Patent ID: 7855482

Claim:
A rectifier for an alternating-current generator installable in a motor vehicle, the rectifier comprising: an output terminal; a plurality of pairs of high-side and low-side rectifying elements, one of the high-side rectifying elements and a corresponding one of the low-side rectifying elements of each pair being connected to each other, the plurality of pairs of high-side and low-side rectifying elements working to rectify alternating-current power to direct-current power, the direct-current power being outputted from the output terminal; a high-side heatsink in which the high-side rectifying elements are mounted so as to provide a common positive terminal, the output terminal being attached to the high-side heatsink; a low-side heatsink in which the low-side rectifying elements are mounted so as to provide a common negative terminal; a terminal block assembly including a plurality of terminal blocks integrated with each other, the plurality of terminal blocks holding conductive members; and a fixing mechanism configured to directly fix one of the plurality of terminal blocks to the high-side heatsink, the one of the plurality of terminal blocks holding at least one of the conductive members, the at least one of the conductive members being connected to one of the high-side rectifying elements, the one of the high-side rectifying elements being located closest to the output terminal in all of the high-side rectifying elements, wherein the high-side heatsink has one surface and the one of the plurality of terminal blocks has one surface, the high-side heatsink and the terminal block assembly are arranged such that the one surface of the one of the plurality of terminal blocks is mounted on the one surface of the high-side heatsink, the fixing mechanism comprising: a projection formed on the one surface of the one of the plurality of terminal blocks toward the high-side heatsink; and a hole formed in the one surface of the high-side heatsink in alignment with the projection, the projection formed on the one surface of the one of the plurality of terminal blocks being fitted in the hole formed in the one surface of the high-side heatsink to thereby directly fix the one of the plurality of terminal blocks to the high-side heatsink.