Regulator tester
First Claim
1. Apparatus for testing a regulator independently of the alternator or generator to which it is intended to be connected, said regulator having first and second terminals across which the output voltage of the alternator or regulator is normally applied, said regulator sensing said voltage and switching an internal switch between conductive and nonconductive states when said voltage moves beyond a predetermined acceptable range of values, where said internal switch is coupled between a third terminal of said regulator and one of said first and second terminals to control current flow through the field coil of said alternator or generator to which it is intended to connect said regulator, said apparatus comprising:
- first static circuit means for generating an output voltage simulating the output of said alternator or generator to which it is intended to connect said regulator and for applying said simulated output voltage across said first and second terminals to cause said regulator, if operating properly, to switch said internal switch between said conductance states; and
second static circuit means coupled between said third terminal and said one of said first and second terminals to which said internal switch is connected for generating a simulated field current of an alternator or generator and for applying said simulated field current to said third terminal, said second static circuit means comprising a low voltage power supply providing a low voltage power signal having a magnitude substantially smaller than the maximum level of said simulated output voltage, said low voltage supply having an impedance selected such that the magnitude of the current supplied to the internal switch is substantially the same as the rated field current of said alternator or generator with which said regulator is intended to be associated even though the voltage of said low voltage power signal is quite low, whereby little power is dissipated thereby.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Testing appartus and method for testing a regulator for switching current to an external load device in response to applied voltage, e.g., field current of an alternator. This tester is arranged to enable accurate determination of regulated voltages and operates to apply load circuitry to simulate in a closed loop mode of operation the operation of the regulator in its operating environment. A power delay circuitry is connected across the terminals of the regulator and supplies load current to a third terminal when the regulator is turned on by charging a capacitor in the delay circuitry. When the charge on the capacitor reaches a high limit, the regulator switches off and load circuitry is switched on to ramp the capacitor voltage downwardly until the regulator again switches on. The load circuitry at that time switches off. An auxiliary power supply is effective when the regulator is switched on to supply additional load current.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. Apparatus for testing a regulator independently of the alternator or generator to which it is intended to be connected, said regulator having first and second terminals across which the output voltage of the alternator or regulator is normally applied, said regulator sensing said voltage and switching an internal switch between conductive and nonconductive states when said voltage moves beyond a predetermined acceptable range of values, where said internal switch is coupled between a third terminal of said regulator and one of said first and second terminals to control current flow through the field coil of said alternator or generator to which it is intended to connect said regulator, said apparatus comprising:
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first static circuit means for generating an output voltage simulating the output of said alternator or generator to which it is intended to connect said regulator and for applying said simulated output voltage across said first and second terminals to cause said regulator, if operating properly, to switch said internal switch between said conductance states; and second static circuit means coupled between said third terminal and said one of said first and second terminals to which said internal switch is connected for generating a simulated field current of an alternator or generator and for applying said simulated field current to said third terminal, said second static circuit means comprising a low voltage power supply providing a low voltage power signal having a magnitude substantially smaller than the maximum level of said simulated output voltage, said low voltage supply having an impedance selected such that the magnitude of the current supplied to the internal switch is substantially the same as the rated field current of said alternator or generator with which said regulator is intended to be associated even though the voltage of said low voltage power signal is quite low, whereby little power is dissipated thereby. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for testing a regulator having first and second terminals to which a voltage to be regulated is normally applied, said regulator sensing said voltage and switching an internal switch between conductive and nonconductive states when said voltage moves beyond a predetermined acceptable range of values, where said internal switch is coupled between a third terminal of said regulator and one of said first and second terminals to control current flow through an external device, said apparatus comprising:
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test voltage applying means for applying a test voltage across said first and second terminals to cause said regulator, if operating properly, to switch said internal switch between said conductance states; and current supplying means comprising transformer means for transforming a commercial AC power signal down to a low voltage AC power signal having a peak voltage which is substantially less than said test voltage, means for rectifying and filtering said low voltage AC power signal to provide a low voltage DC power signal, and resistor means connected between said rectifying and filtering means and said third terminal for providing a current path from said current supplying means to said third terminal, said resistor means having a resistance value selected such that when said switch is conductive, a current passes therethrough from said current supplying means which is of substantially the same magnitude as the current which said switch is intended to carry during normal operation.
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11. Apparatus for testing a regulator having first and second terminals to which a voltage to be regulated is normally applied, said regulator sensing said voltage and switching an internal switch between conductive and nonconductive states when said voltage moves beyond a predetermined acceptable range of values, where said internal switch is coupled between a third terminal of said regulator and one of said first and second terminals to control current flow through an external device, said apparatus comprising:
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test voltage applying means for applying a test voltage across said first and second terminals to cause said regulator, if operating properly, to switch said internal switch between said conductance states; and internal switch testing means, comprising current testing means and voltage testing means wherein said current testing means includes a low voltage power supply providing a low voltage power signal having a magnitude substantially less than the maximum voltage to which said internal switch will be subjected during the normal operation of said regulator and unidirectional current conducting means in series with first resistance means for providing a current path between said low voltage power supply and said third terminal, said first resistance means having a resistance value selected such that the current supplied to said internal switch from said current testing means is approximately the level to which said internal switch will be subjected during normal operation of said regulator, and wherein said voltage testing means comprises means for providing a test voltage which is approximately the level of the maximum voltage to which said internal switch will be subjected during the normal operation of said regulator, and second resistance means for applying said test voltage to said third terminal, said resistance means having a value selected such that only a low level of current is drawn from said voltage testing means when said internal switch is in said conductive state, said unidirectional current conducting means of said current testing means being poled so as to block current flow from said means for providing a test voltage into said current testing means when said internal switch is open.
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Specification