Regulator system for alternator

• US 20050151516A1
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Balmar Acquisition Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Ballard Commercial Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Montgomery, William G. Jr., Eddy, Michael D., Morrissette, Gary E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,245,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 322/45
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/2434 with pulse modulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

An improved regulator system is disclosed for controlling a field winding of an alternator to regulate the charging of a battery. The improved regulator system comprises an internal regulator mounted onto the alternator. The internal regulator has an internal regulator control circuit for monitoring the battery and for controlling the field winding. An electrical connector actuates the internal regulator to regulate the output of the alternator in accordance with the internal regulator. The electrical connector enables an external regulator to be connected to the alternator thereby bypassing the internal regulator to regulate the output of the alternator in accordance with the external regulator. The improved regulator system facilitates the connection of an upgrade external regulator with the internal regulator functioning as a reserve regulator in the remote event of a malfunction of the external regulator.

Claims

1. An improved regulator system for controlling an alternator having a field winding for charging a battery, comprising:

an internal regulator mounted onto the alternator;

said internal regulator having an internal regulator control circuit for monitoring the battery and for controlling the field winding;

an electrical connector for actuating said internal regulator to regulate the output of the alternator in accordance with said internal regulator;

said electrical connector enabling said internal regulator to be deactuated and for enabling an external regulator to be connected to the alternator to regulate the output of the alternator in accordance with the external regulator.

5. An improved regulator system for an alternator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrical connector actuates one of said internal regulator and said external regulator for operating only one of said internal and external regulators at any given time.

6. An improved regulator system for an alternator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrical connector actuates one of said internal regulator and said external regulator for operating only one of said internal and external regulators at any given time;

and

said internal regulator being a non-operating reserve regulator during the operation of said external regulator.

7. An improved regulator system for an alternator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said internal regulator is adapted for charging a single battery;

and

said external regulator being adapted for charging a plurality of batteries.

8. An improved regulator system for an alternator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said internal regulator is a single stage regulator;

and

said external regulator being a multi-stage regulator.

9. An improved regulator system for an alternator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrical connector comprises an electrical coupling for connecting one of said internal regulator and said external regulator to actuate one of said internal and external regulators to regulate the output of the alternator.

2. An improved regulator system for controlling a field winding of an alternator to control the charging of a battery, comprising:

an internal regulator mounted onto the alternator;

said internal regulator having an internal regulator control circuit for monitoring the battery and for controlling the field winding;

an electrical connector for actuating said internal regulator to regulate the output of the alternator in accordance with said internal regulator;

said electrical connector enabling an external regulator to be connected to the alternator and for deactuating said internal regulator and for actuating said external regulator to regulate the output of the alternator in accordance with the external regulator.

3. An improved regulator system for controlling a field winding of an alternator to control the charging of a battery, comprising:

an internal regulator mounted onto the alternator;

said internal regulator having an internal regulator control circuit comprising an internal regulator sensing circuit for monitoring the battery and an internal regulator driver circuit for driving the field winding;

an electrical connector for actuating said internal regulator to regulate the output of the alternator in accordance with said internal regulator; and

said electrical connector enabling an external regulator to be connected to the alternator and for deactuating said internal regulator and for actuating said external regulator to regulate the output of the alternator in accordance with the external regulator.

4. An improved regulator system for controlling a field winding of an alternator to control the charging of a battery, comprising:

an internal regulator mounted onto the alternator;

said internal regulator having an internal regulator control circuit for monitoring the battery and for controlling the field winding;

an external regulator mounted external to the alternator;

said external regulator having an external regulator control circuit for monitoring the battery and for controlling the field winding; and

an actuator connector for actuating one of said internal regulator and said external regulator to regulate the output of the alternator in accordance with said one of said internal and external regulators.

10. An improved regulator system for controlling a field winding of an alternator to control the charging of a battery, comprising:

an internal regulator mounted onto the alternator;

said internal regulator having an internal regulator sensing circuit for monitoring the battery;

an internal regulator driver circuit for controlling the flow of current through the field winding of the alternator for charging of the battery;

an external regulator mounted external to the alternator;

said external regulator having an external regulator sensing circuit for monitoring the battery;

an external regulator driver circuit for controlling the flow of current through the field winding of the alternator for charging of the battery; and

an electrical connector for actuating one of said internal regulator and said external regulator to control said internal and said external field winding control device, respectively, to regulate the output of the alternator in accordance with said one of said internal and external regulators.

11. An improved regulator system for an alternator having a field winding for charging a battery, comprising:

an internal regulator mounted internal to the alternator;

said internal regulator comprising an insulating mounting body;

said insulating mounting body having a plurality of metallic mounting tabs for physically mounting and for making electrical connection to the alternator;

said insulating mounting body having an aperture for receiving a circuit board containing an internal regulator circuit;

each of said plurality of metallic mounting tabs extending into said aperture for connecting to said circuit board;

a polymeric material for mounting and sealing said circuit board within said aperture;

said internal regulator having an internal ignition wire for connection to an ignition switch of an engine for actuating said internal regulator upon connection of said internal ignition wire for enabling said internal regulator to sense the voltage on the battery and to control the current flow to said field winding for varying the output of the alternator;

an external regulator mounted external to the alternator;

said external regulator being connected to the alternator;

said external regulator having an external ignition wire for actuating said external regulator upon connection of said external actuator for enabling said external regulator to sense the voltage on the battery and to control the current flow to said field winding for varying the output of the alternator.