Tap-changing regulating transformer with solid-state circuitry

Claim 2

A tap-changing regulating transformer with solid-state circuitry for performIng tap-changing operations including: a. a tapped transformer winding having a plurality of taps; b. a selector switch having a plurality of pairs of fixed contacts each conductively connected to one of said plurality of taps, each of said plurality of pairs of fixed contacts having a predetermined equal spacing from any contiguous pair of said plurality of pairs of fixed contacts, and said selector switch further having a pair of movable contact members each including a pair of movable contacts, one contact of each of said plurality of pairs of fixed contacts being arranged in a first surface and said one contact of each of said plurality of pairs of fixed contacts forming a first group of fixed contacts, and the other contact of each of said plurality of pairs of fixed contacts being arranged in a second surface parallel to said first surface and said other contact of each of said plurality of pairs of fixed contacts forming a second group of fixed contacts, said pair of movable contacts of each of said pair of movable contact member having a fixed spacing equal to said predetermined equal spacing of said plurality of pairs of fixed contacts, said pair of movable contacts of one of said pair of movable contact members being arranged to engage selectively the fixed contacts of said first group of contacts and said pair of movable contacts of the other of said pair of contact member being arranged to engage selectively the fixed contacts of said second group of contacts; c. means for selectively moving said pair of movable contact members parallel to said first surface and said second surface to cause said pair of movable contacts of one of said pair of contact members to selectively engage fixed contacts of said first group of contacts and to cause said pair of movable contacts of the other of said pair of contact members to engage selectively fixed contacts of said second group of contacts; d. a pair of triggerable solid-state tap-changing circuits; e. a pair of control transformers each having a pair of terminals; f. first conductor means connecting conductively one of said pair of movable contacts of each of said pair of movable contact members to one of said pair of tap-changing circuits and to one of said pair of terminals of each of said pair of control transformers; and g. second conductor means connecting conductively the other of said pair of movable contacts of each of said pair of movable contact members to the other of said pair of terminals of each of said pair of control transformers.

Claim 3

A tap-changing regulating transformer as specified in claim 1 including: a. automatically controlled pulse generator means for triggering said pair of tap-changing circuits; b. means for controlling said pulse generator means including said pair of control transformers, a logic circuitry, a bistable circuitry and a timing switch; and c. means for operating said pair of movable contact members and said timing switch at fixedly related velocities.

Claim 4

A tap-changing regulating transformer as specified in claim 2 wherein said timing switch includes fixed circular coaxial contacts and slide contacts rotatable about the center of said fixed contacts and movable into and out of engagement with said fixed contacts.

Claim 5

A tap-changing regulating transformer as specified in claim 3 wherein said pair of movable contact members is operated by a first transmission means and wherein said slide contacts are operated by a second transmission means and wherein said first transmission means and said second transmission means are operated by a common motor means.

Claim 6

A tap-changing regulating transformer with solid-state circuitry for performing tap-changing operations including: a. a tapped transformer winding having a plurality of taps; b. a selector switch operatively related to said transformer winding having pairs of tap contacts, each pair of said pairs of tap contacts being conductively connected to one of said plurality of tAps, and each pair of said pairs of tap contacts having a fixed spacing from any contiguous pair of said pairs of tap contacts, said selector switch further including a first pair of relatively movable contacts having a fixed spacing equal to said fixed spacing of said pairs of tap contacts and arranged to cooperate with one tap contact of each said pairs of tap contacts and a second pair of relatively movable contacts having a fixed spacing equal to said fixed spacing of said pairs of tap contacts and arranged to cooperate with the other tap contact of each of said pairs of tap contacts; c. operating means for establishing selectively relative movements between said first pair of relatively movable contacts and said pairs of tap contacts and between said second pair of relatively movable contacts and said pairs of tap contacts to select among said plurality of taps; d. a transfer switch including a first triggerable AC circuit branch having one input terminal conductively connected to one contact of said first pair of relatively movable contacts and a second triggerable AC circuit branch having an input terminal conductively connected to one contact of said second pair of relatively movable contacts, said first AC circuit branch and said second AC circuit branch having a common output terminal; e. a pair of trigger pulse generators, one of said pair of generators being operatively related to said first circuit branch to trigger said first circuit branch and the other of said pair of generators being operatively related to said second circuit branch to trigger said circuit branch; and f. control means for said pair of generators to cause said pair of generators to trigger said first circuit branch and said second circuit branch in a tap-changing sequence, and said control means further including means for activating said pair of generators subsequent to any tap-changing sequence to connect said first circuit branch and said second circuit branch in parallel following any tap-changing sequence.

Claim 7

A tap-changing regulating transformer with solid-state circuitry for performing tap-changing operations including: a. a tapped transformer winding having a plurality of taps; b. a selector switch operatively related to said transformer winding having pairs of tap contacts, each pair of said pairs of tap contacts being conductively connected to one of said plurality of tAps, and each pair of said pairs of tap contacts having a fixed spacing from any contiguous pair of said pairs of tap contacts, said selector switch further including a first pair of relatively movable contacts having a fixed spacing equal to said fixed spacing of said pairs of tap contacts and arranged to cooperate with one tap contact of each said pairs of tap contacts and a second pair of relatively movable contacts having a fixed spacing equal to said fixed spacing of said pairs of tap contacts and arranged to cooperate with the other tap contact of each of said pairs of tap contacts; c. operating means for establishing selectively relative movements between said first pair of relatively movable contacts and said pairs of tap contacts and between said second pair of relatively movable contacts and said pairs of tap contacts to select among said plurality of taps; d. a transfer switch including a first triggerable AC circuit branch having one input terminal conductively connected to one contact of said first pair of relatively movable contacts and a second triggerable AC circuit branch having an input terminal conductively connected to one contact of said second pair of relatively movable contacts, said first AC circuit branch and said second AC circuit branch having a common output terminal; e. a pair of trigger pulse generators, one of said pair of generators being operatively related to said first circuit branch to trigger said first circuit branch and the other of said pair of generators being operatively related to said second circuit branch to trigger said circuit branch; and f. control means for said pair of generators to cause said pair of generators to trigger said first circuit branch and said second circuit branch in a tap-changing sequence, and said control means further including means for activating said pair of generators subsequent to any tap-changing sequence to connect said first circuit branch and said second circuit branch in parallel following any tap-changing sequence.

Claim 8

A tap-changing regulating transformer as specified in claim 5 including: a. a pair of control transformers, one of said pair of control transformers being conductively connected to said first pair of relatively movable contacts and the other of said pair of control transformers being conductively connected to the other of said pair of relatively movable contacts; b. a pair of voltage-sensing transformers, one of said pair of voltage-sensing transformers being connected across said first circuit branch and the other of said pair of voltage-sensing transformers being connected across said second circuit branch; c. a timing switch, a bistable circuitry and a pair of AND gates for controlling the operation of said pair of generators; d. rectifier means in the output circuits of said pair of control transformers and rectifier means in the output circuits of said pair of voltage-sensing transformers for energizing said timing switch, said bistable circuitry and said pair of AND gates; and e. a common drive means for said first pair of relatively movable contacts, said second pair of relatively movable contacts and said timing switch to move said first pair of relatively movable contacts, said second pair of relatively movable contacts and said timing switch in the required sequence at linearly related velocities.

Claim 9

A tap-changing regulating transformer as specified in claim 5 wherein said first circuit branch and said second circuit branch each include a pair of inverse parallel connected thyristors.

Claim 10

A tap-changing regulating transformer with solid-state circuitry to perform tap-changing operations including: a. a tapped transformer winding having a plurality of taps; b. a selector switch including a first group of aligned fixed contacts having a predetermined spacing and a second group of aligned fixed contacts having a predetermined spacing, each contact of said second group being juxtaposed to one contact of said First group and each pair of juxtaposed contacts being conductively connected to a common tap forming part of said plurality of taps, said selector switch further including a first pair of movable contacts having the same spacing as the contacts of said first group and being movable along a line defined by the contacts of said first group into and out of engagement with the contacts of said first group and said selector switch further including a second pair of movable contacts having the same spacing as the contacts of said second group and being movable along a line defined by the contacts of said second group into and out of engagement with the contacts of said second group; c. a first AC circuit branch including triggerable semiconductor switch means, said first circuit branch having an input terminal conductively connected to one of said first pair of movable contacts; d. a second AC circuit branch including triggerable semiconductor switch means, said second circuit branch having an input terminal conductively connected to one of said second pair of movable contacts; e. a first control transformer conductively connected to said first pair of movable contacts; f. a second control transformer conductively connected to said second pair of movable contacts; g. a first voltage-sensing transformer shunted across said first circuit branch; h. a second voltage-sensing transformer shunted across said second circuit branch; i. a pair of trigger pulse generators, one for triggering said semiconductor switch means in said first circuit branch and one for triggering said semiconductor switch means in said second circuit branch; and j. control means for said pair of trigger pulse generators under the joint control of said first control transformer, said second control transformer, said first voltage-sensing transformer and said second voltage-sensing transformer, said control means including logic circuitry for simultaneously triggering said pair of trigger pulse generators upon termination of any tap-changing operation and restoration of steady state conditions to cause both said first circuit branch and said second circuit branch to be current carrying upon termination of any tap-changing operation and restoration of steady state conditions.

Claim 11

A tap-changing regulating transformer with solid-state circuitry to perform tap-changing operations including: a. a tapped transformer winding having a plurality of taps; b. a selector switch including a first group of aligned fixed contacts having a predetermined spacing and a second group of aligned fixed contacts having a predetermined spacing, each contact of said second group being juxtaposed to one contact of said First group and each pair of juxtaposed contacts being conductively connected to a common tap forming part of said plurality of taps, said selector switch further including a first pair of movable contacts having the same spacing as the contacts of said first group and being movable along a line defined by the contacts of said first group into and out of engagement with the contacts of said first group and said selector switch further including a second pair of movable contacts having the same spacing as the contacts of said second group and being movable along a line defined by the contacts of said second group into and out of engagement with the contacts of said second group; c. a first AC circuit branch including triggerable semiconductor switch means, said first circuit branch having an input terminal conductively connected to one of said first pair of movable contacts; d. a second AC circuit branch including triggerable semiconductor switch means, said second circuit branch having an input terminal conductively connected to one of said second pair of movable contacts; e. a first control transformer conductively connected to said first pair of movable contacts; f. a second control transformer conductively connected to said second pair of movable contacts; g. a first voltage-sensing transformer shunted across said first circuit branch; h. a second voltage-sensing transformer shunted across said second circuit branch; i. a pair of trigger pulse generators, one for triggering said semiconductor switch means in said first circuit branch and one for triggering said semiconductor switch means in said second circuit branch; and j. control means for said pair of trigger pulse generators under the joint control of said first control transformer, said second control transformer, said first voltage-sensing transformer and said second voltage-sensing transformer, said control means including logic circuitry for simultaneously triggering said pair of trigger pulse generators upon termination of any tap-changing operation and restoration of steady state conditions to cause both said first circuit branch and said second circuit branch to be current carrying upon termination of any tap-changing operation and restoration of steady state conditions.

Claim 12

A tap-changing regulating transformer as specified in claim 8 including: a. a timing switch, a bistable circuitry and a pair of AND gates for controlling the operation of said pair of trigger pulse generators; and b. rectifier means in the output circuits of said first control transformer and of said second control transformer and rectifier means in the output circuits of said first voltage-sensing transformer and of said second voltage-sensing transformer for energizing said timing switch, said bistable circuitry and said AND gates.

Claim 13

A selector switch for tap-changing regulating transformers with solid-state circuitry for performing tap-changing operations including: a. a first plurality of fixed aligned contacts having a predetermined spacing; b. a first contact carrier movable along a trajectory defined by said first plurality of aligned contacts, said first contact carrier supporting a pair of movable contacts having the same spacing as the constituent contacts of said first plurality of contacts and being engageable with and separable from the constituent contacts of said first plurality of contacts; c. a second plurality of fixed aligned contacts having a predetermined spacing, each contact of said second plurality of contacts being juxtaposed to one contact of said first plurality of contacts; d. a second contact carrier movable along a trajectory defined by said second plurality of aligned contacts, said second contact carrier supporting a pair of movable contacts having the same spacing as the constituent contacts of said second plurality of contacts and being engageable with and separable from the constituent contacts of said second plurality of contacts; e. conductor means conductively interconnecting each contact of said first plurality of contacts with a juxtaposed contact of said second plurality of contacts; and f. two pairs of leads, one of said pairs of leads being conductively connected to said pair of movable contacts supported by said first contact carrier and the other of said pairs of leads being conductively connected to said pair of movable contacts supported by said second contact carrier.

Claim 14

A selector switch for tap-changing regulating transformers with solid-state circuitry for performing tap-changing operations including: a. a first plurality of fixed aligned contacts having a predetermined spacing; b. a first contact carrier movable along a trajectory defined by said first plurality of aligned contacts, said first contact carrier supporting a pair of movable contacts having the same spacing as the constituent contacts of said first plurality of contacts and being engageable with and separable from the constituent contacts of said first plurality of contacts; c. a second plurality of fixed aligned contacts having a predetermined spacing, each contact of said second plurality of contacts being juxtaposed to one contact of said first plurality of contacts; d. a second contact carrier movable along a trajectory defined by said second plurality of aligned contacts, said second contact carrier supporting a pair of movable contacts having the same spacing as the constituent contacts of said second plurality of contacts and being engageable with and separable from the constituent contacts of said second plurality of contacts; e. conductor means conductively interconnecting each contact of said first plurality of contacts with a juxtaposed contact of said second plurality of contacts; and f. two pairs of leads, one of said pairs of leads being conductively connected to said pair of movable contacts supported by said first contact carrier and the other of said pairs of leads being conductively connected to said pair of movable contacts supported by said second contact carrier.