Self-contained, portable compact load bank and testing method; compact load bank with improved power handling capability
First Claim
1. A compact high-power resistor load bank apparatus for controlled loading of a DC electrical source, comprising:
- means for housing said resistor load bank;
one or more edge-wound high-power resistor means comprising solid helical resistive coils of flat-sided substantially rectangular oblong cross section mechanically from a first side to a second opposite side of said means for housing mounted across and within said means for housing but electrically insulated therefrom by insulting means, said resistive coils extending outwardly from said insulating means so as to form cooling fins;
fan means including a venturi panel which spans across and is disposed within said means for housing, for directing a flow of air through said venturi panel and directly past said high-power resistor means so that the flow of air travels in a direction substantially parallel to the flattened sides comprising said cooling fins of said high-power resistor means; and
,means for electrically connecting said resistor load bank to said DC electrical source;
whereby all of said means are disposed to minimize the obstruction of airflow and maximize the power handling ability of said load bank, and said high-power resistor means are rendered capable of continuously dissipating power at a rate in excess of twice their unfanned power ratings.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable, self-contained and compact load bank of wire wound resistors utilizes wire wound resistors which are air cooled by a fan mounted in a venturi wherein the load resistors may dissipate power at up to six times their power rating. Current flow through the resistors is controlled by a transistor bank and portions of the resistors may be shorted out through taps connected to SCR'"'"'s, with both the SCR'"'"'s and the transistors being controlled by a microprocessor. The load bank is fully automatic, and because of highly effective air cooling, minimization of air flow resistance and use of edge wound resistors, the load bank is highly portable due both to its compact size enabling travel through normal passageways and its reduced weight. Both the microcontroller circuitry and the resistive load dissipation circuitry are contained within the same unit and are electrically isolated from each other by optical isolators. The load bank may be utilized for the testing of batteries, DC power supplies or any other DC source.
61 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A compact high-power resistor load bank apparatus for controlled loading of a DC electrical source, comprising:
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means for housing said resistor load bank; one or more edge-wound high-power resistor means comprising solid helical resistive coils of flat-sided substantially rectangular oblong cross section mechanically from a first side to a second opposite side of said means for housing mounted across and within said means for housing but electrically insulated therefrom by insulting means, said resistive coils extending outwardly from said insulating means so as to form cooling fins; fan means including a venturi panel which spans across and is disposed within said means for housing, for directing a flow of air through said venturi panel and directly past said high-power resistor means so that the flow of air travels in a direction substantially parallel to the flattened sides comprising said cooling fins of said high-power resistor means; and
,means for electrically connecting said resistor load bank to said DC electrical source; whereby all of said means are disposed to minimize the obstruction of airflow and maximize the power handling ability of said load bank, and said high-power resistor means are rendered capable of continuously dissipating power at a rate in excess of twice their unfanned power ratings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification