Rectifier assembly for brushless excitation systems

Claim 2

In a brushless excitation system including an alternating current exciter and a rotating rectifier assembly having a rectifier wheel mounted on a shaft and insulated therefrom, a rectifier module adapted to be mounted on said wheel, said module comprising conducting base means, two diode assemblies, each of said diode assemblies having a disc-type rectifier diode disposed between two heat sinks in electrical and thermal contact therewith, one heat sink of each diode assembly engaging the base means and the two diode assemblies being disposed so that the diodes are of opposite polarity with respect to the base means, spring means for applying force to the other heat sink of each diode assembly to maintain contact between said one heat sink and the base means and between the diode and the heat sinks of each assembly, a fuse adjacent each diode assembly, means for electrically connecting each fuse separately to the adjacent diode assembly, and means for making electrical connection to the base means.

Claim 3

A rectifier module as defined in claim 1 iN which said base means includes means for mounting a capacitor, and means for connecting the capacitor across at least one of the diodes.

Claim 4

A rectifier module as defined in claim 1 in which the base means includes a terminal member disposed between the two diode assemblies, and means for making electrical connection to said terminal member.

Claim 5

A rectifier module as defined in claim 3 in which the fuses are on opposite sides of the diode assemblies from the terminal member, and means for electrically connecting each fuse to the adjacent diode assembly.

Claim 6

A rectifier module as defined in claim 3 in which the base member has a recess on each side of the terminal member, a capacitor disposed in each recess, and means for connecting each capacitor across one of the diodes.

Claim 7

In a brushless excitation system including an alternating current exciter and a rotating rectifier assembly, said rectifier assembly having a rectifier wheel mounted on a shaft and insulated therefrom, said wheel having an axially extending rim portion, a plurality of rectifier modules mounted on said rim portion, each of said modules having base means secured to the rim portion and insulated therefrom, two diode assemblies engaging the base means in conductive relation therewith, each diode assembly including a rectifier diode and the two assemblies having opposite polarity with respect to the base means, means for electrically connecting the base means of each module to a lead of said alternating current exciter, means for connecting one diode assembly of each module to one direct current output lead, and means for connecting the other diode assembly of each module to another direct current output lead.

Claim 8

In a brushless excitation system including an alternating current exciter and a rotating rectifier assembly, said rectifier assembly having a rectifier wheel mounted on a shaft and insulated therefrom, said wheel having an axially extending rim portion, a plurality of rectifier modules mounted on said rim portion, each of said modules having base means secured to the rim portion and insulated therefrom, two diode assemblies engaging the base means in conductive relation therewith, each diode assembly including a rectifier diode and the two assemblies having opposite polarity with respect to the base means, means for electrically connecting the base means of each module to a lead of said alternating current exciter, means for connecting one diode assembly of each module to one direct current output lead, and means for connecting the other diode assembly of each module to another direct current output lead.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 and including an individual fuse adjacent each diode assembly and connected thereto, and means for connecting one fuse of each module to one output lead and the other fuse of each module to the other output lead.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7 in which one fuse of each module is connected to the rectifier wheel, means for connecting the wheel to one output lead, and means for connecting the other fuse of each module to the other output lead.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 6 in which each diode assembly includes a disc-type rectifier diode disposed between two heat sinks in electrical and thermal contact therewith with one of said heat sinks engaging the base means, and spring means for applying a force to the other heat sink to maintain contact between the diode, the heat sinks and the base means.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 9 including an individual fuse adjacent each diode assembly and connected thereto, means for connecting one fuse of each module to one output lead, and means for connecting the other fuse of each module to the other output lead.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10 in which one fuse of each module is connected to said rectifier wheel, a connector ring mounted on the shaft and insulated therefrom, means for connecting the other fuse of each module to said ring, means for connecting said wheel to one output lead, and means for connecting said ring to the other output lead.

Claim 14

A rotating rectifier assembly for a brushless excitation system of an A.C. generator, comprising: a wheel of conductive material including a hub mounted on a shaft, a flange extending radially from said hub, and a rim extending axially from said flange at a location radially removed from said shaft; a ring of conductive material mounted on said shaft axially displaced from said hub and located axially proximate an extremity of said rim; a rectifier module mounted by a conductive base member on said rim facing said shaft and comprising a terminal for connection with a lead supplying alternating current and voltage thereto, a pair of oppositely poled diodes connected to said terminal by said base member and having at least one heat sink in thermal contact therewith, said diodes being axially displaced from each other, and said conductive baSe member being insulated from direct contact with said rim; a first fuse mounted on and in conductive contact with said rim and having a radially inward end conductively connected to a radially inward end of one of said diodes; a second fuse mounted on said rim, insulated from direct contact therewith, having a radially inward end conductively connected to a radially inward end of one of said diodes and having an end proximate said rim conductively connected to said ring.

Claim 15

A rotating rectifier assembly for a brushless excitation system of an A.C. generator, comprising: a wheel of conductive material including a hub mounted on a shaft, a flange extending radially from said hub, and a rim extending axially from said flange at a location radially removed from said shaft; a ring of conductive material mounted on said shaft axially displaced from said hub and located axially proximate an extremity of said rim; a rectifier module mounted by a conductive base member on said rim facing said shaft and comprising a terminal for connection with a lead supplying alternating current and voltage thereto, a pair of oppositely poled diodes connected to said terminal by said base member and having at least one heat sink in thermal contact therewith, said diodes being axially displaced from each other, and said conductive baSe member being insulated from direct contact with said rim; a first fuse mounted on and in conductive contact with said rim and having a radially inward end conductively connected to a radially inward end of one of said diodes; a second fuse mounted on said rim, insulated from direct contact therewith, having a radially inward end conductively connected to a radially inward end of one of said diodes and having an end proximate said rim conductively connected to said ring.

Claim 16

The subject matter of claim 12 wherein: said terminal, said diodes and said fuses are in an axial line extending on only one side of said flange.

Claim 17

The subject matter of claim 13 wherein: in sequence from said flange are located said first fuse, one of said diodes, said terminal, the other of said diodes and said second fuse.

Claim 18

The subject matter of claim 13 wherein: each of said diodes is a pressure contact diode with heat sink members on radially opposite sides of each in direct thermal and electrical contact therewith, and further comprising spring means maintaining pressure contact between said diodes and said heat sinks.

Claim 19

The subject matter of claim 13 further comprising: means for conductively connecting said hub to a first conductor extending axially through the interior of said shaft and means for conductively connecting said ring to a second conductor extending axially through the interior of said shaft.