Patent ID: 8753237

Claim:
An alternator assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing; a shaft configured to rotate with respect to the housing, the shaft being associated with a rotor; the shaft including a central cavity, a first end portion, and a second end portion; a torsion member including a first end portion and a second end portion; the torsion member being disposed within the central cavity of the shaft so that the second end portion of the torsion member is attached to the second end portion of the shaft; a pulley associated with a belt, the pulley being disposed radially around the first end portion of the shaft; wherein the first end portion of the torsion member is fastenably attached to the pulley; wherein the first end portion of the shaft provides rotating support for the pulley; a pulley bearing assembly disposed radially between the pulley and the first end portion of the shaft, wherein the pulley bearing assembly allows the pulley to rotate with respect to first end portion of shaft; and wherein the pulley bearing assembly is in rotating contact with an internal cylindrical surface of the pulley and an external cylindrical surface of the first end portion of the shaft.