Patent ID: 7839032
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: H02K

Abstract:
1. An automotive alternator comprising: a cylindrical stator; a rotor rotatably disposed in the stator; front and rear frames for accommodating the stator and the rotor therein; a rectifier device connected to an outside of the rear frame, the rectifier device including minus rectifier elements mounted on a minus cooling fin and plus rectifier elements mounted on a plus cooling fin; and a rear cover covering the rectifier device, wherein: each of the minus rectifier elements includes a base portion extending from the minus cooling fin toward the rear frame; the rear frame includes seat portions, each corresponding to the base portion of each minus rectifier element; a resilient heat-conductive member is disposed between each seat portion and each base portion of the minus rectifier element, thereby establishing good heat conduction between the minus rectifier element and the rear frame; and each seat portion is formed by depressing a portion of the rear frame in an axial direction of the rotor so as to position the heat-conductive member in each seat portion and to prevent the heat-conductive member from falling out of each seat portion.