Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a variable speed power generation system in which the generated output of an induction generator is adjusted by controlling current in the secondary side of the induction generator. Rotation speeds of the induction generator coupled to a prime mover are detected, a secondary current command for controlling a difference between a detected rotation speed and a speed command to be zero is generated, and current in the secondary side of the induction generator is controlled on the basis of the secondary current command.

Abstract: A new and improved electric generating system comprising a plurality of electrical devices interconnected and assembled so as to convert low voltage direct current into high voltage alternating current in a continuous noninterruptable and self relying flow. This system is a battery powered unit continuously sustained by a automatic battery recharging proceedure.

Abstract: A brushless electrical power generating system (100) in accordance with the invention includes an exciter (14) for producing alternating current from an exciter rotor; a rectifier (20) mounted for rotation with the exciter rotor for producing a rectified control current from the AC current; a common mode inductor (112), coupled to the control current, for cancelling common mode noise components within the rectified control current; and a main generator (22), having a rotating field winding (24) mounted on a main generator rotor excited by the control current and producing an alternating current power output from a stator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling field current in an alternator maintains the alternator output voltage at a defined level and substantially suppresses transients in the event the alternator is disconnected from a load. A pair of MOS Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (MOSIGBT's) are connected one in series and one in parallel with the alternator field winding and current is provided to the field winding through the series connected regulator transistor as needed to maintain the alternator output voltage. The field current is auto-commutated through the parallel connected transient suppression transistor when the regulator transistor is off. When the alternator is disconnected from a load, both transistors are switched off in a controlled manner to discharge the field winding energy at a high voltage and at an accelerated rate within the parallel connected transistor.

Abstract: A portable power supply has a body case, an attaching portion, an input portion, a voltage lowering portion, a storage battery, an output portion and heat radiating means. The body case has two opposing major surfaces and two sections divided by a prescribed reference line. The attaching portion is provided on one of the major surfaces for detachably attaching the power supply to a human body. The input portion and the output portion are positioned in one of the sections to be exposed from the body case. The input portion is connected to a commercial power source, and the output portion is connected to a prescribed electronic device. The voltage lowering portion lowers power from the input portion. The storage battery is charged by the output from the voltage lowering portion. The heating radiating means is provided on the other one of the major surfaces of the body case and makes the heat radiation of the other one of the major surfaces higher than that of the one of the major surfaces.

Abstract: A system for transmitting microwaves to one or more receiver assemblies comprises an array of separate microwave transmitting assemblies for emitting a plurality of microwave beams, the array being arranged to apparently fill a radiating aperture of predetermined shape and size when viewed from the direction of a receiver assembly, and a phase controlling assembly associated with the microwave transmitting assemblies for controlling the relative phase of the emitted beams to form at least one composite shaped microwave beam directed to at least one receiver assembly. The receiver assembly is located in the near field of the microwave beam. The transmitting assemblies are each associated with separate power sources comprising solar power collecting assemblies. In one arrangement the transmitting system is on the moon and the or each receiver assembly is on Earth.

Abstract: A battery charging system including a battery of one chemistry type and a battery charger for a different battery type is disclosed. If a battery over-discharge condition or if an electrochemical cell imbalance is detected within the battery, the battery prevents charging by the battery charger by means of a resettable switch.

Abstract: A power conversion system utilizes a brushless generator driven by a prime mover when operating in a generating mode and drives the prime mover when operating in a starting mode. The system includes first and second bidirectional converter/inverter units, each of the bidirectional units being operable as either an AC to DC converter or a DC to AC inverter. A DC link couples the first and second bidirectional units. A transformer is connected to the second unit and the first unit is further connected to the armature windings, the transformer further being connected to the external power source. A control unit is connected to the first and second bidirectional units and causes the first bidirectional unit to operate as a converter and the second bidirectional unit to operate as an inverter when operating in the generating mode, and for causing the first bidirectional unit to operate as an inverter and the second bidirectional unit to operate as a converter when operating in the starting mode.

Abstract: The maximum kinetic energy per unit weight which can be stored in a rotating article, such as a flywheel, is a function of the tensile strength and the density of the material and is dramatically increased by subjecting it to an externally applied, inwardly directed radial pressure. The additional pressure is imposed by external means and is independent of the rotational motion of the article per se. Suitable pressurizing methods include magnetic containment, super-atmospheric gas containment, electrostatic containment and the like.As a result of the external pressure, the maximum stored energy per unit of mass (E.sub.max /m) of a rim flywheel can be greatly increased in accordance with the relationship: ##EQU1## where .delta. is the uniform tensile strength of the flywheel material, .rho. is its density, R is the radius of the flywheel, and P is the external pressure.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for generators is proposed which, compared with a voltage regulator known, for example, from DE-PS 27 38 897, is supplemented in such a manner that an integral component corresponding to the relative operating time of the field current is formed and this component is fed into the actual control loop. The relative operating time of the field current in this arrangement can be obtained more or less directly from the switching characteristic of the switching transistor (20) for the field current or by means of a sensing resistor (33) in series with the exciter winding (21).

Abstract: A battery charger 10 includes a microprocessor device 12 coupled to a voltage to frequency converter 18 for determining a magnitude of a voltage potential appearing across a battery under charge. The microprocessor has an output for activating a source of battery charging power when the determined magnitude of the voltage is within a predetermined range of voltages. During a charge cycle the microprocessor maintains an elapsed time counter and determines if a battery reaches full charge within 30 minutes or does not reach a full charge after 16 hours. In either case the source is deactivated. The microprocessor also determines when a battery reaches a threshold voltage after which the rate of rise of the battery voltage is compared to a predetermined rate of rise. When the measured rate of rise is less than the predetermined rate of rise the microprocessor initiates a final charge cycle wherein the battery is charged for one additional hour.

Abstract: A battery charger 10 includes a capacitor 20 which establishes a level of current sufficient to fast charge in one-hour a battery 18 having from one to twenty cells. An SCR 16 is controlled by a timer 42 to initially delay the supply of current while determining whether the battery 18 is hot or cool. If battery 18 is cool, charger 10 proceeds to fast charge the battery. After battery 18 is fully charged, the battery heats to a temperature where a NTC thermistor 58 responds to trigger a second timer 52 which controls SCR 16 to stop the fast charging operation. Charger 10 is then controlled to prevent the charger from thereafter re-entering a fast charge mode.If battery 18 is initially hot, charger 10 is controlled to further delay the initiation of a fast charge operation until the battery cools to or below the charge-start temperature.

Abstract: A silicon controlled rectifier is connected between the output of each stator winding of a conventional alternator and a terminal of a lower voltage battery, and a control electrode of each silicon control rectifier is connected to a switching control circuit for switching the silicon control rectifiers to switch stator current alternatively to a lower voltage battery or to a higher voltage battery connected across the alternator stator. A voltage regulator is connected between the alternator field coil and the lower and higher voltage batteries.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and a method for determining the state of charge of a rechargeable battery. It comprises a means for charging the batter, current sensors, heat detectors for detecting the heat emanating from the battery during charging, with the heat being the complement of the charge acceptance percentage, and a processor for storing a mathematical charge acceptance model for providing the relationship between the charge acceptance percentage and the state of charge of the battery, and for calculating the state of charge of the battery from the heat detected by the heat detectors and the charge acceptance model. An accurate measure of battery charge state is produced while the battery is being charged. This provides information concerning the operability of the battery and also allows efficient charging to avoid energy waste.

Abstract: A system for preventing frost from accumulating on a window of a motor vehicle has a heating element provided on the window, a temperature switch, which is closed when the temperature of the window is lower than 0.degree. C., and a humidity switch, which is closed when the humidity of air outside of the window becomes about 100%. When both the switches are closed, an electric circuit is closed to connect a battery with the heating element. At the same time, a wiper of the vehicle is operated for a short time to wipe out dew on the window.

Abstract: A three position slidable switch for use in a portable, rechargeable electrical device includes ON, OFF, and CHARGE positions. In the ON position a rechargeable battery is coupled in circuit with the device for the operation thereof. In the OFF position the battery is electrically decoupled from the device which is in an OFF state. In the CHARGE position the battery is coupled to a pair of prongs adapted to be plugged into an electrical outlet. Displacement of the switch to the CHARGE position rotates the prongs to an extended position to permit the battery to be recharged by means of a conventional AC outlet. In the ON and OFF positions of the switch, the prongs are retracted within the switch assembly. The switch includes detent means in each of the three aforementioned positions to reduce the possibility of inadvertent re-positioning of the switch and to provide tactile indication to the user of the switch position.

Abstract: A charging circuit comprises a main circuit for charging a battery and a power unit connected to an electric power source. The main circuit and the power unit are connected through a connector to each other. The power source transformed by a transformer located at the power unit is supplied to the connector through a contact of a direct current relay. After alternating current is introduced to the main circuit from the power unit, the alternating current is rectified by a diode bridge. The direct current from the diode bridge is supplied to the battery through a control circuit. When the battery is charged sufficiently, the control circuit outputs an instruction signal to a diode portion of a photo-triac connected between an output terminal of the diode bridge and the control relay.

Abstract: An electrical generator system integrated controller device utilizing PID control and capable of regulating voltage or current, and frequency simultaneously. The device utilizes a micro-controller (30.1) to monitor the engine generator set (20), then determines the appropriate signal to deliver to the electrical generator set (20) to regulate the engine throttle (21) and the generator (22) field windings. The micro-controller (30.1) also provides for real and reactive load sharing with additional generator sets (40) while also providing for an integrated circuit interrupter module (500) to open the line from the generator (22) to the load bus (42). Additionally, serial communications (34) are provided as well as displays (35), meters (37), and operator input (36). Finally, the permissive paralleling module (700) provides that the engine electrical generator set (20) will not be allowed to be connected to the load bus (42) until standards of voltage and phase have been achieved for a set period of time.

Abstract: An accelerometer based power control apparatus for use in an aircraft subsystem (where the subsystem may be a fire extinguishing system) utilizes an independent battery source. The battery is connected to the aircraft subsystem only during the flight of the aircraft by a positive indication of an associated accelerometer which closes a switch connecting the battery to the aircraft subsystem.

Abstract: A dual purpose alternator starter for an automotive vehicle designed to be positioned between the engine and transmission. In place of the ring gear in a conventional drive train assembly, a pair of off set magnetically permeable discs are bolted to the power shaft. These discs form an annular channel between them. A plurality of rare earth permanent magnets are mounted on the inside face of one of the discs in the channel. On the opposite side of this disc, a set of ring shaped switch contact members are mounted. Positioned stationary to the engine and within the channel is a stationary ironless stator assembly having flat copper windings embedded in an insulation matrix. These windings alternately pass from the perimeter of the disc towards the interior of the disc as each winding forms a single pass around the ring shaped disc.