Regulating circuit employing a saturable reactor

Claim 2

In a direct-current electrical system, comprising directcurrent power-source means and a load conductor connecting the power-source means to a direct current load circuit, a saturable reactor comprising a winding on a core which is magnetically coupled to the load conductor, source means coupled in series with the winding for energizing the winding with a periodically varying electrical waveform so that a signal voltage which is a function of the load current that flows through the load conductor is provided through the winding and regulating means responsive to the signal voltage for controlling the output of the power-source means.

Claim 3

A direct-current electrical system as defined in claim 1 wherein the saturable reactor is a toroid and the load conductor passes through the toroid.

Claim 4

A direct-current electrical system as defined in claim 1 wherein a means is connected to the winding of the saturable reactor developing a control voltage which controls the regulating means.

Claim 5

A direct-current electrical system as defined in claim 3 wherein the saturable reactor is a toroid and the load conductor passes through the toroid.

Claim 6

A direct-current electrical system as defined in claim 1 wherein the regulating means comprises a bistate switching means that is in a first state when the load current is below a predetermined value and in a second state when the load current is of the predetermined value and energization of the power-source means is reduced when the bistate switching means is in the second state.

Claim 7

A direct-current electrical system as in claim 5 wherein the saturable reactor is a toroid and the load conductor passes through the toroid.

Claim 8

A direct-current system as defined in claim 3 wherein the regulating means comprises a bi-state switching means that is in a first state when the load current is below a predetermined value and in a second state when the load current is of the predetermined value and energization of the power-source means is reduced when the bistate switching means is in the second state.

Claim 9

A direct-current electrical system as in claim 7 wherein the saturable reactor is a toroid and the load conductor passes through the toroid.

Claim 10

A circuit for regulating a rotatable voltage source which supplies direct current power to a direct-current load circuit and which has a field winding, comprising a regulating means coupled to the field winding, a saturable reactor comprising a winding on a core, a source of periodically varying electrical waveforms of a substantially constant magnitude coupled in series with the winding, a conductor electrically coupled to carry the direct current load current and magnetically coupled to the core of the saturable reactor so that the impedance of the winding varies with the load current and means coupled to the source of electrical waveforms and to the winding for developing a control voltage which is coupled to the regulating means for controlling the current flowing in the field winding.

Claim 11

A circuit for regulating a rotatable voltage source which supplies direct current power to a direct-current load circuit and which has a field winding, comprising a regulating means coupled to the field winding, a saturable reactor comprising a winding on a core, a source of periodically varying electrical waveforms of a substantially constant magnitude coupled in series with the winding, a conductor electrically coupled to carry the direct current load current and magnetically coupled to the core of the saturable reactor so that the impedance of the winding varies with the load current and means coupled to the source of electrical waveforms and to the winding for developing a control voltage which is coupled to the regulating means for controlling the current flowing in the field winding.

Claim 12

A regulating circuit as in claim 9 wherein the saturable reactor is a toroid and the load conductor passes through the toroid.

Claim 13

A circuit for controlling a rotatable voltage source which supplies direct current power to a direct-current source load circuit and which has a field winding, comprising a regulating means comprising a switching means which has a low resistance path coupled in series with the field winding of the rotatable source when the switching means is on and a high resistance path coupled in series with the field winding when the switching means is off, means for switching the switching means off when flowing load voltage is of a predetermined level to reduce the field current of the rotatable source, a saturable reactor comprising a winding on a core, a source of a periodically varying electrical waveform Of a substantially constant magnitude coupled in series with the winding, a conductor electrically coupled to carry the load current and magnetically coupled to the core of the saturable reactor so that the impedance of the winding varies with load current and means for developing a control voltage which is coupled to the regulating means to switch the switching means off when a predetermined magnitude of current is flowing in the load conductor.

Claim 14

A circuit for controlling a rotatable voltage source which supplies direct current power to a direct-current source load circuit and which has a field winding, comprising a regulating means comprising a switching means which has a low resistance path coupled in series with the field winding of the rotatable source when the switching means is on and a high resistance path coupled in series with the field winding when the switching means is off, means for switching the switching means off when flowing load voltage is of a predetermined level to reduce the field current of the rotatable source, a saturable reactor comprising a winding on a core, a source of a periodically varying electrical waveform Of a substantially constant magnitude coupled in series with the winding, a conductor electrically coupled to carry the load current and magnetically coupled to the core of the saturable reactor so that the impedance of the winding varies with load current and means for developing a control voltage which is coupled to the regulating means to switch the switching means off when a predetermined magnitude of current is flowing in the load conductor.

Claim 15

In an electric-generating system, including generating means having an output for supplying a direct current, said generating means including a field coil to be energized to produce a direct current output, and a load conductor connected to said output, means for limiting the current in said load conductor comprising a saturable magnetic core adjacent said conductor and in the magnetic field of current in said conductor, a winding on said core, a source of a periodically varying voltage wave of substantially constant amplitude, circuit means connecting said source and said winding to derive a direct current control voltage dependent on the impedance of said winding with respect to said voltage wave, the impedance of said winding varying with the effect of the magnetic field of the load current on said core, comprising a potentiometer across which said control voltage is developed said potentiometer having a sliding tap, semiconductor switching means connected to said tap and switched to one state in response to a voltage of a predetermined level at said tap to turn off current in said field coil and switched to a second state to turn on current to said field coil when said control voltage falls from its said predetermined level.

Claim 16

In an electric-generating system, including generating means having an output for supplying a direct current, said generating means including a field coil to be energized to produce a direct current output, and a load conductor connected to said output, means for limiting the current in said load conductor comprising a saturable magnetic core adjacent said conductor and in the magnetic field of current in said conductor, a winding on said core, a source of a periodically varying voltage wave of substantially constant amplitude, circuit means connecting said source and said winding to derive a direct current control voltage dependent on the impedance of said winding with respect to said voltage wave, the impedance of said winding varying with the effect of the magnetic field of the load current on said core, comprising a potentiometer across which said control voltage is developed said potentiometer having a sliding tap, semiconductor switching means connected to said tap and switched to one state in response to a voltage of a predetermined level at said tap to turn off current in said field coil and switched to a second state to turn on current to said field coil when said control voltage falls from its said predetermined level.