Abstract: Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for cooling a drive end bearing. The system may include an alternator including a drive end bearing, a drive end fan and a front housing face. The drive end fan may include a shaft aperture and auxiliary air flow inlet apertures positioned circumferentially around the shaft aperture. The front housing face may include auxiliary fins coupled to the drive end bearing. The auxiliary fins may protrude from the front housing face. The auxiliary fins may be arrayed axially on the front housing face. In various embodiments, the drive end fan is rotated to draw air through the auxiliary air flow inlet apertures and adjacent to at least a portion of auxiliary fins of the front housing face. The at least a portion of the auxiliary fins transfers heat from the drive end bearing to the air.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cooling electronics and rear end stator windings in an alternator. The system includes an alternator having a rotor assembly, stator assembly, and dual-sided fan disposed in a housing. The housing includes a drive end, rear end, and sides. The rotor assembly includes drive end and rear end poles. The stator assembly surrounds the poles and includes drive end and rear end stator windings. The dual-sided fan is mounted to the rotor assembly adjacent the rear end poles within the housing. The dual-sided fan includes a separating wall, drive end blade set, and rear end blade set. The drive end blade set extends from a first side of the separating wall and at least partially faces the drive end. The rear end blade set extends from a second side of the separating wall and at least partially faces the rear end.

Abstract: A brushless alternator includes a drive end, a rear end, a rotor assembly, stator windings, and an internal fan. The rotor assembly has a first diameter. The rotor assembly includes a hollow pole and a solid pole. The stator windings surround the rotor assembly. The internal fan has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter of the rotor assembly. The internal fan may be attached to the hollow pole of the rotor assembly. The hollow pole may be toward the drive end and the solid pole may be toward the rear end. The internal fan may include an outer portion shaped to direct air at the stator windings. The outer portion of the internal fan may include one or more of a curved or angled surface to direct the air. The internal fan may provide an axial flow of the air directed to the stator windings.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for cooling a drive end bearing. The system may include an alternator including a drive end bearing, a drive end fan and a front housing face. The drive end fan may include a shaft aperture and auxiliary air flow inlet apertures positioned circumferentially around the shaft aperture. The front housing face may include auxiliary fins coupled to the drive end bearing. The auxiliary fins may protrude from the front housing face. The auxiliary fins may be arrayed axially on the front housing face. In various embodiments, the drive end fan is rotated to draw air through the auxiliary air flow inlet apertures and adjacent to at least a portion of auxiliary fins of the front housing face. The at least a portion of the auxiliary fins transfers heat from the drive end bearing to the air.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for cooling a drive end bearing. The system may include an alternator including a drive end bearing, a drive end fan and a front housing face. The drive end fan may include a shaft aperture and auxiliary air flow inlet apertures positioned circumferentially around the shaft aperture. The front housing face may include auxiliary fins coupled to the drive end bearing. The auxiliary fins may protrude from the front housing face. The auxiliary fins may be arrayed axially on the front housing face. In various embodiments, the drive end fan is rotated to draw air through the auxiliary air flow inlet apertures and adjacent to at least a portion of auxiliary fins of the front housing face. The at least a portion of the auxiliary fins transfers heat from the drive end bearing to the air.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for cooling a drive end bearing. The system may include an alternator including a drive end bearing, a drive end fan and a front housing face. The drive end fan may include a shaft aperture and auxiliary air flow inlet apertures positioned circumferentially around the shaft aperture. The front housing face may include auxiliary fins coupled to the drive end bearing. The auxiliary fins may protrude from the front housing face. The auxiliary fins may be arrayed axially on the front housing face. In various embodiments, the drive end fan is rotated to draw air through the auxiliary air flow inlet apertures and adjacent to at least a portion of auxiliary fins of the front housing face. The at least a portion of the auxiliary fins transfers heat from the drive end bearing to the air.