Patent ID: 7589448

Claim:
An automotive alternator comprising: a rotor including a rotary shaft and working to create a rotating magnetic field; a stator working to generate an AC power in the rotating magnetic field created by the rotor; a rolling bearing rotatably supporting the rotary shaft of the rotor; and a bearing cover covering an axial end of the rolling bearing, the bearing cover having flexibility in an axial direction of the rotary shaft, the axial flexibility allowing the bearing cover to be fitted in place, wherein the rotor further includes: a pole core mounted on the rotary shaft; a field winding wound around the pole core; and a restriction member fixedly provided on the rotary shaft to restrict axial movement of the pole core, the restriction member being located between the pole core and the rolling bearing and having an outer diameter greater than that of a fitting portion of the rotary shaft on which the rolling bearing is fitted, and wherein the bearing cover is fitted between the restriction member and the rolling bearing and includes: a flat washer disposed in intimate contact with the axial end of the rolling bearing under contact pressure; and a contact pressure applier working to apply the contact pressure to the flat washer, the contact pressure applier being flexible in the axial direction of the rotary shaft of the rotor.