Patent ID: 6774518
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: F16C,H02K,Y10T

Abstract:
An alternator comprising:a drive-end (D.E.) frame having an electrical grounding portion; a stator secured to the D.E. frame remote from said sound portion; a drive-end (D.E.) bearing secured to said D.E. frame; a stator-regulator-end (S.R.E.) frame secured to said D.E. frame; a stator-regulator-end (S.R.E.) bearing secured to said S.R.E. frame; a rotor housed within said D.E. and S.R.E. frames and journaled by said D.E. and S.R.E. bearings for rotation relative to said D.E. and S.R.E. frames; and wherein said D.E. frame is fabricated of plastics material and including an electrically conductive ground circuit coupling said stator electrically to said ground portion, wherein said D.E. bearing is molded in place within said D.E. frame, wherein said D.E. bearing comprises a sealed bearing having an inner race, an outer race and sealed lubricating rolling elements captured between said inner race and said outer race, wherein said D.E. frame includes a bearing well having a floor and a side wall projecting from said floor about said outer race, and a bearing retainer portion projecting radially inwardly from said side wall in overlying relation to an end face of said outer race to capture said D.E. bearing within said well.