US3881146A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-commutating flux-gated inverter
Assignee: Advance Power Inc
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Filing: 1974-04-15
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1994-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A switching type voltage regulator having a self-commutating inverter input is disclosed. A DC voltage is supplied to an inverter combined with a flux-gated voltage regulator such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,988. The inverter comprises a pair of silicon controlled rectifiers and associated diodes, the SCR''s being alternately triggered to cause the switching of the core of the flux-gated regulator from a saturated to an unsaturated condition as in the normal operation of such a regulator. The SCR''s are switched off in proper sequence without the need for any external signal by the action of the flux-gated regulator itself.
Inventors
- 👤 Cravens L Wanlass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:35
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/22; H02M3/24; H02M3/28; H02M3/305; H02M3/315; H02M3/3155; H02M7/00; H02M7/42; H02M7/44; H02M7/48; H02M7/505; H02M7/515; H02M7/523; H02M7/525
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A self-commutating inverter-regular circuit comprising: an input circuit; a series circuit comprising a capacitor and an inductor having a non-linear inductance characteristic; inverter means including at least two switching means operable in a first state to permit current flow therethrough and in a second state to prevent current flow therethrough, said inverter means connecting said capacitor-inductor circuit to said input circuit; external means for alternately triggering said switching means into said first state resulting in energy being transferred from said inductor to said capacitor by reason of a reduction in the inductance of said inductor, said energy transfer cauSing the current in said capacitor-inductor circuit to reverse causing the switching means to be switched to said second state; and an output circuit coupled to said capacitor-inductor circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A self-commutating inverter-regular circuit comprising: an input circuit; a series circuit comprising a capacitor and an inductor having a non-linear inductance characteristic; inverter means including at least two switching means operable in a first state to permit current flow therethrough and in a second state to prevent current flow therethrough, said inverter means connecting said capacitor-inductor circuit to said input circuit; external means for alternately triggering said switching means into said first state resulting in energy being transferred from said inductor to said capacitor by reason of a reduction in the inductance of said inductor, said energy transfer cauSing the current in said capacitor-inductor circuit to reverse causing the switching means to be switched to said second state; and an output circuit coupled to said capacitor-inductor circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit of claim 1 wherein said output circuit comprises rectifying and filtering means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The circuit of claim 2 wherein said external means is coupled to said output circuit and is responsive to the output voltage appearing thereacross.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The circuit of claim 3 wherein said external means comprises means for generating a series of pulses, the frequency of which is dependent upon said output voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The circuit of claim 1 wherein said inverter means further comprises at least two unidirectional means connected across said switching means and poled in the opposite direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The circuit of claim 5 wherein said switching means comprise controlled rectifier means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The circuit of claim 6 wherein said external means is coupled to said output circuit and is responsive to the output voltage appearing thereacross.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The circuit of claim 6 wherein said external means comprises means for generating a series of pulses, the frequency of which is dependent upon said output voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
185 words
A self-commutating inverter-regulator circuit comprising: an input circuit; inductor means having saturable core means; capacitor means; means coupling said inductor means and said capacitor means in a series circuit; said capacitor means being capable of being charged to a voltage sufficient, when added to an input voltage, to develop a volt-second value across said inductor means greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor means so that said inductor means will be driven into saturation; inverter means including at least two switching means operable in a first state to permit current flow therethrough and in a second state to prevent current flow therethrough, said inverter means connecting said capacitor-inductor circuit to said input circuit; external means for alternately triggering said switching means into said first state, triggering of each of said switching means into said first state resulting in energy being transferred from said inductor means to said capacitor means, such energy transfer causing the current in said capacitor-inductor circuit to reverse and switch said switching means to said second state; and an output circuit coupled to at least a portion of said inductor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
185 words
A self-commutating inverter-regulator circuit comprising: an input circuit; inductor means having saturable core means; capacitor means; means coupling said inductor means and said capacitor means in a series circuit; said capacitor means being capable of being charged to a voltage sufficient, when added to an input voltage, to develop a volt-second value across said inductor means greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor means so that said inductor means will be driven into saturation; inverter means including at least two switching means operable in a first state to permit current flow therethrough and in a second state to prevent current flow therethrough, said inverter means connecting said capacitor-inductor circuit to said input circuit; external means for alternately triggering said switching means into said first state, triggering of each of said switching means into said first state resulting in energy being transferred from said inductor means to said capacitor means, such energy transfer causing the current in said capacitor-inductor circuit to reverse and switch said switching means to said second state; and an output circuit coupled to at least a portion of said inductor means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit of claim 9 wherein said output circuit comprises rectifying and filtering means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The circuit of claim 9 wherein said external means is coupled to said output circuit and is responsive to the output voltage appearing thereacross.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The circuit of claim 9 wherein said external means comprises means for generating a series of pulses, the frequency of which is dependent upon said output voltage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The circuit of claim 9 wherein said inverter means further comprises at least two unidirectional means connected across said switching means and poled in the opposite direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The circuit of claim 9 wherein said switching means comprise controlled rectifier means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The circuit of claim 9 wherein said external means is coupled to said output circuit and is responsive to the output voltage appearing thereacross.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The circuit of claim 9 wherein said external means comprises means for generating a series of pulses, the frequency of which is dependent upon said output voltage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
181 words
A self-commutating inverter-regulator circuit comprising: a pair of input terminals for receiving DC voltage; inductor means having saturable core means; capacitor means, said capacitor means being capable of being charged to a voltage sufficient, when added to an input voltage, to develop a volt-second value greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor means; first switching means connecting said capacitor means and at least a portion of said inductor meanS across said input terminals; second switching means connecting said capacitor means across at least a portion of said inductor means; means for alternately triggering said switching means into conduction; and triggering of said first switching means causing said capacitor means to charge and said inductor means to saturate whereby said capacitor means begins to discharge thereby switching said switching means out of conduction; subsequent triggering of said second switching means causing said capacitor means to discharge across at least a portion of said inductor means and said inductor means to saturate whereby said capacitor means begins to discharge in the opposite direction thereby switching said second switching means out of conduction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
181 words
A self-commutating inverter-regulator circuit comprising: a pair of input terminals for receiving DC voltage; inductor means having saturable core means; capacitor means, said capacitor means being capable of being charged to a voltage sufficient, when added to an input voltage, to develop a volt-second value greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor means; first switching means connecting said capacitor means and at least a portion of said inductor meanS across said input terminals; second switching means connecting said capacitor means across at least a portion of said inductor means; means for alternately triggering said switching means into conduction; and triggering of said first switching means causing said capacitor means to charge and said inductor means to saturate whereby said capacitor means begins to discharge thereby switching said switching means out of conduction; subsequent triggering of said second switching means causing said capacitor means to discharge across at least a portion of said inductor means and said inductor means to saturate whereby said capacitor means begins to discharge in the opposite direction thereby switching said second switching means out of conduction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
152 words
A self-commutating inverter-regulator circuit comprising: an input for receiving a DC voltage; inductor means having saturable core means; capacitor means being capable of being charged to a voltage greater than said DC voltage; switching means operable in a first state to permit current flow therethrough and in a second state to prevent current flow therethrough; means connecting said switching means, said inductor means and said capacitor means in series across said input; and means to switch said switching means to said first state whereby current from said source charges said capacitor, said current being sufficient to cause the voltsecond capacity of said inductor means to be exceeded and said inductor means to saturate causing the energy stored therein to be transferred to said capacitor means, raising the voltage across said capacitor means to a value greater than said DC voltage whereby said switching means becomes back-biased and switches to said second state.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
152 words
A self-commutating inverter-regulator circuit comprising: an input for receiving a DC voltage; inductor means having saturable core means; capacitor means being capable of being charged to a voltage greater than said DC voltage; switching means operable in a first state to permit current flow therethrough and in a second state to prevent current flow therethrough; means connecting said switching means, said inductor means and said capacitor means in series across said input; and means to switch said switching means to said first state whereby current from said source charges said capacitor, said current being sufficient to cause the voltsecond capacity of said inductor means to be exceeded and said inductor means to saturate causing the energy stored therein to be transferred to said capacitor means, raising the voltage across said capacitor means to a value greater than said DC voltage whereby said switching means becomes back-biased and switches to said second state.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
153 words
A self-commutating inverter-regulator circuit comprising: a pair of input terminals for receiving a DC voltage; inductor means having saturable core means; capacitor means, said capacitor means being capable of being charged to a voltage sufficient, when added to an input voltage, to develop a volt-second value greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor means; first assymmetrical switching means operable to conductively connect said capacitor means and at least a portion of said inductor means across said input terminals; second assymmetrical switching means operable to conductively connect said capacitor means across at least a portion of said inductor means; first diode means connected across said first switching means and poled in the opposite direction; second diode means connected across said second switching means and poled in the opposite direction; means for alternately operating said first and second switching means; and an output circuit coupled across at least a portion of said inductor means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
153 words
A self-commutating inverter-regulator circuit comprising: a pair of input terminals for receiving a DC voltage; inductor means having saturable core means; capacitor means, said capacitor means being capable of being charged to a voltage sufficient, when added to an input voltage, to develop a volt-second value greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor means; first assymmetrical switching means operable to conductively connect said capacitor means and at least a portion of said inductor means across said input terminals; second assymmetrical switching means operable to conductively connect said capacitor means across at least a portion of said inductor means; first diode means connected across said first switching means and poled in the opposite direction; second diode means connected across said second switching means and poled in the opposite direction; means for alternately operating said first and second switching means; and an output circuit coupled across at least a portion of said inductor means.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of self-commutating a switching device by means of a series circuit comprising a capacitor and an inductor having a saturable core comprising: triggering said switching device into a conductive state; passing a current to said inductor-capacitor circuit through said switching device to charge said capacitor; developing a volt-second value across said inductor greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor to drive said inductor into saturation; transferring the energy stored in said inductor to said capacitor to cause the current in said inductor-capacitor circuit to reverse and switch said switching device into a non-conductive state; and taking an output from across at least a portion of said inductor.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of self-commutating a switching device by means of a series circuit comprising a capacitor and an inductor having a saturable core comprising: triggering said switching device into a conductive state; passing a current to said inductor-capacitor circuit through said switching device to charge said capacitor; developing a volt-second value across said inductor greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor to drive said inductor into saturation; transferring the energy stored in said inductor to said capacitor to cause the current in said inductor-capacitor circuit to reverse and switch said switching device into a non-conductive state; and taking an output from across at least a portion of said inductor.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of self-commutating an inverter having at least two switching devices operable in a first state to permit current flow therethrough and in a second state to prevent current flow therethrough by means of a series circuit comprising a capacitor and an inductor having a saturable core comprising: triggering a first of said switching devices into a conductive state; passinG a current to said inductor-capacitor circuit through the conductive switching device to charge said capacitor; developing a volt-second value across said inductor greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor to drive said inductor into saturation; transferring the energy stored in said inductor to said capacitor to cause the current in said inductor-capacitor circuit to reverse and switch said conductive switching device into a non-conductive state; triggering the other of said switching devices into the conductive state; developing a volt-second value across said inductor greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor to drive said inductor into saturation; transferring the energy stored in said inductor to said capacitor to cause the current in said inductor-capacitor circuit to reverse and switch said other switching device into a non-conductive state; repeating the foregoing steps a plurality of times; and taking an output from across at least a portion of said inductor.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of self-commutating an inverter having at least two switching devices operable in a first state to permit current flow therethrough and in a second state to prevent current flow therethrough by means of a series circuit comprising a capacitor and an inductor having a saturable core comprising: triggering a first of said switching devices into a conductive state; passinG a current to said inductor-capacitor circuit through the conductive switching device to charge said capacitor; developing a volt-second value across said inductor greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor to drive said inductor into saturation; transferring the energy stored in said inductor to said capacitor to cause the current in said inductor-capacitor circuit to reverse and switch said conductive switching device into a non-conductive state; triggering the other of said switching devices into the conductive state; developing a volt-second value across said inductor greater than the volt-second capacity of said inductor to drive said inductor into saturation; transferring the energy stored in said inductor to said capacitor to cause the current in said inductor-capacitor circuit to reverse and switch said other switching device into a non-conductive state; repeating the foregoing steps a plurality of times; and taking an output from across at least a portion of said inductor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3518526A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |