US3769567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Battery charging system
Assignee: GATEWAY ACQUISITION Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1972-06-14
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1992-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A generator battery charging system is disclosed in which a shunt load is periodically switched across the output of the generator during periods of low charging current requirements from the battery to provide a substantially constant load on the generator.
Inventors
- 👤 C Cox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:17
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/14; H02J7/1469; H02J7/1492; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/80; Y02T10/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for controlling the load on an engine controlled generator being used to charge a battery, comprising, in combination: means for responding tO the output of such a generator to provide a charging voltage for such a battery; shunt means adapted to be connected to the output of said generator and to provide a secondary load that can be switched across said output during each cycle of said charging voltage; and sensing means adapted to be connected to said battery and connected to said shunt means, said sensing means responding to a condition of said battery to control said shunt means to automatically vary the time that said secondary load is connected to said output of said generator during each cycle of said charging voltage to provide a substantially constant load for said generator and said engine during conditions of varying battery charge load on said generator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for controlling the load on an engine controlled generator being used to charge a battery, comprising, in combination: means for responding tO the output of such a generator to provide a charging voltage for such a battery; shunt means adapted to be connected to the output of said generator and to provide a secondary load that can be switched across said output during each cycle of said charging voltage; and sensing means adapted to be connected to said battery and connected to said shunt means, said sensing means responding to a condition of said battery to control said shunt means to automatically vary the time that said secondary load is connected to said output of said generator during each cycle of said charging voltage to provide a substantially constant load for said generator and said engine during conditions of varying battery charge load on said generator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output of said generator is an alternating current voltage and said shunt means includes a ballast load and a switch means connected to said ballast load and switchable in response to a trigger signal between a first state in which current from said generator is conducted through said ballast load, and a second state in which said conduction of current is interrupted, and said sensing means provides such a triggering signal in response to the phase of said alternating current voltage and the condition of said battery.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said ballast load is a resistor and said switch means includes a first SCR connected to conduct changing current through said resistor when said alternating current voltage is positive, and a second SCR connected to conduct such current when said alternating current voltage is negative.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said sensing means includes means for providing a reference voltage, means connected to said reference voltage means for comparing the voltage of said battery with said reference voltage to provide an error signal in response to a difference in said compared voltages, and trigger signal producing means responsive to the magnitude of said error signal and the phase of said alternating current voltage to provide said trigger signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said sensing means includes means for providing a reference voltage, means connected to said reference voltage means for comparing the voltage of said battery with said reference voltage to provide an error signal in response to a difference in said compared voltages, and trigger signal producing means responsive to the magnitude of said error signal and the phase of said alternating current voltage to provide said trigger signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said trigger signal producing means includes a unijunction transistor connected at one of its base electrodes to be responsive to the phase of said alternating current signal, and a storage capacitor connected to the gate electrode of said unijunction transistor and responsive to the magnitude of said error signal to control the firing of said unijunction transistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said trigger signal producing means includes a unijunction transistor connected at one of its base electrodes to be responsive to the phase of said alternating current signal, and a storage capacitor connected to the gate electrode of said unijunction transistor and responsive to the magnitude of said error signal to control the firing of said unijunction transistor.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
113 words
A system for supplying battery power comprising, in combination: a battery; a prime mover driven generator providing an alternating current voltage; means connected between said battery and said generator and responding to said alternating current voltage to provide a charging voltage for said battery; a variable shunt regulator connected to shunt the alternating current output of said generator; and sensing means connected to said battery and said shunt regulator and responsive to a condition of said battery to control said shunt regulator to balance the current drawn from said generator between said battery and said shunt regulator during each cycle of said charging voltage to provide a substantially constant load to said generator.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
113 words
A system for supplying battery power comprising, in combination: a battery; a prime mover driven generator providing an alternating current voltage; means connected between said battery and said generator and responding to said alternating current voltage to provide a charging voltage for said battery; a variable shunt regulator connected to shunt the alternating current output of said generator; and sensing means connected to said battery and said shunt regulator and responsive to a condition of said battery to control said shunt regulator to balance the current drawn from said generator between said battery and said shunt regulator during each cycle of said charging voltage to provide a substantially constant load to said generator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said generator includes a permanent magnet rotor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said shunt regulator includes a ballast load and a switch means connected to said ballast load and switchable in response to a trigger signal between a first state in which current from said generator is conducted through said ballast load, and a second state in which said conduction of current is interrupted, and said sensing means provides such a triggering signal in response to the phase of said alternating current voltage and the condition of said battery.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said ballast load is a resistor and said switch means includes a first SCR connected to conduct changing current through said resistor when said alternating current voltage is positive, and a second SCR connected to conduct such current when said alternating current voltage is negative.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said sensing means includes means for providing a reference voltage, means connected to said reference voltage means for comparing the voltage of said battery with said reference voltage to provide an error signal in response to a difference in said compared voltages, and trigger signal producing means responsive to the magnitude of said error signal and the phase of said alternating current voltage to provide said trigger signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said generator is driven by a diesel engine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |