Liquid cooled alternator having finned stator sleeve
First Claim
1. An automotive alternator comprising:
- an inner housing;
an outer housing mounted over said inner housing;
an internal plate mounted within said outer housing;
said inner housing, said outer housing, and said internal plate defining a sealed flow chamber;
said flow chamber including an inlet reservoir and an outlet reservoir located adjacent a first end of said electric machine, and a cross over reservoir located adjacent a second end of said electric machine;
said inner housing including a plurality of radially extending axial fins, said fins extending radially outward toward an inner surface of said outer housing to define a plurality of axial flow channels;
a first portion of said plurality of axial flow channels interconnecting said inlet reservoir to said cross over reservoir and a second portion of said plurality of axial flow channels interconnecting said cross over reservoir to said outlet reservoir.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automotive alternator includes an inner housing assembly, an outer housing assembly mounted over the inner housing assembly, and an internal plate mounted within the outer housing assembly. The inner housing assembly, the outer housing assembly, and the internal plate define a sealed flow chamber. The flow chamber includes an inlet reservoir and an outlet reservoir located adjacent a first end, and a cross over reservoir located adjacent a second end. The inner housing assembly includes a plurality of radially extending axial fins. The fins extend outward from the sleeve toward the outer housing to define a plurality of axial flow channels. A first portion of the flow channels interconnects the inlet reservoir to the cross over reservoir and a second portion of the flow channels interconnects the cross over reservoir to the outlet reservoir.
45 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An automotive alternator comprising:
-
an inner housing;
an outer housing mounted over said inner housing;
an internal plate mounted within said outer housing;
said inner housing, said outer housing, and said internal plate defining a sealed flow chamber;
said flow chamber including an inlet reservoir and an outlet reservoir located adjacent a first end of said electric machine, and a cross over reservoir located adjacent a second end of said electric machine;
said inner housing including a plurality of radially extending axial fins, said fins extending radially outward toward an inner surface of said outer housing to define a plurality of axial flow channels;
a first portion of said plurality of axial flow channels interconnecting said inlet reservoir to said cross over reservoir and a second portion of said plurality of axial flow channels interconnecting said cross over reservoir to said outlet reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
a shaft rotatably supported within said inner housing by a pair of bearing elements;
a rotor assembly including first and second pole pieces mounted onto said shaft with an excitation winding mounted between said first and second pole pieces;
a stator assembly fixedly mounted within said inner housing in functional engagement with said rotor assembly.
-
-
9. A coolant system for an internal combustion engine for an automobile comprising:
-
an engine having flow passages therein adapted to allow coolant to flow through said engine;
a radiator adapted to cool the coolant flowing therethrough;
a heater core adapted to receive heated coolant which has passed through the engine and to provide heated air to a passenger compartment of the automobile;
an alternator having flow passages therein adapted to allow coolant to flow through said alternator, said alternator being positioned up-stream of said heater core such that heat transferred from said alternator to said coolant is utilized by said heater core to provide heated air to a passenger compartment of the automobile;
said alternator having and an inner housing, an outer housing mounted over said inner housing, and an internal plate mounted within said outer housing, said inner housing, said outer housing and said internal plate defining a sealed flow chamber;
said flow chamber including an inlet reservoir and an outlet reservoir located adjacent a first end of said alternator, and a cross over reservoir located adjacent a second end of said alternator;
said inner housing including a plurality of radially extending axial fins, said fins extending radially outward toward an inner surface of said outer housing to define a plurality of axial flow channels;
a first portion of said plurality of axial flow channels interconnecting said inlet reservoir to said cross over reservoir and a second portion of said plurality of axial flow channels interconnecting said cross over reservoir to said outlet reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
a shaft rotatably supported within said inner housing by a pair of bearing elements;
a rotor assembly including first and second pole pieces mounted onto said shaft with an excitation winding mounted between said first and second pole pieces;
a stator assembly fixedly mounted within said inner housing in functional engagement with said rotor assembly.
-
Specification