Method and apparatus for space-saving installation of a starter-alternator
OwnerJeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Jon Barry Joachim +1inventors
InventorsJeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Jon Barry Joachim, Michael Benjamin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An installation and support apparatus or assembly 18 is provided for use in combination with an electric machine 10, such as a starter-alternator, which is adapted to be operatively installed between the engine block 12 and the transmission assembly 16 of a vehicle. The apparatus 18 includes a stationary support member 20, an generally circular seal member 22, and an outer or rotor engaging bearing 24. Member 20 cooperates with bearing assembly 24 to automatically create or form a relatively precise and uniform gap 54 between the stator assembly 26 and the rotor assembly 30 of electric machine 10.
Claims18
An apparatus for use in combination with an assembly of the type having an engine block, a crankshaft, a rotor assembly including a hub disposed substantially within the center of said rotor assembly, and a stator assembly which is operatively disposed around said rotor assembly, said apparatus comprising:
- a support member which is fixedly coupled to said engine block, said support member including an outer annular surface upon which said stator assembly is fixedly secured and an inner annular surface;
- a piloting portion, which is integrally formed with said hub, and which is adapted to engage said crankshaft, said engagement being effective to axially align said rotor assembly with said crankshaft;
- and
- a bearing assembly which is coupled to said inner annular surface of said support member and which abuttingly engages said hub, said abutting engagement being effective to center said support member and said stator assembly with respect to said rotor assembly, thereby aligning said rotor assembly within said stator assembly.
An apparatus for aligning an electric machine assembly within a vehicle of the type having an engine block and a crankshaft, said crankshaft having an end portion with an outer annular surface, said electric machine comprising a stator assembly and a rotor assembly which are separated by a certain gap, said apparatus comprising:
- a support member which is fixedly coupled to said engine block, said support member includes a first outer lip portion upon which said stator assembly is fixedly secured and an inner lip portion;
- a hub on which said rotor assembly is fixedly disposed, said hub having a peripherally disposed ridge which axially projects from said hub, said ridge having an inner annular surface which abuttingly engages said outer annular surface of said end portion of said crankshaft, said abutting engagement being effective to axially align said rotor assembly with said crankshaft;
- and
- a bearing assembly which is coupled to said inner lip portion of said support member and which abuttingly engages said rotor assembly, said abutting engagement being effective to center said support member and said stator assembly with respect to said rotor assembly, thereby forming said certain gap.
A method for installing a electric machine within a vehicle of the type having an engine block and a crankshaft having an end portion which extends from said engine block, said electric machine including a stator assembly and a rotor assembly which is adapted to be separated from said stator assembly by a certain gap, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a support member having a centrally disposed channel;
- coupling said stator assembly to said support member;
- providing a bearing assembly;
- coupling said bearing assembly to said support member and within said channel;
- axially aligning said channel of said support member with said end portion of said crankshaft;
- moving said support member from a first position in which said support member is remote from said engine block to a second position in which said support member abuts said engine block;
- relatively loosely coupling said support member to said engine block;
- peripherally disposing said rotor assembly upon a hub member;
- disposing a pilot upon said hub member, said pilot being effective to abuttingly engage said end portion of said crankshaft;
- axially aligning said hub member with said end portion of said crankshaft;
- and
- moving said hub member from a first position in which said hub member is remote from said end portion of said crankshaft to a second position in which said pilot engages said end portion of said crankshaft, said movement being effective to cause said bearing assembly to engage said hub member, thereby automatically causing said stator assembly to be aligned with said rotor assembly and forming said certain gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.