The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 21, 2015
Filed:
Oct. 10, 2012
Prestolite Electric Inc., Plymouth, MI (US);
Robert D. Hall, Berkey, OH (US);
Michael J. Hanchett, Lapeer, MI (US);
Andrew Cawse, Jukskei Park - Randburg, ZA;
Prestolite Electric Inc., Plymouth, MI (US);
Abstract
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for cooling a drive end bearing. The system may include an alternator including a drive end bearing, a drive end fan and a front housing face. The drive end fan may include a shaft aperture and auxiliary air flow inlet apertures positioned circumferentially around the shaft aperture. The front housing face may include auxiliary fins coupled to the drive end bearing. The auxiliary fins may protrude from the front housing face. The auxiliary fins may be arrayed axially on the front housing face. In various embodiments, the drive end fan is rotated to draw air through the auxiliary air flow inlet apertures and adjacent to at least a portion of auxiliary fins of the front housing face. The at least a portion of the auxiliary fins transfers heat from the drive end bearing to the air.