Alternating current power generating system

Claim 2

An alternating current power generating system comprising: a plurality of alternating current generators, each having corresponding first generating components and corresponding second generating components; all of the components being rotatably mounted, with the second components being releasably restrained against rotation; a rotatable power input shaft adapted to be driven by a prime mover at widely varying speeds; the power input shaft being connected in driving relation to the first component of a first generator, and each second component being connected in driving relation to the first component of a successive generator, with the second component of the last generator in the series being connected in driving relation to a controllable load; the range of rotational speed of the power input shaft extending well above that required to produce a selected target frequency in at least one generator; and sensing and control means operative to selectively and sequentially sense the attainment of the target frequency of the current produced by the first and successive generators and to act in response to the attainment of such frequencies to initially release the second component of the first generator and allow it to rotate and maintain a relative rotational speed between itself and the first component corresponding to the target frequency and to drive the first component of the second generator, and to sequentially release the second components of successive generators as they attain the target frequency.

Claim 3

A system as claimed in claim 1; in which field control means are electrically connected to the field winding of each generator to produce a selected voltage at the target frequency.

Claim 4

A system as claimed in claim 1; in which the sensing and control means include adjustable load control means connecting the output of each generator to a load and operable to vary the load and maintain the proper operating condition of the generator.

Claim 5

A system as claimed in claim 3; in which the load control means is selectively connectable to a first type of load to absorb the output of the generator at less than the target frequency and selected voltage.

Claim 6

A system as claimed in claim 3; in which the load control means is selectively connectable to a second type of load to absorb the output of the generator at the target frequency and selected voltage.

Claim 7

A system as claimed in claim 5; in which the second type of load is a power supply system carrying current at the target frequency and selected voltage.

Claim 8

A system as claimed in claim 1; in which the load to which the second component of the last generator in the series is connected is a dynamic brake.

Claim 9

An alternating current power generating system comprising: first and second alternating current generators, each having a rotor and a stator; the stator of the first generator being rotatably mounted and connected in driving relation with the rotor of the second generator; means to releasably lock the stator of the first generator against rotation; a rotatable power input shaft connected in driving relation to the rotor of the first generator and adapted to be driven by a prime mover at widely varying rotational speeds in a range extending well above that required to produce a selected target frequency in the first generator; and means operative to sense the attainment of the target frequency of the current produced by the first generator in response to increasing rotational speed of the power input shaft and to act in response to the attainment of the target frequency to release the stator of the first generator and allow it to rotate and maintain a relative rotational speed between itself and the stator corresponding to the target frequency and to drive the rotor of the second generator at a speed corresponding to the difference between the speed of the power input shaft and the relative rotational speed between the rotor and stator of the first generator.

Claim 10

An alternating current power generating system comprising: first and second alternating current generators, each having a rotor and a stator; the stator of the first generator being rotatably mounted and connected in driving relation with the rotor of the second generator; means to releasably lock the stator of the first generator against rotation; a rotatable power input shaft connected in driving relation to the rotor of the first generator and adapted to be driven by a prime mover at widely varying rotational speeds in a range extending well above that required to produce a selected target frequency in the first generator; and means operative to sense the attainment of the target frequency of the current produced by the first generator in response to increasing rotational speed of the power input shaft and to act in response to the attainment of the target frequency to release the stator of the first generator and allow it to rotate and maintain a relative rotational speed between itself and the stator corresponding to the target frequency and to drive the rotor of the second generator at a speed corresponding to the difference between the speed of the power input shaft and the relative rotational speed between the rotor and stator of the first generator.

Claim 11

An alternating current power generating system comprising: a plurality of alternating current generators, each having rotatably mounted rotors and stators; a rotatable power input shaft adapted to be driven by a prime mover at widely varying speeds; the power input shaft being connected in driving relation to the first rotor; the first stator being connected in driving relation to the second rotor; the second stator being connected in driving relation to a controllable load; a field control assembly for each generator electrically connected to its rotor to provide controlled excitation; a load control assembly for each generator electrically connected to its stator; lock means associated with each stator to prevent rotation; a phase lock assembly electrically connected through its respective load control assembly to each respective stator to sense the frequency of the current produced by the generator, and electrically connected to its respective lock means; and a source of reference voltage at a target frequency connected to each phase lock assembly; the range of rotational speed of the power input shaft extending well above that required to produce the target frequency in at least one generator; the first phase lock assembly being operative to sense the frequency of the current produced by the first generator and compare it with the target frequency and to act in response to the attainment of such frequency and release the first lock means to allow the first stator to rotate and maintain a relative speed between itself the first rotor corresponding to the target frequency and to drive the second rotor.

Claim 12

An alternating current power generating system comprising: a plurality of alternating current generators, each having rotatably mounted rotors and stators; a rotatable power input shaft adapted to be driven by a prime mover at widely varying speeds; the power input shaft being connected in driving relation to the first rotor; the first stator being connected in driving relation to the second rotor; the second stator being connected in driving relation to a controllable load; a field control assembly for each generator electrically connected to its rotor to provide controlled excitation; a load control assembly for each generator electrically connected to its stator; lock means associated with each stator to prevent rotation; a phase lock assembly electrically connected through its respective load control assembly to each respective stator to sense the frequency of the current produced by the generator, and electrically connected to its respective lock means; and a source of reference voltage at a target frequency connected to each phase lock assembly; the range of rotational speed of the power input shaft extending well above that required to produce the target frequency in at least one generator; the first phase lock assembly being operative to sense the frequency of the current produced by the first generator and compare it with the target frequency and to act in response to the attainment of such frequency and release the first lock means to allow the first stator to rotate and maintain a relative speed between itself the first rotor corresponding to the target frequency and to drive the second rotor.

Claim 13

A system as claimed in claim 9; in which the load control assembly is connected to a load to transmit the output of its generator to the load, and is operable to vary the load and maintain the proper operating condition of the generator.

Claim 14

A system as claimed in claim 10; in which the load control assembly is selectively connectable to a first type of load to absorb the output of the generator at less than the target frequency and selected voltage.

Claim 15

A system as claimed in claim 10; in which the load control assembly is selectively connected to a second type of load to absorb the output of the generator at the target frequency and selected voltage.

Claim 16

A system as claimed in claim 12; in which the second type of load is a power supply system carrying current at the target frequency and selected voltage.

Claim 17

A system as claimed in claim 9; in which the controllable load to which the second stator is connected is a dynamic brake.

Claim 18

A system as claimed in claim 9; in which the controllable load to which the second stator is connected comprises at least one additional generator, with the stator of the last generator in the series being connected to a dynamic brake.

Claim 19

A system as claimed in claim 9; in which each stator is provided with a drive shaft; a supporting bearing is provided for each drive shaft; and the lock means is connected to the bearing and selectively operable to cause it to bind the drive shaft and prevent its rotation.

Claim 20

A system as claimed in claim 9; in which the source of reference voltage at target frequency is a power supply system carrying current at selected voltage and target frequency.

Claim 21

A system as claimed in claim 9; in which a rotatably mounted frame is provided for each stator; and each stator is fixedly mounted in its frame for rotation with respect to its rotor.

Claim 22

A system as claimed in claim 9; in which the components of the generators are arranged in concentric overlying relation; the innermost component being the first rotor; the second component surrounding the first rotor comprising the first stator and the second rotor; and the third component surrounding the second component being the second stator.

Claim 25

The method as claimed in claim 20; further including selectively transmitting the output of each generator to a first type of load to absorb the output at less than the target frequency and a selected voltage and to a second type of load to absorb the output at the target frequency and selected voltage.

Claim 26

The method as claimed in claim 20; further including transmitting the output of each generator to a load and varying the load to maintain the proper operating condition of the generator.