US4641234A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A-C or D-C to D-C converter for dual current locomotives with D-C motors
Assignee: Jeumont Schneider SA
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Filing: 1984-12-10
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Granted: 1987-02-03
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Expires: 2004-12-10
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to supplying a load either from a direct-current source or from an alternating-current source. The power unit, according to the invention, is characterized in that it consists of a single conversion unit (CV) having unidirectional semi-conductor power components forming switches (I1, I2, I3, I4) controlled in appropriate fashion by a logic control in such a manner as to ensure the functioning of the conversion unit (CV) either in a chopper mode, or in a rectifier mode when the load functions to draw power, or to ensure energy regeneration when the load functions in a generating mode. The present invention has application particularly for supplying direct-current motors used in dual-current railroad locomotives.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Bonal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:43
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M1/00; H02M1/10; B; B60; B60L; B60L7/00; B60L7/10; B60L9/00; B60L9/02; B60L9/14; B60L9/16; B60L9/30; H02P; H02P7/00; H02P7/06; H02P7/18; H02P7/24; H02P7/28; H02P7/281; B60L2200/00; B60L2200/26; B60L2210/00; B60L2210/30; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A power unit for supplying a D-C load from either an A-C or a D-C source, comprising a bridge circuit having two input terminals and two output terminals and four branches each including a unidirectional semiconductor device, the respective semiconductor devices of said branches being connected in such a manner as to permit current flow in only one direction through said output terminals, at least two of said semiconductor devices being of the gate-controlled turn-off type; switching means connected to said input terminals for switching said terminals selectively between an A-C supply and a D-C supply; and gate control means for providing control signals to the gates of said gate-controlled turn-off devices to operate said bridge circuit in a chopper mode when said input terminals are supplied with D-C and in a rectifier mode when said input terminals are supplied with A-C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A power unit for supplying a D-C load from either an A-C or a D-C source, comprising a bridge circuit having two input terminals and two output terminals and four branches each including a unidirectional semiconductor device, the respective semiconductor devices of said branches being connected in such a manner as to permit current flow in only one direction through said output terminals, at least two of said semiconductor devices being of the gate-controlled turn-off type; switching means connected to said input terminals for switching said terminals selectively between an A-C supply and a D-C supply; and gate control means for providing control signals to the gates of said gate-controlled turn-off devices to operate said bridge circuit in a chopper mode when said input terminals are supplied with D-C and in a rectifier mode when said input terminals are supplied with A-C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A power unit according to claim 1, further comprising an input filter including an inductance and a capacitor, said capacitor being connected between said input terminals of said bridge circuit, said inductance being connected between said capacitor and said switching means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A power unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said gate-controlled turn-off devices is a gate-controlled turn-off thyristor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
A power unit according to claim 1, wherein in said chopper mode said gate control means is operable to provide control signals to one of said gate-controlled turn-off devices to operate that device as a chopper and to the other of said gate-controlled turn-off devices to maintain the same in a blocked state, with the remaining semiconductor devices constituting free-wheeling diodes connected in series between said output terminals of said bridge circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A power unit according to claim 1, wherein in said rectifier mode said gate control means is operable to switch said gate-controlled turn-off devices on and off alternately with one another, the remaining semiconductor devices constituting freewheeling diodes connected in series between said output terminals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
184 words
A power unit for supplying a D-C load from either an A-C or a D-C source, comprising a bridge circuit having two input terminals and two output terminals and four branches each including a unidirectional semiconductor device, the respective semiconductor devices of said branches being connected in such a manner as to permit current flow in only one direction through said output terminals, with at least three of said semiconductor devices being of the gate-controlled turn-off type; switching means connected to said input terminals for switching said terminals selectively between an A-C source and a D-C source; and gate control means for providing control signals to the gates of said gate-controlled turn-off devices in such a manner as to operate said bridge circuit in a chopper mode when said input terminals are connected to a D-C type source by said switching means and in a rectifier mode when said input terminals are connected to an A-C type source by said switching means, when said load is drawing power, and to operate said bridge circuit in a regeneration mode when said load is generating power.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
184 words
A power unit for supplying a D-C load from either an A-C or a D-C source, comprising a bridge circuit having two input terminals and two output terminals and four branches each including a unidirectional semiconductor device, the respective semiconductor devices of said branches being connected in such a manner as to permit current flow in only one direction through said output terminals, with at least three of said semiconductor devices being of the gate-controlled turn-off type; switching means connected to said input terminals for switching said terminals selectively between an A-C source and a D-C source; and gate control means for providing control signals to the gates of said gate-controlled turn-off devices in such a manner as to operate said bridge circuit in a chopper mode when said input terminals are connected to a D-C type source by said switching means and in a rectifier mode when said input terminals are connected to an A-C type source by said switching means, when said load is drawing power, and to operate said bridge circuit in a regeneration mode when said load is generating power.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A power unit according to claim 6, further comprising a filter including an inductance and a capacitor, said capacitor being connected between said input terminals of said bridge circuit, said inductance being connected between said capacitor and said switching means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
279 words
In a power system for dual-current railroad locomotives and the like having a D-C motor selectively operable from a A-C or a D-C power source, a power unit for said motor, said power unit comprising a bridge circuit having two output terminals connected to said motor and two input terminals and having four branches each including a unidirectional semiconductor device, the respective semiconductor devices of said branches being connected in such a manner as to permit current flow in only one direction between said output terminals and said motor, with at least three of said semiconductor devices being of the gate-controlled turn-off type; input means including a transformer having a primary winding connected to said source when said source is of the A-C type, switching means for selectively switching said input terminals to a secondary winding of said transformer when said source is of the A-C type and to said source when said source is of the D-C type, and a filter having an inductance and a capacitor with the capacitor being connected between said input terminals and the inductance being connected between said capacitor and said switching means; and gate control means for providing control signals to the gate of said gate-controlled turn-off devices in such a manner as to operate said bridge circuit in a chopper mode when said input terminals are connected to a D-C type source by said switching means and in a rectifier mode when said input terminals are connected to an A-C type source by said switching means, when said motor functions to draw power, and to operate said bridge circuit in a regeneration mode when said motor is functioning to generate power.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
279 words
In a power system for dual-current railroad locomotives and the like having a D-C motor selectively operable from a A-C or a D-C power source, a power unit for said motor, said power unit comprising a bridge circuit having two output terminals connected to said motor and two input terminals and having four branches each including a unidirectional semiconductor device, the respective semiconductor devices of said branches being connected in such a manner as to permit current flow in only one direction between said output terminals and said motor, with at least three of said semiconductor devices being of the gate-controlled turn-off type; input means including a transformer having a primary winding connected to said source when said source is of the A-C type, switching means for selectively switching said input terminals to a secondary winding of said transformer when said source is of the A-C type and to said source when said source is of the D-C type, and a filter having an inductance and a capacitor with the capacitor being connected between said input terminals and the inductance being connected between said capacitor and said switching means; and gate control means for providing control signals to the gate of said gate-controlled turn-off devices in such a manner as to operate said bridge circuit in a chopper mode when said input terminals are connected to a D-C type source by said switching means and in a rectifier mode when said input terminals are connected to an A-C type source by said switching means, when said motor functions to draw power, and to operate said bridge circuit in a regeneration mode when said motor is functioning to generate power.
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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) | 1990-02-02 | 1990-08-04 | 1991-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-02 | 1994-08-04 | 1995-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-02 | 1998-08-04 | 1999-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |