Granted Patent B2

US 7,365,471 · App. 11/260,136 · Granted Apr 29, 2008

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. An internal cooling fan assembly for use with a claw-pole segment of a rotor assembly, the fan assembly comprising:

a base portion that contacts the claw-pole segment when the fan assembly is mounted to the claw-pole segment, the base portion including a plurality of radially extending portions; and

a plurality of blades extending from the radially extending portions such that the blades project outward from a plane normal to the rotor axis;

wherein the plurality of blades extending from the radially extending portions are angled with respect to the base, and wherein a first blade of the number of blades is of a first configuration and a second blade of the number of blades is of a second configuration different from the first configuration.

2. The internal cooling fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the claw-pole segment includes a number of claws and wherein the number of blades is equal to the number of claws.

3. The internal cooling fan assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first configuration includes a first blade angle with respect to the plane normal to the rotor and the second configuration includes a second blade angle, different from the first angle, with respect to the plane normal to the rotor.

4. The internal cooling fan assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first configuration includes a first blade size and the second configuration includes a second blade size.

5. The internal cooling fan assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first configuration includes a first blade shape and the second configuration includes a second blade shape.

6. The internal cooling fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first configuration includes a first blade size and the second configuration includes a second blade size.

7. The internal cooling fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first configuration includes a first blade shape and the second configuration includes a second blade shape.

8. The internal cooling fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blades are arranged in sets, and wherein the first blade is a member of a first set and the second blade is a member of a second set.

9. The internal cooling fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein a third blade of the number of blades is of a third configuration different from the first and second configurations.

10. The internal cooling fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base portion includes at least a first opening to accommodate a shaft of the rotor.

11. The internal cooling fan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base portion includes a plurality of openings to accommodate a corresponding plurality of protrusions extending from the claw-pole segment so that the protrusions extend through and beyond the second openings when the fan assembly is mounted to the claw-pole segment.

12. A system comprising:

an electro-mechanical machine having a rotor that includes a claw-pole segment, the rotor located along an axis of the electro-mechanical machine, and the claw-pole segment having a base and at least one claw projecting axially from the base; and

a fan assembly that attaches to the claw-pole segment, the fan assembly comprising:

a base portion that contacts the claw-pole segment when the fan assembly is mounted to the claw-pole segment, the base portion having a plurality of radially extending portions; and

a plurality of blades extending from the radially extending portions such that the blades project outward from a plane normal to the rotor axis of the electro-mechanical machine;

wherein the plurality of blades extending from the radially extending portions are angled with respect to the base, and wherein the plurality of blades are arranged in a non-repeating pattern.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the electro-mechanical machine includes an alternator.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the electro-mechanical machine includes a generator.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the electro-mechanical machine includes a motor.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of blades are arranged in a non-repeating pattern of blade angles.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein at least a first of the plurality of blades is of a first shape and at least a second of the plurality of blades is of a second shape different from the first shape.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein at least a first of the plurality of blades is of a first size and at least a second of the plurality of blades is of a second size different from the first size.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the claw-pole segment includes a number of claws and wherein the plurality of blades corresponds to the number of claws.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the claw-pole segment includes at least one protrusion projecting axially from the base in a second direction opposite the first direction;

wherein the fan assembly includes at least one opening for receiving the at least one protrusion; and

wherein a portion of the at least one protrusion extends through and beyond the opening of the fan assembly when the fan assembly is mounted on the claw-pole segment and expands in response to an application of an axial load, to secure the fan assembly to the claw-pole segment.

21. The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of blades are arranged in a non-repeating pattern in which each blade is set at a different angle.

22. The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of blades are arranged in a non-repeating pattern in which the spacing between the blades is non-repeating.

23. The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of blades are arranged in a non-repeating pattern in which each blade is sized differently.

24. The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of blades are arranged as intermeshed sets of blades.

Assignments (6)