Constant current regulator with phase control switching means and de triggering means therefor

Claim 2

Current regulator device comprising, in combination, a moving coil constant current transformer having main primary and secondary windings, and having terminals connected to said primary winding for connection to a source of alternating current, load means connected to said main secondary winding for energization thereby at a substantially constant current, control circuit means associated with said main secondary winding for varying the level of constant current supplied to said load means comprising an auxiliary secondary winding adjacent said main secondary winding, phase control bilateral switching means connected to said auxiliary secondary winding for controlling the current therein, rectifying means connected to said phase control switching means for rectifying the alternating current output thereof, actuating circuit means comprising a unidirectional switching means connected to said rectifying means and to said phase control switching means for triggering the operation thereof, and means connected to said primary winding and to said rectifying means for synchronizing the operation of said actuating circuit with the voltage across said switching means.

Claim 3

A device as defined in claim 1, said synchronizing means including an auxiliary transformer having a primary winding connected to said main primary winding and a secondary winding connected to said rectifying means.

Claim 4

A device as defined in claim 2, the secondary winding of said auxiliary transformer being connected to said phase control bilateral switching means.

Claim 5

Current regulator device comprising, in combination, a moving coil constant current transformer having main primary and secondary windings, and having terminals connected to said primary winding for connection to a source of alternating current, load means connected to said main secondary winding for energization thereby at a substantially constant current, control circuit means associated with said main secondary winding for varying the level of constant current supplied to said load means comprising an auxiliary secondary winding adjacent said main secondary winding, phase control bilateral switching means connected to said auxiliary secondary winding for controlling the current therein, rectifying means connected to said phase control switching means for rectifying the alternating current output thereof, actuating circuit means connected to said rectifying means and to said phase control switching means for triggering the operation thereof, and means connected to said primary winding and to said rectifying means for synchronizing the operation of said actuating circuit with the voltage across said switching means, said synchronizing means including an auxiliary transformer having a primary winding connected to said main primary winding and a secondary winding connected to said rectifying means, said actuating circuit means comprising a capacitor and a resistance connected in series, and unijunction transistor means and pulse transformer means connected across said capacitor in series discharge relation therewith, a unidirectional current supply of predetermined polarity connected to said series-connected capacitor and resistance and to said unijunction transistor means, a first transistor having its collector connected to said unidirectional current supply, and a second transistor connected across said capacitor and to said collector of said first transistor, whereby when said first transistor is turned off, said second transistor is turned on and bypasses current around said capacitor to prevent charging thereof, and when said first transistor is turned on by the output of said rectifying means, said second transistor is turned off, allowing charging of said capacitor.

Claim 6

Current regulator device comprising, in combination, a moving coil constant current transformer having main primary and secondary windings, and having terminals connected to said primary winding for connection to a source of alternating current, load means connected to said main secondary winding for energization thereby at a substantially constant current, control circuit means associated with said main secondary winding for varying the level of constant current supplied to said load means comprising an auxiliary secondary winding adjacent said main secondary winding, phase control bilateral switching means connected to said auxiliary secondary winding for controlling the current therein, rectifying means connected to said phase control switching means for rectifying the alternating current output thereof, actuating circuit means connected to said rectifying means and to said phase control switching means for triggering the operation thereof, and means connected to said primary winding and to said rectifying means for synchronizing the operation of said actuating circuit with the voltage across said switching means, said synchronizing means including an auxiliary transformer having a primary winding connected to said main primary winding and a secondary winding connected to said rectifying means, said actuating circuit means comprising a capacitor and a resistance connected in series, and unijunction transistor means and pulse transformer means connected across said capacitor in series discharge relation therewith, a unidirectional current supply of predetermined polarity connected to said series-connected capacitor and resistance and to said unijunction transistor means, a first transistor having its collector connected to said unidirectional current supply, and a second transistor connected across said capacitor and to said collector of said first transistor, whereby when said first transistor is turned off, said second transistor is turned on and bypasses current around said capacitor to prevent charging thereof, and when said first transistor is turned on by the output of said rectifying means, said second transistor is turned off, allowing charging of said capacitor.

Claim 7

A device as defined in claim 4, and a second unidirectional current supply of opposite polarity connected to the output of said rectifying means for forcing the same periodically To current zero for periodically turning off said first transistor and thereby controlling charging of said capacitor in synchronism with the voltage across said switching means.

Claim 8

A device as defined in claim 4, said phase control bilateral switching means comprising controlled rectifier means connected across said auxiliary secondary winding and being normally nonconductive to block current flow through said auxiliary secondary winding and having control electrode means to render it conductive in either direction depending on the polarity of the alternating current supply, said control electrode means being connected to the secondary of said pulse transformer means for triggering thereby.

Claim 9

A device as defined in claim 4, and remote control means for adjusting the current in said main secondary winding comprising a current control circuit including a transistor connected at its base to said unidirectional current supply and said resistance connected to said unidirectional current supply in series with the collector of said transistor, said capacitor being connected to the junction of said resistance and said transistor collector and to the emitter of said transistor, said capacitor and said resistance forming an RC time constant circuit, and means connected to said transistor for at least partially turning off the same for controlling the operation thereof and thereby the operation of the RC time constant circuit.

Claim 10

A device as defined in claim 7, said last mentioned means comprising a second unidirectional current supply of polarity opposite that of said first-mentioned unidirectional current supply and connected to the base of said transistor.

Claim 11

A device as defined in claim 8, and an adjustable resistor connected between said second unidirectional current supply and said transistor base in series therewith.

Claim 12

A device as defined in claim 9, and at least another current control circuit comprising a second transistor and a second resistance corresponding to and in parallel with said first-mentioned current control circuit, and a plurality of parallel-connected voltage limiting means of different voltage levels respectively connected to the transistors of the first and second mentioned current control circuits and in series with said adjustable resistor for sequentially turning off the respective transistors upon adjustment of said adjustable resistor, and current blocking means isolating said resistances in the respective current control circuits from each other.

Claim 13

A device as defined in claim 10, said resistances in said respective current control circuits being adjustable.