Charging system for charging capacitors of a capacitor bank
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controllably charging a bank of capacitors connected in series with a charging current, said apparatus comprising:
- a charger for charging said capacitor bank and for controlling a charging current;
parallel monitors connected in parallel with each capacitor, which detect terminal voltages developed across each capacitor and bypass said charging current at voltages in excess of a preset value;
a detection means for detecting a voltage developed across said capacitor bank; and
a charging control means which compares the detected voltage of said capacitor bank with a reference value for reduction and controls said charger to reduce said charging current when the detected voltage of said capacitor bank reaches the reference value for reduction.
6 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed an apparatus for efficiently charging a capacitor bank consisting of capacitors connected in series. The apparatus needs parallel monitors of a small maximum rating though the capacitors are charged quickly with a large charging current from a charger. The monitors bypass the charging current at voltages exceeding a preset voltage. The state of charge of the bank is detected. If certain conditions are satisfied (e.g., the terminal voltage of the bank exceeds a preset value, at least one of the monitors is turned on, or the terminal voltage of at least one of the capacitors exceeds a preset value), a charging control circuit reduces the charging current. This current is gradually reduced. Immediately before the bank is fully charged, the charging current is reduced greatly or in a stepwise fashion.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controllably charging a bank of capacitors connected in series with a charging current, said apparatus comprising:
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a charger for charging said capacitor bank and for controlling a charging current; parallel monitors connected in parallel with each capacitor, which detect terminal voltages developed across each capacitor and bypass said charging current at voltages in excess of a preset value; a detection means for detecting a voltage developed across said capacitor bank; and a charging control means which compares the detected voltage of said capacitor bank with a reference value for reduction and controls said charger to reduce said charging current when the detected voltage of said capacitor bank reaches the reference value for reduction. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An apparatus for controllably charging a bank of capacitors connected in series with a charging current, said apparatus comprising:
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a charger for charging said capacitor bank and for controlling a charging current; parallel monitors connected in parallel with each capacitor, which detect terminal voltages developed across each capacitor and bypass said charging current at voltages in excess of a preset value, said parallel monitors generating signals indicating whether the parallel monitors are ON or OFF; a decision means for producing a decision signal in response to the signals from said parallel monitors when at least one of the parallel monitors is ON; and a charging control means which controls said charger to reduce said charging current in response to the decision signal. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. An apparatus for controllably charging a bank of capacitors connected in series with a charging current, said apparatus comprising:
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a charger for charging said capacitor bank and for controlling a charging current; parallel monitors connected in parallel with each capacitor, which detect terminal voltages developed across each capacitor and bypass said charging current at voltages in excess of a preset value; a detection means for detecting a voltage developed across a capacitor of said capacitor bank; and a charging control means which compares the detected voltage with a reference value for reduction and controls said charger to reduce said charging current when the detected voltage reaches the reference value for reduction. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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Specification