METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE ALTERNATOR

摘要

An alternator driven by an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, said alternator comprising: an alternator housing (106); stator circuit means (107) within said housing for conducting electrical energy from said alternator; armature circuit means (104) mounted for rotation within said housing; drive means (102) for transmitting energy from said internal combustion engine to said alternator; gear means (116, 118, 120, 122) connected between said drive means and said armature circuit means for driving said armature circuit means at two speeds defined by said gear means; clutch means (130) connected to said gear means for switching between said two speeds; and circuit means (200) connected to said stator circuit means for monitoring the frequency of electrical energy generated by said alternator and for controlling said clutch means to switch between said two speeds of said gear means dependent on the frequency of electrical energy generated by said alternator.