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 coil support for an electrical machine including a shank having a first outer diameter configured to support a field coil of the electrical machine and a base located at one end of the shank. The base has a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter and includes a plurality of recesses configured to increase a cooling flow through the electrical machine. Further disclosed is an electrical machine including the coil support and a method for cooling an electrical machine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coil support for an electrical machine including a shank having a first outer diameter configured to support a field coil of the electrical machine and a base located at one end of the shank. The base has a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter and includes a plurality of recesses configured to increase a cooling flow through the electrical machine. Further disclosed is an electrical machine including the coil support and a method for cooling an electrical machine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dynamoelectric machine having improved heat dissipation capabilities. The dynamoelectric machine includes a three-phase stator winding with a rectifier assembly electrically connected to the stator winding. The rectifier assembly includes an end frame having at least one negative diode contained therein and a positive heat sink which has at least one positive diode disposed therein. Connecting the negative diodes and positive diodes is a terminal assembly. The terminal assembly includes one or more electrically conductive and heat dissipative straps. The straps electrically connect one or more negative diodes and one or more positive diodes. Also disclosed is a method for dissipating heat from a rectifier of a dynamoelectric machine.

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: 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: 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: The disclosed apparatus relates to a current sensing electrical energy generation system comprising, an electric machine, a conductor electrically connected to the electric machine, and a current sensor responsive to current flow in the conductor.

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: Disclosed is a dynamoelectric machine having improved heat dissipation capabilities. The dynamoelectric machine includes a three-phase stator winding with a rectifier assembly electrically connected to the stator winding. The rectifier assembly includes an end frame having at least one negative diode contained therein and a positive heat sink which has at least one positive diode disposed therein. Connecting the negative diodes and positive diodes is a terminal assembly. The terminal assembly includes one or more electrically conductive and heat dissipative straps. The straps electrically connect one or more negative diodes and one or more positive diodes. Also disclosed is a method for dissipating heat from a rectifier of a dynamoelectric machine.

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: 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: A vehicle alternator and methods for controlling an amount of torque loading of the vehicle alternator on an engine are provided. The vehicle alternator utilizes a voltage regulator with a microprocessor to control an amount of torque loading, based on a rotational speed of a rotor of the alternator, or an amount of current output by the alternator, or both.

Abstract: An electrical current overstress protection device for use with a power source and an overload protection switch comprising a main conductor member receiving current from the power source; a parallel conductor member connected to the main conductor member; and an area of localized increased electrical resistance located on the parallel conductor member and located proximate to the overload protection switch.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine includes a rotor having a rotor shaft; two flux carrying segments rotatably disposed on the rotor shaft; a field coil disposed between the two flux carrying segments, the field coil having a pair of coil leads; an insulative member disposed at one end of the shaft; a pair of slip rings longitudinally spaced on the insulative member and having respective coupling terminals; and a diode having a pair of diode leads, each diode lead electrically connected to one of the pair of coil leads of the field coil and to one of the respective coupling terminals, the diode configured to suppress electrical noise as a result of an interface between the pair of slip rings and respective brushes.

Abstract: An electronic package for an electrical machine preferably a rotary current generator includes a slip ring end (SRE) frame defining one end of a housing configured for mounting a rotor therein so as to be rotatable; 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, the plate being configured as a positive heat sink having corresponding holes such that leads extending from each negative diode protrude directly therethrough and openings formed in the positive heat sink to engage a body of each positive diode; and a non-conductive separator fitted over a series of bosses that space the positive heat sink above a top surface defining the negative heat sink, the separator configured to electrically insulate the positive heat sink and negative heat sink from one another, wherein waste heat from the positive and

Abstract: An electronic package for an electrical machine preferably a rotary current generator includes a slip ring end (SRE) frame defining one end of a housing configured for mounting a rotor therein so as to be rotatable; 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, the plate being configured as a positive heat sink having corresponding holes such that leads extending from each negative diode protrude directly therethrough and openings formed in the positive heat sink to engage a body of each positive diode; and a non-conductive separator fitted over a series of bosses that space the positive heat sink above a top surface defining the negative heat sink, the separator configured to electrically insulate the positive heat sink and negative heat sink from one another, wherein waste heat from the positive and

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine having a rotor carrying a field coil has a fan and slip ring assembly formed from a thermoplastic material into a unitary structure. A slip ring portion is axially remote from the fan portion, the two portions being connected by thermoplastic material which is formed to cooperate with the rotor shaft to provide channels for capturing coil leads of the field coil.

Abstract: A bridge rectifier for rectifying the alternating output voltage of an alternating current generator. The bridge rectifier has two heat sinks which are electrically insulated from each other. Each heat sink carries groups of semiconductor diodes that are respectively electrically connected to the heat sinks. A metallic output terminal stud is connected to and supported by one of the heat sinks. A part of the terminal stud has self-tapping threads and this part is tapped into a hole in the heat sink to thereby provide a self-tapped threaded connection between the terminal stud and the heat sink. The terminal stud has an electrical connector portion that has conventional threads. A threaded nut is adapted to be screwed onto the threaded connector portion to thereby secure a terminal connected to a conductor or cable in place.