Generator arrangement with regulated output

Claim 2

A generator arrangement comprising, in combination, a generator having a field winding and an output and driven at greatly varying speeds; a regulating direct current electric circuit connected to receive the electric output of said generator, said circuit including a semiconductor element controllable between conductive and non-conductive states and connected in series with said field winding, load means and a positive temperature coefficient resistor connected to one side of said load means for conducting at least part of the load current thereof; and control means including amplifier means connected to said positive temperature coefficient resistor for interrupting the current through said field winding in dependence on the voltage drop across said positive temperature coefficient resistor, said control means connected to said semiconductor element for rendering said semiconductor element non-conductive and thereby interrupting the current flow through said field winding when either the generator output voltage reaches a predetermined maximum or independently thereof, the generator output current reaches a maximum value which is greater as the ambient temperature is lower, said control means controlling said semiconductor element so that said generator output voltage is substantially constant for varying magnitudes of said output current.

Claim 3

A generator arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said amplifier means is a differential amplifier for delivering a difference voltage that turns off said semi-conductor element when the voltage drop across said positive temperature coefficient resistor is sufficiently large.

Claim 4

A generator arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said control means has conductive and non-conductive states, and when respectively conducTive and non-conductive said semi-conductor element is respectively non-conductive and conductive.

Claim 5

A generator arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said semi-conductor element is a first transistor.

Claim 6

A generator arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein said control means includes a second transistor.

Claim 7

A generator arrangement comprising, in combination, a generator having a field winding and an output and driven at greatly varying speeds; a regulating direct current electric circuit connected to receive the electric output of said generator, said circuit including a semiconductor element controllable between conductive and non-conductive states and connected in series with said field winding, and control means connected to said semiconductor element for rendering said semiconductor element non-conductive and thereby interrupting the current flow through said field winding when either the generator output voltage reaches a predetermined maximum or the generator output current reaches a maximum value which is greater as the ambient temperature is lower; load means in said regulating circuit; a positive temperature coefficient resistor connected to one side of said load means for conducting at least part of the load current thereof; amplifier means included in said control means and connected to said positive temperature coefficient resistor or interrupting the current through said field winding in dependence on the voltage drop across said positive temperature coefficient resistor, said amplifier means being a differential amplifier for delivering a difference voltage that turns off said semiconductor element when the voltage drop across said positive temperature coefficient resistor is sufficiently large, said control means having conductive and non-conductive states and when respectively conductive and non-conductive said semiconductor element is respectively non-conductive and conductive, said semiconductor element being a first transistor; a second transistor in said control means, said differential amplifier comprising: two transistors, and including a firs zener diode of which the cathode is connected to the collector of that transistor of the differential amplifier furnishing said difference voltage and the anode is connected to the base of said second transistor.

Claim 8

A generator arrangement comprising, in combination, a generator having a field winding and an output and driven at greatly varying speeds; a regulating direct current electric circuit connected to receive the electric output of said generator, said circuit including a semiconductor element controllable between conductive and non-conductive states and connected in series with said field winding, and control means connected to said semiconductor element for rendering said semiconductor element non-conductive and thereby interrupting the current flow through said field winding when either the generator output voltage reaches a predetermined maximum or the generator output current reaches a maximum value which is greater as the ambient temperature is lower; load means in said regulating circuit; a positive temperature coefficient resistor connected to one side of said load means for conducting at least part of the load current thereof; amplifier means included in said control means and connected to said positive temperature coefficient resistor or interrupting the current through said field winding in dependence on the voltage drop across said positive temperature coefficient resistor, said amplifier means being a differential amplifier for delivering a difference voltage that turns off said semiconductor element when the voltage drop across said positive temperature coefficient resistor is sufficiently large, said control means having conductive and non-conductive states and when respectively conductive and non-conductive said semiconductor element is respectively non-conductive and conductive, said semiconductor element being a first transistor; a second transistor in said control means, said differential amplifier comprising: two transistors, and including a firs zener diode of which the cathode is connected to the collector of that transistor of the differential amplifier furnishing said difference voltage and the anode is connected to the base of said second transistor.

Claim 9

A generator arrangement as defined in claim 6, said regulating circuit further including voltage divider means connected across the electrical output of said generator, and a second Zener diode of which the cathode is connected to an intermediate tap of said voltage divider means and the anode is connected to the base of said second transistor.

Claim 10

A generator arrangement as defined in claim 6, wherein said control means includes a third transistor for switching said second transistor between said conductive and non-conductive states, and said regulating circuit includes a second Zener diode so connected in said regulating circuit and to the base of said third transistor that the latter is rendered conductive when the output voltage of said generator increases to said predetermined maximum.

Claim 11

A generator arrangement as defined in claim 8, said regulating circuit further including voltage divider means connected between the base of said first transistor and one side of the electrical output of said generator, and wherein the anode of said second Zener diode is connected to an intermediate tap of said voltage divider means and the cathode is connected to the base of said third transistor.

Claim 12

A generator arrangement as defined in claim 9, including a resistor connected between said intermediate path and the anode of said second Zener diode.

Claim 13

A generator arrangement as defined in claim 6, wherein said positive temperature coefficient resistor is connected between said one side of said load means and one side of like polarity of the electrical output of said generator.

Claim 14

A generator arrangement as defined in claim 11, said regulatIng circuit further including first and second voltage divider means connected across the electrical output of said generator and to the more electrically positive end of said positive temperature coefficient resistor, and wherein the bases of said two transistors of the differential amplifier are connected to intermediate taps of respective ones of said first and second voltage divider means.

Claim 15

A generator arrangement as defined in claim 11, said regulating circuit further including a first voltage divider means connected across the electrical output of said generator and to the more electrically positive end of said positive temperature coefficient resistor and second voltage divider means connected across the electrical output of said generator and to the more electrically negative end of said positive temperature coefficient resistor, the bases of said two transistors of the differential amplifier being connected to intermediate taps of respective ones of said first and second voltage divider means.

Claim 16

A generator arrangement as defined in claim 11, wherein said generator is the battery charging generator of a motor vehicle, and including a battery connected across said load means, one pole of said battery being connected to the more electrically negative end of said positive temperature coefficient resistor, and the other pole of said battery being connected to the other side of the electrical output of said generator.

Claim 17

A generator arrangement as defined in claim 14, including a diode connected to prevent discharge of said battery through said regulating circuit.