Patent US4043024A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5583440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for testing an auxiliary power system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-02-06
•
Granted: 1996-12-10
•
Expires: 2015-02-06
Abstract
Abstract A load test system for testing an engine/generator (12) and battery set (14) of a backup power system by simulating a load with desired linear, non-linear and/or reactive load characteristics. The load test system also recharges the battery set (14) after testing. Battery imbalance circuit (40) is connected to battery set (14) to determine whether bad cells are present therein. Controller (110) uses signals from current monitors (24, 125) to monitor the current, and isolation transformer (47) to monitor the AC line voltage. The controller (110) simulates a desired load by causing a rectifier (200) comprising thyristors to turn on at a selected point on the AC waveform and/or by causing a load bank (300) to draw a predetermined load current when a predetermined load voltage is present. Capacitive load circuit (28) selectively places a large capacitance across the DC bus (203). When the capacitance is present, surge current at thyristor turn-on simulates a non-linear or reactive load. The amount of surge current is determined by the turn-on point of the thyristors, the value of the capacitance, and the degree of discharge caused by the load bank (300).
Inventors
- 👤 Roger C. Bisher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for testing an AC power source by simulating a load with desired characteristics, comprising the steps of: in response to user input signals and in response to a product of load current signals and load voltage signals, said user input signals corresponding to said desired characteristics of said load to be simulated, providing first control signals and second control signals; simulating a first set of load characteristics by rectifying power provided by said AC power source in response to said first control signals; simulating a second set of load characteristics by a load bank in response to said second control signals; providing said load current signals in response to current drawn by said load bank; providing said load voltage signals in response to the voltage across said load bank; reading a set of characteristics of said AC power source; computing load power; and determining whether said computed load power is within predetermined limits.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for testing an AC power source by simulating a load with desired characteristics, comprising the steps of: in response to user input signals and in response to a product of load current signals and load voltage signals, said user input signals corresponding to said desired characteristics of said load to be simulated, providing first control signals and second control signals; simulating a first set of load characteristics by rectifying power provided by said AC power source in response to said first control signals; simulating a second set of load characteristics by a load bank in response to said second control signals; providing said load current signals in response to current drawn by said load bank; providing said load voltage signals in response to the voltage across said load bank; reading a set of characteristics of said AC power source; computing load power; and determining whether said computed load power is within predetermined limits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of simulating said first set of load characteristics comprises simulating predetermined non-linear load characteristics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of simulating said first set of load characteristics comprises simulating predetermined reactive load characteristics.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of simulating said second set of load characteristics comprises simulating predetermined linear load characteristics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing frequency analysis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said set of characteristics of said AC power source comprises total current.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said set of characteristics of said AC power source comprises total frequency.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said set of characteristics of said AC power source comprises total voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said set of characteristics of said AC power source comprises phase angle.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for simulating a load with desired AC and DC characteristics, comprising the steps of: in response to user input signals and in response to a product of load current signals and load voltage signals, said user input signals corresponding to said desired characteristics of said load to be simulated, providing first control signals and second control signals; simulating a first set of load characteristics by rectifying power provided by and AC power source in response to said first control signals; simulating a second set of load characteristics by a load bank in response to said second control signals; providing said load current signals in response to current drawn by said load bank; and providing said load voltage signals in response to the voltage across said load bank.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for simulating a load with desired AC and DC characteristics, comprising the steps of: in response to user input signals and in response to a product of load current signals and load voltage signals, said user input signals corresponding to said desired characteristics of said load to be simulated, providing first control signals and second control signals; simulating a first set of load characteristics by rectifying power provided by and AC power source in response to said first control signals; simulating a second set of load characteristics by a load bank in response to said second control signals; providing said load current signals in response to current drawn by said load bank; and providing said load voltage signals in response to the voltage across said load bank.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2079500A
Cited
US2517575A
Cited
US3348060A
Cited
US3356930A
Cited
US3500167A
Cited
US3535608A
Cited
US3659184A
Cited
US4037156A
Cited
US4065711A
Cited
US4140958A
Cited
US4272716A
Cited
US4321523A
Cited
US4245294A
Cited
US4302714A
Cited
US4272806A
Cited
US4288739A
Cited
US4352067A
Cited
US4335344A
Cited
US4423379A
Cited
US4396986A
Cited
US4507722A
Cited
US4536696A
Cited
US4629964A
Cited
US4639655A
Cited
US4739225A
Cited
US4755733A
Cited
US5111148A
Cited
US5254952A
Cited
US5039931A
Cited
US5041959A
Cited
US5192905A
Cited
US5382893A
Cited
US5220495A
Cited
US5285367A
Cited
US5387858A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-10 | 2000-06-10 | 2000-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-10 | 2004-06-10 | 2004-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-10 | 2008-06-10 | 2008-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |