Patent ID: 7482719

Claim:
An AC generator for installation in a vehicle, comprising a rotor, a stator disposed opposite said rotor, a rectifier apparatus for rectifying an AC output voltage produced by said stator, a voltage regulator apparatus which controls an output voltage of said rectifier apparatus and comprises a combination of a voltage regulator apparatus main body and a cooling fin unit which is attached to said voltage regulator apparatus main body, a housing which communicates with said interior of said AC generator and covers at least said voltage regulator apparatus main body and said rectifier apparatus, and a cooling fan which rotates together with said rotor to draw a flow of external air into an interior of said housing, said housing having an aperture formed therein at a location corresponding to a location of said voltage regulator apparatus; wherein a part of said cooling fin unit protrudes through said aperture, to a position beyond an external circumference of said housing, and wherein said aperture is oriented substantially parallel to a ground surface when said AC generator is installed in a vehicle.