US3887889A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High power variable autotransformer
Assignee: ELSCINT IMAGING Inc
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Filing: 1973-11-28
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1993-11-28
Abstract
Abstract An autotransformer is disclosed for a power supply system for an x-ray generating apparatus. The autotransformer includes at least two interconnectable windings with at least one inner winding mounted within an outer winding. On three phase equipment, three such pair are provided on each transformer core. Taps at fixed intervals along the windings are brought out from the windings for external electrical connections. The inner windings are interconnected, with respect to the outer winding, in a lowvoltage input connection, where the tap connections are mostly in parallel, to a high-voltage input connection, where the tap connections are mostly in series. The outer winding is wound on a tube at a constant pitch and is made accessible for receiving a contact mechanism at any point along the entire length of winding. The contact mechanism has a metal contact movably mounted to contact the winding only at the time the power is being used. A solenoid and rod are utilized to actuate the metal contact. The entire contact mechanism is mounted on a carriage driven by a motor-driven lead screw having the same pitch as the outer winding of the autotransformer. The drive system functions to position the metal contact approximately over the proper turn of the outer winding for providing the desired output voltage. An indexing mechanism is provided to center the metal contact exactly over the selected turn. The indexing mechanism comprises a left-hand/right-hand 180* helical barrel cam mounted on the lead screw. A cam follower is provided to engage either the lefthand or right-hand helix to rotate the cam and lead screw to the 180* or absolute locking position. Since the lead screw has the same pitch as the outer winding, the center or locked position of the lead screw corresponds to the center position of the outer winding.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank J Karlov
- 👤 Leonidas Sidorewicz
- 👤 Charles L Redfield
- 👤 Robert Evans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:12
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01F; H01F29/00; H01F29/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A transformer comprising: a first continuous winding forming a plurality of turns; means for contacting individual turns of said winding, said means comprising a metal contact movably mounted on a carriage, said contact having a bearing surface for engaging said turns; means for axially moving said metal contact along the length of said winding and positioning said metal contact approximately over any desired turn of said winding; and indexing means for automatically centering said metal contact exactly over the midpoint of any selected turn, said indexing means including means for sensing the position of said metal contact with said selected turn and moving said metal contact, in response to the sensed information, to the midpoint of said selected turn.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A transformer comprising: a first continuous winding forming a plurality of turns; means for contacting individual turns of said winding, said means comprising a metal contact movably mounted on a carriage, said contact having a bearing surface for engaging said turns; means for axially moving said metal contact along the length of said winding and positioning said metal contact approximately over any desired turn of said winding; and indexing means for automatically centering said metal contact exactly over the midpoint of any selected turn, said indexing means including means for sensing the position of said metal contact with said selected turn and moving said metal contact, in response to the sensed information, to the midpoint of said selected turn.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
119 words
A transformer comprising: a first continuous winding forming a plurality of turns; means for contacting individual turns of said winding, said means comprising a metal contact movably mounted on a carriage, said contact having a bearing surface for engaging said turns; means for axially moving said metal contact along the length of said winding and positioning said metal contact approximately over any desired turn of said winding; and indexing means for automatically centering said metal contact exactly over the midpoint of any selected turn, said indexing means including means for sensing the position of said metal contact with said selected turn and moving said metal contact, in response to the sensed information, to the midpoint of said selected turn.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
119 words
A transformer comprising: a first continuous winding forming a plurality of turns; means for contacting individual turns of said winding, said means comprising a metal contact movably mounted on a carriage, said contact having a bearing surface for engaging said turns; means for axially moving said metal contact along the length of said winding and positioning said metal contact approximately over any desired turn of said winding; and indexing means for automatically centering said metal contact exactly over the midpoint of any selected turn, said indexing means including means for sensing the position of said metal contact with said selected turn and moving said metal contact, in response to the sensed information, to the midpoint of said selected turn.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 1 further including means for actuating said metal contact in and out of engagement with said turns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said actuating means includes a solenoid connected through a connecting rod to said metal contact.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said moving and positioning means comprises a lead screw drivingly engaging the carriage of said metal contact.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein the threads of said lead screw are of the same pitch as the turns of said winding.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein said indexing means comprises: a cam for rotating said lead screw, said cam having a predetermined angular position corresponding to each revolution of the lead screw, said predetermined angular position also being calibrated to correspond to the center position of the metal contact with respect to each turn; and a cam follower for engaging said cam and rotating said cam until it reaches said predetermined angular position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said cam includes a pair of cam surfaces, said first surface being a left-hand surface corresponding to one 180* of the angular position of said lead screw for each revolution, said second surface being a right-hand surface corresponding to the other 180* of the angular position of said lead screw for each revolution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said cam surfaces face each other and converge at a point corresponding to said predetermined angular position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said first continuous winding has a plurality of taps at fixed intervals along the length of said winding brought out for external electrical connections.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination of claim 9 further including: a second continuous winding having a plurality of taps at fixed intervals along the length of said winding brought out for external electrical connections; and means for inTerconnecting one or more of the taps of said first winding with one or more of the taps of said second winding.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
184 words
A transformer comprising: a first continuous winding forming a plurality of turns; means for contacting individual turns of said winding, said means comprising a metal contact movably mounted on a carriage, said contact having a bearing surface for engaging said turns; means for axially moving said metal contact along the length of said winding and positioning said metal contact approximately over any desired turn of said winding, said moving and positioning means comprising a lead screw drivingly engaging the carriage of said metal contact, the threads of said lead screw being of the same pitch as the turns of said winding; and indexing means for centering said metal contact exactly over the midpoint of any selected turn, said indexing means comprising a cam for rotating said lead screw, said cam having a predetermined angular position corresponding to each revolution of the lead screw, said predetermined angular position also being calibrated to correspond to the center position of the metal contact with respect to each turn, and a cam follower for engaging said cam and rotating said cam until it reaches said predetermined angular position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
184 words
A transformer comprising: a first continuous winding forming a plurality of turns; means for contacting individual turns of said winding, said means comprising a metal contact movably mounted on a carriage, said contact having a bearing surface for engaging said turns; means for axially moving said metal contact along the length of said winding and positioning said metal contact approximately over any desired turn of said winding, said moving and positioning means comprising a lead screw drivingly engaging the carriage of said metal contact, the threads of said lead screw being of the same pitch as the turns of said winding; and indexing means for centering said metal contact exactly over the midpoint of any selected turn, said indexing means comprising a cam for rotating said lead screw, said cam having a predetermined angular position corresponding to each revolution of the lead screw, said predetermined angular position also being calibrated to correspond to the center position of the metal contact with respect to each turn, and a cam follower for engaging said cam and rotating said cam until it reaches said predetermined angular position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein said cam includes a pair of cam surfaces, said first surface being a left-hand surface corresponding to one 180* of the angular position of said lead screw for each revolution, said second surface being a right-hand surface corresponding to the other 180* of the angular position of said lead screw for each revolution.
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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) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |