Vehicle-use alternator enabling accurate control of position and attitude of the alternator during an operation of mounting the alternator in a vehicle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is an objective of the present invention to overcome the above problems of the prior art, by providing a vehicle-use alternator whereby obstruction of movement of the alternator during an operation for mounting the alternator can be avoided, and whereby the alternator can be accurately maintained in a required attitude during the mounting operation.
To achieve the above objectives, the invention provides a vehicle-use alternator (referred to in the following simply as an alternator) having a housing that contains a rotor and stator and is formed with attachment holes for use during an operation of mounting the alternator in a vehicle, wherein the housing is formed with a plurality of carrier portions, each having at least one through-hole or groove formed therein, for use in supporting the alternator during the mounting operation.
As a result, the alternator can be held supported on a rod-shaped carrier jig that is passed through the holes or within and below the grooves, during the mounting operation.
The alternator can thereby be held in a desired attitude throughout the process of moving the alternator into the required position, and subsequent attachment of the alternator.
With such an alternator, preferably each of the through-holes or grooves constituting the carrier portions are oriented along a common axis.
In that way, a carrier member which is of straight elongated form can be passed through each of the plurality of holes or grooves constituting the carrier portions, and the alternator can thereby be retained and supported on the carrier member.
The alternator can thereby be moved towards a position at which it is to be attached, without that movement being obstructed by any equipment that is located above that attachment position, such as the engine head.
Furthermore with such an alternator, each of the holes or grooves constituting the carrier portions preferably has a central axis oriented in a direction that is other than parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotor of the alternator