Cooling arrangement for generator

Details Cooling arrangement for generator Cooling arrangement for generator

1999-05-17

2001-02-06

LaBalle, Clayton (Department: 2834)

Electrical generator or motor structure

Dynamoelectric

Rotary

C310S054000, C310S057000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06184599

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to electrical generator systems for engines.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a cooling arrangement for such systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Engines commonly employ electrical generators for powering various on-board electrical equipment. These generators, as is known, employ a rotor and a stator to create an electrical current. Specifically, as the rotor rotates within the stator, the movement creates an alternating current of electricity that is largely dependent upon the speed of the rotation. In some relevant embodiments, the stator is mounted to a housing that carries one of the bearings used to support the crankshaft. In such embodiments, the rotor is affixed to the crankshaft such that the rotor is rotated as the crankshaft turns.
Due to the difficulties associated with cooling the generators, most conventional generators are structured for low power generating capacity. While such structuring is suitable for some applications, engines employing the latest fuel injectors and control systems commonly drain more electrical power than the low power generators can supply. For instance, some fuel injectors may employ solenoids that require a large amount of power to simply inject the fuel as desired. In such instances, a 25 amp generator may not supply adequate capacity for a system designed to require as much as 45 amps of power.
Accordingly, the power generating capacity required of the stators of the generators has greatly increased while the heat generation remains a problem. Accordingly, with the required increase in power generating capacity comes a potentially damaging increase in temperature. An alternative to the standard rotor and stator generator is to employ a separate alternator that may be individually cooled; however, such a solution increases the bulk of the engine and results in increased weight and a greater weight distribution. Moreover, to accommodate the increased engine size, the cowling and the outboard motor may reflect a similar increase in size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it may be advantageous to provide a cooling arrangement for a generator to enable increased power generating capabilities. Moreover, such a cooling arrangement should be structured to not significantly increase the overall motor size and weight. For instance, a portion of the generator may be compactly mounted to a bearing carrier for the crankshaft while the other portion is mounted to the crankshaft.
Thus, one aspect of the present invention involves an outboard motor comprising an engine having a crankshaft extending in a generally vertical direction. A bearing housing supports a portion of the crankshaft. A generator is positioned proximate the portion of the crankshaft extending from the engine. The generator comprises an armature and a rotor with the armature supported by the bearing housing. The armature generally comprises a stator and a plurality of coils. A heat transfer element is positioned between the stator and the bearing housing.
Another of the present invention involves a generator and cooling arrangement comprising a rotor and an armature. The rotor has at least one surface generally facing the armature. The rotor carries at least one magnet on the surface facing the armature while the armature generally comprises a stator and a plurality of coils attached to the stator. The coils are positioned in close proximity to a circumference defined through the magnet from a center of rotation of the magnet about the armature. A cooling member is positioned adjacent to the armature and has a component made of a thermally conductive material.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4032807 (1977-06-01), Richter
patent: 4632662 (1986-12-01), Handa
patent: 5078101 (1992-01-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5207186 (1993-05-01), Okita
patent: 5234363 (1993-08-01), Motose
patent: 5706783 (1998-01-01), Sawada
patent: 5816218 (1998-10-01), Motose
patent: 5883449 (1999-03-01), Mehta et al.

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