Electrical power supply system for automotive vehicles and particularly polyphase bridge-type rectifier therefor

Claim 2

Polyphase bridge-type rectifier for connection to an automotive-type polyphase alternator of a predetermined nominal output voltage and, having a semiconductor rectifier element, each, adapted for connection to a phase output winding (U, V, W) of the alternator on one side and to an output bus (6, 7) of the rectifier, respectively on the other, and heat dissipating means mounting said rectifier element and formed of heat sink plates (6'', 7''), wherein the rectifier elements (12, 13) interconnecting at least one phase (W) of the generator and the positive (6) and negative (7) buses, respectively, and supplying rectified output power from the phase winding of the alternator are breakdown-type power rectifier diodes, having a breakdown voltage of at least 105 percent and up to 150 percent of the output voltage, the same number, or the same number plus one of the rectifying elements with breakdown characteristics being located on said heat sink plates.

Claim 3

Rectifier according to claim 1, wherein said polyphase alternator is a three-phase alternator, and said bridge-type rectifier is a three-phase full wave rectifier having six rectifying elements, wherein four of said six rectifying elements are breakdown-type power rectifier diodes adapted for connection to the outputs of the phase windings of the three-phase generator.

Claim 4

Rectifier according to claim 1, wherein the power rating of said breakdown-type rectifier diodes is greater than the power rating of the other rectifier elements to be able to dissipate increased power upon breakdown.

Claim 5

Rectifier according to claim 1, further including a separate group of additional semiconductor rectifier elements (23) adapted for connection to a field winding (5) of the alternator, characterized in that at least one of the elements (23'') of said additional group of semiconductor elements is of the breakdown-type.

Claim 6

In an electrical power supply system for automotive vehicles comprising: a three-phase alternator having three-phase windings and a field winding, a first group of power rectifier elements connected for full wave rectification to each of the phase windings of said alternator and providing rectified DC output at a pair of output buses, said buses being adapted for connection to a load; a second group of rectifier elements connected to each of the phase windings of said alternator and providing auxiliary rectified DC output; a solid state voltage regulator connected to said auxiliary rectified DC output and interconnecting said auxiliary output with the field winding of said alternator to maintain the output voltage constant at a predetermined value, the improvement wherein the power rectifier elements connected to at least one phase winding of the alternator are semiconductor breakdown-type diodes and have a power rating higher than the other rectifiers in the group, the breakdown voltage of said breakdown-type semiconductor rectifier diodes being at least 5 percent and up to about 50 percent higher than said predetermined voltage value, said power rectifier elements being mounted on a pair of heat-dissipating members and said breakdown-type elements being mounted at locations of maximum heat dissipation capability of said heat-dissipating members.

Claim 7

In an electrical power supply system for automotive vehicles comprising: a three-phase alternator having three-phase windings and a field winding, a first group of power rectifier elements connected for full wave rectification to each of the phase windings of said alternator and providing rectified DC output at a pair of output buses, said buses being adapted for connection to a load; a second group of rectifier elements connected to each of the phase windings of said alternator and providing auxiliary rectified DC output; a solid state voltage regulator connected to said auxiliary rectified DC output and interconnecting said auxiliary output with the field winding of said alternator to maintain the output voltage constant at a predetermined value, the improvement wherein the power rectifier elements connected to at least one phase winding of the alternator are semiconductor breakdown-type diodes and have a power rating higher than the other rectifiers in the group, the breakdown voltage of said breakdown-type semiconductor rectifier diodes being at least 5 percent and up to about 50 percent higher than said predetermined voltage value, said power rectifier elements being mounted on a pair of heat-dissipating members and said breakdown-type elements being mounted at locations of maximum heat dissipation capability of said heat-dissipating members.

Claim 8

Power supply according to claim 5, wherein said heat-dissipating members include a pair of metal strips, each having three semiconductor elements mounted thereon, in line, with one of said breakdown-type diode elements being located centrally of the other elements, on each strIp.

Claim 9

Power supply according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the rectifier elements in the second group of rectifier elements is of the breakdown-type and has a breakdown voltage higher than the breakdown voltage of said power rectifier breakdown-type elements of the first group.