High output alternator and regulator
First Claim
1. In a electrical generating system including a storage battery for providing standby power at a predetermined voltage magnitude between a main power terminal and system ground, a mechanically driven generator having stator windings across which a three-phase AC voltage is produced at an amplitude determined by the amount of current fed through a field winding, and a rectifier for rectifying the three-phase AC voltage to provide a DC battery voltage between a main power terminal and a system ground for charging the battery and supplying other DC voltage loads, the improvement comprising:
- a voltage multiplier circuit for multiplying and rectifying the AC voltage to provide a multiplied DC voltage across a positive and a negative pole; and
a voltage regulator connected to the voltage multiplier circuit and to the field winding, and being responsive to the DC battery voltage appearing between the main power terminal and system ground, wherein the voltage regulator outputs a voltage at a full or fraction of the magnitude of the multiplied DC voltage to the field winding to control the field current fed through the field winding of the generator to cause the three-phase AC voltage developed across the stator windings of the generator to have an amplitude correct to establish and maintain the DC battery voltage at the predetermined magnitude.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A high output alternator and regulator for generating electrical power in a motor vehicle having a storage battery for providing stand-by power at a predetermined voltage. The alternator is a mechanically driven generator having stator windings across which a three-phase AC voltage is produced at an amplitude determined by the amount of current fed through a field winding. A first rectifier is for rectifying the three-phase AC voltage to provide a DC battery voltage to supply other DC voltage loads and a second rectifier rectifies the three-phase AC voltage and inputs into a voltage multiplier circuit which amplifies the rectified voltage. The voltage multiplier circuit inputs the amplified voltage into a voltage regulator having inputs which sense the battery voltage. The voltage regulator outputs the voltage at full or a fractional magnitude of the multiplied DC voltage to control the field current fed through the field winding of the generator to cause a three-phase AC voltage developed across stator windings of the generator to have an amplitude necessary to establish and maintain the DC battery voltage at its predetermined magnitude.
60 Citations
23 Claims
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1. In a electrical generating system including a storage battery for providing standby power at a predetermined voltage magnitude between a main power terminal and system ground, a mechanically driven generator having stator windings across which a three-phase AC voltage is produced at an amplitude determined by the amount of current fed through a field winding, and a rectifier for rectifying the three-phase AC voltage to provide a DC battery voltage between a main power terminal and a system ground for charging the battery and supplying other DC voltage loads, the improvement comprising:
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a voltage multiplier circuit for multiplying and rectifying the AC voltage to provide a multiplied DC voltage across a positive and a negative pole; and a voltage regulator connected to the voltage multiplier circuit and to the field winding, and being responsive to the DC battery voltage appearing between the main power terminal and system ground, wherein the voltage regulator outputs a voltage at a full or fraction of the magnitude of the multiplied DC voltage to the field winding to control the field current fed through the field winding of the generator to cause the three-phase AC voltage developed across the stator windings of the generator to have an amplitude correct to establish and maintain the DC battery voltage at the predetermined magnitude. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A voltage regulator system for providing a field winding current to an alternator having an AC voltage produced by three stator coils and a primary rectified DC voltage output between a main terminal and a ground terminal for supplying power to a load, comprising:
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a rectifying network having a positive and a negative output, and at least two input terminals, the network rectifying and then summing the AC voltage input at the input terminals to produce a DC voltage between the positive and negative outputs; a voltage multiplier circuit having a pair of series-connected capacitors connected across the positive and negative rectifying network outputs, an end of a first coil of the three stator coils being connected to a common node between the series-connected capacitors; and a regulating circuit being powered by the positive and negative rectifying network outputs, and being responsive to the primary rectified DC voltage for controlling the amount of current fed through the field winding of the generator to cause the amplitude of the AC voltage produced by the generator to be correct to establish and maintain the rectified DC voltage at a predetermined low magnitude, wherein the current fed through the field winding is provided by the voltage multiplier circuit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An alternator for a motor vehicle or other mobile or isolated unit that has its power requirements supplied by an engine, comprising:
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a three-phase AC generator mechanically driven by the engine and having three alternating current generating coils and a field winding configured for producing a three-phase AC voltage across the generating coils, the three-phase AC voltage having an amplitude determined by an amount of current fed through the field winding; a first rectifying network producing a DC output voltage between positive and negative output terminals, and having three input terminals connected, respectively, with at least one end of the three generating coils; a second rectifying network having a positive pole, a negative pole, and three input terminals, each separately connected with one of the three generating coils; a voltage multiplier circuit having a pair of series-connected capacitors having a common node connected across the positive and negative poles, an end of one of the three stator windings being connected to the common node of the series-connected capacitors; and a voltage regulator connected to the voltage multiplier circuit and responsive to the DC voltage appearing between the positive and negative output terminals to control the amount of current fed through the field winding of the generator to cause the amplitude of the three-phase AC voltage produced by the generator to be correct to establish and maintain the DC output voltage at a predetermined magnitude, wherein the current fed through the field winding is provided by the voltage multiplier circuit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A voltage regulator, comprising:
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a rectifying network having positive and negative poles and at least one input terminal connected to a three-phase AC input voltage, the network rectifying the AC input voltage to produce a DC voltage between the positive and negative poles; a voltage multiplier circuit having a pair of series-connected capacitors connected across the positive and negative poles, a phase of the three phase AC input voltage being connected to a common node between the series-connected capacitors; and an isolated regulating circuit having input terminals connected to the positive and negative poles, and a third terminal suitable for connection to a rotor field winding, wherein the regulating circuit further includes a sensing circuit having two inputs suitable for connection to a battery, and wherein the regulating circuit, in response to a voltage across the sensing circuit inputs, impresses a multiplied voltage, between the third terminal and one of the positive or negative poles, which is suitable for connection to a field winding in a generator.
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19. A voltage regulator for applying voltage to a rotor field coil, comprising:
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a control circuit with positive and negative battery input terminals and a controlled output; a third terminal for connection to a positive voltage supply, and suitable for being connected to one end of a rotor field coil; a fourth terminal suitable for being connected to the rotor field coil; and a field power transistor connected between the fourth terminal and a negative voltage supply fifth terminal, and having a control input connected to the controlled output of the control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification