Voltage regulator

• US 3,984,755 A
• Filed: 12/02/1975
• Issued: 10/05/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Ricker, Dennis J., Lehnhoff, Richard N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, J D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/637,058
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 322/25, 322/28, 322/29, 322/31, 322/32, 322/73, 317/13 R
• US Class Current: 322/28
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/06 for dynamo-electric generators; for synchronous capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/302 Brushless excitation
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/36 using armature-reaction-excited machines

Abstract

A direct current ramp potential signal which is produced in synchronism with each half cycle of the alternator output voltage and increases in magnitude within a predetermined range during each half cycle is compared with a direct current reference potential signal inversely proportional to alternator connected load. Circuitry is provided for effecting the electrical energization of the alternator field winding in response to an electrical signal produced when the potential level of the ramp potential signal has reached a value equal to that of the reference potential signal. Provision is also made for effecting the deenergization of the alternator field winding with sustained overvoltage conditions and for ramping the output voltage down linearly with conditions of output potential frequencies less than the desired frequency.

Claims

1. A voltage regulator circuit for controlling the electrical energization of the field winding of an alternating current alternator in a manner to maintain the alternator alternating current output voltage substantially constant, comprising:

circuit means responsive to the alternator output voltage for producing a direct current reference potential signal of a potential level inversely proportional to alternator connected load;

circuit means for producing a direct current ramp potential signal in synchronism with each half cycle of the alternator output voltage which increases in magnitude within a predetermined range during each said half cycle;

circuit means responsive to said reference potential signal and said ramp potential signal for producing an output signal of a selected polarity when the potential level of said ramp potential signal has reached the potential level of said reference potential signal; and

means effective to electrically energize the alternator field winding in response to the signal produced by said last-named circuit means.

2. A voltage regulator circuit for controlling the electrical energization of the field winding of an alternating current alternator in a manner to maintain the alternator alternating current output voltage substantially constant, comprising:

circuit means for producing a direct current alternator output voltage sensing potential signal of a potential level proportional to the alternator output voltage;

circuit means responsive to said output voltage sensing potential signal for producing a direct current reference potential signal of a potential level inversely proportional to alternator connected load;

circuit means for producing a direct current ramp potential signal in synchronism with each half cycle of the alternator output voltage which increases in magnitude within a predetermined range during each said half cycle;

circuit means responsive to said reference potential signal and said ramp potential signal for producing an output signal of a selected polarity when the potential level of said ramp potential signal has reached the potential level of said reference potential signal, respectively;

means effective to electrically energize the alternator field winding in response to the signal produced by said last-named circuit means; and

alternator output overvoltage protection circuit means responsive to said sensing potential signal for interrupting alternator field winding energization when the alternator output voltage level exceeds a predetermined desired alternator output voltage level by a selected percentage of the desired alternator output voltage.

3. A voltage regulator circuit for controlling the electrical energization of the field winding of an alternating current alternator in a manner to maintain the alternator alternating current output voltage substantially constant, comprising:

circuit means responsive to the alternator output voltage for producing a direct current reference potential signal of a potential level inversely proportional to alternator connected load;

circuit means for producing a direct current ramp potential signal in synchronism with each half cycle of the alternator output voltage which increases in magnitude within a predetermined range during each said half cycle;

circuit means responsive to said reference potential signal and said ramp potential signal for producing an output signal of a selected polarity when the potential level of said ramp potential signal has reached the potential level of said reference potential signal;

means effective to electrically energize the alternator field winding in response to the signal produced by said last-named circuit means;

means for producing a direct current frequency error ramp signal of a potential level inversely proportional to the alternator output voltage frequency and of a substantially ground potential level while the alternator output voltage is of the desired frequency; and

means for applying said frequency error ramp signal to said first named circuit means in a sense to increase the potential level of said reference potential signal with a decrease of frequency of the alternator output voltage.

4. A voltage regulator circuit for controlling the electrical energization of the field winding of an alternating current alternator in a manner to maintain the alternator alternating current output voltage substantially constant, comprising:

circuit means for producing a direct current alternator output voltage sensing potential signal of a potential level proportional to the alternator output voltage;

circuit means responsive to said output voltage sensing potential signal for producing a direct current reference potential signal of a potential level inversely proportional to alternator connected load;

circuit means for producing a direct current ramp potential signal in synchronism with each half cycle of the alternator output voltage which increases in magnitude within a predetermined range during each said half cycle;

circuit means responsive to said reference potential signal and said ramp potential signal for producing an output signal of a selected polarity when the potential level of said ramp potential signal has reached the potential level of said reference potential signal, respectively;

means effective to electrically energize the alternator field winding in response to the signal produced by said last-named circuit means;

means for producing a direct current frequency error ramp signal of a potential level inversely proportional to the alternator output voltage frequency and of a substantially ground potential level while the alternator output voltage is of the desired frequency;

means for applying said frequency error ramp signal to said first named circuit means in a sense to increase the potential level of said reference potential signal with a decrease of frequency of alternator output voltage; and

means for selectively conditioning said voltage regulator circuit for either of two alternator output voltage frequencies.

5. A voltage regulator circuit for controlling the electrical energization of the field winding of an alternating current alternator in a manner to maintain the alternator alternating current output voltage substantially constant, comprising:

circuit means for producing a direct current alternator output voltage sensing potential signal of a potential level proportional to the alternator output voltage;

circuit means responsive to said output voltage sensing potential signal for producing a direct current reference potential signal of a potential level inversely proportional to alternator connected load;

circuit means for producing a direct current ramp potential signal in synchronism with each half cycle of the alternator output voltage which increases in magnitude within a predetermined range during each said half cycle;

circuit means responsive to said reference potential signal and said ramp potential signal for producing an output signal of a selected polarity when the potential level of said ramp potential signal has reached the potential level of said reference potential signal, respectively;

means effective to electrically energize the alternator field winding in response to the signal produced by said last-named circuit means;

alternator output overvoltage protection circuit means responsive to said sensing potential signal for interrupting alternator field winding energization when the alternator output voltage level exceeds a predetermined desired alternator output voltage level by a selected percentage of the desired alternator output voltage;

means for producing a direct current frequency error ramp signal of a potential level inversely proportional to the alternator output voltage frequency and of a substantially ground potential level while the alternator output voltage is of the desired frequency;

means for applying said frequency error ramp signal to said first named circuit means in a sense to increase the potential level of said reference potential signal with a decrease of frequency of the alternator output voltage; and

means for selectively conditioning said voltage regulator circuit for either of two alternator output voltage frequencies.