Abstract: To limit the maximum speed of the fan blade of an automotive-type alternator, the fan blade (21) is secured to the outer race (23) of a ball bearing (22) having a two-part inner race (24, 25), one of the parts being an axially slidable sleeve (25) which is spring-pressed by a cup spring (26) in engagement with a drive pulley (18) against the first race (24). Until a certain limiting reactive pneumatic force or frictional force is reached, the cup spring (26) will clamp the balls (22) between the inner and outer races, so that the fan blade (21) will rotate with the pulley; when the reactive force and speed are exceeded, however, the fan blade can rotate about the balls (22), and hence slip with respect to the rotation of the pulley (18).

Abstract: An alternating current generator for a car comprises the first centrifugal fan which is fixed to one end of the rotor and has a diameter smaller than that of the rotor, the first ventilating hole for feeding a coolant air which is formed in the end portion in the axial direction of the bracket in the side of the centrifugal fan, the second ventilating hole for discharging the coolant air which is formed in the cylindrical portion of the bracket in which the first ventilating hole is formed, the second centrifugal fan which is fixed to the other end of the rotor and has a diameter larger than that of the rotor, the third ventilating hole for feeding a coolant air which is formed in the end in the axial direction of the other bracket and the fourth ventilating hole for discharging a coolant air which is formed in the cylindrical portion of the other bracket.

Abstract: A partition plate structure for a cooling fan for an alternating current generator constructed in such a manner that an inner part of the rear bracket is inwardly extended in the radial direction to provide an extended surface so as to face the blade with a predetermined distance in an area where the rectifier and the brush holder are not placed; a first partition plate to be fastened to the rear bracket together with the rectifier and a second partition plate to be fastened to the rear bracket together with the brush holder are respectively placed in the rear bracket so as to be substantially flush with the extended surface.

Abstract: An electric generator for a vehicle has a rotary generator shaft, a generator rotor mounted on the shaft and having a field winding, a bracket surrounding the generator rotor and having the generator shaft rotatably journalled therein, an inductor fixed to the bracket means and having an energizing coil with a plurality of poles, and an induced member rotatably mounted on the rotary generator shaft and opposed to the inductor with a minute gap therebetween, so as to be coupled to the inductor by an electromagnetic force when the energizing coil receives current from the generator. The generator stator is disposed around the generator rotor and has an armature winding with a number of poles exceeding twice the number of poles of the inductor and for generating an AC output usable for supplying power to a load outside the generator. The energizing coil is connected to the armature winding for receiving a part of the AC output for energizing the energizing coil.

Abstract: An axially and radially compact rectifier assembly for installation in alternator rotors includes two spaced plates, each mounting diodes which extend axially toward the opposite plate, on which they are not mounted. The axial extension of the diodes provides for radial compactness. The diodes on each plate are staggered with respect to the diodes on the other plate so that they may nest between one another, to provide axial compactness as well.

Abstract: A bearing cooling mechanism for a vehicular A.C. generator including a rotor having a rotary shaft rotatably mounted to a frame through two opposite bearings comprises a pulley and a cooling fan fixed in overlapped relationship on the rotary shaft at one end protruding from the adjacent bearing and, in addition to holes disposed on both end surfaces of the frame, four ventilating holes extending at equal angular intervals through those portions of the overlapped pulley and cooling fan adjacent to the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A brushless rotary machine such as a brushless motor or a brushless generator is provided with first and second shafts. A rotor is fixed to the first shaft and rotated with the rotation of the first shaft, and magnetized when the rotor is fed with DC current. AC generator is mounted to the second shaft and generates AC current with rotation of the second shaft. The first and second shafts are separated and coupled to each other by a coupling mechanism having a space between the first and second shafts. In the space is provided a rectifier which is electrically coupled with the AC generator and the rotor, rectifies AC current generated by the AC generator into DC current and supplies the DC current to the rotor, thereby to magnetize the rotor.

Abstract: An electric generator is improved in its cooling capacity at low speeds by driving the fan at a speed which is a multiple of the generator speed. This is effected by mounting the fan blade on a rotor of a three phase induction motor which is driven by a part of the three phase output of the generator.

Abstract: An AC generator for internal combustion engines comprises a stator including an armature core, a generator coil and an output terminal connected to an end of the coil; a rotor fitted on the forward end of a crankshaft and including a hub secured by a mounting screw axially at the end of the crankshaft, claw tooth magnetic poles pressure-fitted on the boss, and a field coil arranged in the space formed by the claw tooth magnetic poles and the hub; a collector device including a first collector conductor, arranged substantially at a central part of the rotor electrically connected to an end of the field coil and an annular second collector conductor, arranged along a circumference of the rotor, electrically connected to the other end of the field coil; and a first brush in sliding contact with the first collector conductor and a second brush in sliding contact with the second collector conductor.

Abstract: The electric machine comprises a multiphase armature winding 6, a superconducting field winding 4, and a multiphase compensating winding 3 constructed in the form of sections 10. Each phase of the winding 3 is connected in series to one of the phases of the armature winding 6 through a sliding contact. The sections 10 comprise conductors of all the phases, and each phase of the winding 3 is so connected to a separate rectifier 14, 15, 16 that a unidirectional current flows therethrough.

Abstract: A three-phase alternator having a fan wheel (23) mounted with ball bearing (17) on the rotor shaft (18,21). The fan wheel, which is free to rotate about the rotor shaft, is coupled to it by a coupling between the V-belt pulley (22) and the fan wheel, which employs a few spaced ball bearings (24,25,26;27,28,29) and support a spring washer (32,36,39,40) which presses against outer races of the bearings and the fan wheel.

Abstract: A three-phase current alternator is particularly suited for automotive vehicles having three-phase current coils and three diode pairs for the alternator load current. The diodes of each pair are connected with one another and with one each of the three-phase current coils by conductive tracks located in, or over, a connection plate. An interference-reducing capacitor which, together with connection tabs, forms a prefabricated unit, is molded into the connection plate, the tabs positioning the capacitor in the production mold.

Abstract: A brushless dynamoelectric machine is provided with a molded insulating control wheel having a rim on whose inner surface the rectifiers and other components of the starting control circuitry are directly mounted and an outer surface on which a wire-wound starting resistor can be provided with provision for good support and adequate ventilation of the resistor so as to achieve a more compact and less expensive to assemble control wheel.

Abstract: The electric generator of the present invention has a plural-section main nding; and it uses uni-directional devices to permit current to flow through various sections of that winding as the rotor poles move away from various of the stator poles of that generator but to prevent current flow through those various sections as those rotor poles approach those stator poles. By preventing current flow through those various sections, as those rotor poles approach those stator poles, the present invention relieves the field winding of all need of overcoming the magnetomotive force of that main winding. As a result, fewer ampere turns are needed to enable that field winding to provide the magnetomotive force for that main winding.In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, an exciting winding has sections thereof that are wound on poles which have turns of the field winding wound thereon.

Abstract: Rotating thyristor excitation apparatus combined with an electrical machine, includes a shaft, a driving collar lying at ground potential and being rotationally fixed relative to the shaft, a first and a second shrouding ring each having inner peripheral surfaces and being disposed on the driving collar, the first shrouding ring having a given axial range, structural thyristor units, heat sinks and protective wiring being disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the first shrouding ring, control units being disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the second shrouding ring and being spatially separated from the structural thyristor units, heat sinks and protective wiring by the driving collar, a direct current collecting ring being attached to and insulated from the shaft within the given axial range of the first shrouding ring, radially inwardly disposed direct current terminals of the structural thyristor units, and radially aligned connecting conductors respectively connected from the direct current

Abstract: A speed sensor (30) for an electromagnetic machine (31) such as a permanent magnet generator includes a magnetic core (44) mounted laterally outboard of the machine's stator teeth (36) and having at least one leg (48) adjacent openings (43) in slots (38) between the stator teeth (36) which extends into the alternating magnetic flux field (42) generated by the machine's rotor (34) in order to pick up a sample (42) of the rotor flux. A portion (50) of the core (44) has wrapped therearound an electrical coil (52) within which there is induced by the flux sample (42) an alternating electrical signal having a frequency proportional to the angular velocity of the rotor (34). The magnetic core (44) may consist of either one or more discrete U-shaped members (44) each having legs (46,48) immediately adjacent or extending into the slots (38) of the stator (32) or a continuous strip (44f,44g) of material extending circumferentially around the stator (32) and having a plurality of the legs (48).

Abstract: An alternator has a rotary inductor carrying permanent magnets rotatable about field windings of a fixed armature and supported on a hollow shaft. The shaft forms a housing for a cooling fan and optionally also an electronic power switching device for rectifying and regulating the alternator output. The fan inside the shaft thus cools the switching device. A separate fan incorporated in a radially outer portion of the inductor rotor cools the field windings of the armature.

Abstract: An AC/DC generator small in size and small in weight is obtained by forming into one unit an ordinary charging generator and an inductor type generator which are juxtaposed in the axial direction. The AC section has no commutator; it can supply power for lamps or heating elements in a vehicle.

Abstract: To reduce the axial length of an alternator, so that it can be attached, for example, to the end wall (10) of an automotive engine having a stub shaft (11) projecting therefrom, a transmission housing, clutch housing, or the like, a support structure (22, 122) has ring-shaped axially extending portions (23, 45, 145) the outer ones of which retain the armature (12, 13) typically three phase, and the inner one retains the outer races of ball bearings (35, 36; 76a, 135, 136), the inner races of which are secured to axially inwardly extending portions (31, 131) of a claw pole rotor having claw poles rotating within the gap formed by a field structure (20, 120) and the stationary windings so that the ring-shaped axial inner projection (45, 145) of the support structure interengages and overlaps the axially extending inner projection (31, 131) of the claw pole structure, and the ball bearings are placed in essential alignment with the stator core and the field core, and positioned within two parallel planes (37, 38

Abstract: An alternator assembly for an automotive vehicle including a rectifier device composed of a plurality of diodes supported on a negative-side cooling fin of semi-circular arc shape, a plurality of diodes supported on a positive-side cooling fin of semi-circular arc shape, and a terminal board supporting a plurality of terminals connected to the diodes. The rectifier device is assembled and held in a unitary structure by a plurality of metal members, and arranged in a space defined by an end frame and a rear cover of the alternator assembly in such a manner that the metal members are in contact at one end thereof with the rear cover and at the other end thereof with the end frame.

Abstract: An AC generator for vehicles has a cooling fan secured to one end face of a rotor core and being operative to produce radial and axial flows of cooling air. The radial air flow passes across a stator coil and outwardly through air outlet openings formed in a peripheral wall portion of a housing. The axial air flow passes through spaces between respective fingers of rotor core and also through air gap between the rotor and stator whereby the rotor and stator coils are reliably cooled by the cooling fan. In an embodiment of the invention, an additional radial-flow fan is provided and mounted on the rotor in face-to-face contacting relationship with the other end face of the rotor core.

Abstract: A self-cooled rotating electrical machine is provided with multiple axial and radial coolant passages. Wedges within the interpolar spaces of a salient pole rotor provide an axial coolant path which receives coolant deflected by vanes on the end of the wedges. Coolant expelled at the center of the wedges passes through axial passages in the stator and through a gap between the rotor and stator. Impeller tabs on the ends of the wedges force coolant around stator windings. Recirculation of coolant is prevented by shrouds attached to the ends of the wedges.

Abstract: A substantially constant frequency self-regulated generator produces in one embodiment 120 volts or the like single phase output or in another embodiment 120 or 240 volts or the like single phase output. The generator employs an exciter stator and a stationary rectifier assembly with the former being a six pole exciter stator alternately wound with three shunt poles and three series poles with two separate windings on each series pole. The three shunt poles of the exciter stator are connected in series making, in effect, one shunt winding. The series circuit consists of two separate windings on each series pole, which are respectively parallel connected and wound on all three series poles. Each series pole then has two separate isolated coils. With the exciter stator there is employed a stationary diode assembly utilizing three diodes as rectifiers for the shunt and isolated series windings.

Abstract: To facilitate assembly of an automotive alternator, the alternator housing (11) is separated into two axially split half-shells (11a, 11b), the dividing line (11c) preferably passing through the axis of the shaft (18) of the alternator. The alternator assembly is made by providing a subassembly including the shaft, electromagnetic rotor structure, bearings, and a disk element in which rectifier diodes are seated and which can also support holders in engagement with the slip rings and the voltage regulator. The stator is slipped around the subassembly, a fan wheel and pulley can be attached to the subassembly which is then placed into one half-shell. The bearings and the concentric elements are positioned in alignment by seats formed in the half-shell, and the axial alignment can be accurately checked, and if the alignment is found proper, the second half-shell is assembled thereover.

Abstract: In a rectifier circuit structure, particularly for automative use, a diode array is in the form of a column and includes a Zener diode in the column which serves to protect the rectifier diodes of the arrangement and to protect an electrical load system coupled to the output of the diode array.

Abstract: A plurality of individual semiconductor diode wafers secured to the rotor of a synchronous machine rectify AC from an excitation power source to provide DC to the main rotating field element. The diode wafers, connected as either a half wave or a full wave rectifier, are contained within a housing to form a rectifier assembly. The assembly is mounted directly on an inner surface of the housing carried on the shaft of the machine. The assembly is provided with suitable passageways or surfaces for flow of a non-electrically conductive cooling medium. In one embodiment, the cooling medium, as oil or air, traverses the surface of the diode wafers to provide high efficiency heat removal. In another embodiment the cooling medium traverses a heat sink on which the wafers are mounted to provide a high efficiency heat removal.

Abstract: Two U-shaped sheet metal members having legs through which the cooling air passes have bases onto which at least two of the load current carrying diodes are fastened, the connection between the diodes and the sheet metal members forming the heat sink being a highly heat conductive connection.

Abstract: This invention relates to a current transformer support assembly for use in an electromotive machine that includes an armature slideably secured to the electromotive machine housing. The armature end windings have radially disposed neutral armature conductors. The support assembly includes an arcuate shaped support member secured internally of the housing within a recessed region of the housing. The arcuate shaped support member is provided with at least one well shaped opening in which a secondary current transformer winding is positioned. A neutral armature assembly is provided that includes an arcuate strap secured in a mating manner to the support member. The neutral armature assembly has a neutral lead which acts as a primary for the current transformer. The neutral lead is secured to the strap and passes through a central opening in the current transformer winding for electrical connection to a neutral armature winding. The current transformers so mounted are completely supported by the housing.

Abstract: To provide an easily and essentially automatically manufactured rectifier array for an automotive alternator, two bus rails 1a, 1b, in the form of sheet metal strips, are punched for insertion of connecting studs 6 of rectifier diodes. The bus rails, with the diodes assembled thereto, are placed parallel to, and spaced from each other, and oppositely directed studs 6 from the diodes 4 are connected together by connecting strips 2a, 2b, 2c, which will function as electrical connecting elements and heat sink and heat dissipating plates to conduct off heat arising in operation of the diodes. The subassembly can then be connected into an alternator, with an air directing baffle directing axial airflow.

Abstract: To provide a fresh air duct for cooling of a brush holder-voltage regulator combination without introducing additional axial length to the overall alternator-regulator structure, a fresh air duct extends radially from the end bell of the alternator which is adjacent the slip rings, and the brush holder and voltage regulator are secured to a common support plate to form a single subassembly, the support plate covering an opening in the end bell of the alternator to permit introduction of the brush holder-voltage regulator assembly as a unit through the opening from the outside, positioning the brushes within the brush holder against the slip rings, and closing off the end bell to prevent ingress of hot air which may be in the engine compartment of the vehicle with which the alternator is to be used, so that the cooling air for the slip rings, brushes and the transistor voltage regulator is supplied as a stream of fresh air from the cooling air inlet stub which has its outlet positioned close to the brush holde

Abstract: A brushless exciter rotor mounting of a sleeveless design directed to a rotor core which is mounted on the shaft of an AC generator so that the rotor core can be rotated by the generator to provide direct current to the generator. The shaft has a stepped construction providing a larger diameter of the shaft at the inner end portion and a lesser diameter portion of the shaft extending outwardly therefrom. The rotor core has a slightly larger inner diameter than the lesser diameter portion of the shaft for a predetermined length to provide a radial clearance therebetween. At the inner end of the shaft the rotor core pilots to the larger diameter end portion of the shaft and at the outer end portion of the shaft a standoff casting pilots to the shaft. The shaft is keyed to the rotor core to prevent rotation of the shaft within the rotor core.

Abstract: To form a compact combination structure which provides efficient cooling and ease of assembly, maintenance and repair, while reducing the number of elements necessary to be stocked for maintenance or repair purposes, the rectifier portion of the alternator-rectifier combination comprises two groups of rectifiers which are, respectively, set in openings of two disk-shaped support plates 15, 35, which have, each, ring-shaped portions 38 surrounding the shaft and radially projecting fins 39, 39'. One of the plates is formed with a hub to retain one of the bearings, the outer portion of the fins is apertured for attachment to the shell of the alternator, and additionally deformed to provide seating surfaces for accurate positioning, for example by externally applied punch marks, of the plate. An insulating spacer 43, 43' separates the two plates which are so positioned that the fins of one plate are opposite the gap between fins of the other, so that air drawn axially by a ventilating fan will cool both plates.

Abstract: To facilitate manufacture, and provide readily accessible insertion openings for rectifier diodes in automotive alternators, the end covers or end shields are made as sheet metal elements with radially extending arms, leaving space for ventilating openings therebetween, extending from the center of rotation of the alternator, and form with bearing retaining means at the center, for example in the form of a punch or drawn bushing extension extending in axial direction and at right angles to the major plane of the sheet metal element which, preferably, is also formed with stiffening ribs or beads at the lateral edges thereof. Preferably, the alternator is, in cross section, hexagonal and three arms, extending at 120.degree.

Abstract: To direct cooling air to components which, in operation, require different amounts of cooling due to different heat dissipation, a cover cap is provided which prevents accidental contact with current-carrying elements and which is formed with slits or openings therein located with respect to the components requiring cooling to direct cooling air, upon induced axial airflow, to the respective components in relationship to their cooling requirements. Some of these openings may be formed with in-turned collars surrounding, for example, diode rectifiers, to direct air on and around the diode rectifiers, while preventing contact with their terminals.

Abstract: To form a compact combination structure which provides efficient cooling and ease of assembly, maintenance and repair, while reducing the number of elements necessary to be stocked for maintenance or repair purposes, the rectifier portion of the alternator-rectifier combination comprises two groups of rectifiers which are, respectively, secured to the surface of two disk-shaped support plates 15, 35, which have, each, ring-shaped portions 38 surrounding the shaft and radially projecting fins 39, 39'. One of the plates is formed with a hub to retain one of the bearings, the outer portion of the fins is apertured for attachment to the shell of the alternator, and additionally deformed to provide seating surfaces for accurate positioning, for example by externally applied punch marks, of the plate.

Abstract: A switching circuit electrically connected to a brush and collector bar of a DC dynamoelectric machine utilizing a high current rectifier and a source of electromotive source which produces a current in the circuit which is generally equal to the current flowing between the brush and the collector bar and which can be forced to zero as the brush separates from the collector bar to reduce degradation of the trailing edges of the brushes and collector bars and improve the machine efficiency.

Abstract: An alternating current generator for charging a battery has a radio noise suppressing capacitor. One terminal of the capacitor element is press-contacted with the bottom of a hollow part formed in a bracket and the other terminal of the capacitor element is press-contacted with a conductive member connected to the output terminal of the generator in the holding of the capacitor. The parts can be decreased and the quality can be improved.

Abstract: For more effective cooling of directly driven claw-pole, typically automotive alternators, a system of internal passageways is provided through which cooling oil is forced from the pressurized engine oil supply system. The oil flows directly over surfaces of the rectifiers or their heat sink, the exciter core, and the stator housing. A portion of the oil is branched off in a metered quantity at the inlet directly to a shaft bearing, which it cools and lubricates. Various passageways systems are described, including one which permits electrical feed-throughs and the diodes to be mounted dry. A particular configuration is described for a shaft bearing, in which between an armor bushing and a cast bearing support hub there are annular oil channels connected to longitudinal oil channels to evenly distribute the pressurized oil around the bearing.

Abstract: A small engine alternator having a stator with one or a pair of windings which are lead to an unsupported plug element that is engageable with another plug element. A diode rectifier is connected between a lead from the winding and a terminal of the plug element to provide direct current at the plug element. A second winding may be connected to the plug element to provide a.c. current. A piece of heat shrunken plastic tubing extends from the plug element to snugly embrace the lead or leads thereto, and two pieces of heat shrunken plastic tubing may be concentrically arranged to snugly embrace leads to the plug element and a portion thereof. Input leads to battery charging or accessory circuits are connected to terminal members of the cooperating plug element.

Abstract: There is disclosed a rectifier assembly for an AC generator for use with vehicles. The rectifier assembly comprises a single horseshoe heat radiating plate and electric circuit elements mounted thereon, and including at least one rectifier unit and two DC output conductor plates. The two d.c. output conductor plates are disposed in spaced relationship on one surface of the heat radiating plate with an intermediate insulating layer and electrically connected to output terminals of the rectifier unit. The assembly may be incorporated with a voltage regulator of an integrated circuit configuration for controlling the output voltage of the AC generator and a brush holder. The voltage regulator may be coplanar with the conductor plates.

Abstract: A liquid cooled rectified-alternating current generator for supplying direct current to electrical loads such as the battery and other electrical loads on a motor vehicle. The generator has a generator compartment containing a stator winding and a rotor. A rectifier compartment is provided at the end of the generator which contains diode rectifiers supported by heat sinks and connected to the stator winding of the generator. A liquid coolant medium, such as engine lubricating oil, is circulated through the generator. The coolant is supplied under pressure to the rectifier compartment, thence to the generator compartment and from there coolant is exhausted into a suitable oil sump. The passage means for supplying coolant from the rectifier compartment to the generator compartment comprises a laterally extending passage having an inlet located adjacent the heat sinks for the rectifiers.

Abstract: An interchangeable tube is disposed and retained within a hollow rotor shaft of an electrical machine to form an axially extending cavity between the tube and the hollow rotor shaft. Oil flows into the tube from an oil supply, through holes in the tube, and into the cavity, and is sprayed from holes in the hollow shaft for cooling and lubricating the electrical machine. The configurations of the hollow rotor shaft and the interchangeable tube facilitate removal of the tube from the hollow rotor shaft without complete disassembly of the electrical machine. Thus, tubes having different hole diameters and hole configurations can be interchanged to accommodate different oil flow requirements and different oil pressures established by constant speed drives or auxiliary power units coupled to the electrical machine.

Abstract: A voltage regulator and brush assembly for an alternator has a body of the voltage regulator mounted on a housing of the brush assembly. A screw passes through an apertured flange at one end of the body of the voltage regulator and engages in a screw threaded hole in a recessed surface on the housing of the brush assembly. At the other end of the body of the voltage regulator there are provided two tongues which define a slot having an inwardly tapering free end. A recess facing the fixing screw is provided in the brush housing and the tongues engage in the recess so that the slot between the tongues abuts against a correspondingly shaped shoulder in the recess whereby when the screw is tightened the tongues engage in the recess with a wedging action which provides a firm, vibration-free connection between the voltage regulator and the brush housing.

Abstract: In a rotary electric machine having a winding and a rectifier arrangement which rotate in unison, the rectifier comprises a plurality of diodes each having a terminal lug extending parallel to the rotor axis, and electrical connections between the winding and rectifier arrangement are provided by connectors which extend between the respective terminal lugs and locations on the winding which are generally diametrally opposite the lugs, whereby the combination of the centrifugal forces on each lug and connector prevents distortion of the lugs.

Abstract: A rectifier assembly for rectifying the output of an alternator for use with an internal combustion engine, comprising a first set of diodes; a second set of diodes; a first arcuate electric conductive plate for cooling the first set of the diodes and for connecting one terminal of each of the first set of the diodes in common with one pole of an external power source; a second arcuate electric conductive plate for cooling the second set of the diodes and for connecting one terminal of each of the second set of the diodes in common with the other pole of the external power source; and a plurality of electric conductive connectors each connecting the other terminal of corresponding one of the first set of the diodes and the other terminal of corresponding one of the second set of the diodes in common with the corresponding one of the phases of an armature winding of an alternator so as to connect the first set of the diodes and the second set of the diodes in a full-wave rectifying circuit.

Abstract: A diode mountable on the rotor shaft of an electrical machine, such as a generator, with an insulating member between the stem and body of the diode having a strength sufficient to resist bending moment on the stem of the diode resulting from centrifugal force and prevent fracture of the insulating member.

Abstract: A multiphase, full-wave rectifier assembly for an alternator has first and second mutually parallel plates carrying first and second sets of diodes. Connectors electrically connect terminals of respective diodes of the first and second sets with each other and with terminals of respective field diodes heads of a multiphase stator of the alternator are connected respectively with the connectors. Each field diode is held in a respective recess defined between first and second plates of a common electrical connector for the field diodes. Each recess is defined by a U-shaped portion in the first plate of the common electrical connector and a part of the second plate of the common electrical connector, said part closing the U-shaped portion. Deformable tags on the ends of the U-shaped portions pass through corresponding slots in the second plate of the common electrical connector and are deformed so as to hold said plates together.

Abstract: A brushless excitation system for a synchronous dynamoelectric machine includes an alternating current exciter and a rotating rectifier assembly. In such a system, the alternating current exciter includes a salient pole stator field member and a polyphase armature rotor member. A sensing coil is disposed around at least one of the salient stator poles for developing an alternating electrical signal in response to changes in the magnetic flux wave linking the rotating armature member and the field coil of the salient stator pole member. Means connected to the sensing coil indicates variations in the alternating current signal which correspond with disturbances in the rotary electric circuit of the brushless exciter such as a line-to-line short circuit or a phase-to-phase short circuit in the armature winding, or shorted diodes or open fuses in the rotating rectifier assembly.

Abstract: The rectifier assembly of an alternator is provided with improved cooling by improved air flow directed over the semiconductor elements of the rectifier assembly. Improved flow of air is provided by an auxiliary fan blade that is attached to a rotating member in the alternator structure. The fan blade is in proximity to the semiconductor rectifier elements of the rectifier assembly. Air ports are provided in the alternator housing to accommodate this air flow and to improve the distribution of cooling air.

Abstract: In a dynamoelectric machine having an exciter assembly mounted on a rotating shaft including: rectifiers for rectifying AC exciter current into a DC field current; a hub secured to the shaft; and a number of rectifier mounting plates attached to the hub, each plate having apertures through which individual rectifiers are mounted, the cooling of the exciter assembly and the rectifier diodes is facilitated by an oil spray impinging directly on the rectifier diodes and mounting plates wherein the cooling is enhanced and sludge build-up on the inner surface of the hub is reduced by providing coolant passageways in the rectifier mounting plates that allow the oil to pass through the plates.