Vehicle AC generator with voltage regulator

Claim 1

An alternating current generator for use in a vehicle comprising: a housing including a circumferential portion extending between spaced apart axial side portions, each of said axial side portions having a central portion and means defining a plurality of intake ports adjacent said central portion for permitting air passage therethrough, each of said axial side portions extending obliquely between said central and circumferential portions in such a manner that the axial length of said housing decreases from said central portions towards said circumferential portion, said circumferential portion further including means defining first and second air exhaust ports spaced from each other; a stator assembly, including a stator core fixed to an inner surface of said circumferential portion at a location between said first and second air exhaust ports, said stator core having an axial width (B) which is smaller than that of said rotor core (A) and a stator winding wound around said stator core; a rotor assembly, including a rotor shaft, a rotor coil, and a rotor core fixed to the rotor shaft for rotation therewith and comprising interleaved pole members which define a plurality of angularly separated fingers having axially extending spaces therebetween; bearing means in the central portion of each of said axial side portions for rotatably supporting said rotor shaft; a first fan provided on one side of said pole members of said rotor, said first fan having a plurality of blades, the outside of said blades being positioned close to one of said axial side portions and extending substantially parallel to the inclination of the obliquely extending portion of said one axial side portion, whereby during rotation of the rotor core said first fan draws air through said intake ports in said one axial side portion and directs the air radially of the housing past said stator winding along an inner surface of said one axial side portion and through said first air exhaust ports in said circumferential portion and axially of said housing through said spaces between said fingers, and between said rotor and stator core; and a second fan provided at the other end of said rotor core for rotation therewith and having a plurality of blades, the outside of said blades being close to the other of the said axial side portions and extending substantially parallel to the inclination of the obliquely extending portion of said other axial side portion, whereby during rotation of the rotor core, said second fan draws air through said intake ports in the other of said axial side portions and directs the air radially of the housing past said stator winding along an inner surface of the other of the said axial side portions and through said second air exhaust ports in said circumferential portion; wherein said stator winding has an axial width (D) which is less than the axial distance (C) defined by the outer sides of said first and second fans so that the air flow established by each of said first and second fans is directed toward said stator winding along the respective interior surfaces of said axial side portions.