US4401936A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Protection system for series regulator
Assignee: TYMPANIUM Corp A CORP OF MA
•
Filing: 1981-01-12
•
Granted: 1983-08-30
•
Expires: 2001-01-12
Abstract
Abstract A protection system is described for series regulators exposed to power sources such as permanent magnet alternators which may exhibit high open circuit voltages. The subject system includes a circuit which protects the control transistor in the regulator from a forward bias second breakdown by clamping it OFF responsive to the alternator output voltage exceeding a predetermined level. In one embodiment the clamping circuit keeps this transistor off during enough of the duty cycle to reduce the voltage across the control transistor to a level above which second breakdown occurs. In one embodiment, an auxiliary circuit shorts the alternator output terminals to ground to protect electrical apparatus connected to the alternator from burn-out due to high voltages occasioned by sulfated batteries or loose battery terminals which result in a high impedance being presented to the alternator.
Inventors
- 👤 L. J. K. van Opijnen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:06
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/46; G05F1/56; G05F1/565; G05F1/569; G05F1/571; H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/14; H02J7/1469; H02J7/1492; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/80; Y02T10/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A regulator circuit adapted to be connected between the output terminals of a power source which provides an A.C. signal at its output terminals to the terminals of a battery comprising: rectifying means interposed between the terminals of said power source and said battery, said rectifying means having switching elements adapted when opened to interrupt the circuit between the terminals of the power source and battery; means including a control transistor for opening said switching elements responsive to a predetermined battery charge; and means connected to the terminals of said power source and responsive to the output voltage of said power source relative to the battery voltage for clamping said control transistor off during enough of the AC duty cycle to reduce the energy through said control transistor to a level below which forward bias second breakdown occurs, said rectifying means including a diode bridge circuit having a first pair of opposite points connected across the terminals of said power source and a second pair of opposite points coupled across the terminals of said battery, said switching elements including silicon controlled rectifiers having control terminals coupled to a first electrode of said control transistor and to different ones of said first pair of points, a second electrode of said control transistor being connected to a first one of said battery terminals, said clamping means including means for clamping the control electrode of said control transistor to said first one of said battery terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
A regulator circuit adapted to be connected between the output terminals of a power source which provides an A.C. signal at its output terminals to the terminals of a battery comprising: rectifying means interposed between the terminals of said power source and said battery, said rectifying means having switching elements adapted when opened to interrupt the circuit between the terminals of the power source and battery; means including a control transistor for opening said switching elements responsive to a predetermined battery charge; and means connected to the terminals of said power source and responsive to the output voltage of said power source relative to the battery voltage for clamping said control transistor off during enough of the AC duty cycle to reduce the energy through said control transistor to a level below which forward bias second breakdown occurs, said rectifying means including a diode bridge circuit having a first pair of opposite points connected across the terminals of said power source and a second pair of opposite points coupled across the terminals of said battery, said switching elements including silicon controlled rectifiers having control terminals coupled to a first electrode of said control transistor and to different ones of said first pair of points, a second electrode of said control transistor being connected to a first one of said battery terminals, said clamping means including means for clamping the control electrode of said control transistor to said first one of said battery terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The circuit of claim 1 wherein said clamping means includes means for detecting a predetermined voltage differential between said power source terminals and the voltage at said first battery terminal and for actuating said clamping means when said predetermined differential has been exceeded.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The circuit of claim 2 wherein said detecting means includes a voltage dividing circuit and a rectifying circuit connected between said power source terminals and said first battery terminal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The circuit of claim 3 wherein said voltage dividing circuit includes a Zener diode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The circuit of claim 3 wherein said control electrode is coupled to a predetermined point in said voltage dividing circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The circuit of claim 2 and further including means for shorting said power source terminals responsive to a high impedance being presented to the output of said rectifying means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The circuit of claim 6 wherein said shorting means includes means for detecting when the voltage at said first battery terminals exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The circuit of claim 7 wherein said predetermined level is different from said predetermined battery charge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3079543A
Cited
US3581150A
Cited
US3710227A
Cited
US3857082A
Cited
US3943408A
Cited
US4040115A
Cited
US4020395A
Cited
US4008418A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-29 | 1987-02-28 | 1987-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-29 | 1991-02-28 | 1991-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-29 | 1995-02-28 | 1995-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |