Front fan retention in dual internal fan alternator
AssigneeRemy Technologies, L.L.C.
InventorsJiwon Chung, Scott Bitzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An alternator has a pole segment with a collar, an axially outward surface, and at least one key extending radially outward from the collar along the surface. A fan has a keying slot extending radially outward from a center ring, and a fan body including protrusions. The fan is mounted to the segment whereby the collar fits inside the ring and the key fits inside the keying slot, and the fan is welded to the segment at the protrusions. A method includes securing a fan to a pole segment by mating a radially-extending key formed on the segment to a keying slot of the fan and by welding the fan to the segment.
Claims20
An alternator having a center axis, comprising:
- a pole segment having a collar, a plurality of claw poles, an axially outward segment surface connecting the claw poles, and at least one key extending radially outward from the collar along the segment surface;
- a fan having an inside diameter formed as a ring, a keying slot positioned radially outward from the ring, a plurality of blades, and a fan body connecting the blades and including a plurality of protrusions;
- wherein the fan is mounted to the segment so that the collar fits inside the ring and the key fits inside the keying slot, and wherein the fan is welded to the segment at the protrusions.
A method of cooling an alternator, comprising:
- providing a pole segment having a raised collar, a plurality of claw poles, an axially outward segment surface connecting the claw poles, and at least one key extending radially outward from the collar;
- providing a fan having an inside diameter formed as a ring, a keying slot positioned radially outward from the ring, a plurality of blades, and a fan body connecting the blades and including a plurality of protrusions;
- placing the fan onto the segment so that the collar fits inside the ring and the key fits inside the keying slot;
- and
- welding the fan to the segment at the protrusions.
A method of assembling a rotor of an alternator, comprising securing a fan to a drive end (DE) pole segment by mating a radially-extending key formed on the segment to a keying slot of the fan and by welding the fan to the segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.