Patent ID: 6608422
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: F16C,H01R,H02K

Abstract:
An improved alternator for use with motor vehicles and for supplying AC current for the operation of the motor vehicle in response to a DC exciting current being supplied to the alternator from a source of exciting current, the improved alternator comprising:a rotor shaft having first and second ends and an axis of rotation; a contact assembly comprising: first and second bearing assemblies that are disposed adjacent to said first end of said rotor shaft, said first and second hewing assemblies being coaxially aligned with said rotor shaft, said first and second bearing assemblies being longitudinally spaced from one another by a first spacer, said bearing assemblies being electrically isolated from one another, each of said first said second beating assemblies having an outer race member that is relatively fixed with respect to said rotor shaft; a first spring member coaxially positioned with respect to said rotor shaft within said contact assembly and positioned between said first and second bearing assemblies, said first spring member exerting at least one resistive force into at least one of said first and second bearing assemblies in order to maintain a first constant axial force between said first and second bearing assemblies.