Systems and methods for cooling a drive end bearing

A method comprising:

• rotating a drive end fan at a drive end of an alternator, wherein the alternator comprises:
• a drive end;
• a rear end opposite the drive end;
• a drive end bearing;
• the drive end fan comprising:
• an outer edge,
• an inner edge forming a shaft aperture,
• a fan hub between the inner edge and the outer edge, and
• a plurality of auxiliary air flow inlet apertures positioned circumferentially around the shaft aperture between the fan hub and the outer edge;
• and
• a front housing face adjacent to the drive end fan, the front housing face between the drive end fan and the drive end bearing, the front housing face comprising a plurality of auxiliary fins coupled to the drive end bearing, the plurality of auxiliary fins protruding from the front housing face, and the plurality of auxiliary fins arrayed axially on the front housing face;
• drawing air into the alternator via the plurality of auxiliary air flow inlet apertures of the drive end fan;
• pulling the air across the plurality of auxiliary fins to transfer drive end bearing heat to the air;
• and
• expelling the drive end bearing-heated air from the alternator by the drive end fan.