Systems and methods for cooling a drive end bearing

摘要

Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for cooling a drive end bearing. The system may include an alternator including a drive end bearing, a drive end fan and a front housing face. The drive end fan may include a shaft aperture and auxiliary air flow inlet apertures positioned circumferentially around the shaft aperture. The front housing face may include auxiliary fins coupled to the drive end bearing. The auxiliary fins may protrude from the front housing face. The auxiliary fins may be arrayed axially on the front housing face. In various embodiments, the drive end fan is rotated to draw air through the auxiliary air flow inlet apertures and adjacent to at least a portion of auxiliary fins of the front housing face. The at least a portion of the auxiliary fins transfers heat from the drive end bearing to the air.

主权项

1. An alternator comprising:
a drive end bearing; a drive end fan comprising a shaft aperture and a plurality of auxiliary air flow inlet apertures positioned circumferentially around the shaft aperture, wherein the drive end fan comprises a front face and a rear face, the front face comprising a plurality of fan face slots positioned circumferentially around the shaft aperture, wherein each of the plurality of the auxiliary air flow inlet apertures is positioned within a corresponding one of the plurality of fan face slots; and a front housing face comprising a plurality of auxiliary fins coupled to the drive end bearing, the plurality of auxiliary fins protruding from the front housing face, and the plurality of auxiliary fins arrayed axially on the front housing face.