Detector for shorted rotating diode of a brushless alternator
First Claim
1. In a brushless alternator having an exciter field circuit including a source of DC potential with a reference, a stationary exciter field winding and an emitter collector circuit of a voltage regulator transistor connected in series with the field winding across the DC source, a rotor with an exciter armature, a diode rectifier connected with said armature and a main field winding connected with the diode rectifier, a stator winding in which the alternator output voltage is developed coupled with the main field winding, and a voltage regulator responsive to the alternator output providing a base drive signal to the voltage regulator transistor, an improved detector for a shorted diode rectifier, comprising:
- a sensing circuit responsive to the direction of current flow through the exciter field winding for indicating the occurrence of a shorted diode on the rotor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit for detecting the occurrence of a shorted diode in the rotating rectifier of a brushless alternator. A sensing circuit is responsive to the direction of current flow through the exciter field winding. A reversal of the current indicates that there is a shorted rectifier diode.
37 Citations
5 Claims
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1. In a brushless alternator having an exciter field circuit including a source of DC potential with a reference, a stationary exciter field winding and an emitter collector circuit of a voltage regulator transistor connected in series with the field winding across the DC source, a rotor with an exciter armature, a diode rectifier connected with said armature and a main field winding connected with the diode rectifier, a stator winding in which the alternator output voltage is developed coupled with the main field winding, and a voltage regulator responsive to the alternator output providing a base drive signal to the voltage regulator transistor, an improved detector for a shorted diode rectifier, comprising:
a sensing circuit responsive to the direction of current flow through the exciter field winding for indicating the occurrence of a shorted diode on the rotor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. In a brushless alternator having a stationary exciter field winding, a rotor with an exciter armature, a diode rectifier connected with said armature and a main field winding connected with the diode rectifier, and a stator winding in which the alternator output voltage is developed coupled with the main field winding, an exciter field circuit including a voltage regulator transistor connected with the exciter field winding, a DC power supply for said exciter field circuit, said power supply having a shunt connected capacitor across its output, and a voltage regulator responsive to the alternator output providing a base drive signal to the voltage regulator transistor, the circuit of the exciter field winding in series with the parallel combination of the voltage regulator transistor and a shunt diode being connected across said power supply capacitor, an improved detector for a shorted diode rectifier, comprising:
a sensing circuit responsive to the direction of current flow through the series circuit of the field winding, transistor and shunt diode. - View Dependent Claims (5)
Specification