COMPACT HIGH POWER ALTERNATOR
First Claim
1. Power conversion apparatus comprising a shaft, a stator, and a rotor, the shaft, stator, and rotor being coaxially disposed with the rotor mounted on the shaft, the stator including at least one winding, and the rotor including a plurality of permanent magnets disposed proximate to the stator, separated from the stator by a predetermined gap distance, such that relative motion of the rotor and stator causes magnetic flux from the magnets to magnetically interact with the stator winding, wherein:
- the shaft includes a tapered portion disposed between the ends of the shaft at a predetermined position relative to the stator, the diameter of the tapered portion having a predetermined taper;
the rotor includes a central through-bore having a predetermined taper corresponding to that of the tapered portion of the shaft; and
the shaft is journaled through the rotor tapered bore, such that shaft tapered portion is received in the rotor bore, cooperation of the tapered rotor bore and tapered shaft portion positioning the rotor with respect to the shaft and the stator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, particularly suited for use as a compact high power alternator for automotive use and “remove and replace” retrofitting of existing vehicles. The apparatus comprises a rotor with permanent magnets, a stator with a winding, and a cooling system. Mechanisms to prevent the rotor magnets from clashing with the stator by minimizing rotor displacement, and absorbing unacceptable rotor displacement are disclosed. The cooling system directs coolant flow into thermal contact with at least one of the winding and magnets, and includes at least one passageway through the stator core. Various open and closed cooling systems are described. Cooling is facilitated by, for example, loosely wrapping the winding end turns, use of an asynchronous airflow source, and/or directing coolant through conduits extending through the stator into thermal contact with the windings.
75 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Power conversion apparatus comprising a shaft, a stator, and a rotor, the shaft, stator, and rotor being coaxially disposed with the rotor mounted on the shaft, the stator including at least one winding, and the rotor including a plurality of permanent magnets disposed proximate to the stator, separated from the stator by a predetermined gap distance, such that relative motion of the rotor and stator causes magnetic flux from the magnets to magnetically interact with the stator winding, wherein:
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the shaft includes a tapered portion disposed between the ends of the shaft at a predetermined position relative to the stator, the diameter of the tapered portion having a predetermined taper; the rotor includes a central through-bore having a predetermined taper corresponding to that of the tapered portion of the shaft; and the shaft is journaled through the rotor tapered bore, such that shaft tapered portion is received in the rotor bore, cooperation of the tapered rotor bore and tapered shaft portion positioning the rotor with respect to the shaft and the stator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Power conversion apparatus comprising a shaft, a stator including at least one winding;
- and a rotor including a plurality of permanent magnets, the shaft, stator and rotor being coaxially disposed, with the rotor mounted on the shaft, such that, in the absence of external forces, the rotor is disposed in a predetermined position relative to the stator with the magnets proximate to the stator, separated from the stator by a predetermined gap distance, such that relative motion of the rotor and stator causes magnetic flux from the magnets to magneticall interact with the stator winding, further including at least one bumper disposed to prevent the position of rotor from deviating, in response to external forces, more than a predetermined amount from the predetermined position relative to the stator, such that clashing between the magnets and the stator is avoided
- View Dependent Claims (20)
Specification