Abstract: What is provided is a football catching and throwing machine and method that includes an inclined upwardly angled path. The machine includes a collector configured to receive a football thrown into it; a ball translator configured to align the football and transport the football up the inclined path to a football accelerator that launches the football into the air; and a motor that operates the football accelerator.

Abstract: What is provided is a football catching and throwing machine and method that includes an inclined upwardly angled path. The machine includes a collector configured to receive a football thrown into it; a ball translator configured to align the football and transport the football up the inclined path to a football accelerator that launches the football into the air; and a motor that operates the football accelerator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a football receiving and launching machine that receives thrown footballs into a ball collector, orients the football and transfers the football into a ball accelerator that launches the football into the air automatically, enabling the user to practice catching and throwing footballs without the assistance of another player.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a football receiving and launching machine that receives thrown footballs into a ball collector, orients the football and transfers the football into a ball accelerator that launches the football into the air automatically, enabling the user to practice catching and throwing footballs without the assistance of another player.

Abstract: A rotor for an alternator is provided which has the benefits of a thin bobbin, as well as the benefits of a single contact steel core, thereby increasing the dissipation of heat and maximizing the space for winding the field coil to increase the overall power provided by the rotor and alternator. The rotor includes a bobbin assembly having a hollow cylinder with a first end and a second end, a first end cap attached to the first end of the cylinder and a second end cap attached to the second end of the cylinder. The bobbin assembly further includes a metallic sleeve fitted inside the hollow cylinder and providing support to the hollow cylinder.

Abstract: A stator of a rotary electric machine having secured core slot insulators includes a multi-phase stator winding, having a plurality of slot segments that are adapted to be radially inserted into a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially-extending core slots in a surface of a cylindrically-shaped stator core. The stator winding includes the plurality of slot segments alternately connected at the first and second ends of the stator core by a plurality of end loop segments to form the winding. At least one of the core teeth includes a distal end that is staked such that the distal end of the at least one core tooth is flared outward circumferentially to secure the stator winding within the core slots.

Abstract: An alternator for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The alternator includes a stator having a stator winding, a rotor assembly positioned concentrically relative to the stator, and including at least one pole having an outer surface. The outer surface has a groove and includes a field coil disposed adjacent the at least one pole, the field coil having start and end leads. A slip ring is fixedly coupled to the start and end leads and a rotor shaft on which the field coil, the at least one pole and the slip ring are fixed. Moreover, the start and end leads are positioned within the groove and are retained in the groove by a locking feature formed in the outer surface of the at least one pole.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for an alternator having a rotor shaft, a field coil wound on an insulative bobbin, and pair of poles mounted on the shaft around the field coil and bobbin. Each of the poles includes a pole core and a plurality of pole fingers. The plurality of pole fingers each have an inner surface facing the field coil. The plurality of pole fingers and their inner surface is structured to increase the electric output power if the alternator while decreasing the weight and volume of the alternator, thereby increasing the alternator maximum speed and reducing the deflection of the pole fingers.

Abstract: An alternator rotor assembly 30 is provided, including a rear pole piece 34 having a rear pole base portion 58 and a plurality of rear pole finger portions 60 each having a rear pole fingertip 62. The plurality of rear pole finger portions 60 are positioned to form a plurality of rear pole finger gaps 64. The alternator rotor assembly 30 further includes a front pole piece 32 having a front pole base portion 50 and a plurality of front pole finger portions 52 each having a front pole fingertip 54. The plurality of front pole finger portions 52 are positioned to form a plurality of front pole finger gaps 56. The rear pole piece 34 and the front pole piece 32 are assembled such that the rear pole finger portions 60 are positioned within the front pole finger gaps 56 and the front pole finger portions 52 are positioned within the rear pole finger gaps 64. The alternator rotor assembly 30 further includes a plurality of link elements 70.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for an alternator includes an electrical wire defining an excitation winding. A first pole piece and a second pole piece each have a generally circular body defining an axis of rotation and an outer radial periphery. A plurality of pole fingers are spaced radially about and extend axially from the outer radial periphery of each pole piece parallel to the axis of rotation. Each pole piece includes a plurality of mounting surfaces spaced radially about the outer radial periphery between the pole fingers. A plurality of permanent magnets are positioned on the mounting surfaces. A plurality of covers include tabs extending therefrom and are adapted to substantially encase one of the permanent magnets. The mounting surfaces of the first and second pole pieces include ribs which are adapted to engage the tabs to secure the covers to the mounting surfaces.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for an alternator includes an electrical wire defining an excitation winding. A first pole piece and a second pole piece each have a generally circular body defining an axis of rotation and an outer radial periphery. A plurality of pole fingers are spaced radially about and extend axially from the outer radial periphery of each pole piece parallel to the axis of rotation. Each pole piece includes a plurality of mounting surfaces spaced radially about the outer radial periphery between the pole fingers. A plurality of permanent magnets are positioned on the mounting surfaces. A plurality of straps include tabs extending there from which are fastened to the pole pieces to secure the permanent magnets to the mounting surfaces.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for an alternator includes an electrical wire defining an excitation winding. A first pole piece and a second pole piece each have a generally circular body defining an axis of rotation and an outer radial periphery. A plurality of pole fingers are spaced radially about and extend axially from the outer radial periphery of each pole piece parallel to the axis of rotation. Each pole piece includes a plurality of mounting surfaces spaced radially about the outer radial periphery between the pole fingers. A plurality of permanent magnets are positioned on the mounting surfaces. A plurality of straps include tabs extending there from which are fastened to the pole pieces to secure the permanent magnets to the mounting surfaces.

Abstract: An alternator for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The alternator includes a stator having a stator winding, a rotor assembly positioned concentrically relative to the stator, and including at least one pole having an outer surface. The outer surface has a groove and includes a field coil disposed adjacent the at least one pole, the field coil having start and end leads. A slip ring is fixedly coupled to the start and end leads and a rotor shaft on which the field coil, the at least one pole and the slip ring are fixed. Moreover, the start and end leads are positioned within the groove and are retained in the groove by a locking feature formed in the outer surface of the at least one pole.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for an alternator includes an electrical wire defining an excitation winding. A first pole piece and a second pole piece each have a generally circular body defining an axis of rotation and an outer radial periphery. A plurality of pole fingers are spaced radially about and extend axially from the outer radial periphery of each pole piece parallel to the axis of rotation. Each pole piece includes a plurality of mounting surfaces spaced radially about the outer radial periphery between the pole fingers. A plurality of permanent magnets are positioned on the mounting surfaces. A plurality of covers include tabs extending therefrom and are adapted to substantially encase one of the permanent magnets. The mounting surfaces of the first and second pole pieces include ribs which are adapted to engage the tabs to secure the covers to the mounting surfaces.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for an electromechanical machine includes iron rotor pole pieces containing a plurality of finger claws each having an exterior face about the circumference of the rotor assembly. Indentations are produced on the surface of each exterior face so as to form a plurality of closed surface areas. The closed surface areas restrict the travel of and confine the eddy currents to small surface areas thereby reducing the efficiency losses due to eddy currents.

Abstract: An rotor assembly 10 for use with an electrical machine. Assembly 10 includes two opposing and selectively intermeshing pole pieces 12, 14. Each pole piece 12, 14 has a body 16 and a plurality of integrally formed and outwardly extending projections or pole fingers 18. A plurality of magnets 34 are each fixedly secured, by use of swaged portions 36, within a unique one of several slots 38 which are cooperatively formed between a unique one of fingers 18 and a unique portion of body 16 of pole pieces 12, 14.

Abstract: An alternator rotor bobbin 10 for use with a field coil wire 18 is provided, including a winding face 12 around which the field coil wire 18 is wound, a bottom face 16, a top face 14, a field coil entry port 24 positioned on the top face 14 to allow field coil wire 18 to enter the alternator rotor bobbin 10 in an axial direction while requiring only a single bend in the field coil wire 18, a field coil exit port 24 positioned on the top face 14 to allow the field coil exit wire 26 to exit the alternator rotor bobbin 10 in an axial direction, a field coil entry port tower 34, and a field coil exit port tower 36. The field coil entry port tower 34 and the field coil exit port tower 36 include a second snap element 37 to prevent the field coil wire 18 from coming unwound prior to assembly into an alternator rotor.

Abstract: A rotor member and vehicle alternator mechanism. Annular recesses and ridges are provided in the back iron or bodies of the pole pieces of the rotor member. The power output of the alternator mechanism is increased and the alternator has improved support for the claw fingers for increased RPM capability.

Abstract: An rotor assembly 10 for use with an electrical machine. Assembly 10 includes two opposing and selectively intermeshing pole pieces 12, 14. Each pole piece 12, 14 has a body 16 and a plurality of integrally formed and outwardly extending projections or pole fingers 18. A plurality of magnets 34 are each fixedly secured, by use of swaged portions 36, within a unique one of several slots 38 which are cooperatively formed between a unique one of fingers 18 and a unique portion of body 16 of pole pieces 12, 14.

Abstract: An rotor assembly 10 for use with an electrical machine. Assembly 10 includes two opposing and selectively intermeshing pole pieces 12, 14. Each pole piece 12, 14 has a body 16 and a plurality of integrally formed and outwardly extending projections or pole fingers 18. A plurality of magnets 34 are each fixedly secured, by use of swaged portions 36, within a unique one of several slots 38 which are cooperatively formed between a unique one of fingers 18 and a unique portion of body 16 of pole pieces 12, 14.