Switching apparatus for load matching of wind-driven electrical generators

Abstract

Switching apparatus for matching an electrical load to the voltage output of a wind-driven generator in which the loads are an even number of batteries or electrolytic cells (16). The apparatus includes switching units (10) each having four terminals. Each switching unit has two switching states A and B, the odd numbered switching units (10a, 10c etc.) having pairs of batteries or cells connected between first and third, and second and fourth terminals so that when the switching unit is in State A, the batteries are in parallel and when in state B they are in series. The even numbered switching units (10b etc.) each serve for the interconnection of adjacent pairs of batteries in series or parallel. Control means is provided which is responsive to the voltage output of the generator for effecting a switching sequence at given voltage threshold to enable the batteries to be switched progressively from a parallel arrangement to a series arrangement as the output voltage from the wind-driven generator increases from a minimum to a maximum.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.