Control device for AC generator

• US 5,563,497 A
• Filed: 04/19/1995
• Issued: 10/08/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwatani, Shiro, Kohwa, Tatsuki, Komurasaki, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US08/424,049
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 322/28, 322/99
• US Class Current: 322/99
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/24 using discharge tubes or semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/08 Control of generator circuit during starting or stopping of driving means, e.g. for initiating excitation

Abstract

A control device for an AC generator having an armature coil and a field coil includes a rectifier for rectifying an AC output of the AC generator, which is driven by an engine, to excite the field coil. A storage battery is adapted to be charged by the rectified output of the AC generator rectified by the rectifier for supplying power to the field coil when the engine is started. A switching element switches over a connecting condition of the storage battery in such a manner that the storage battery is connected through the rectifier to the field coil to supply power to the field coil when the engine is started, the switching element being connected to an AC output of the AC generator for supplying the AC output voltage of the AC generator as a drive voltage to the second switching element. An output-voltage regulating circuit detects an AC output voltage of the AC generator and for intermittently controlling a field current to the field coil to regulate the AC output voltage of the AC generator to a predetermined value. An indicating lamp is connected between the switching element and the storage battery for indicating a state of electricity generation of the AC generator. An indicating-lamp control circuit turns on and off the indicating lamp based on the state of electricity generation of the AC generator.

Claims

1. A control device for an AC generator having an armature coil and a field coil, said control device comprising:

a rectifier for rectifying an AC output of said AC generator, which is driven by an engine, to excite said field coil;

a storage battery adapted to be charged by the rectified output of said AC generator rectified by said rectifier for supplying power to said field coil when said engine is started;

a switching element for switching over a connecting condition of said storage battery so that said storage battery is connected through said rectifier to said field coil to supply power to said field coil when said engine is started, said switching element being connected to an AC output of said AC generator for supplying said AC output voltage of said AC generator as a drive voltage to said second switching element;

an output-voltage regulating circuit for detecting an AC output voltage of the AC generator and for intermittently controlling a field current to said field coil to regulate the AC output voltage of said AC generator to a predetermined value;

an indicating lamp connected between said switching element and said storage battery for indicating a state of electricity generation of said AC generator; and

an indicating-lamp control circuit for turning on and off said indicating lamp based on said state of electricity generation of said AC generator.

2. The control device for an AC generator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said AC generator has a one-phase voltage used as said AC output voltage of said AC generator.

3. The control device for an AC generator as set forth in claim 1, wherein a neutral point voltage of the three-phase Y connection AC generator is used as said AC output voltage of said AC generator.