Airflow Passage Arrangement for Claw-Pole Electric Machines
AssigneeRemy International, Inc.
InventorMichael D. Bradfield
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor configured to rotate about an axis of rotation in a direction of angular rotation. The rotor includes a first claw-pole segment and an opposing second claw-pole segment. The first claw-pole segment includes a plurality of fingers extending from an end ring. Each finger includes a distal end and a proximal end with the proximal end fixed to the end ring. Each finger also includes an interior side and an exterior side with the exterior side facing the stator. A leading side and a trailing side are defined on each finger by the direction of angular rotation. A chamfer is formed on the exterior trailing side of each finger at the proximal end of the finger.
Claims20
An electric machine comprising:
- a stator;
- and
- a rotor configured to rotate about an axis of rotation in a direction of angular rotation, the rotor including a first claw-pole segment and an opposing second claw-pole segment, the first claw-pole segment including a plurality of fingers extending from an end ring, each finger including
- a distal end and a proximal end with the proximal end fixed to the end ring;
- an interior side and an exterior side, the exterior side facing the stator,
- a leading side and a trailing side defined by the direction of angular rotation, and
- an indentation formed on the exterior trailing side of the finger at the proximal end of the finger.
A method of cooling an alternator using a stream of air flowing through the alternator, the alternator having a claw-pole rotor arrangement, the method comprising:
- rotating the rotor arrangement;
- receiving a stream of air into a first end of the alternator such that the stream of air flows over an exterior surface of the claw pole arrangement;
- causing the stream of air to flow over an indentation on a trailing edge of a finger of the claw-pole rotor arrangement;
- and
- causing the stream of air to flow between fingers on opposing segments of the claw-pole rotor arrangement and over a field winding positioned on the interior of the claw-pole arrangement.
An alternator comprising:
- a stator;
- and
- a rotor separated from the stator by an airgap in an active airgap region of the rotor, the rotor configured to rotate about an axis of rotation in a direction of angular rotation, the rotor including a first claw-pole segment and an opposing second claw-pole segment, the first claw-pole segment including a plurality of fingers extending from an end ring, each finger including a chamfer formed on a trailing side of the finger, wherein the chamfer is substantially outside of the airgap region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.