Alternator-regulator system with arc reduction means

Claim 1

AN ALTERNATOR-REGULATOR SYSTEM INCLUDING IN COMBINATION, AN ALTERNATOR COMPRISING A ROTATABLE STRUCTURE HAVING BOTH INDUCTIVE FIELD WINDING MEANS AND FIRST AND SECOND SLIP RINGS CONCENTRICALLY MOUNTED THEREON AND ROTATABLE THEREWITH, FIRST AND SECOND CONDUCTORS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SLIP RINGS TO SAID FIELD WINDING MEANS TO PROVIDE A CONDUCTIVE PATH FOR SUPPLYING CURRENT THERETO, A PAIR OF BRUSHES RESPECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID ROTATABLE SLIP RINGS TO ACCOMPLISH ELECTRICAL CONNECTION THEREBETWEEN, AND A SWITCHING TYPE VOLTAGE REGULATOR HAVING AN OUTPUT TRANSISTOR CONNECTED TO SAID BRUSHES FOR SUPPLYING PULSATING DIRECT CURRENT TO SAID FIELD WINDING MEANS, SAID REGULATOR INCLUDING A CIRCUIT CONNECTED TO SAID OUTPUT TRANSISTOR TO CAUSE THE SAME ALTERNATELY TO CONDUCT AND SUPPLY CURRENT TO SAID FIELD AND TO CUT OFF AND INTERRUPT SUCH CURRENT SUPPLY THERETO, SAID ROTATABLE STRUCTURE OF SAID ALTERNATOR FURTHER INCLUDING DIODE MEANS ROTATABLE THEREWITH AND CONNECTED TO SAID CONDUCTORS AND IN SERIES WITH SAID FIELD WINDING MEANS, DIODE MEANS BEING POLED TO PROVIDE A RETURN PATH FOR ENERGY STORED IN SAID FIELD WINDING MEANS UPON INTERRUPTION OF CURRENT THEREIN WHICH IS INDEPENDENT OF SAID SLIP RINGS AND SAID BRUSHES, WHEREBY ARCHING BETWEEN SAID SLIP RINGS AND SAID BRUSHES IS REDUCED BY DISSIPATION OF ENERGY IN THE RETURN PATH, AND WHEREBY THE LIKELIHOOD OF DAMAGE TO SAID OUTPUT TRANSISTOR IS REDUCED.