Abstract: A method and apparatus for the automatic connection of battery cables to eliminate spark or other undesirable effects from misconnection includes apparatus for sensing the polarity of the batteries to which the cables are attached and for automatically switching the connection cables so that the polarities are matched. Other portions of the circuit inhibit charging if one of the clamps becomes disconnected from a battery post or if a battery is below a predetermined small voltage indicating either an unchargeable battery or a disconnected cable condition. A specialized battery cable clamp is provided in which one set of jaws is insulated from the other, with a standoff preventing the jaws from touching each other. Once predetermined conditions have been met and the sense of the terminals on each of the batteries has been periodically ascertained, the main switching relays are activated so as to connect the appropriate main battery cables from one battery to another.

Abstract: The output current and drive torque characteristics of a vehicle generator during cold, startup periods are approximated to those of a warmed up generator by sensing the field winding current, and interrupting it for a time period prolonged by a feedback/charging capacitor (904) whenever it exceeds a reference level. The field winding current never exceeds the reference level when the generator is warmed up, whereupon the interrupting circuitry has no effect.

Abstract: A multistation charging system is provided for charging batteries within a plurality of cordless tools, appliances or the like, each of which has at least one rechargeable battery therein. A plurality of modules, which act as charging stations, are arranged substantially adjacent to one another. Normally closed pairs of conductive contacts are provided in each of the modules. The electrical pairs of contacts in the modules are connected in a series circuit arrangement with each other. On one of the modules, electrical connection is provided to a single current regulated solid-state charging device which produces charging current pulses. The device may alternatively be in the one module. Each of the modules removably supports a respective tool or appliance and each tool or appliance has means for electrically connecting the respective battery therein within the series circuit arrangement and in series therewith only one wall outlet or a.c. power connection is required.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle mounted generator 1 includes a rectifier 2, a voltage regulator 3 and an overvoltage alarm circuit 4 which includes an overvoltage detection level modifying circuit which renders the alarm circuit insensitive to a temporary overvoltage due to the disconnection of a relatively heavy electrical load 6 of the vehicle from the battery 5. The detection level modifying circuit functions to change the junction potential of a voltage divider supplying a comparator input.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle generator includes an acceleration detector (9) whose output disables the generator during periods of acceleration to attendantly reduce the engine load. A phase voltage regulator (11) responds to a voltage at one phase (P) of an armature winding of the generator to override the acceleration detector output and increase the generator voltage to a limited, detection level when such voltage is reduced below a predetermined level.

Abstract: Unique battery reconditioning circuitry is described that may be advantageously utilized in a portable radio transceiver (100). Reconditioning is initiated by a microcomputer (120) in response to a pre-selected key sequence entered by way of a keyboard (114). The microcomputer (120) turns on a voltage switch (136) to deep discharge a Ni-Cad battery (118) and uses a voltage detector (140) to monitor the voltage Vb of the battery (118). The battery (118) is discharged from a nominal 7.5 V to 6 V in approximately two hours. The battery voltage Vb is converted to a digital value by the voltage detector (140). During the reconditioning process, the microcomputer (120) compares the digital value of the battery voltage Vb to a stored predetermined value to determine that the battery (118) has been discharged to 6 V. Once the battery (118) reaches 6 V, the reconditioning process is terminated and the portable radio transceiver (100) is turned off.

Abstract: A voltage regulator supplies excitation current both in addition and in subtraction, since supplied current can vary not only in intensity, but also in direction depending on the signal given by a control device, which regulates the conduction of the regulator both as far as intensity and direction are concerned, according to a comparison between a reference voltage and the voltage of the alternator itself, or, in any case, a part of it (123), said addition or subtraction been performed by electric or magnetic means. According to a preferred form of execution, the electronic device has bidirectional conditions consisting of a TRIAC (210) which feeds an auxiliary winding in one direction or the other; the TRIAC is triggered, in turn, by a control circuit which sends out a triggering signal being in relation to the voltage of the alternator and to a reference voltage.The TRIAC can be replaced by two controlled diodes or by two transistors or similar means, being connected to each other in inverted parallel.

Abstract: First and second switches such as transistors are connected to a charge storage member such as a capacitance. The capacitance is charged through the first transistor from a positive supply when the transistor becomes conductive. The capacitances is discharged through the second transistor to a reference potential such as ground when the second transistor becomes conductive. The conductivities of the first and second transistors are controlled by pulses from a pulse source such as a transformer. The transformer primary produces a pulse of one polarity upon the occurrence of the leading edge of an input signal and a pulse of an opposite polarity upon the occurrence of the trailing edge of the input signal. Two secondary windings are respectively connected in opposite polarities to the bases of the first and second transistors to provide for the conductivity of only one of the transistors at any one time.

Abstract: A speed control unit for an aircraft generator includes a continuously variable gear ratio drive device through which the generator is driven by a shaft of the engine and which is responsive to an error signal indicative of a difference between desired and sensed generator speeds. A control circuit prevents the error signal from being applied to the drive device until a predetermined speed of the generator is reached and a ramp generating circuit increases the rise time of the error signal after the generator has reached the predetermined speed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a power system stabilizing apparatus for a synchronous generator, which comprises two power system stabilizers for raising the stability of an electric power system. The characteristics of one stabilizer is preset so as to increase the braking power in the same way as in a conventional power system stabilizing apparatus, while the other one being preset so as to increase the synchronizing power, so that phase compensation elements of both power system stabilizers can be varied in accordance with the drift amount of the generator such as the revolution deviation of the rotor thereof, the output deviation thereof, the frequency deviation of the terminal voltage thereof, etc. thereby realizing high static and transient stability.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for charging a reversible electrochemical generator consisting of a plurality of cells, which are electrically in series, comprising a zinc negative electrode and a positive electrode between which a basic electrolyte, containing solubilized zinc, circulates, consisting in making the electrolyte in the cells circulate successively from one cell to the next and in applying to it a charging current forming a succession of approximately rectangular pulses. The direction of circulation of the electrolyte during charging is periodically reversed.

Abstract: A variable inertia energy storage system for storing large amounts of mechanical energy for an extended period of time on land or on a mobile vehicle. The energy storage system can also be used for generating electrical power for use on demand by a subsystem or the like.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular generator for use in an automobile, etc., in which the temperature of the generator is detected so as to control switching of the field current of the generator when the temperature of the generator is below a predetermined value, so that the cold output current and cold drive torque of the generator are substantially the same as the hot output current and hot drive torque of the generator.

Abstract: A multiple spoke energy storage system used in a space environment for storing large amounts of mechanical energy for extended periods of time. The storage system also provides means for generating electrical power that can be used to meet subsystem demands.

Abstract: A brushless generator exciter employs a hybrid full-wave rectifier in which at least some of the rectifying diodes are controllable according to an external signal for adjusting the total exciter power fed to the generator rotor. An optical transmission technique is employed for communicating gate and sync signals between stationary and rotating components.

Abstract: A hydraulic lifting mechanism, particularly suitable for a battery-powered industrial truck, including a hydraulic lifting cylinder, a hydraulic unit, operating as a pump in the load lifting operational mode, and supplying the lifting cylinder with pressure medium, and operating as a motor in the load lowering operational mode during which mode it is actuated by the pressure medium exiting from the lifting cylinder, and a DC generator coupled with the hydraulic unit operating as an electromotor in the load lifting operational mode and as a generator in the load lowering operational mode. A control valve arrangement is provided at the halfway point in the pressure path between the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic unit, which is controlled by a lifting mechanism control. In addition, the lifting mechanism control controls a regenerative brake circuit supplied by the DC generator in the load lowering operational mode.

Abstract: A dual voltage motor vehicle electrical system wherein batteries are series connected across the direct voltage output terminals of a generator. The system has a DC to DC converter that operates in a first mode as an equalizer to maintain the batteries in a substantially equal state of charge. When an electric starting motor is energized to crank the engine of the vehicle the converter is switched to a second mode of operation wherein it provides a substantially constant output voltage that is applied to certain electrical loads on the vehicle that require a stable voltage. The converter responds to a first reference voltage that is provided by a voltage divider connected across the batteries when operating in the first mode and responds to a second reference voltage provided by a constant voltage device when operating in the second mode. The system switches between the reference voltages, depending upon the mode of operation that is being used.

Abstract: An electric braking apparatus for exerting the electric braking action (dynamic braking action) on a generator, further concretely a generator with a brushless exciter which is so constructed that a rectifying circuit for applying field voltage to the brushless exciter as a braking current to be applied to the generator is normally applied with exciting voltage at least during the running of the generator, thereby enabling the electric braking to be applied even on the generator which uses the brushless exciter and which has hitherto never been applicable of the same.

Abstract: Instead of controlling an output voltage of a charging generator with a fixed value in a voltage regulator which turns a current flowing through a field coil of the charging generator on and off, the output voltage level of the generator can be adjusted by signals from external sensors, so that the generator can be subjected to fine control dependent upon the conditions under which a car carrying the generator is run, and the conditions under which the storage battery is being charged by the charging generator.

Abstract: A battery charging system including a plurality of transformers each having a primary winding, a secondary winding, and a tertiary windings, the primary windings being connected in series forming a "shared primary", a first switching network for connecting a DC voltage across the shared primary winding, in alternating polarity over successive half-cycles of a clock signal, for causing voltage pulses to be induced into the secondary and tertiary windings of the transformers, a second switching network responsive to the magnitude of primary current for shorting the same or different combinations of the tertiary windings, thereby shorting the associated transformers, over each half-cycle of a clock signal, for controlling the magnitude of charging current to the batteries, and a plurality of rectifiers for rectifying the AC voltages developed in each secondary winding, respectively, for providing charging current to the battery.