Abstract: A voltage regulator for use in photovoltaic charging of storage batteries includes a temperature compensated reference voltage. The circuitry of the invention permits fixed temperature coefficient and variable temperature coefficient temperature compensated regulation.The voltage regulator comprises an operational amplifier including a linearly temperature dependent current source coupled to an input terminal of said operational amplifier and a voltage source having a selectable voltage which is connected to another input of said operational amplifier, said reference voltage circuit being operable to provide a reference voltage about equal to a maximum charging voltage for said batteries;a comparator for comparing said reference voltage with an output voltage of said photovoltaic array; anda switch responsive to said comparator to inhibit charging whenever said array output exceeds said reference voltage.

Abstract: A detector monitoring the function of the stator and rectifying diodes in a multiphase alternator battery charging system is disclosed. A circuit combines individual phase signals from the alternator to form an artificial neutral at which a normally symmetric wave signal is present. A first comparison means detects deviations in the normally symmetric wave signal greater in value than a first threshold voltage level. A second comparison means detects deviations in the normally symmetric wave signal lesser than a second threshold voltage level. Means coupled to the first and second comparators produce an output signal whenever the normally symmetric wave signal deviates above the first threshold voltage level or below the second threshold voltage level. The detection of assymmetry in the normally symmetric wave signal indicates a fault in the stator or rectifying diodes of the alternator.

Abstract: In an emergency vehicle having dual batteries, one of which is employed for supplying power to the electrical system of the vehicle chassis and the other of which is employed for supplying power to the emergency equipment, dual alternators driven by the engine are provided for charging the batteries. The output of each alternator is connected to the input of its regulator and to both batteries whereby both alternators will be on at all times when the engine is running and will share the load on either or both batteries.

Abstract: A charging system is provided for a battery or batteries located within a motor vehicle. In one form, induction energy generating means is disposed within or adjacent to the floor of a garage or a driveway on which a motor vehicle may be parked and retained for a period of time. Induction energy receiving means located within the motor vehicle converts induction energy transmitted thereto from the induction energy generating means in the floor or driveway and generates electrical energy which is either directly applied to charge a battery of the motor vehicle or to a charging unit supported by the motor vehicle. Operation of the induction energy generating means may be effected by means of a manually operated switch supported adjacent the floor or driveway or by a device sensing the presence of the motor vehicle and/or a discharged battery located therein.

Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit provides multiple control functions in respect to an automotive alternator including limiting of the field current to within a predetermined level. The regulator circuit includes a current control device for controlling the alternator field current, and a plurality of comparator networks to one of which is applied a field current reference signal and a sensing signal and to others of which are applied various alternator voltage reference signals and voltage sensing signals. The outputs of said comparator networks are employed in an OR fashion to control the field current control device.

Abstract: The system comprises first and second input terminals each adapted for connection to a source of charging power, first means for feeding power from the first input terminal to a first terminal of the rechargeable power source, second means for feeding power from the second input terminal to a second terminal of the rechargeable power source. Means are provided for sensing at least one condition of the rechargeable power source and for interrupting the first means for feeding power in response thereto. Third means are provided for feeding power from the rechargeable power source to the first input terminal. The third means includes means for bypassing at least a portion of the means for interrupting the first means for feeding power.

Abstract: In a battery charging control system for vehicles having an energization resistor connected to the output terminal of an auxiliary rectifier for the purpose of providing a current path from a battery through a key switch, a warning lamp and the energization resistor to indicate a failure of a generator by the lamp, an energization control circuit is provided to form the current path through the energization resistor only when a voltage developed at the output terminal of the auxiliary rectifier reaches a specified voltage level thus blocking the current path during initial excitation of the field coil of the generator.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for the battery charging generator of a motor vehicle battery charging system. The regulator is capable of detecting various fault conditions and under certain conditions will latch a fault indicator to a latched energized state. The regulator utilizes a Zener diode as a voltage reference and is arranged to accommodate Zener diodes of varying break down voltages by trimming a resistor of the regulator voltage sensing circuit. The regulator includes an internal voltage regulating device having a regulated output voltage applied to fault detecting comparators. The output voltage of the internal regulating device is a function of the particular break down voltage of the Zener diode.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for continuously monitoring the air gap torque acting on the rotor of a 3-phase electrical generator by sensing certain of the output voltages and currents produced by the generator as it supplies power to a connected load. In a preferred form of the invention, signals representing the three generator output voltages and two of the three line currents are conditioned and combined in electrical circuitry to produce a single output signal which is indicative of the air gap torque. The torque signal so produced is in a form easily handled by conventional means such as computers and recorders, and is appropriate for use by operating personnel in making decisions regarding generator operation.

Abstract: The output voltage of an engine-driven generator is varied in accordance with engine vacuum in a manner to increase the charging rate during deceleration of the vehicle and to decrease the charging rate during acceleration of the vehicle. The charging current developed in the generator is alternately applied to one or the other of two storage batteries while the other storage battery is connected to supply power to the various electrical loads of the vehicle. A switching circuit responsive to the terminal voltage of the battery connected to supply power to the loads operates to exchange the battery connections when the voltage supplied to the loads decreases below a reference value so that the depleted battery is connected to be charged by the generator and the charged battery is connected to supply power to the loads.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel frequency regulator which controls a generator output frequency for variations in both the input power to the generator and the power supplied to an uncontrolled external load. The present invention further includes over current and current balance protection devices which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which may be encapsulated to provide protection from the operating environment and which respond more quickly than previously known electromechanical devices.

Abstract: A battery protection circuit particularly for portable lamps employing rechargeable batteries is provided to prevent overdischarge of the batteries and includes a bulb drive transistor connecting a bulb across the battery with a switch interposed between one side of the battery and the bulb, a voltage sensing resistor connected to one side of the switch, a regenerative switch connected between the sensing resistor and the other side of the battery, and the regenerative switch including an output terminal connected by a base resistor to the base of the drive transistor. The regenerative switch includes a pair of transistors connected and cooperating such that when one of the transistors is turned on, the other is caused to be turned on, the transistors, further, maintaining each other on. As the dropout voltage of the battery is approached, the base drive of the drive transistor decreases which causes the bulb to become dim to thereby warn of the discharged state of the battery.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for regulating the supply of power by a fixed field A.C. generator which generates current to charge a battery, including an openable and closeable current charging path being connectable between the fixed field A.C. generator and the battery, a circuit which senses battery voltage and generates control signals in response to the voltage being above or below a predetermined level, and a circuit, responsive to the control signals, which opens and closes the current charging path and which reduces the power supplied by the generator when the current charging path is opened. The voltage regulator also has an over-current protection circuit, and circuits for indicating over-voltage and under-voltage battery conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for phase compensation and excitation of a multiphase asynchronous machine, especially one to be driven as a generator and to be operated at low speed. Each winding (1 to 3) in the machine is connected in series or in parallel with a capacitive element consisting of a bank of capacitors (4 to 6) having at least one pair of series connected electrolytic capacitors (7, 8), having in each pair equal terminals interconnected.

Abstract: A voltage level detector for controlling a battery charger, includes a power supply circuit adapted to be coupled to a battery during charging thereof, a first voltage regulator for providing a supply voltage for the detector, the first voltage regulator being coupled to receive power from the power supply circuit, a second voltage regulator for providing a stable source of reference voltage, the second voltage regulator being coupled to receive power from the detector supply voltage, a voltage comparator having one input thereof coupled to the stable reference voltage source, circuitry for coupling the battery to the other input of the voltage comparator, the circuit for coupling being adapted to coupled a proportion of the battery voltage which proportion equals the stable reference voltage when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined maximum level, and control circuitry responsive to the output of the voltage comparator for controlling the charging of the battery in response to the battery voltage reac

Abstract: Being proposed is a circuit for association with the regulator of an electrical generator, especially an AC generator, and serving to smooth the voltage supplied by the electric generator. The circuit includes a compensation device consisting of at least one active semiconductor switching element, usually a transistor, and so connected to the regulator input as a supplement thereto that the generator output voltage is smoothed by a compensation voltage whose own ripple or oscillatory component is in opposite phase to the generator voltage.In particular, the compensation circuit includes a voltage divider connected to the generator output voltage and having a tap which is connected via a capacitor to the control electrode of the transistor whose main conducting path is connected in parallel to a further voltage divider joined to receive the generator voltage as well as to supply the input voltage to the regulator.

Abstract: A multi-winding a-c electric power supply is connected to a d-c load circuit via a power rectifier assembly comprising at least two legs connected in parallel across the load circuit. Each leg has at least four serially interconnected unilaterally conducting devices. A first one of the power supply windings is connected between the two rectifier legs at points between first and second devices thereof, and a duplicate winding (voltages of both windings are in-phase and of equal amplitude) is connected between the legs at points between third and fourth devices thereof, whereby the windings are effectively connected in parallel. The respective junctures of the second and third devices in all of the rectifier legs are interconnected by switching means which, upon switching to a closed circuit state, short circuits these junctures and thereby changes the connection of the windings from parallel to series.

Abstract: In an emergency vehicle, a feedback system for dual alternators employed to charge two batteries and wherein one battery is employed to supply power for the vehicle chassis electrical system and the emergency equipment load is supplied with power directly from the outputs of the two alternators. A separate regulator is provided for each alternator for regulating the voltage applied to its alternator. The output of each alternator is connected to the input of its regulator by way of a diode.

Abstract: A generation control apparatus for a vehicle generator includes an energization circuit consisting of an energization path forming resistance element and switching means and provided between the output terminal of a rectifier circuit of the generator and the ground, and an oscillator circuit responsive to the voltage at the output terminal of the rectifier circuit to always oscillate and control the energization circuit, whereby an energization path is intermittently provided in response to the output signal of the oscillator circuit. If a generation fault condition is detected, current is caused to flow from a battery through a key switch, indicator means and the energization path forming resistor intermittently and the driver of the vehicle is alerted to the generation fault of the generator or a break in an excitation circuit by a flashing of the indicator means.

Abstract: For a dynamoelectric machine, excitation power is supplied by a main exciter having two field windings. A first field winding is driven by a pilot exciter which supplies base excitation (small signal) for the main exciter. Forcing excitation (large signal) is supplied by the second field winding which is driven by an external, supplemental power source. The main exciter can thus provide the appropriate excitation for both normal and transient operating conditions. In addition, by switching the controlled rectifier elements associated with the supplemental power source, the second field winding is also capable of providing fast de-excitation for the main exciter.