longer than an expected maximum value of cycle of pulsations of rotation of the engine.

Abstract: A variable-nozzle type turbo charger capable of temporarily decreasing the back pressure of the engine at the start of the engine. The turbo charger is equipped with a plurality of nozzle vanes of which the opening degree can be changed and are capable of changing the areas of turbine nozzles at the time when exhaust gases of an engine are guided from said turbine nozzles formed among said nozzle vanes to a turbine rotor, wherein an actuator that adjusts the opening degree of the nozzle vanes is so controlled that the areas of the turbine nozzles are larger than a minimum area for a predetermined period of time from the start of the engine, and, after the passage of said predetermined period of time, said actuator is so controlled that the areas of said turbine nozzles become the minimum area to promote the warming-up of the engine when the water temperature of the engine or the engine load is smaller than a predetermined value.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided an exhaust gas purification device for purifying an exhaust gas discharged from an engine having cylinders including first and second cylinders. An exhaust stroke in the first cylinder is carried out next to an exhaust stroke in the second cylinder. The exhaust gas purification device comprises exhaust branch passages which are connected to the cylinders, respectively. The exhaust branch passages include first and second exhaust branch passages which are connected to the first and second cylinders, respectively. The exhaust gas purification device comprises a common exhaust passage connected to the exhaust branch passages, a catalyst positioned in the common exhaust passage for purifying an exhaust gas, and an exhaust gas recirculation passage connected to the first exhaust branch passage. The exhaust gas recirculation passage introduces the exhaust gas from the first exhaust branch passage into an intake passage which is connected to the cylinders.

Abstract: A device for heating the passenger compartment and warming up the engine, including a turbo heater having a blower and a turbine driven by the exhaust gas of the engine. The turbo heater is operated as soon as the engine is started. Hot air discharged from the blower is fed into the engine soon after the engine is started, and the hot air discharged from the blower is fed into the passenger compartment. When the temperature of the engine coolant become high, the operation of the turbo heater is stopped.