MULTIPLE WINDING, MULTIPLE VOLTAGE, ALTERNATOR SYSTEM

• US 3,793,544 A
• Filed: 02/10/1972
• Issued: 02/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jimmie J. Cathey, Kenneth A. Baumgartner, Norbert L. Schmitz
• Inventors: Schmitz, Norbert L., Baumgartner, Kenneth A., Cathey, Jimmie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/225,068
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 320/15-18,61-65 322/28,90 310/126,198 307/66
• US Class Current: 320/123
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/56 with switched windings
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/58 with more than three phases
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/05 Rectifiers associated with casings, enclosures or brackets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 19/34 Generators with two or more outputs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A plurality of AC windings are disposed to share a common magnetic field circuit, to define a like plurality of electrically isolated, multiple-phase, stator windings on the same mechanical structure of an alternator. The plurality of multiple phase windings feed full wave rectifiers to supply a like plurality of outputs of selected voltage levels. Relay switching provides controlled output levels to loads of differing voltage requirements, regardless of unbalance in the loading of the plurality of stator windings.

Claims

1. In a multiple output alternator systEm for supplying multiple voltage levels to respective accessory loads, batteries and starting motors of a vehicle, the system including an alternator structure having a stator assembly, a field assembly for generating a magnetic field circuit, and a rotor assembly rotatably disposed therebetween, the combination comprising;

a plurality of windings integral with said stator assembly to define stators which share a common magnetic field from the field assembly to provide a coefficient of magnetic coupling which approaches unity, wherein the windings deliver an associated plurality of AC outputs;

rectifier means coupled to the windings for receiving the plurality of AC outputs and for providing a plurality of DC outputs having a constant ratio of magnitudes under varying conditions of loading;

switch means including normally open and normally closed contacts operatively coupled between the rectifier means and loads, and the loads and batteries respectively, and including means responsive to selected voltage levels of said DC outputs for simultaneously reversing the position of said contacts in response to the generation of the selected voltage levels; and

said alternator system further including a pair of accessory loads having a common junction therebetween;

a pair of batteries having a common junction between a negative and a positive side of said batteries;

wherein said normally closed contacts are disposed between the common junctions of said loads and of said batteries, and said normally open contacts are disposed between the common junction of the loads and the rectifier means.

2. The alternator system of claim 1 wherein said stator assembly includes at least two stators;

and said rectifier means includes a pair of rectifiers respectively coupled to the stators, each rectifier having positive and negative outputs, with a negative output of one rectifier coupled to the positive output of the other via a common junction; and

said common junction is coupled in turn to the normally open contacts.

3. The alternator system of claim 2 wherein the switch means includes relay means associated with the normally open and normally closed contacts and disposed to sense the generation of the plurality of DC outputs and reverse the positions of the contacts.

4. The alternator system of claim 3 further including, voltage regulator means coupled to a first stator;

auxiliary rectifier means coupled to the first stator;

control circuit means coupled to the auxiliary rectifier means to sense a selected voltage level therefrom and to thus sense the generation of the plurality of DC outputs; and

relay coil means coupled to said control circuit means to reverse the position of the contacts in response to the control circuit means;

wherein said field assembly includes a field winding coupled to said voltage regulator means.

5. The alternator system of claim 4 wherein the stators include multiple-phase windings to provide a multiple-phase output;

said rectifiers including associated multiple-phase elements adapted to receive the multiple-phase outputs from the respective stator windings and to deliver corresponding multiple-phase DC voltage levels.

6. The alternator system of claim 4 wherein the control circuit means further includes, first and second transistors, diode means disposed between the collectors of the transistors, a pair of Zener diodes connected between the bases of the transistors, wherein the emitter of the first transistor is coupled to the auxiliary rectifier means output, the emitter of the second transistor is coupled to ground, the junction between the pair of Zener diodes is coupled to the junction between the rectifiers, and said relay coil is coupled across the diode.