Patent ID: 7713157

Claim:
An alternator system comprising: an input shaft structured to be coupled to a source of rotation; an alternator assembly having an rotor shaft assembly, said alternator assembly structured to produce an output current having a frequency, said rotor shaft assembly having an external end; a planetary gear assembly disposed between, and operatively coupled to, said input shaft and said rotor shaft assembly, said planetary gear assembly having a planet gear carrier body with a generally circular outer radial surface, said planet gear carrier outer radial surface having teeth; a variable resistance generator having an external generator shaft with a generator gear, said generator gear structured to operatively engage said outer radial surface teeth; a control unit structured to detect the frequency of said alternator assembly output current and to alter the resistance of said generator; wherein, as said input shaft rotates, said planetary gear assembly rotates said alternator assembly rotor shaft assembly and said alternator assembly produces an output current having a frequency; and wherein said control unit is structured to maintain the frequency of said alternator assembly output current within a selected range by increasing or decreasing the resistance of said generator, thereby causing said planetary gear assembly to rotate at a speed within a selected range.