Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
In a d-c generator, particularly automotive alternator having a housing (1); a stator structure (2) having stator windings thereon located in the housing; a rotor structure (3) including a rotor shaft (4) rotatably positioned within the housing to rotate with respect to the stator; a heat pipe structure including heat pipe cooling means (11, 14, 15, 18, 21, 21b, 24, 24', 30, 34, 36) to cool the stator windings on the stator structure including means (11a, 14a, 15a, 18a, 21a, 24a, 24a', 30a, 34a, 36a) 36a', 41, 42, 41', 42') for forming an evaporation chamber and means (11b, 14b, 15b, 18b, 21d, 21f, 24b, 27, 30b, 33, 36b, 39, 39') for forming a condensation chamber in fluid communication with said evaporation chamber, and an evaporatable fluid contained in said chambers and wherein, in accordance with the invention, the evaporation chamber forming means (11a, 14a, 15a, 18a, 21a, 24a, 24a', 30a, 34a, 36a, 36a', 41, 42, 41', 42') are positioned adjacent the stator structure (2) and in heat transfer relation thereto; the condensation chamber forming means are secured externally of the housing and in a location at which the temperature is low with respect to that of the stator windings; a sequence of multiple and mutually communicating heat pipes is provided in communication with, and interconnecting said chambers; and said shaft (4) consists of a fan-less or ventilator wheel-less construction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
In a d-c generator, particularly automotive alternator having a housing (1); a stator structure (2) having stator windings thereon located in the housing; a rotor structure (3) including a rotor shaft (4) rotatably positioned within the housing to rotate with respect to the stator; a heat pipe structure including heat pipe cooling means (11, 14, 15, 18, 21, 21b, 24, 24', 30, 34, 36) to cool the stator windings on the stator structure including means (11a, 14a, 15a, 18a, 21a, 24a, 24a', 30a, 34a, 36a) 36a', 41, 42, 41', 42') for forming an evaporation chamber and means (11b, 14b, 15b, 18b, 21d, 21f, 24b, 27, 30b, 33, 36b, 39, 39') for forming a condensation chamber in fluid communication with said evaporation chamber, and an evaporatable fluid contained in said chambers and wherein, in accordance with the invention, the evaporation chamber forming means (11a, 14a, 15a, 18a, 21a, 24a, 24a', 30a, 34a, 36a, 36a', 41, 42, 41', 42') are positioned adjacent the stator structure (2) and in heat transfer relation thereto; the condensation chamber forming means are secured externally of the housing and in a location at which the temperature is low with respect to that of the stator windings; a sequence of multiple and mutually communicating heat pipes is provided in communication with, and interconnecting said chambers; and said shaft (4) consists of a fan-less or ventilator wheel-less construction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
Generator according to claim 1, wherein said housing has a housing wall; wherein the evaporation chamber (15a) associated with the stator windings (2) is a cylindrical shell; wherein said condensation chamber (15b) is disposed in recesses within the housing wall; and external cooling fins (16, 20) secured in heat transfer relation to said condensation chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Generator according to claim 2, wherein the cooling fins (16, 20) are attached to the outer wall of said housing wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Generator according to claim 1, wherein said condensation chamber (24b) forming means is a tube extending through and out of the wall (22') of the housing of said generator and is provided with cooling fins (25).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
Generator according to claim 1, further comprising rectifier diodes (9) located on said generator; and wherein, in accordance with the invention, at least a portion of the evaporation chamber (14a, 30a, 34a, 36a', 42, 42') is positioned adjacent said diodes and in heat transfer relation thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Generator according to claim 1, wherein mutually communicating heat pipes include intermediate tubing (21c) connecting the evaporation chamber (21a) and the condensation chamber (21b).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
Generator according to claim 5, wherein said evaporation chamber is a hollow cylindrical shell (11a) or hollow annulus (14a) and said condensation chamber (11b, 14b) is a tube or cylindrical shell disposed outside of the housing; and cooling fins (12) secured to said tube or cylindrical shell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Generator according to claim 5, wherein said evaporation chamber is shaped so as to substantially surround said stator windings and said diodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
Generator according to claim 8, wherein said evaporation chamber (30a) is an annulus defining wells (32) for receiving said diodes (9); a transition tube (30c) connecting the evaporation chamber (30a) to the condensation chamber (30b, 33), said condensation chamber being secured in a spaced-apart manner with respect to the generator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
Generator according to claim 5, wherein said diodes (9) are mounted on a plate (10) in contact with the evaporation chamber (34a) of said heat pipe (34); and an insulating layer (35) separating said plate (10) and said evaporation chamber (34a).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
Generator according to claim 5, wherein said heat pipe structure includes separate evaporation regions in in heat transfer relation with said stator windings and with said diodes respectively; and a common condensation chamber communicating with said separate evaporation regions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
Generator according to claim 1, wherein said a condensation chamber (27) is located substantially remote from said generator, and cooling fins (28) secured to said condensation chamber (27).