DE102013203774A1 - Generator as accessory for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a generator (1) as an auxiliary unit for a vehicle, comprising a housing (2), an armature shaft (7) mounted in the housing (2), the armature shaft (7) extending in the axial direction (9) and around the axial direction (9) a circumferential direction (11) is defined, an air collecting duct (3) encompassing the housing (2) in the circumferential direction (11) with an air inlet (12) for introducing cooling air emerging from the housing (2) and an air outlet (13) for releasing the introduced cooling air into the environment.

Description

The present invention relates to a generator which is used in a vehicle as an accessory for the internal combustion engine for generating electrical energy.

Generators are usually connected in the vehicle via a belt drive with the crankshaft of the engine. The cooling of the generators is usually carried out by means of air, which is sucked in the front side and is discharged again in the radial direction from the housing of the generator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a generator as an accessory for a vehicle that works reliable and low maintenance at low cost production and assembly. In particular, the generator should have a well-functioning cooling.

The object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims contain advantageous refinements of the invention.

Thus, the object is achieved by a generator comprising a housing. In the housing, the armature shaft of the generator is mounted. The housing is preferably made of metal. According to the armature shaft, an axial direction is defined. Perpendicular to the axial direction, the radial direction is defined. Around the axial direction, a circumferential direction is defined. The generator further includes an air collection channel. The air collection channel is placed on the outside of the housing and surrounds the housing in the circumferential direction. The air collecting channel is preferably made of plastic.

The air collection channel includes an air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet serves to introduce the cooling air emerging from the housing. The air collecting duct leads the introduced cooling air to the air outlet. The air outlet is positioned so that it delivers the cooling air at a corresponding location and with a corresponding distance to the housing in the environment, so that as far as possible prevents the generator again the already used cooling air sucks again. The inventive use of the air collection channel, a thermal short circuit is avoided. Without the air collecting channel, depending on the arrangement of the generator, it may happen that a cooling air emerging from the housing again enters the housing again and is thus not cooled with fresh air but with air that has already been used.

The cooling air exits the housing in the radial direction, in particular along the entire circumference. Accordingly, it is preferably provided that the air inlet of the air collecting channel extends over the largest possible area of the circumference of the housing. It is preferably provided that the air inlet surrounds the housing over at least 90 °, preferably at least 180 °, particularly preferably at least 250 °, in the circumferential direction.

The air inlet should be located as close as possible to the surface of the housing, so that the cooling air exiting the housing is led directly into the air collection channel. Therefore, it is preferably provided that the air inlet is formed as a slot, wherein the slot is bounded radially outwardly by the air collecting channel and radially inwardly through the housing.

To improve the cooling capacity of the generator, a fan is preferably provided in the air collection channel. This fan sucks the air exiting the housing via the air inlet of the air collection channel. Particularly preferably, the fan is arranged at the air outlet.

The housing of the generator preferably has a first and a second end face. At the two end faces of the armature shaft is mounted. The two end faces are interconnected by a lateral surface. The air inlet of the air collecting channel is preferably located on the lateral surface.

The two end faces of the housing are preferably designed as housing cooling air inlets. The generator so absorbs the cooling air at the two end faces of the housing.

The lateral surface of the housing is preferably designed as a housing cooling air outlet. The cooling air leaves the housing in the radial direction via the jacket surface.

At the first end face, the armature shaft preferably projects out of the housing. At this point, the armature shaft is designed to receive an endless peripheral drive means. The drive means is preferably a belt. Advantageously, sits on the protruding part of the armature shaft, a pulley.

The invention further includes a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and one of the generators just described. The generator is connected via an endlessly circulating drive means with the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine.

It is preferably provided that the internal combustion engine is installed longitudinally in the vehicle. This means that the crankshaft of the engine extends in the direction of travel. It is precisely in this arrangement of the internal combustion engine that the generator according to the invention with the air collecting channel is preferably used. In the case of longitudinally installed internal combustion engines, due to the passage in the engine compartment, ie from the radiator inlet through the engine compartment to the outlet in the subfloor, a thermal short circuit occurs on the second front side of the generator. Namely, the cooling air radially outflowing from the housing is sucked back to the second end face of the generator without using the air collecting duct according to the invention.

The air inlet of the air collecting channel is preferably open in the direction of the first end side, so that the air emerging from the housing is pressed into the air collecting channel corresponding to the engine compartment flow. The air outlet of the air collection channel points in the direction of flow-favorable areas, preferably upwards for the utilization of the thermal.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the air collection channel, in particular made of plastic, is used as an electrical insulation cover on the housing.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the figures. Show it:

1 a generator according to the invention according to a first embodiment in isometric view,

2 a side view of the generator according to the invention according to the first embodiment

3 a detail of the generator according to the invention according to the first embodiment with hidden air collection channel, and

4 the generator according to the invention according to a second embodiment.

The 1 and 2 show in different views a generator 1 , The generator 1 includes a housing 2 , In the case 2 is an armature shaft 7 stored. On the case 2 is an air collection channel 3 assembled.

The housing 2 includes a first end face 4 and one of the first end face 4 opposite second end face 5 , The two front sides 4 . 5 are through a lateral surface 6 connected with each other. From the first front page 4 protrudes the armature shaft 7 , At the end of the armature shaft 7 is a pulley 8th assembled. About the pulley 8th and a belt, becomes the generator 1 connected to the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine.

According to the armature shaft 7 is an axial direction 9 Are defined. Perpendicular to the axial direction 9 the radial direction extends 10 , Around the axial direction is a circumferential direction 11 Are defined.

2 shows that the air collection channel 3 the housing 2 over an angle of 280 ° in the circumferential direction 11 embraces.

2 further shows that the air collecting duct 3 on the second front side 5 over a fortification 14 with the housing 2 connected is. In particular, a screw of the housing 2 used to the air collection channel 3 between the case 2 and clamp the corresponding attachment point on the engine.

At the air collection channel 3 is a slit-shaped air intake 12 educated. The air intake 12 extends over the 280 ° in the circumferential direction 11 , The air collection channel 3 bundles the over the air intake 12 supplied cooling air and leads them through an air outlet 13 again.

In 3 is the air collection channel 3 hidden. This makes it easy to see that at the two end faces 4 . 5 Gehäusekühllufteinlässe 15 are formed. About these housing cooling air inlets 15 the generator sucks 1 in the axial direction 9 the cooling air. On the lateral surface 6 are housing cooling air outlets 16 educated. About these housing cooling air outlets 16 leaves the cooling air in the radial direction 10 the housing 2 ,

In a longitudinally installed internal combustion engine shows the first end face 4 of the generator 1 usually in the direction of travel. The engine compartment is traversed by a flow in the axial direction 9 from the first front 4 in the direction of the second end face 5 runs. This will ensure that the out of the housing cooling air outlets 16 escaping cooling air into the air inlet 12 of the air collection channel 3 to be led. By a corresponding positioning of the air outlet 13 it is ensured that the used cooling air does not come back over the second end face 5 in the case 2 is sucked in.

4 shows a second embodiment of the generator 1 , Identical or functionally identical components are provided with the same reference numerals in all embodiments. In the second embodiment is in the air outlet 13 a fan 17 arranged. This fan 17 sucks the out of the housing cooling air outlets 16 escaping air and thus supports the cooling of the generator 1 ,

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

generator

2

casing

3

Air collection channel

4

First front page

5

Second front side

6

lateral surface

7

armature shaft

8th

pulley

9

axially

10

radial direction

11

circumferentially

12

air intake

13

air outlet

14

attachment

15

Housing cooling air intake

16

Gehäusekühlluftauslass

17

fan

Claims (10)

Generator ( 1 ) as an accessory for a vehicle, comprising - a housing ( 2 ), - one in the housing ( 2 ) mounted armature shaft ( 7 ), wherein the armature shaft ( 7 ) in the axial direction ( 9 ) and about the axial direction ( 9 ) a circumferential direction ( 11 ), - a housing ( 2 ) in the circumferential direction ( 11 ) encompassing air collection channel ( 3 ) with an air inlet ( 12 ) for introducing a from the housing ( 2 ) exiting cooling air and an air outlet ( 13 ) for discharging the introduced cooling air into the environment. Generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the air inlet ( 12 ) of the air collection channel ( 3 ) the housing ( 2 ) over at least 90 °, preferably at least 180 °, particularly preferably at least 250 °, in the circumferential direction ( 11 ) surrounds. Generator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air inlet ( 12 ) is formed as a slot, wherein the slot radially outward through the air collecting channel ( 3 ) is limited and radially inwardly through the housing ( 2 ) is limited. Generator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a blower ( 17 ) in the air collection channel ( 3 ), preferably in the air outlet ( 13 ). Generator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing ( 2 ) a first end face ( 4 ), a second end face ( 5 ) and one of the end faces ( 4 . 5 ) connecting lateral surface ( 6 ), wherein the air inlet ( 12 ) on the lateral surface ( 6 ) is arranged. Generator according to claim 5, characterized in that the first end face ( 4 ) and / or the second end face ( 5 ) as the housing cooling air inlet ( 15 ) are formed. Generator according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the lateral surface ( 6 ) as a housing cooling air outlet ( 16 ) is trained. Generator according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the armature shaft ( 7 ) at the first end face ( 4 ) out of the housing ( 2 ) and for receiving an endlessly circulating drive means, preferably a belt is formed. Vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and a generator ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the generator ( 1 ) is connected via an endlessly circulating drive means, preferably a belt, with a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that the internal combustion engine is installed longitudinally in the vehicle, so that the crankshaft extends in the direction of travel.

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