Inductive charge control device

• US 6,031,708 A
• Filed: 10/23/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric SA (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric SA (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Guermeur, Yves
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US09/147,177
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 361/159, 361/160, 361/170, 361/189, 361/190
• US Class Current: 361/160
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2007/1888 using pulse width modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/1811 demagnetising upon switching off, removing residual magnetism
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/1844 Monitoring or fail-safe circuits for relays H01H47/002
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/325 by switching regulator

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling an inductive load, particularly for a coil of an electromagnet, including an electronic chopper switch fitted in series with the coil and controlled by a pulse width modulator, and an opening switch, also fitted in series with the coil. A transformer converter 20 with two secondary windings, one of which is connected to the modulator 11, and the other is connected to the gate of the opening transistor T2 via a switch 25 solicited by the opening signal.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling an inductive load, particularly for a coil of an electromagnet, to which a recuperation diode is associated, including:

an electronic chopper switch fitted in series with the coil and controlled by a pulse width modulator in accordance with a signal supplied by a device which measures the coil current,

the pulse width modulator being supplied by a D.C. voltage supply circuit and included in a control circuit,

a rapid opening electronic switch composed of an insulated gate transistor fitted in series with the coil or in parallel to the coil and which may be controlled by an opening signal supplied by the control circuit,

characterized by the fact that the power supply circuit (20) of the pulse width modulator (11) is a transformer converter with two secondary windings, one of which (21) is connected to the pulse width modulator and the other (22) is connected to the opening transistor gate (T2) by means of the opening switch (25) solicited by the opening signal.

2. Apparatus of claim 1, characterized by the fact that the opening switch (25) is an optotransistor, the opening of which leads to the discharge of the gate capacity of the rapid opening transistor (T2).

3. Apparatus of claim 1, characterized by the fact that the opening switch (25) is controlled by a comparator (28) of the D.C. supply voltage with at least one threshold, the output of the comparator being connected to a signal/retaining timer device (30a) and an opening delay device (30b) via a logic element (29) equipped with an input for a low level control signal (S).

4. Apparatus of claim 1, characterized by the fact that the opening transistor (T2) may be shunted.

5. Apparatus of claim 1, characterized by the fact that the control circuit (10) is a micro-controller equipped with inputs (31) for selecting the rating of the contactor coils and inputs and outputs attributed to the coils of the two contactors associated in a change-over connection.