Electrical isolation of an alternator
AssigneeBorgWarner Inc.
InventorsTimothy J. Alfermann, Daniel E. Wilkins, Drake J. Sayre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An alternator for generating electrical power to one or more components of a power network includes a machine portion including a stator, a rotor and a rectifier, a battery connection terminal connected to the machine portion and configured to be connected to a battery, and an isolation device integral to the alternator. The isolation device is located on an electrical path between at least the machine portion and the battery connection terminal, and the isolation device is configured to isolate at least one of the alternator and another component of the power network from receiving electric current from the battery based on an undesirable condition occurring in the power network.
Claims20
An alternator for generating electrical power to one or more components of a power network, comprising:
- a machine portion including a stator, a rotor and a rectifier;
- a battery connection terminal connected to the machine portion and configured to be connected to a battery;
- and
- an isolation device integral to the alternator, the isolation device located on an electrical path between at least the machine portion and the battery connection terminal, the isolation device configured to isolate at least one of the alternator and another component of the power network from receiving electric current from the battery based on an undesirable condition occurring in the power network.
A method of controlling electrical power supply to one or more components of a power network, the method comprising:
- operating a machine portion of an alternator to generate electricity, the machine portion including a stator, a rotor and a rectifier;
- transmitting electric power to a battery via a battery connection terminal of the alternator;
- and
- based on an undesirable condition occurring in the power network, isolating at least one of the alternator and another component of the power network from receiving electric current from the battery, the isolating performed by an isolation device integral to the alternator, the isolation device located on an electrical path between at least the machine portion and the battery connection terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.