Electronic trimming voltage regulator

Claim 2

In a generator comprising a converter winding for converting magnetic flux into alternating current and a generator field winding for altering the magnetic flux as a function of excitation current, a generator excitation system for providing the excitation current to the generator field winding as a function of the voltage measured across the converter winding, the generator excitation system comprising: voltage conversion means, coupled between the converter winding and the generator field winding, for providing an uncontrolled, level of excitation current sufficient to run the generator slightly below nominal voltage with no load and for providing a controlled, level of excitation current which, when superimposed on said uncontrolled level of excitation current, provides excitation current sufficient to run the generator at approximately nominal voltage over a wide range of conditions and loads, the voltage conversion means including one single silicon-controlled rectifier and at least one diode; wherein said diode, coupled between the converter winding and the generator field winding, provides the uncontrolled, level of excitation current; and wherein said silicon-controlled rectifier, coupled between the converter winding and the generator field winding, provides the controllable, level of excitation current.

Claim 3

A generator, comprising: a field winding having a first and a second end; means for rotating said field winding; flux sensing means for sensing the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding; excitation current means for providing, as a function of the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding, excitation current to said field winding in order to generate controlled magnetic flux, said excitation current means comprising: voltage reference means for establishing a reference voltage between said flux sensing means and said field winding; first voltage conversion means connected between said flux sensing means and said field winding for converting power from said flux sensing means to provide an uncontrolled level of excitation current sufficient to induce a first level of magnetic flux; and second voltage conversion means connected between said flux sensing means and said field winding for converting power from said flux sensing means to provide a controllable level of excitation current which, when added to said uncontrolled level of excitation current, acts to induce a second level of magnetic flux; wherein the flux sensing means comprises first and second windings located in the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding, wherein each of said first and second windings have a first end and a second end and wherein the second end of said first winding is connected to the first end of said second winding; wherein said first voltage conversion means comprises a diode connected between the first end of said first winding and the first end of said field winding; wherein said second voltage conversion means comprises a silicon-controlled rectifier connected between the second end of said second winding and the first end of said field winding; and wherein said voltage reference means comprises a conductor connecting the second end of said first winding to the second end of said field winding.

Claim 4

A generator, comprising: a field winding having a first and a second end; means for rotating said field winding; flux sensing means for sensing the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding; excitation current means for providing, as a function of the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding, excitation current to said field winding in order to generate controlled magnetic flux, said excitation current means comprising: voltage reference means for establishing a reference voltage between said flux sensing means and said field winding; first voltage conversion means connected between said flux sensing means and said field winding for converting power from said flux sensing means to provide an uncontrolled level of excitation current sufficient to induce a first level of magnetic flux; and second voltage conversion means connected between said flux sensing means and said field winding for converting power from said flux sensing means to provide a controllable level of excitation current which, when added to said uncontrolled level of excitation current, acts to induce a second level of magnetic flux; wherein the flux sensing means comprises first and second windings located in the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding, wherein each of said first and second windings have a first end and a second end and wherein the second end of said first winding is connected to the first end of said second winding; wherein said first voltage conversion means comprises a diode connected between the first end of said first winding and the first end of said field winding; wherein said second voltage conversion means comprises a silicon-controlled rectifier connected between the second end of said second winding and the first end of said field winding; and wherein said voltage reference means comprises a conductor connecting the second end of said first winding to the second end of said field winding.

Claim 5

A generator, comprising: a rotating field winding having a first and a second end; flux sensing means, coupled with the rotating field winding, for sensing a magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding; and excitation current means, connecting between the flux sensing means and the rotating field winding, for providing, as a function of the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding, excitation current to said rotating field winding in order to generate controlled magnetic flux, said excitation current means comprising: voltage reference means, coupled between a connecting juncture of said flux sensing means and one end of said rotating field winding, for establishing a reference voltage; first voltage conversion means connected between said flux sensing means and said rotating field winding for converting power from said flux sensing means to provide an uncontrolled level of excitation current sufficient to induce a first level of magnetic flux; and second voltage conversion means connected between said flux sensing means and said rotating field winding for converting power from said flux sensing means to provide a controllable level of excitation current which, when added to said uncontrolled level of excitation current, acts to induce a second level of magnetic flux.

Claim 6

A generator, comprising: a rotating field winding having a first and a second end; flux sensing means, coupled with the rotating field winding, for sensing a magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding; and excitation current means, connecting between the flux sensing means and the rotating field winding, for providing, as a function of the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding, excitation current to said rotating field winding in order to generate controlled magnetic flux, said excitation current means comprising: voltage reference means, coupled between a connecting juncture of said flux sensing means and one end of said rotating field winding, for establishing a reference voltage; first voltage conversion means connected between said flux sensing means and said rotating field winding for converting power from said flux sensing means to provide an uncontrolled level of excitation current sufficient to induce a first level of magnetic flux; and second voltage conversion means connected between said flux sensing means and said rotating field winding for converting power from said flux sensing means to provide a controllable level of excitation current which, when added to said uncontrolled level of excitation current, acts to induce a second level of magnetic flux.

Claim 7

Amended) The generator according to claim 3, wherein the flux sensing means comprises first and second windings located in the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding, wherein each of said first and second windings have a first end and a second end and wherein the second end of said first winding is connected to the first end of said second winding at the connecting juncture; wherein said first voltage conversion means comprises at least one diode connected between the first end of said first winding and the first end of said field winding; and wherein said second voltage conversion means comprises one single silicon-controlled rectifier connected between the second end of said second winding and the first end of said field winding.

Claim 8

The generator according to claim 4 wherein said voltage reference means comprises a conductor connecting the second end of said first winding to the second end of said field winding.

Claim 9

The generator according to claim 4 wherein said voltage reference means comprises: a first conductor connecting the second end of said first winding to ground; and a second conductor connecting the second end of said field winding to ground.

Claim 10

The excitation system according to claim 4 wherein said voltage reference means comprises: a second diode connected between the first end of said first winding and the second end of said field winding; and a third diode connected between the second end of said second winding and the second end of said field winding.

Claim 11

The generator according to claim 3: wherein the flux sensing means comprises a main winding located in the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding, said main winding having a first end and a second end; wherein said first voltage conversion means comprises a first diode connected between the first end of said main winding and the first end of said field winding; wherein said second voltage conversion means comprises a silicon-controlled rectifier connected between the second end of said main winding and the first end of said field winding; and wherein said voltage reference means comprises: a second diode connected between the first end of said main winding and the second end of said field winding; and a third diode connected between the second end of said main winding and the second end of said field winding.

Claim 12

An electronic trimming voltage regulator for use in a generator having a generator field winding and an converter winding, each of said windings having a first end and a second end, said trimming voltage regulator comprising: rectifier means electrically connected between the converter winding and the field winding for providing excitation current to the field winding, said rectifier means comprising: first transmission means for passing a first, uncontrolled, level of excitation current, wherein said first, uncontrolled, level of excitation current is approximately proportional to the roll, age across said converter winding; second transmission means connected to said first transmission means for passing a second controlled level of excitation current to be added to said first level of excitation current; voltage reference means, coupled between a connecting juncture of the converter winding and one end of the field winding, for establishing a voltage reference; and control means, connected to one end of said second transmission means of said rectifier means, for controlling said second transmission means to provide a desired level of excitation current.

Claim 13

An electronic trimming voltage regulator for use in a generator having a generator field winding and an converter winding, each of said windings having a first end and a second end, said trimming voltage regulator comprising: rectifier means electrically connected between the converter winding and the field winding for providing excitation current to the field winding, said rectifier means comprising: first transmission means for passing a first, uncontrolled, level of excitation current, wherein said first, uncontrolled, level of excitation current is approximately proportional to the roll, age across said converter winding; second transmission means connected to said first transmission means for passing a second controlled level of excitation current to be added to said first level of excitation current; voltage reference means, coupled between a connecting juncture of the converter winding and one end of the field winding, for establishing a voltage reference; and control means, connected to one end of said second transmission means of said rectifier means, for controlling said second transmission means to provide a desired level of excitation current.

Claim 14

The electronic trimming voltage regulator of claim 9: wherein the first transmission means comprises a diode connected between the first end of the converter winding and the first end of the field winding; and wherein the second transmission means comprises electronic switching means, connected between the second end of the converter winding and the first end of the field winding, for regulating, under control of said control means, said second level of excitation current provided to the field winding.

Claim 15

The electronic trimming voltage regulator of claim 10 wherein the electronic switching device comprises a silicon-controlled rectifier.

Claim 16

A generator, comprising: a field winding having a first and a second end; means for rotating said field winding; flux sensing means for sensing the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding; excitation current means for providing, as a function of the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding, excitation current to said field winding in order to generate controlled magnetic flux, said excitation current means comprising: voltage reference means for establishing a reference voltage between said flux sensing means and said field winding; first voltage conversion means connected between said flux sensing means and said field winding for converting power from said flux sensing means to provide an uncontrolled level of excitation current sufficient to induce a first level of magnetic flux; and second voltage conversion means connected between said flux sensing means and said field winding for converting power from said flux sensing means to provide a controllable level of excitation current which, when added to said uncontrolled level of excitation current, acts to induce a second level of magnetic flux; wherein the flux sensing means comprises first and second windings located in the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding, wherein each of said first and second windings have a first end and a second end and wherein the second end of said first winding is connected to the first end of said second winding; wherein said first voltage conversion means comprises a diode connected between the first end of said first winding and the first end of said field winding; wherein said second voltage conversion means comprises a silicon-controlled rectifier connected between the second end of said second winding and the first end of said field winding; and wherein said voltage reference means comprises: a first conductor connecting the second end of said first winding to ground; and a second conductor connecting the second end of said field winding to ground.

Claim 17

A generator, comprising: a field winding having a first and a second end; means for rotating said field winding; flux sensing means for sensing the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding; excitation current means for providing, as a function of the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding, excitation current to said field winding in order to generate controlled magnetic flux, said excitation current means comprising: voltage reference means for establishing a reference voltage between said flux sensing means and said field winding; first voltage conversion means connected between said flux sensing means and said field winding for converting power from said flux sensing means to provide an uncontrolled level of excitation current sufficient to induce a first level of magnetic flux; and second voltage conversion means connected between said flux sensing means and said field winding for converting power from said flux sensing means to provide a controllable level of excitation current which, when added to said uncontrolled level of excitation current, acts to induce a second level of magnetic flux; wherein the flux sensing means comprises first and second windings located in the magnetic flux generated by said rotating field winding, wherein each of said first and second windings have a first end and a second end and wherein the second end of said first winding is connected to the first end of said second winding; wherein said first voltage conversion means comprises a diode connected between the first end of said first winding and the first end of said field winding; wherein said second voltage conversion means comprises a silicon-controlled rectifier connected between the second end of said second winding and the first end of said field winding; and wherein said voltage reference means comprises: a first conductor connecting the second end of said first winding to ground; and a second conductor connecting the second end of said field winding to ground.

Claim 20

The method according to claim 13 wherein the method further comprises: providing control means responsive to said AC voltage for generating an error signal as a function of the difference between said AC voltage and a reference voltage; and generating the activation signal as a function of the error signal in order to regulate the level of composite excitation current.

Claim 21

The method according to claim 13 wherein: the step of providing a passive voltage conversion means comprises providing means capable of converting energy in the first half cycle of said AC voltage to a first excitation current; and the step of providing an active voltage conversion means comprises providing means capable of converting a portion of the energy in the second half cycle of said AC voltage to a second excitation current.

Claim 24

The method according to claim 16 wherein the step of providing a passive voltage conversion means comprises providing means capable of producing a first excitation current sufficient to induce a voltage in the second winding approximately equal to the reference voltage.

Claim 25

An excitation system for providing, as a function of voltage from an AC power source having a first end and a second end, excitation current which can be supplied to a generator field winding having a first end and a second end in order to generate controlled magnetic flux, said excitation system comprising: input means, having a first end and a second end, for sensing AC voltage from the AC power source, the first end of the input means being coupled with the first end of the AC power source, the second end of the input means being coupled with the second end of the AC power source; output means, having a first end, for providing the excitation current to the generator field winding, the first end of the output means being coupled with the first end of the generator field winding; voltage conversion means, coupled between said input means and said output means, for converting an AC voltage supplied to said input means to provide an uncontrolled level of excitation current and for converting an AC voltage supplied to said input means to provide a controllable level of excitation current, the voltage conversion means including one single silicon-controlled rectifier and at least one diode; wherein said diode, coupled between the first end of the input means and the first end of the output means, converts an AC voltage supplied to said input means to provide the uncontrollable level of excitation current; and wherein said silicon-controlled rectifier, coupled between the second end of the input means and said first end of the output means, converts the AC voltage supplied to said input means to provide the controllable level of excitation current.

Claim 26

An excitation system for providing, as a function of voltage from an AC power source having a first end and a second end, excitation current which can be supplied to a generator field winding having a first end and a second end in order to generate controlled magnetic flux, said excitation system comprising: input means, having a first end and a second end, for sensing AC voltage from the AC power source, the first end of the input means being coupled with the first end of the AC power source, the second end of the input means being coupled with the second end of the AC power source; output means, having a first end, for providing the excitation current to the generator field winding, the first end of the output means being coupled with the first end of the generator field winding; voltage conversion means, coupled between said input means and said output means, for converting an AC voltage supplied to said input means to provide an uncontrolled level of excitation current and for converting an AC voltage supplied to said input means to provide a controllable level of excitation current, the voltage conversion means including one single silicon-controlled rectifier and at least one diode; wherein said diode, coupled between the first end of the input means and the first end of the output means, converts an AC voltage supplied to said input means to provide the uncontrollable level of excitation current; and wherein said silicon-controlled rectifier, coupled between the second end of the input means and said first end of the output means, converts the AC voltage supplied to said input means to provide the controllable level of excitation current.

Claim 27

An excitation system according to claim 18, further comprising voltage reference means, coupled between a connecting juncture of the AC power source and the second end of the generator field winding, for establishing a reference voltage.