Alternator/inverter with dual H-bridge

• US 6,608,401 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walter, Richard Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, YOUNGHUIE JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US10/077,219
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 363/71, 363/142, 363/143, 307/18, 307/19, 307/20, 307/21, 307/24, 307/28, 307/29, 307/38, 307/39, 307/64, 307/66, 322/17, 322/22, 322/24, 322/25, 322/28
• US Class Current: 307/39
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0085 Partially controlled bridges
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/009 having two or more independently controlled outputs for DC-DC converter with intermediate AC H02M3/33561
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/458 using semiconductor devices only

Abstract

An alternator/inverter system for use with a portable generator which includes a voltage regulation system. The alternator/inverter incorporates a pair of permanent magnet generators (PMGs), a pair of active rectifier circuits, a pair of DC bus capacitors and a pair of H-bridge inverters, forming two distinct alternator/inverter sections. Each alternator/inverter section provides a 120 VAC output, and a 240 VAC output is formed between the two alternator/inverters sections. The voltage regulation system is formed from a pair of voltage regulation circuits that are associated with each alternator/inverter section. The circuits monitor the DC bus voltage of each alternator/inverter and determine the DC losses resulting from electrical cabling coupling the alternator/inverters to external loads, as well as the H-bridge inverters. A microcomputer or an analog device(s) controls the rectifiers of each to perform “V+IR” compensation based on the sensed DC bus voltage of each alternator/inverter section.

Claims

1. An alternator/inverter apparatus, comprising:

a first poly-phase generator;

a first inverter responsive to an output of said first poly-phase generator for providing a first AC output;

a second poly-phase generator;

a second inverter responsive to an output of said second poly-phase generator for providing a second AC output;

a third AC output formed between portions of said first and second inverters; and

a controller for controlling said inverters to provide a first voltage output at each of said first and second AC outputs and a second voltage output at said third AC output.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electronically controlled switch controlled by said controller for selectively enabling and disabling said third AC output.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a user actuated switch for providing a signal to said controller to enable or disable said third AC output.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller controls said inverters such that one of said first voltage outputs is 180 degrees out of phase with each other, to thereby cause said second voltage output to be twice that of said first voltage output.

5. A synchronous alternator/inverter apparatus, comprising:

a first three phase generator;

a first inverter responsive to an output of said first three phase generator for providing a first AC output;

a second three phase generator;

a second inverter responsive to an output of said second three phase generator for providing a second AC output;

a third AC output formed between portions of said first and second inverters;

an electronically controlled switch coupled across said third AC output for selectively enabling and disabling said third AC output;

a controller for controlling said inverters to provide a first voltage output at each of said first and second AC outputs and a second voltage output at said third AC output; and

wherein said switch has a first position in which said first and second AC outputs are coupled in parallel and said third AC output is shorted, to thereby provide a first voltage signal to either of said first and second outputs while disabling said third AC output; and

wherein said switch has a second position in which said first and second AC outputs are uncoupled from one another and said third AC output is enabled, and wherein said controller controls said inverters such that said first and second AC outputs are out of phase, to thereby generate a second voltage signal at said third AC output which is greater than said first voltage signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said AC outputs of said first and second inverters are controlled by said controller to be 180 degrees out of phase when said switch is in said second position.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a user controlled switch in communication with said controller for allowing a user to select whether said third AC output is operable or not.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of said generators comprises a permanent magnet generator.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of said inverters comprises an H-bridge inverter.

10. A synchronous alternator/inverter apparatus, comprising:

a first three phase generator;

a first inverter responsive to an output of said first three phase generator and having a first output terminal and a second output terminal cooperatively forming a first AC output;

a second three phase generator;

a second inverter responsive to an output of said second three phase generator and having a third output terminal and a fourth output terminal cooperatively forming a second AC output;

a third AC output formed between said first and fourth output terminals;

a switch for selectively enabling and disabling said third AC output;

a controller for controlling actuation of said switch between a first position and a second position, and operation of each of said inverters;

when said switch is placed in said first position said first and second AC outputs are placed in parallel while shorting said third AC output, and said controller controls said inverters such said first and second AC outputs are in phase, to thereby provide a first voltage output signal to each of said AC outputs, and wherein a first power level signal can be delivered to either of said first and second AC outputs; and

when said switch is placed in said second position, said first and second AC outputs are uncoupled and third AC output is enabled, and said controller controls said inverters such that said first AC output is out of phase with said second AC output, thereby providing a second voltage output signal at said third AC output which is double that of said first voltage output signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein when said switch is placed in said second position, a second power level signal is provided to each of said first and second AC outputs which is one half that of said first power level signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each said inverter comprises a full wave rectifier circuit.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first inverter comprises an H-bridge inverter.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said second inverter comprises an H-bridge inverter.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of said first and second inverters comprises an H-bridge inverter including a plurality of power switching devices.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of said power switching devices comprises an insulated gate bipolar transistor.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of said three phase generators comprises a permanent magnet generator.

18. A synchronous alternator/inverter apparatus, comprising:

a first permanent magnet generator (PMG);

a first rectifier for rectifying an output of said first PMG;

a first inverter responsive to an output of said first rectifier, and having a first output terminal and a second output terminal for cooperatively providing a first AC output;

a second PMG;

a second rectifier for rectifying an output of said second PMG;

a second inverter responsive to an output of said second rectifier, and having a third output terminal and a fourth output terminal cooperatively providing a second AC output;

a third AC output formed between said first and fourth output terminals;

an electronically controlled switch for selectively enabling and disabling said third AC output terminal;

a controller for controlling actuation of said switch between a first position and a second position, and controlling operation of each of said inverters;

when said switch is placed in said first position, said first and second AC outputs are coupled together in parallel while shorting said third AC output, and said controller controls said inverters such said first and second AC outputs are in phase, to thereby provide a first voltage output signal to each of said AC outputs, and wherein a first power level signal can be delivered to either of said AC outputs; and

when said switch is placed in said second position, said first and second AC outputs are uncoupled and said third AC output is enabled, and said controller controls said inverters such that said first AC output is out of phase with said second AC output, thereby providing a second voltage output signal at said third AC output which is double that of said first voltage output signal while providing a second power level signal to each of said first and second AC outputs which is one half that of said first power level signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least one of said rectifiers comprises a full wave bridge rectifier.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least one of said inverters comprises an H-bridge inverter.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least one of said inverters comprises an H-bridge inverter including four insulated gate bipolar transistors.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein when said switch is in said second position, said controller controls said inverters such that said first and second AC outputs generate voltage outputs which are 180 degrees out of phase.