Electrical isolation of an alternator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10693340-B2
Application number	US-201715782601-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2017
Priority date	Oct 18, 2016
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

An alternator for generating electrical power to one or more components of a power network includes a machine portion including a stator, a rotor and a rectifier, a battery connection terminal connected to the machine portion and configured to be connected to a battery, and an isolation device integral to the alternator. The isolation device is located on an electrical path between at least the machine portion and the battery connection terminal, and the isolation device is configured to isolate at least one of the alternator and another component of the power network from receiving electric current from the battery based on an undesirable condition occurring in the power network.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An alternator for generating electrical power to one or more components of a power network, comprising:
a machine portion including a stator, a rotor and a rectifier;
a battery connection terminal connected to the machine portion and configured to be connected to a battery; and
an isolation device integral to the alternator, the isolation device located on an electrical path between at least the machine portion and the battery connection terminal, the isolation device configured to isolate at least one of the alternator and another component of the power network from receiving electric current from the battery based on an undesirable condition occurring in the power network.

2. The alternator of claim 1 , further comprising a regulator configured to adjust an output of the alternator, and a rectifier terminal connected to the regulator.

3. The alternator of claim 2 , wherein the isolation device is configured to isolate both the machine portion and the regulator.

4. The alternator of claim 3 , wherein the machine portion and the regulator are connected to the rectifier terminal, and the isolation device is located on an electrical path extending between the rectifier terminal and the battery connection terminal.

5. The alternator of claim 2 , wherein the isolation device is configured to isolate the machine portion while allowing current to be supplied by the battery to the regulator.

6. The alternator of claim 5 , wherein the machine portion is connected to the rectifier terminal, the isolation device is located on an electrical path extending between the rectifier terminal and the battery connection terminal, and the regulator is connected to the battery connection terminal and the battery via an electrical path that bypasses the rectifier terminal.

7. The alternator of claim 1 , wherein the isolation device is a fuse configured to open in response to an amount of current through the alternator exceeding a threshold value.

8. The alternator of claim 1 , wherein the isolation device is a diode configured to prevent current from flowing into at least the machine portion from the battery.

9. The alternator of claim 8 , wherein the diode is configured to divide the power network into at least a first sub-network and a second sub-network.

10. The alternator of claim 1 , wherein the battery connection terminal includes a first conductive component and a second conductive component physically separated from the first conductive component, the first conductive component connected to at least the machine portion, the second conductive component configured to be connected to the battery.

11. The alternator of claim 10 , wherein the second conductive component is electrically connected to the isolation device and configured to prevent current from flowing through the battery connection terminal.

12. The alternator of claim 11 , wherein the battery connection terminal includes an electrically insulating material disposed within the battery connection terminal and between the first conductive component and the second conductive component.

13. A method of controlling electrical power supply to one or more components of a power network, the method comprising:
operating a machine portion of an alternator to generate electricity, the machine portion including a stator, a rotor and a rectifier;
transmitting electric power to a battery via a battery connection terminal of the alternator; and
based on an undesirable condition occurring in the power network, isolating at least one of the alternator and another component of the power network from receiving electric current from the battery, the isolating performed by an isolation device integral to the alternator, the isolation device located on an electrical path between at least the machine portion and the battery connection terminal.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the alternator includes a regulator configured to adjust an output of the alternator, and a rectifier terminal connected to the regulator.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein isolating the alternator includes isolating both the machine portion and the regulator via the isolation device.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the machine portion and the regulator are connected to the rectifier terminal, and the isolation device is located on an electrical path extending between the rectifier terminal and the battery connection terminal.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein isolating the alternator includes isolating the machine portion via the isolation device while allowing current to be supplied by the battery to the regulator.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the machine portion is connected to the rectifier terminal, the isolation device is located on an electrical path extending between the rectifier terminal and the battery connection terminal, and the regulator is connected to the battery connection terminal and the battery via an electrical path that bypasses the rectifier terminal.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the isolation device is a fuse configured to open in response to an amount of current through the alternator exceeding a threshold value.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the isolation device is a diode configured to prevent current from flowing into at least the machine portion from the battery.

Assignees

• Borgwarner Inc

Inventors

• Alfermann Timothy J
• Wilkins Daniel E
• Sayre Drake J

Classifications

• H02J7/62

  against overcurrent · CPC title

• H02J7/61

  against overcharge · CPC title

• H02K5/225 Primary

  Terminal boxes or connection arrangements (specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132) · CPC title

• H02J7/1415

  with a generator driven by a prime mover other than the motor of a vehicle · CPC title

• H02J7/16

  Regulation of the charging current or voltage by variation of field · CPC title