US3746967A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular power supply circuit
Assignee: CONTROLLED POWER CORP
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Filing: 1972-03-13
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1992-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A modular supply for converting three-phase alternating current to direct current for high power applications. A plurality of individual rectifying modules are connected in parallel and fed by a common three-phase SCR controller. The rectified DC output of each of the individual modules are collected in parallel at common output busses. A self-adjusting voltage-current regulator is coupled to the output busses to sample the output current and voltage to control the power passed by the SCR controller. The voltage feedback and current feedback are applied to a ''''nor'''' gate which places the SCR controller under the control of the voltage feedback so long as the current does not exceed acceptable limits as determined by the number of modules active in the power supply and/or exceed a current limit that is set by the operator for the power supply. In the voltage control mode, the output voltage is maintained substantially constant. The ''''nor'''' gate transfers control of the controller to a current limiting mode which maintains the current within acceptable limits while permitting the voltage to drop off. Each of the modules has an input circuit breaker associated therewith which in turn is arranged to vary the level of the current feedback depending on the number of active modules in the power supply.
Inventors
- 👤 M Koltuniak
- 👤 J Rigney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:05
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M1/00; H02M1/08; H02M1/084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
430 words
An alternating-to-direct current converter for use in high power applications with a source of electrical energy, comprising controller means adapted to be coupled to the output of said source to vary the electrical energy delivered from said source to said converter in accordance with a main control signal, at least first and second rectifier means operatively coupled together to develop a common direct current output, first switch means operatively coupled to an input of said first rectifier means and to said controller means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said first rectifier means to and from said controller means, said first switch means being in a first state when said first rectifier means is connected to said controller means and in a second state when said first rectifier means is disconnected from said controller means, second switch means operatively coupled to an input of said second rectifier means and to said controller means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said second rectifier means to and from said controller means, said second switch means being in a first state when said second rectifier means is connected to said controller and in a second state when said second rectifier means is disconnected from said controller, and feedback means coupled to said common output and operative in a voltage control mode to vary said control signal in accordance with output voltage at said common output when output current at said common output is below a predetermined level and operative in a current control mode to vary said control signal in accordance with said output current when said output current is above said predetermined level, said feedback means comprising first circuit means operatively coupled to said common output so as to provide a voltage component control signal which varies in accordance with said output voltage, second circuit means operatively coupled to said common output so as to provide a current component control signal that varies in accordance with said output current, gate means having first and second inputs operatively connected to said first and second circuit means and responsive to said voltage component control signal to develop said main control signal during said voltage control mode and to said current component control signal to develop said main control signal during said current control mode, and selectively variable impedance means coupled in said feedback means and selectively operated in accordance with said states of at least one of said switch means to vary said current component control signal according to whether the rectifying means associated with said one switch means is connected or disconnected to said controller.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
430 words
An alternating-to-direct current converter for use in high power applications with a source of electrical energy, comprising controller means adapted to be coupled to the output of said source to vary the electrical energy delivered from said source to said converter in accordance with a main control signal, at least first and second rectifier means operatively coupled together to develop a common direct current output, first switch means operatively coupled to an input of said first rectifier means and to said controller means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said first rectifier means to and from said controller means, said first switch means being in a first state when said first rectifier means is connected to said controller means and in a second state when said first rectifier means is disconnected from said controller means, second switch means operatively coupled to an input of said second rectifier means and to said controller means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said second rectifier means to and from said controller means, said second switch means being in a first state when said second rectifier means is connected to said controller and in a second state when said second rectifier means is disconnected from said controller, and feedback means coupled to said common output and operative in a voltage control mode to vary said control signal in accordance with output voltage at said common output when output current at said common output is below a predetermined level and operative in a current control mode to vary said control signal in accordance with said output current when said output current is above said predetermined level, said feedback means comprising first circuit means operatively coupled to said common output so as to provide a voltage component control signal which varies in accordance with said output voltage, second circuit means operatively coupled to said common output so as to provide a current component control signal that varies in accordance with said output current, gate means having first and second inputs operatively connected to said first and second circuit means and responsive to said voltage component control signal to develop said main control signal during said voltage control mode and to said current component control signal to develop said main control signal during said current control mode, and selectively variable impedance means coupled in said feedback means and selectively operated in accordance with said states of at least one of said switch means to vary said current component control signal according to whether the rectifying means associated with said one switch means is connected or disconnected to said controller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
111 words
The converter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said selectively variable impedance means comprises first and second independently selectable impedance means each of which is associated with a respective one of said first and second switch means so that the state of said first switch means varies the impedance of said first impedance means and the state of said second switch means varies the impedance of said second impedance means to thereby vary said current component control signal according to the state of said first and said second switch means and thereby, in effect, vary said predetermined current level according to the number of rectifiers coupled to said controller means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
The converter set forth in claim 1 wherein said first circuit means includes voltage reference means and first comparison means responsive to said voltage reference and to said output voltage to develop said voltage component control signal in accordance with the difference therebetween, and wherein said second circuit means includes current reference means and second comparison means responsive to said current reference and to said output current to develop said current component control signal in accordance with the difference therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The converter set forth in claim 3 wherein said voltage reference means comprises a first manually variable impedance coupled in said first circuit means to establish a predetermined voltage level for said output voltage during said voltage control mode and wherein said current reference means comprises a second manually variable impedance to establish said predetermined current level during said current control mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
The converter set forth in claim 3 wherein said selectively variable impedance means is connected in said feedback means between said common output and said second comparison means and comprises serially connected first and second independently selectable impedance means each of which is associated with a respective one of said first and second switch means so that the state of said first switch means varies the impedance of said first impedance means and the state of said second switch means varies the impedance of said second impedance means to thereby vary said current component control signal according to the state of said first and said second switch means and thereby, in effect, vary said predetermined current level according to the number of rectifiers coupled to said controller means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
112 words
The converter set forth in claim 1 wherein said first circuit means comprises first comparison means coupled to said common output and responsive to said output voltage and to a first reference to provide a first error signal representing the difference therebetween, said second circuit means comprises second comparison means coupled to said common output and responsive to said output current and to a second reference to develop a second error signal representing the difference therebetween, and wherein said gate means has its first and second inputs coupled to said first and second comparator means, respectively, and is responsive to said first and second error signals to provide said main control signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The converter set forth in claim 6 wherein said gate means comprises a nor gate arranged and constructed to respond to either one but not both of said error signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
167 words
The converter set forth in claim 7 wherein said nor gate comprises first and second electronic switch means each of which has a pair of main electrodes definiNg a main current conducting path and a control input to control conduction through said main path, an impedance connected to one of said main electrodes of each of said electronic switch means so as to be common to the current conducting paths through both of said electronic switch means, said feedback means further comprises a direct current source, first and second variable impedance means coupled to said direct current source to provide said first and second references, and wherein said first comparison means further comprises a resistive summing network having a first input connected to said common output and a second input connected to said first variable impedance means, and said second comparison means further comprises a second resistive summing network having one input connected to said common output and another input connected to said second variable impedance means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
111 words
The converter set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second switch means are circuit breaking means adapted for manual actuation, said selectively variable impedance means comprises a predetermined number of individual impedance means portions equal in number to the number of rectifier means in said converter, said selectively variable impedance means further comprises said predetermined number of contacts each of which is connected across a respective impedance means portion, each of said contacts further being responsive to the state of its associated circuit breaker means so as to selectively either insert or short its associated impedance means portion in response to the state of its associated circuit breaker means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The converter set forth in claim 9 wherein said impedance means portions are connected to series with each other between said common output and one of said gate means inputs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
The converter set forth in claim 10 wherein said contacts are arranged and disposed so as to insert their associated impedance means portions in series between said common output and said one input of said second summing network when the switch means associated with said contacts are in their first state whereby when each rectifier means is coupled to said controller means by its associated switch means the associated contacts insert the associated impedance means portions between said common output and said second summing network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
370 words
An alternating-to-direct current converter for use in high power applications with a source of electrical energy, comprising controller means adapted to be coupled to the output of said source to vary the electrical energy delivered to said converter from said source in accordance with a main control signal, first rectifier means, first circuit breaker means adapted to be selectively actuated to connect and disconnect said first rectifier means with said controller means, second rectifier means, second circuit breaker means adapted to be selectively actuated to connect and disconnect said second rectifier means with said controller means, said first and second rectifier means being coupled together to develop a common direct current output across a pair of output bus lines, current sensing means connected in one of said lines, voltage sensing means connected across said bus lines, a first feedback means coupled to said current sensing means and adapted to develop a current feedback signal in accordance with current variations in said bus lines, second feedback means coupled to said voltage sensing means and adapted to provide a voltage feedback signal that varies in accordance with voltage variations across said bus lines, a first reference source to develop a current reference signal, a second reference source to develop a voltage reference signal, first comparison means coupled to said first feedback means and to said first reference source to develop a first error signal in accordance with said current feedback and reference signals, second comparison means coupled to said second feedback means and said second reference source to develop a second erroR signal in accordance with said voltage feedback and reference signals, gate means coupled to said first and second comparison means and responsive to said first error signal to develop said main control signal when output current at said common output is above a predetermined level and responsive to said second error signal to develop said main control signal when said output current is below said predetermined level, and selectively variable impedance means coupled to said first comparison means and selectively operated by said circuit breaker means to set said predetermined current level depending on the number of rectifier means connected to said controller means via their associated circuit breaker means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
370 words
An alternating-to-direct current converter for use in high power applications with a source of electrical energy, comprising controller means adapted to be coupled to the output of said source to vary the electrical energy delivered to said converter from said source in accordance with a main control signal, first rectifier means, first circuit breaker means adapted to be selectively actuated to connect and disconnect said first rectifier means with said controller means, second rectifier means, second circuit breaker means adapted to be selectively actuated to connect and disconnect said second rectifier means with said controller means, said first and second rectifier means being coupled together to develop a common direct current output across a pair of output bus lines, current sensing means connected in one of said lines, voltage sensing means connected across said bus lines, a first feedback means coupled to said current sensing means and adapted to develop a current feedback signal in accordance with current variations in said bus lines, second feedback means coupled to said voltage sensing means and adapted to provide a voltage feedback signal that varies in accordance with voltage variations across said bus lines, a first reference source to develop a current reference signal, a second reference source to develop a voltage reference signal, first comparison means coupled to said first feedback means and to said first reference source to develop a first error signal in accordance with said current feedback and reference signals, second comparison means coupled to said second feedback means and said second reference source to develop a second erroR signal in accordance with said voltage feedback and reference signals, gate means coupled to said first and second comparison means and responsive to said first error signal to develop said main control signal when output current at said common output is above a predetermined level and responsive to said second error signal to develop said main control signal when said output current is below said predetermined level, and selectively variable impedance means coupled to said first comparison means and selectively operated by said circuit breaker means to set said predetermined current level depending on the number of rectifier means connected to said controller means via their associated circuit breaker means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
128 words
The converter set forth in claim 12 wherein said selectively variable impedance means is connected in said first feedback means between said current sensing means and said first comparison means and comprises first and second independently selectable impedance means each of which is associated with a respective one of said first and second circuit breaker means so that the impedance of said first impedance means varies in accordance with whether its associated first circuit breaker means is actuated to connect said first rectifier means with said controller means and so that the impedance of the second impedance means varies in accordance with whether its associated second circuit breaker means is actuated to connect said second rectifier means with said controller means to thereby set said predetermined current level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
The converter set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and said second rectifier means each includes a respective transformer means having a respective primary winding and a respective secondary winding, said first switch means is connected between said controller means and said primary winding in said first rectifier means, and wherein said second switch means is connected between said controller means and said primary winding in said second rectifier means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
74 words
The converter set forth in claim 12 wherein said first and said second rectifier means each includes a respective transformer means having a respective primary winding and a respective secondary winding, said first circuit breaker means is connected between said controller means and said second primary winding in said first rectifier means, and wherein said second circuit breaker means is connected between said controller means and said primary winding in said second rectifier means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |