Alternator rectification, regulation, and control circuit
AssigneeMinks Engineering, Inc.
InventorFloyd M. Minks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for rectifying and regulating the flow of electrical power from a multi-winding alternator to a load such as a vehicle battery automatically changes the effective connection of the alternator windings to obtain maximum output power over a wide speed range of the alternator. When applied to an alternator of the type commonly used on vehicles such as snowmobiles, this system can approximately double the output current at maximum engine speed without reducing the output at minimum engine speed.
Claims14
An electronic switching system for rectifying and regulating an output of an engine driven alternator, said alternator supplying electrical power to a load for operating said load and to a battery for charging said battery, said electronic switching system comprising:
- a battery having first and second terminals;
- a load having first and second terminals, said load operable with said battery;
- an alternator having first and second windings connected for forming a center tap therebetween and corresponding first and second winding end points;
- a diode connected from said center tap to each of said first terminals of said load and said battery, each of said second terminals of said load and said battery connected to a common point;
- a first control network connected to said battery for controlling a charging of said battery;
- a second control network connected to said load for controlling power delivered to said load from said battery;
- at least two first electronic switches, each of said at least two first electronic switches with load current carrying terminals and a control terminal, said load current terminals of at least two first electronic switches connected between said common point and respectively to said first and second end points of said alternator windings, said control terminals of at least two first electronic switches connected to said first control network;
- and
- at least two second electronic switches, each of said at least two second electronic switches with load current carrying terminals and a control terminal, said load current terminals of at least two second electronic switches connected between said common point and respectively to said first and second end points of said alternator windings, said control terminals of at least two second electronic switches connected to said second control network.
An electronic switching system for rectifying and regulating an output of an engine driven alternator supplying electrical power to a load for operating said load and to a battery for charging said battery, said electronic switching system comprising:
- an alternator having at least two windings connected to form a center tap and two end points;
- a diode having a first terminal connected from said center tap and a second terminal for connection to first terminals of a battery and a load, the battery and load each having a second terminal connected to a common point;
- at least two first electronic switches each with load current terminals and a control terminal, said current terminals of said at least two first electronic switches connected between said common point and said end points of said alternator windings, said control terminals of said at least two first electronic switches adapted for connection to a first control network for controlling a charging of the battery;
- and
- at least two second electronic switches each with load current terminals and a control terminal, said current terminals of said at least two second electronic switches connected between said common point and said end points of said alternator windings, said control terminals of said at least two second electronic switches adapted for connection to a second control network for controlling power delivered to the load.
An electronic switching system for rectifying and regulating an electrical output of an alternator supplying electrical power to first and second loads, said electronic switching system comprising:
- an alternator having at least two windings;
- alternator windings connecting means for connecting said windings in series below a selected frequency of an electrical output of said alternator, said alternator windings connecting means connecting said windings in parallel above said selected frequency;
- a first load containing a battery;
- a second load;
- and
- load connecting means for connecting said first load to said second load when a voltage across said first load is at least at a selected voltage and for connecting said second load to said alternator for receiving power from said alternator when said voltage across said first load is less than said selected voltage.
An electronic switching system for rectifying and regulating a flow of electrical power from an alternator to a load, said electronic switching system comprising:
- an alternator containing at least two windings, each of said at least two windings for connecting to a load;
- a full wave bridge rectification circuit connected across said at least two windings, said full wave bridge rectification circuit containing two first electronic switches responsive to a voltage across the load;
- and
- two second electronic switches connected across said at least two windings of said alternator, said two second electronic switches connected in parallel for rectification and control of said at least two windings, said two second electronic switches connected to said at least two windings to effect output thereof when said alternator operates above and below a selected frequency.
An electronic switching system for charging a battery from a permanent alternator, said electronic switching system comprising:
- a battery having a positive and a negative terminal;
- an alternator containing a winding having ends and a center tap;
- a diode having an anode connected to said center tap, said diode having a cathode connected to said positive terminal of said battery;
- two first solid state switches responsive to a first control signal, each of said two first solid state switches connected to said winding of said alternator for allowing a flow of current from ground to said ends of said winding in response to said first control signal;
- two second solid state switches having said ends of said winding connected thereto for allowing a flow of current from ground to said positive terminal of said battery in response to a second control signal;
- and
- a signal control network producing said first and second control signals, said first control signal responsive to a voltage of said battery, and said second control signal provided when said alternator is operating below a selected frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.