Power supply with multiple transformer current sharing
First Claim
1. A power supply comprising:
- a first transformer having a first winding and a second winding;
a second transformer having a first winding and a second winding;
the second winding of the first transformer is connected in parallel with the second winding of the second transformer;
a first resistance having a temperature coefficient, the first resistance is provided in line with the first transformer; and
a second resistance having a temperature coefficient, the second resistance is provided in line with the second transformer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for using multiple transformers to provide a power supply to a device or system. Included are systems for using multiple transformers and multiple fuses or circuit breakers to provide a power supply. In one embodiment two transformers and two fuses or circuit breakers are used to provide a power supply. Embodiments with greater numbers of fuses and transformers are also disclosed. Also illustrated are methods and devices using thermal circuit breakers to equalize current between multiple transformer sources or to compensate for differences between multiple transformers. Also included are switched schemes for assuring proper phasing of power supply transformers.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A power supply comprising:
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a first transformer having a first winding and a second winding;
a second transformer having a first winding and a second winding;
the second winding of the first transformer is connected in parallel with the second winding of the second transformer;
a first resistance having a temperature coefficient, the first resistance is provided in line with the first transformer; and
a second resistance having a temperature coefficient, the second resistance is provided in line with the second transformer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for providing a power supply, the device comprising:
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a first output node and a second output node both adapted to enable a power supply voltage to be taken between the first output node and the second output node;
first fusing means;
second fusing means; and
wherein, when the device is connected to a first transformer and a second transformer in a predetermined configuration, a first current path from the first output node to the second output node includes the first fusing means and a winding of the first transformer, and a second current path from the first output node to the second output node includes the second fusing means and a winding of the second transformer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A device for providing a power supply comprising:
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a first power node;
a second power node;
a plurality of input ports;
a first fuse element having an input and an output; and
a second fuse element having an input and an output;
the input ports are adapted to be connect to outputs of a first transformer and a second transformer; and
wherein the input ports of the first fuse and the second fuse are configured such that, if the input ports are connected to the first transformer and the second transformer, a first current path exists from the first power node to the second power through the first fuse and a winding of the first transformer, and a second current path exists from the first power node to the second power node through the second fuse and a winding of the second transformer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A device for receiving current from a first transformer and a second transformer, the device comprising:
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a plurality of input ports that are adapted to be couple to outputs of a first transformer and a second transformer;
a first switch for selectively coupling a first input port to a node;
a second switch for selectively coupling a second input port to the node; and
control means for controlling the first switch and the second switch, the control means configured such that the control means causes the first switch to couple the first input port to the node if the first input port is in phase with a third input port and the second switch to couple the second input port to the node if the first input port is in not in phase with the third input port. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A device for receiving current from a first transformer and a second transformer, the device comprising:
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a plurality of input ports that are adapted to be couple to outputs of the first transformer and the second transformer;
switching means for selectively coupling either a first input port or a second input port to a node; and
sensing means for sensing whether the first input port or the second input port is in phase with a third input port. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method of providing electric power comprising:
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accepting an input current from a first transformer;
accepting an input current from a second transformer;
causing the input current from the first transformer and the input current from the second transformer to be at or near a desired ratio; and
providing the input current from the first transformer and the input current from the second transformer to power a device. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A method of coupling transformers together to simultaneously provide electric current from each transformer, the method comprising:
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providing a panel including a plurality of ports adapted to receive outputs from secondary windings of a number of transformers;
providing a first fusing device and a second fusing device, each fusing device having an input and an output;
coupling a first transformer to the panel such that the first fusing device is in series with the first transformer; and
coupling a second transformer to the panel such that the second fusing device is in series with the second transformer. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of providing electrical power to a system comprising:
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determining whether a first port and a second port are in phase, the first port being coupled to a first transformer and the second port being coupled to a second transformer;
electrically coupling the first port to the second port if the first port and the second port are in phase; and
electrically isolating the first port from the second port if the first port and the second port are out of phase.
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Specification