Command component assembly for alternator to automatic vehicle

• US 6,989,617 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2000
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Vandenbossche, Mathieu
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAN MARTIN, JAYDI A
• Application Number:
  US09/583,583
• Time in Patent Office: 1,919 Days
• Field of Search: 310/239, 310 52- 65, 310/227, 310/91, 310/219, 310/238, 165/185
• US Class Current: 310/68.00D
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 19/36 Structural association of synchronous generators with auxiliary electric devices influencing the characteristic of the generator or controlling the generator, e.g. with impedances or switches
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/141 for cooperation with slip-rings

Abstract

A brush holder for a vehicle electrical machine having an insulating support, an electrical circuit including a semiconductor control component; and at least one metallic heat dissipation member in contact with the ambient environment and arranged to receive heat from the control component. The dissipation member is composed of two distinct parts, a seat and a dissipator. The seat is fixed to the support and receiving, on one of its faces, the control component and, on the other one of its faces, the dissipator.

Claims

1. Brush holder (2) for a vehicle alternator having a housing with a bearing (36), said brush holder (2) comprising:

an insulating support (4) having an opening (22);

a heat dissipating means (14, 26) having a metallic seat fixed to the support (4);

and an electrical circuit comprising a semiconductor control component (12), wherein the seat (14) receives for fixing on one of its faces the control component (12) within an opening (22) in the support (4) so that said control component (12) is fixed to the seat (14) at a position in said opening, and the seat (14) defines a part of the heat dissipation means (14, 26) which is in contact with an ambient environment and arranged so as to receive heat from the control component (12), and wherein the seat is separate from the bearing (36) and not in contact with said bearing (36), said seat is partially embedded within a thickness of the support (4) and the seat receives on the other of its faces a heat dissipator so that the heat dissipation means (14, 26) is composed of two distinct and adjacent parts.

2. Brush holder according to claim 1, wherein the support (4) is moulded onto the seat (14).

3. Brush holder according to claim 1, wherein the support (4) is moulded onto the dissipator (14, 26).

4. Brush holder according to claim 1, wherein the dissipator (26) is attached to the support (14).

5. Brush holder according to claim 4, wherein the dissipator (26) is fixed to the support (4) by screws (34).

6. Vehicle alternator, comprising:

a brush holder according to claim 5, at least one of the screws (34) for mounting the dissipator (26) on the support (4) providing the fixing of the brush holder (2) to a housing of the machine, and a thermally insulating element (37) is interposed between the head of each screw (34) and the dissipator (36).

7. Brush holder according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a heat-conducting layer (30) interposed between the seat (14) and the dissipator.

8. Brush holder according to claim 1, wherein the seat (14) and the dissipator (26) are in direct contact.

9. Brush holder according to claim 8, wherein at least one (14) from amongst the seat (14) and dissipator (26) has projecting reliefs (38) able to enter the material of the other one (26) from amongst a base and dissipator when they are placed in the operating position of the brush holder.

10. Brush holder according to claim 1, wherein the dissipator (26) is metallic.

11. Brush holder according to claim 1, wherein the dissipator (26) has a coefficient of expansion greater than that of the seat.