Inverter circuit and switching means

Claim 2

An inverter circuit comprising magnetic load means, electrical load means, first excitation means, second excitation means, feedback means, electrical valve means, resonant energy storage capacitor means, a source of direct current voltage, first electrical means connecting said source of direct current voltage through said electrical valve means to said first excitation means, a magnetic member having first magnetic means, second magnetic means, and third magnetic means, said first magnetic means connecting said first excitation means to said magnetic load means, second electrical means connecting said magnetic load means to said electrical load means, said second magnetic coupling means having an air gap coupling said first excitation means to said second excitation means, third electrical means connecting said second exitation means to said resonant energy storage capacitor means, fourth electrical means connecting said resonant energy storage capacitor to said magnetic load means, fifth electrical means connecting said feedback means to said electrical valve means, said third magnetic means connecting said second excitation means to said feedback means, fourth magnetic means having an air gap connecting said second excitation means to said magnetic load means, said feedback means being so coupled to said energy storage means that said resonant frequency will be maintained for all values of said electrical load means.

Claim 3

The circuit recited in claim 1 wherein said first, said second, said third, and said fourth magnetic means comprise a transformer having a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg, magnetic means connecting said second leg and said third leg together, said first leg having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first leg being connected to said magnetic means, said second end of said first leg being separated from said magnetic means by an air gap, said second excitation means and said feedback means comprising windings wound on said first leg, said first excitation means and said load means comprising windings wound on said second leg and said third leg respectively.

Claim 4

The circuit recited in claim 1 wherein said first leg is disposed between said second leg and said third leg.

Claim 5

The circuit recited in claim 1 wherein said magnetic load means includes a single winding around said third leg.

Claim 6

An inverter comprising, a source of direct current voltage, a transformer, said transformer having a plurality of windings comprising a magnetic load winding, a first excitation winding, a second excitation winding, and a feedback winding, an electric valve having a control element, said source of direct current voltage being connected to said first excitation winding through said valve, said feedback winding being connected to said control element on said valve for controlling said valve whereby the energy to said first excitation winding is controlled, said transformer having a continuous magnetic path, a first leg having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first leg being connected to said continuous magnetic path and an air gap between the said second end of said first leg and said magnetic path, said first excitation winding and said magnetic load winding being wound around said continuous magnetic path, said secound excitation winding and said feedback winding being wound on said first leg.

Claim 7

An inverter comprising, a source of direct current voltage, a transformer, said transformer having a plurality of windings comprising a magnetic load winding, a first excitation winding, a second excitation winding, and a feedback winding, an electric valve having a control element, said source of direct current voltage being connected to said first excitation winding through said valve, said feedback winding being connected to said control element on said valve for controlling said valve whereby the energy to said first excitation winding is controlled, said transformer having a continuous magnetic path, a first leg having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first leg being connected to said continuous magnetic path and an air gap between the said second end of said first leg and said magnetic path, said first excitation winding and said magnetic load winding being wound around said continuous magnetic path, said secound excitation winding and said feedback winding being wound on said first leg.

Claim 8

An inverter comprising an electrical load, a source of direct current, a transformer having a closed magnetic circuit and a leg connected to said magnetic circuit at one end, and its other end spaced from said closed magnetic circuit forming an air gap between the second end of said leg and said closed magnetic circuit, means for connecting said electrical load to said transformer, valve means for connecting said source of direct current to said transformer, feedback means comprising said leg for controlling the flow of said current through said valve, said feedback means adapted to switch said valve means when current through said valve means reaches substantially a minimum value, and resonant means connected to said transformer for controlling the output of said transformer to said electrical load.

Claim 9

An inverter comprising an electrical load, a source of direct current, a transformer having a closed magnetic circuit and a leg connected to said magnetic circuit at one end, and its other end spaced from said closed magnetic circuit forming an air gap between the second end of said leg and said closed magnetic circuit, means for connecting said electrical load to said transformer, valve means for connecting said source of direct current to said transformer, feedback means comprising said leg for controlling the flow of said current through said valve, said feedback means adapted to switch said valve means when current through said valve means reaches substantially a minimum value, and resonant means connected to said transformer for controlling the output of said transformer to said electrical load.

Claim 10

An inverter comprising an electrical load, a source of direct current, a transformer having a closed magnetic circuit and a leg connected to said magnetic circuit at one end, and its other end spaced from said closed magnetic circuit forming an air gap between the second end of said leg and said closed magnetic circuit, means for connecting said electrical load to said transformer, valve means for connecting said source of direct current to said transformer, feedback means comprising said leg for controlling the flow of said current through said valve, said feedback means adapted to switch said valve means when current through said valve means reaches substantially a minimum value, and resonant means connected to said transformer for controlling the output of said transformer to said electrical load, said transformer has a first, a second, and a third leg comprising a continuous magnetic path, and a primary winding on said continuous path, said primary winding being connected to said electrical valve, said means connecting said electrical load to said t-ansformer comprising a winding on said third leg.

Claim 11

An inverter comprising an electrical load, a source of direct current, a transformer having a closed magnetic circuit and a leg connected to said magnetic circuit at one end, and its other end spaced from said closed magnetic circuit forming an air gap between the second end of said leg and said closed magnetic circuit, means for connecting said electrical load to said transformer, valve means for connecting said source of direct current to said transformer, feedback means comprising said leg for controlling the flow of said current through said valve, said feedback means adapted to switch said valve means when current through said valve means reaches substantially a minimum value, and resonant means connected to said transformer for controlling the output of said transformer to said electrical load, said transformer has a first, a second, and a third leg comprising a continuous magnetic path, and a primary winding on said continuous path, said primary winding being connected to said electrical valve, said means connecting said electrical load to said t-ansformer comprising a winding on said third leg.

Claim 12

The inverter recited in claim 7 wherein said magnetic load comprises a plurality of load winding on said magnetic circuit.

Claim 13

The inverter recited in claim 8 wherein said electrical load comprises fluorescent lamps having heaters, and said load windings are connected in series with said heaters.

Claim 14

The inverter recited in claim 5 wherein a second valve is provided in said circuit, and a second feedback means controls said second valve, controlling the flow of current through said lamps.

Claim 15

The inverter recited in claim 5 wherein a second valve is provided in said circuit, and a second transformer winding connected in series with said valve for controlling current through said circuit on half-cycles other than those controlled by said first mentioned valve means.

Claim 16

In combination, a switch and an electrical circuit comprising a chassis having a flat surface having a printed circuit board, a switch body having a relatively flat surface, a plurality of conductor elements, said conductor elements being supported on a first side of said board, a plurality of circuit members supported on said board on a second side of said board, means movably supporting said switch body on said first side of said board, brushes on the side of said switch body adjacent said chassis and adapted to engage said circuit members to selectively connect predetermined members together at predetermined positions of said switch body whereby predetermined circuits are established among said circuit members when said switch body is moved to a predetermined position, said means movably supporting said switch body on said chassis comprises a hole formed in said chassis, a boss on said switch body extending into said hole, at least one elongated wire spring means having a first end and a second end fixed to said chassis at said first end and selectively engaging notches in said switch body at its said second end whereby said body is stopped at said predetermined positions relative to said conductor members.

Claim 17

In combination, a switch and an electrical circuit comprising a chassis having a flat surface having a printed circuit board, a switch body having a relatively flat surface, a plurality of conductor elements, said conductor elements being supported on a first side of said board, a plurality of circuit members supported on said board on a second side of said board, means movably supporting said switch body on said first side of said board, brushes on the side of said switch body adjacent said chassis and adapted to engage said circuit members to selectively connect predetermined members together at predetermined positions of said switch body whereby predetermined circuits are established among said circuit members when said switch body is moved to a predetermined position, said means movably supporting said switch body on said chassis comprises a hole formed in said chassis, a boss on said switch body extending into said hole, at least one elongated wire spring means having a first end and a second end fixed to said chassis at said first end and selectively engaging notches in said switch body at its said second end whereby said body is stopped at said predetermined positions relative to said conductor members.

Claim 18

The combination recited in claim 12 wherein said circuit members are arranged in concentric patterns around said hole in said chassis.

Claim 19

An inverter circuit for lamps having filaments and requiring starting voltage and running voltage comprising, a magnetic means comprising a magnetic circuit having a plurality of magneTic paths therein, one of said paths including an air gap, feedback winding means on said magnetic path having said air gap, said magnetic means having a first load winding means and a second load winding means, a lamp having a filament, said second load winding means being connected to said filaments for supplying heating voltage thereto, said first load winding means being connected to said lamp to supply starting and running voltage thereto, said running voltage being lower than said starting voltage, said circuit having means adapted to control said voltages so that said filament voltage is reduced when said load winding is supplying running voltage.

Claim 20

An inverter circuit for lamps having filaments and requiring starting voltage and running voltage comprising, a magnetic means comprising a magnetic circuit having a plurality of magneTic paths therein, one of said paths including an air gap, feedback winding means on said magnetic path having said air gap, said magnetic means having a first load winding means and a second load winding means, a lamp having a filament, said second load winding means being connected to said filaments for supplying heating voltage thereto, said first load winding means being connected to said lamp to supply starting and running voltage thereto, said running voltage being lower than said starting voltage, said circuit having means adapted to control said voltages so that said filament voltage is reduced when said load winding is supplying running voltage.

Claim 21

An inverter circuit for lamps having filaments and requiring starting voltage and running voltage comprising, a magnetic means, said magnetic means having a first magnetic load winding means and a second magnetic load winding means, a lamp having a filament, said second magnetic load winding means being connected to said filaments for supplying heating voltage thereto, said first magnetic load winding means being connected to said lamp to supply starting and running voltage thereto, said running voltage being lower than said starting voltage, said circuit having means adapted to control said voltages so that said filament voltage is reduced when said load winding is supplying running voltage, said filament voltage is reduced by the ratio of said starting voltage to said running voltage.

Claim 22

An inverter circuit for lamps having filaments and requiring starting voltage and running voltage comprising, a magnetic means, said magnetic means having a first magnetic load winding means and a second magnetic load winding means, a lamp having a filament, said second magnetic load winding means being connected to said filaments for supplying heating voltage thereto, said first magnetic load winding means being connected to said lamp to supply starting and running voltage thereto, said running voltage being lower than said starting voltage, said circuit having means adapted to control said voltages so that said filament voltage is reduced when said load winding is supplying running voltage, said filament voltage is reduced by the ratio of said starting voltage to said running voltage.

Claim 23

The circuit recited in claim 15 wherein said first winding is connected to a resonant energy storage circuit.

Claim 24

The circuit recited in claim 15 wherein said magnetic means comprises a transformer having a closed magnetic circuit and a first leg connected to said closed magnetic circuit through an air gap.

Claim 25

The circuit recited in claim 16 wherein said closed magnetic circuit has a second leg and a third leg said first leg being disposed between said second leg and said third leg, said first magnetic load winding and said second magnetic load winding are supported on said third leg.

Claim 26

The circuit recited in claim 1 wherein said circuit has means to control the output of said circuit to a substantially constant value independent of the load connected to said circuit.

Claim 27

In combination, a printed circuit, a switch, and an inverter circuit for a lamp, a support means having a flat surface, said printed circuit comprising a plurality of spaced conductor members on said flat surface, an electrical load comprising said lamp, said inverter comprising a source of direct current, a transformer, means for connecting said electrical load to said transformer, valve means for connecting said source of direct current to said transformer, feedback means connected to said transformer for controlling the flow of said current through said valve, said feedback means adapted to switch said valve means when current through said valve means reaches substantially a minimum value, and resonant means connected to said transformer for controlling the output of said transformer to said electrical load, said printed circuit spaced conductor members each being connected to a part of said inverter circuit, means movably supporting said switch on said flat surface, brushes on the side of said switch adjacent said flat surface and adapted to engage said circuit members to selectively connect predetermined members together at predetermined positions of said switch whereby predetermined circuits are established among said circuit members when said switch is moved to a predetermined position, said movable member being supported on said flat surface and adapted to connect predetermined said conductors together to connect and disconnect said load from said source of power.

Claim 28

In combination, a printed circuit, a switch, and an inverter circuit for a lamp, a support means having a flat surface, said printed circuit comprising a plurality of spaced conductor members on said flat surface, an electrical load comprising said lamp, said inverter comprising a source of direct current, a transformer, means for connecting said electrical load to said transformer, valve means for connecting said source of direct current to said transformer, feedback means connected to said transformer for controlling the flow of said current through said valve, said feedback means adapted to switch said valve means when current through said valve means reaches substantially a minimum value, and resonant means connected to said transformer for controlling the output of said transformer to said electrical load, said printed circuit spaced conductor members each being connected to a part of said inverter circuit, means movably supporting said switch on said flat surface, brushes on the side of said switch adjacent said flat surface and adapted to engage said circuit members to selectively connect predetermined members together at predetermined positions of said switch whereby predetermined circuits are established among said circuit members when said switch is moved to a predetermined position, said movable member being supported on said flat surface and adapted to connect predetermined said conductors together to connect and disconnect said load from said source of power.

Claim 29

The combination recited in claim 20 wherein said movable means is adapted to be moved to an on position and off positioN and a charge position, said movable member disconnecting said inverter circuit from said source of power and connecting said source of power to a charging source when said movable member is moved to said charge position.

Claim 30

The combination recited in claim 20 wherein said movable member is movable to an on position and an off position, said movable member being adapted to connect predetermined of said conductor members together in said on position and connecting said source of power to said inverter circuit.

Claim 31

The combination recited in claim 20 wherein said movable member is adapted to connect predetermined of said conductors together to short-out said magnetic load means and to connect heaters on said lamp in series with each other when said switch is in said start position.