Current converter

Claim 2

A current converter comprising: a converter transformer having a primary winding; means for alternately causing current to flow in opposite directions through said primary winding of said converter transformer; means for storing energy associated with overvoltages produced by operation of said causing means; first inductive means for inductively coupling energy stored in said storing means back to said primary winding of said converter transformer; second inductive means for inductively producing a voltage from energy stored in said storing means, said first inductive means including means for causing said voltage produced by said second inductive means to be related to a voltage associated with said primary winding of said converter transformer; and means for controlling said causing means in relation to said voltage produced by said second inductive means.

Claim 3

A converter as in claim 1 wherein said controlling means includes means for stopping said causing means from operating when said voltage of said second inductive means drops below a predetermined value.

Claim 4

A converter as in claim 2 wherein said causing means includes a pulse width modulator which is selectively inhibited by said controlling means.

Claim 5

A converter as in claim 1 wherein said controlling means includes a voltage regulator, responsive to an output of said converter transformer and said voltage of said second inductive means for controlling said causing means to cause said output of said converter transformer to achieve a predetermined value.

Claim 6

A converter as in claim 1 wherein said storing means includes a capacitor and diodes connecting opposite ends of said primary winding of said converter transformer to said capacitor to charge said capacitor.

Claim 7

A converter as in claim 1 wherein said voltage causing means of said first inductive means includes a diode connected between said first inductive means and said primary of said converter transformer.

Claim 8

A converter as in claim 1 wherein: said converter further comprises a primary coil and means for successively causing energy from said storing means to flow through said primary coil; said first inductive means includes a first secondary coil inductively coupled to said primary coil and a diode connecting said first secondary coil to said primary winding of said converter transformer; and said second inductive means includes a second secondary winding inductively coupled to said primary winding.

Claim 9

A current converter comprising: a converter transformer having center tapped primary winding; input means for applying a direct voltage to said center tap of said converter transformer primary winding; two controllable switching devices attached to each end of said primary winding, each device having a control electrode and current conducting electrodes, one of said current conducting electrodes from each of said devices being connected together and connected to said input means; a plurality of rectifier diodes, one electrode of each of said diodes being connected to opposite ends of said converter transformer primary winding, another electrode of each of said diodes being connected together; a first capacitor connected to said plurality of rectifier diodes; a single alternating voltage source having opposite ends connected directly to said control electrodes; a blocking oscillator circuit, said blocking oscillator including a transformer having a primary winding attached to said rectifier diodes, a control winding, a secondary winding and another secondary winding, a switch having one current conducting terminal connected to said primary winding, another current conducting terminal and a control terminal, a resistor connected between said one current conducting terminal and said control terminal, a second capacitor connected with said control winding in series between said control terminal and said another current carrying terminal of said switch, a rectifier diode connected between said secondary winding of said transformer and said center tap of said converter transformer primary winding, another rectifier diode connected in series with said additional secondary winding and a third capacitor connected in parallel with said additional secondary winding and another said rectifier diode; comparator means for comparing a voltage across said third capacitor with a reference voltage, said comparator means; and control means for applying an output of said comparator means to change a signal of said single alternating voltage source supplied to said control electrodes of said switching devices.

Claim 10

A current converter comprising: a converter transformer having center tapped primary winding; input means for applying a direct voltage to said center tap of said converter transformer primary winding; two controllable switching devices attached to each end of said primary winding, each device having a control electrode and current conducting electrodes, one of said current conducting electrodes from each of said devices being connected together and connected to said input means; a plurality of rectifier diodes, one electrode of each of said diodes being connected to opposite ends of said converter transformer primary winding, another electrode of each of said diodes being connected together; a first capacitor connected to said plurality of rectifier diodes; a single alternating voltage source having opposite ends connected directly to said control electrodes; a blocking oscillator circuit, said blocking oscillator including a transformer having a primary winding attached to said rectifier diodes, a control winding, a secondary winding and another secondary winding, a switch having one current conducting terminal connected to said primary winding, another current conducting terminal and a control terminal, a resistor connected between said one current conducting terminal and said control terminal, a second capacitor connected with said control winding in series between said control terminal and said another current carrying terminal of said switch, a rectifier diode connected between said secondary winding of said transformer and said center tap of said converter transformer primary winding, another rectifier diode connected in series with said additional secondary winding and a third capacitor connected in parallel with said additional secondary winding and another said rectifier diode; comparator means for comparing a voltage across said third capacitor with a reference voltage, said comparator means; and control means for applying an output of said comparator means to change a signal of said single alternating voltage source supplied to said control electrodes of said switching devices.

Claim 11

A converter according to claim 8 wherein said control means includes a pulse width modulator.

Claim 12

A converter according to claim 8 wherein the voltage produced across said third capacitor is also used to supply voltage to said alternating voltage source and said comparator means.

Claim 13

A converter according to claim 8 further comprising regulator means for controlling said control means in response to a voltage on said secondary winding of said converter transformer and said voltage across said third capacitor.