Starter circuit for motors, particularly for refrigerator compressors

• US 6,329,784 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minu S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Minu S.p.A.
• Inventors: Pinotti, Ermanno, Puppin, Ezio
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duda, Rina I.
• Application Number:
  US09/526,508
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 318/774, 318/778, 318/779, 318/786, 318/798
• US Class Current: 318/778
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 1/28 by progressive increase of voltage applied to primary circuit of motor

Abstract

A motor starter circuit, particularly for a motor of refrigerator compressors, comprising means for generating time-decreasing pulses adapted to drive switching means which are connected to the motor to be started, the means for generating time-decreasing pulses being AC-powered.

Claims

1. A motor starter circuit for a motor of refrigerator compressors, comprising means for generating time-decreasing pulses adapted to drive switching means which are connected to a motor to be started, said means for generating time-decreasing pulses being AC-powered, wherein said means for generating time-decreasing pulses comprise a first circuit branch and a second circuit branch which are respectively constituted by a resistor and a capacitor which are mutually series-connected, each one of said first and second circuit branches driving amplifier means which are respectively connected to said switching means.

2. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating time-decreasing pulses drive said switching means by virtue of amplifier means.

3. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said amplifier means related to said first circuit branch comprises a p-channel MOS transistor and said amplifier means related to said second circuit branch comprises an n-channel MOS transistor.

4. The circuit according to claim 3, wherein said amplifier means further comprise a resistor and a diode which are respectively connected to said MOS transistors.

5. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said first circuit branch and said second circuit branch respectively further comprise a diode which is series-connected to the capacitor of the corresponding branch.

6. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said amplifier means respectively comprise an n-channel MOS transistor for said first and second circuit branches.

7. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein the capacitors of said first and second circuit branches have discharge resistors which are arranged in parallel thereto.

8. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said switching means comprise a triac.

9. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said switching means comprise a SCR.

10. A motor starter circuit for a motor of refrigerator compressors, comprising means for generating time-decreasing pulses adapted to drive switching means which are connected to a motor to be stated, said means for generating time-decreasing pulses being AC-powered, wherein said means for generating time-decreasing pulses comprise a diode bridge and a capacitor.

11. The circuit according to claim 10, wherein said means for generating time-decreasing pulses drive said switching means by virtue of amplifier means.

12. The circuit according to claim 10, wherein said diode bridge is respectively connected to first amplifier means and to second amplifier means which are constituted by n-channel MOS transistors which are in turn connected to said switching means.

13. The circuit according to claim 10, wherein said capacitor of the means for generating time-decreasing pulses has a discharge resistor arranged in parallel thereto.

14. The circuit according to claim 10, wherein said switching means comprise a triac.

15. The circuit according to claim 10, wherein said switching means comprise a SCR.

16. The circuit according to claim 10, wherein said diode bridge is connected to terminals of said switching means by virtue of a voltage divider.

17. The circuit according to claim 16, wherein said voltage divider comprises a first resistor which is connected between said diode bridge and said switching means, and a second resistor which is connected between said diode bridge and a supply voltage.

18. The circuit according to claim 16, wherein said capacitor comprises a discharge resistor which is connected in parallel thereto.