Brushless alternator

A vehicle brushless alternator assembly comprising:

• a claw pole rotor assembly having a pair of opposing pole pieces, the rotor defining an axis of rotation, each of the pole pieces having a plurality of circumferentially spaced pole fingers extending axially, the pole fingers of the rotor alternating between north and south magnetic polarities upon energization of a field coil;
• and
• a cylindrical stator comprising armature enveloping the magnetic claw poles, the stator arranged coaxially relative to a drive shaft;
• the field coil structured to be positioned coaxially in an internal cavity of said rotor to arrange the field coil in a spaced relationship relative to said rotor to generate magnetic flux upon being energized, the field coil comprising at least a first field winding electrically connected with at least a second field winding by a switching arrangement such that:
• in a first operable configuration the switching arrangement operates to electrically connect the first and second field windings in series during energization;
• and
• in a second operable configuration the switching arrangement operates to electrically disconnects the second field winding from the first field winding to result in energization of the first field winding without energizing the second field winding,
• wherein the vehicle brushless alternator assembly further comprises a sensor assembly operatively coupled to the switching arrangement for switching between the first and second operable configuration, in response to sensing changes in one or more predetermined parameters.

A vehicle brushless alternator assembly comprising:

• a claw pole rotor assembly having a pair of opposing pole pieces, the rotor defining an axis of rotation, each of the pole pieces having a plurality of circumferentially spaced pole fingers extending axially, the pole fingers of the rotor alternating between north and south magnetic polarities upon energization of a field coil;
• and
• a cylindrical stator comprising armature enveloping the magnetic claw poles, the stator arranged coaxially relative to a drive shaft;
• the field coil structured to be positioned coaxially in an internal cavity of said rotor to arrange the field coil in a spaced relationship relative to said rotor to generate magnetic flux upon being energized, the field coil comprising at least a first field winding electrically connected with at least a second field winding,
• wherein the second field winding is electrically connected to a boost controlling module, the boost controlling module being arranged to:
• energize the second field winding, in a boosting mode, to increase the magnetic flux generated by the field coil;
• energize the second field winding in an opposite polarity relative to the first field winding, in a reductive mode, to reduce the magnetic flux generated by the field coil;
• and
• wherein the first field winding is electrically connected with the second field winding by a switching arrangement such that:
• in a first operable configuration the switching arrangement operates to electrically connect the first and second field windings in parallel during energization;
• and
• in a second operable configuration the switching arrangement operates to electrically connect the first and second field windings in parallel during energization,
• wherein the vehicle brushless alternator assembly further comprises a sensor assembly operatively coupled to the switching arrangement for switching between the first and second operable configuration, in response to sensing changes in one or more predetermined parameters.