Abstract: A device such as an electric motor, an electric generator, or a regenerative electric motor includes a rotor arrangement and a stator arrangement. The stator arrangement has a dielectric electromagnet housing and at least one energizable electromagnet assembly including an overall amorphous metal magnetic core. The overall amorphous metal magnetic core is made up of a plurality of individually formed amorphous metal core pieces. The dielectric electromagnet housing has core piece openings formed into the electromagnet housing for holding the individually formed amorphous metal core pieces in positions adjacent to one another so as to form the overall amorphous metal magnetic core. The device further includes a control arrangement that is able to variably control the activation and deactivation of the electromagnet using any combination of a plurality of activation and deactivation parameters in order to control the speed, efficiency, torque, and power of the device.

Abstract: A system for rectifying and regulating the flow of electrical power from a multi-winding alternator to a load such as a vehicle battery automatically changes the effective connection of the alternator windings to obtain maximum output power over a wide speed range of the alternator. When applied to an alternator of the type commonly used on vehicles such as snowmobiles, this system can approximately double the output current at maximum engine speed without reducing the output at minimum engine speed.

Abstract: A field control system for a wound rotor synchronous motor-generator used in electrically powered automobiles is capable of optimizing the performance of the motor-generator for all driving conditions. Using a rotary transformer to transmit power across the rotational boundary, it has no wearing parts and is silent. Preferably, the field control system has common elements with the controller which generates the stator currents of the synchronous motor-generator.

Abstract: A switched reluctance generator that can be used in an air cycle machine, where the generator uses the energy from the shaft of the air cycle machine to provide a back-up power supply to the magnetic bearings supporting the shaft. The generator includes circuitry for comparing the non-commutated excitation current with a command signal to regulate the excitation current, thereby regulating the generator output voltage.

Abstract: A hybrid alternator includes a stator winding and a rotor winding. The stator winding includes a neutral point having a neutral point voltage and is preferably arranged as a three phase winding with the neutral point being located at the center junction of three stator winding portions arranged in a "Y" configuration. The rotor winding is mounted on a rotor which also includes permanent magnets. The rotor winding has a first end connected to the neutral point on the stator winding and a second end connected to a switching circuit. The rotor winding produces a magnetic flux field that additively combines with the permanent magnetic flux field from the permanent magnets when the switching circuit connects the second end of the rotor winding to a voltage greater than the neutral point voltage and produces a magnetic flux field that subtractively combines with the permanent magnetic flux field when the switching circuit connects the second end to a voltage less than the neutral point voltage.

Abstract: A mechanical gear drive system capable of generating electric power comprises a plurality of gears having a plurality of teeth separated by a tooth gap, a U-shaped core having two legs separated by at least one tooth gap, and a yoke. This core is positioned in close proximity to the teeth of the gear. A coil is wound on the yoke, and a converter selectively couples and decouples this coil from a dc power source. The converter has at least a first and a second switch and at least a first and a second diode for cross-coupling the coil to the source to allow current flow back when the switches are disabled. The converter enables the switches prior to alignment of the teeth of the gear with the legs of the core. This couples the coil to the source of dc power and allows dc current to flow from the source through the switches and the coil. When the converter disables the switches after alignment of the teeth with the legs, the coil is decoupled from said source.

Abstract: The present invention is intended for maintaining constant the output voltage of a synchronous magnetoelectric generator without reducing the efficiency of the synchronous magnetoelectric generator regardless of load variation. A magnetoelectric generating system in accordance with the present invention comprises a synchronous magnetoelectric generator, a synchronous phase modifier connected to the output side of the synchronous magnetoelectric generator, a voltage detector for detecting the output voltage of the synchronous magnetoelectric generator, a comparator for comparing the output of the synchronous magnetoelectric generator detected by the voltage detector and a reference voltage set by means of a voltage setting device, an exciting current regulating circuit connected to the field winding of the synchronous phase modifier, and a controller. The controller controls the exciting current regulating circuit according to the output of the comparator.

Abstract: An electric generator is provided including a rotor having a surface with permanent magnets disposed thereon. A stator is provided having an electrical winding wound thereon in grooves in the stator. An air gap is disposed between the stator and rotor. The electrical winding of the stator is connected to a variable inductance. The value of the variable inductance is controlled by a control stage. The output of the variable inductance is connected to a rectifier which feeds direct electrical current to a current accumulator device, for example, a storage battery. The variable inductance is controlled by the control circuit such that the electrical current from the electric generator is maintained substantially constant for a particular load by the adjustment of the inductance of the variable inductance.

Abstract: A voltage regulator is presented which is useful in controlling the recharging of the battery of a walk-behind lawn mower. The battery is used as an energizing source for cranking the piston engine of the mower. Once the engine is running it drives a small alternator whose rectified output is a low power capacity pulsating DC voltage capable of recharging the battery. To prevent overcharging of the battery, a voltage regulator module is introduced between the alternator output and the input to the battery. The voltage regulator includes a ripple smoothing capacitor shunted across the output of the alternator, a 3-terminal positive voltage regulator packaged in integrated circuit form having a voltage input terminal, a voltage output terminal and an output voltage adjustment terminal. A solid state diode placed in series between the voltage output terminal of the regulator and the positive input terminal of the battery prevents battery discharge through the regulator module when the engine is stopped.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine electrical system is disclosed which is adapted to use an internal combustion engine as a driving source. The generating system is constructed in a manner such that the output of an A.C. generator driven by the engine is rectified by a rectifier circuit, and the output of the rectifier circuit is inverted into an A.C. output by an inverter circuit adapted to use, a commutation command signal, the output of an oscillator circuit which generates a signal of a constant frequency.

Abstract: A dual voltage power supply for a vehicle is disclosed with a DC generator, a single storage battery, a low voltage load circuit including the storage battery and a high voltage load circuit including load devices designed to be powered by voltages higher than the battery voltage. A high voltage regulator is responsive to the generator output voltage and controls the energization of the field winding of the generator for causing the generator to produce an output voltage meeting the requirements of the high voltage load circuit. A low voltage regulator receives the output voltage of the generator and produces a substantially constant regulated voltage for charging the battery and supplying the low voltage load circuit.

Abstract: The electric generator of the present invention has a plural-section main nding; and it uses uni-directional devices to permit current to flow through various sections of that winding as the rotor poles move away from various of the stator poles of that generator but to prevent current flow through those various sections as those rotor poles approach those stator poles. By preventing current flow through those various sections, as those rotor poles approach those stator poles, the present invention relieves the field winding of all need of overcoming the magnetomotive force of that main winding. As a result, fewer ampere turns are needed to enable that field winding to provide the magnetomotive force for that main winding.In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, an exciting winding has sections thereof that are wound on poles which have turns of the field winding wound thereon.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magneto regulator circuit for regulating charging of the battery by the output of a magneto alternator. The regulator circuit includes a first circuit operative for connecting and disconnecting the battery in series with the alternator to allow or prevent charging of the battery. The first circuit includes a thyristor having a gate and operative when a trigger signal is applied to the gate for connecting the battery in series with the alternator to allow charging of the battery, a trigger switch which can be rendered conductive, subject to the battery voltage, for applying the trigger signal to the gate, and a shut-off switch for rendering the trigger switch conductive.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine ignition system comprising the combination of an electronic data processor unit that is adapted to calculate an ignition spark event engine crankshaft angle, an associated electronic control unit, and a source of alternating current timing signals. The electronic control unit is responsive to the alternating current timing signals to produce an engine crankshaft position reference signal that is supplied as an input engine crankshaft position reference signal to the data processor unit and also is capable of effecting ignition spark in response to the alternating current timing signals during periods of engine crank and during periods of data processor unit malfunction.

Abstract: An alternating current power source apparatus comprises an AC generator having a field coil which is driven by an engine; a first rectifier having one or more thyristors which rectify the AC output of the AC generator; a second rectifier having one or more thyristors which is connected in parallel to said first rectifier to give the output having a polarity reverse to the polarity of the output of said first rectifier; an AC driving load connected to said first and second rectifiers; a voltage control device for controlling the output voltage of said generator to a predetermined value by controlling a field current passing through said field coil; an oscillator for oscillating at a desired frequency; and a gate signal generating circuit which is controlled by the output of said oscillator so as to feed a turn-on signal alternately to said gate circuit of said first rectifier and said gate circuit of said second rectifier.

Abstract: An energy regulating system (21) includes a battery (25) connected to a single phase generator winding (23) through a connecting circuit (24) providing a full wave bridge rectifier (26) having a pair of controlled rectifiers (69, 71) which are selectively gated into connection in response to the sensed phase angle of the energy in the winding (23). A control (54) operates in response to a charge sensor (31) which senses the charge on the battery (25) and a phase sensor (79) which senses the energy phase at the winding (23) to operate a switch (44) to modify the operation of the bridge circuit (26) to interrupt the energy flow to the battery (25). An excessive energy sensor (80) responds to excessive sensed energy at the connecting circuit (24) to turn on a pair of controlled rectifiers (53, 70) to deactivate the bridge circuit (26) to prevent damage to the connecting circuit (24).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a circuit for charging a battery having opposed terminals, which circuit includes a relatively rotatable magnet and charge coil for generating charging potentials of alternating first and second polarities, the charge coil having first and second terminals, a diode having an anode connected to the first terminal of the charge coil and a cathode adapted for connection to one of the battery terminals, whereby to afford application to the battery for charging purposes of the potential of the first polarity, and a sub circuit connected to the first and second terminals of the charge coil and to the opposed terminals of the battery for storing the energy of the second polarity potential and for applying the stored energy to the battery with the application to the battery of the potential of the first polarity.

Abstract: A conventional on-off voltage regulator operates a set of power MOSFET switches interposed between the grounded terminal of the battery and each of the diodes of a bridge rectifier leading to that terminal. Each such switch is controlled through an individual circuit responsive to the regulator output and including an opto-electronic device controlling a thryistor which, in addition to being connected to control the MOSFET switch, also has a connection through a resistor and a diode to the other side of the rectifier diode switched by the MOSFET. The circuit greatly simplifies voltage regulation of a battery charging system using an alternator with a permanent magnet rotor.

Abstract: A solid state voltage regulator for regulating the output voltage in the electrical system of a motor vehicle by controlling the current flow in a field winding associated with a DC generator. Current flow in the winding is permitted only when load current is being supplied by the regulator. The regulator is packaged in a housing which can be mounted directly to the field winding and ground terminals of the generator. The regulator is sepcifically designed for regulating the voltage associated with a motor cycle electrical system.

Abstract: A slip ring less, three-phase, AC generator especially for motor vehicles, in which the compound winding is subdivided into individual components which are directly interconnected within the branches of the rectifier bridge supplying direct current for the on-board electrical system so that the voltage drop across the compound winding is sensed and compensated by the regulator. The compound winding can be wound of wire having a small diameter.

Abstract: An energy regulating system includes a D.C. battery electrically connected to a single phase winding of an A.C. generator through a full wave rectifying circuit. An SCR switch is directly connected in parallel to a Zener diode forming one bridge leg to selectively short circuit such Zener diode when the battery voltage exceeds a predetermined level. An integrated circuit includes a voltage comparator providing an independent, substantially constant reference signal which is compared to battery potential to provide a temperature independent gating output to the control SCR. The integrated circuit provides current limiting to maintain the gating signal within a predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: Auxiliary windings wound in close juxtaposition to the respective phase windings of a three-phase alternator are connected in series with the star-connected phase windings at one end and at the other end to the diodes of a separate rectifier bridge for the current supplied to the exciter winding of the alternator. This makes possible operation of the exciter winding at higher voltage and lower current than in the case where the excitation voltage is generated only by the main phase windings of the alternator. Since the excitation windings carry only the exciter current, they may be made of finer wire than the main phase windings, but they should be wound close to the main phase windings so as to be cut in the same way by the lines of force of the rotating field.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine driven generator in which a capacitor excitation type synchronous generator is driven by an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine has a characteristic that the revolution per minute thereof is increased with a decreasing load applied thereto, and the generator has a characteristic that the output voltage thereof is decreased with a decreasing load current with the revolution per minute maintained unchanged.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a rotary pulse generator including an armature having a two-magnet assembly including spaced pole pieces defining a pair of spaced gaps, an armature plate including a charge core and charge coil mounted thereon, and a trigger core and trigger coil mounted thereon, said trigger core being separate from said charge core but located in proximity to said charge core so that, at a given armature speed, said trigger coil produces a repeating series of trigger pulses including a first major voltage pulse of one polarity and of a major magnitude closely followed by a second minor voltage pulse of opposite polarity and of a minor magnitude substantially less than the major magnitude, the repeating series of trigger pulses being produced in response to the two-magnet assembly sequentially rotating past the trigger core and the charge core.

Abstract: This invention relates to a synchronous generator comprising a stator having output winding means connected to a load or loads and main voltage building up means including capacitor means and capacitor exciting winding means, said capacitor means being connected across said capacitor exciting winding means, said output winding means and said capacitor exciting winding means being provided on a common core; and a rotor having field winding means across which a rectifier means is connected; wherein said synchronous generator further comprises auxiliary voltage building up means provided in said stator, said auxiliary voltage building up means causing the output winding means to provide said stator with armature reaction when initial large current has flowed through said auxiliary voltage building up means from said output winding means to thereby build up output voltage across said output winding means with the start of said generator.

Abstract: A battery charger including a hybrid bridge rectifier circuit adapted to rectify the output of an AC generator to charge a battery is characterized in that the rectifier circuit includes thyristors having the anodes connected to each other to form the negative output terminal of the rectifier circuit and diodes having the cathodes connected to each other to form the positive output terminal of the rectifier circuit. The anodes of the diodes are respectively connected to the cathodes of the thyristors, and the connecting junctions form the input terminals of the rectifier circuit. There is also provided a control circuit adapted to couple the gates of the thyristors to the positive input terminal of the rectifier circuit.