Plural Phase To D.c. Patents (Class 363/129)
  • Patent number: 7715215
    Abstract: Control of an AC-to-DC power supply assembly fed by a three-phase AC source is provided by: determining whether the power supply assembly includes greater than three single-phase power regulators feeding a common load, with multiple regulators being connected in parallel across a common phase of the AC source, and if so, summing currents provided by the regulators to the common load; and ascertaining whether the summed current is less than a predefined threshold, and if yes, operating the power supply assembly in a line balance mode to maintain power drawn on the phases of the AC source in balance, and if greater than the predefined threshold, operating the power supply assembly in a maximize power mode wherein power is provided to the common load without maintaining power drawn on the phases of the AC source in balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank E. Bosco, Kevin R. Covi, Anthony J. Cozzolino, Gary F. Goth, Raymond J. Harrington, Peter A. Hein, Raymond A. Longhi, Edward J. Seminaro, Peter A. Wendling
  • Publication number: 20090073728
    Abstract: A power converter that converts an AC power outputted from a generator into a DC power and supplies it to a battery (load). The power converter includes a thyristor (switch unit) connected between an output unit of the generator and the battery (load); and a gate control unit (control unit) for generating a triangle wave voltage having a constant peak voltage corresponding to each cycle of the AC power outputted from the generator, generating a differential voltage between the voltage supplied to the load via the switch unit and a predetermined target voltage, and controlling the conductive state of the switch unit based on the triangle wave voltage and the differential voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toyotaka Takashima
  • Publication number: 20080304300
    Abstract: A power conversion system has a three-phase AC input, where each AC input phase is linked to a string of cascaded single-phase AC-DC converters placed in series with a three-phase AC-DC converter. Each single-phase AC-DC converter in one embodiment includes a silicon carbide (SiC) pulse width modulated MOSFET H-bridge that placed in series with the three-phase AC-DC converter that includes a silicon (Si) SCR bridge. The single-phase AC-DC converters and the three-phase AC-DC converter together in one embodiment include a mixed silicon-carbide (SiC) and silicon (Si) device topology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Ravisekhar Nadimpalli Raju, Richard S. Zhang, Rajib Datta, Allen Michael Ritter, Ljubisa Dragoljub Stevanovic
  • Publication number: 20080186750
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting three phase AC voltages on first, second and third input lines to DC voltage across positive and negative DC buses, the apparatus comprising a rectifier including first, second and third rectifier legs, each leg including a switch and a diode wherein the switch is linked between the positive DC bus and an cathode of the diode, an anode of the diode is linked to the negative DC rail and the first, second and third diode cathodes are linked to the first, second and third input lines, respectively, a DC bus voltage sensor linked to the positive DC bus and measuring the DC bus voltage to generate a measured DC bus voltage and a rectifier controller that receives the measured DC bus voltage, a reference voltage value and the three phase AC voltages wherein, when the measured DC bus voltage is at least equal to the reference voltage value, the controller turns on the switches in the first, second and third rectifier legs when the voltages on the first, second and third input li
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas Patrick Gilmore
  • Publication number: 20080025057
    Abstract: A PDP apparatus comprises, in a circuit part, a ramp output device which outputs a ramp wave to electrodes of a PDP. The ramp output device has a ramp generator which generates and outputs a first ramp wave of which inclination is variable, an impedance conversion circuit which receives the first ramp wave as input and outputs a second ramp wave produced by impedance conversion, and a feedback circuit which receives the second ramp wave as input and feeds it back to the input of the ramp generator. The ramp generator outputs the second ramp wave as a ramp wave (output voltage). Techniques to realize output of stabilized ramp wave in a PDP apparatus so as to stabilize PDP display operations are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Takashi Shiizaki, Masaki Kamada, Akihiro Machida, Sojiro Hagihara
  • Patent number: 7233506
    Abstract: A polygon connected autotransformer in conjunction with zero sequence blocking inductor(s) enables multipulse AC to DC converters to use lower kVA parts rating by using appropriate phase-shifted voltage sets in conjunction with inductors that extend the conduction period and reduce rms current. Also, lower harmonic voltages in the transformer facilitate use of lower performance magnetic steel. Designs for 12, 18, and 24-pulse use the same conceptual approach. Very efficient high power ratings are feasible. Means are given to limit the maximum no-load DC output voltage. A technique is disclosed that reduces the size of polygon transformers supplying loads with substantial third harmonic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Inventor: Derek Albert Paice
  • Patent number: 7173834
    Abstract: A half-controlled silicon control rectifying system and method thereof are provided. In this case, the first detection unit detects the zero cross phase of the triphase AC in input port thereof. The second detection unit detects the voltage of the DC bus. Then the control unit controls the silicon-controlled rectifying unit by software. Therefore, the efficiency of soft actuation is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chui-Min Tai, Cheng-Te Chen
  • Patent number: 6650557
    Abstract: An electrical AC-DC power conversion system featuring 18-pulse rectification and utilizing a low weight wye-connected phase shifting autotransformer (500) supplied from a 3-phase AC source (40) through a 3-phase line reactor (41). The current harmonic distortion is less that 5% and can be further reduced to 3% level by the use of additional suppression devices (eg., chokes) which are often required in aerospace applications. The transformer (500) includes three sections (501) each spaced 120° electrically apart, wherein each section (501) includes a main winding (510) and a pair of phase shift windings (540). The main winding (510) has a neutral end connected to a floating neutral point (502) and a source end (514) is connected to one phase (1, 2, 3) of the three-phase power source (40). The pair of phase shift windings (540) each include a second winding (520) and a third winding (530) connected in series and arranged to generate phase outputs (4-9) of the autotransformer (500).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jerzy Ferens, Henry D. Hajdinjak, Sean Rhodes
  • Patent number: 6594164
    Abstract: A power conversion device according to the invention of the present application includes: an active current controller that calculates a phase angle reference value for determining the ON/OFF phase with reference to the AC power source voltage phase, from the deviation of the input active current with respect to an active current reference value; and a fixed pulse pattern generator that controls the self-excited voltage type power converter by generating switching signals of fixed pulse pattern whose fundamental frequency is synchronized with the AC power source frequency, based on the phase angle reference value calculated by this active current controller. In this way, with the invention of the present application, the harmonic components contained in the AC input current can be reduced without raising the switching frequency of the PWM power conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kentaro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6535404
    Abstract: An AC/DC converter has an auxiliary control system which attenuates or suppresses an unwanted or non-characteristic harmonic component (such as a 3rd harmonic component) of voltage in an AC power system caused by operation of the converter. The converter comprises thyristors and is connected via transformer to the AC power system which comprises an AC or Thevenin e.m.f. source, an impedance, and busbars. The auxiliary control system is connected to a main control system of the AC/DC converter providing firing pulses for the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: John Desmond Ainsworth, Lorenzo Bottacchiari, Robert Stephen Whitehouse
  • Patent number: 6459599
    Abstract: In a pulse width modulation-controlled, switched bridge, DC converter, the phase angle (44, 45) of the AC mains (4) is provided without sensing the voltage thereof, by a phase-locked loop (47) having one input (75) derived (126) from the in-phase voltage command Vde* (61) and another finit (77) approximating the line frequency; the phase-locked loop is initialized at a phase angle &thgr;init(76) equal to the arctangent (124) of the in-phase Vdest, and quadrature Vqest representation of estimated line voltages ere, ese, ete (119-121) derived during an initialization cycle from reconstruction of the fundamental component of the AC main currents at a phase angle (93) changing with said frequency. Reconstruction includes providing the discrete Fourier transform (DFT, 81) of signals indicative of currents (37) in the AC mains and the inverse DFT (122) of the resultant Fourier coefficients eia, eib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Ismail Agirman, Vladimir Blasko, Christopher S. Czerwinski, Jeffrey M. Izard, Edward D. Piedra
  • Patent number: 6442051
    Abstract: A circuit is provided for use in a synchronous generator excitation system. The circuit comprises a three-phase bridge having six legs. The bridge is connected with an AC power supply. A thyristor is provided in each of the six legs, wherein the thyristors provide a path for a device current. A free wheeling diode functions as a de-excitation means connected in parallel with the three-phase bridge. The free wheeling diode provides a discharge path for a field current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael John Ryan, Mohammed Kassem Saleh, Rodney Alen Lawson, John Earl Bittner
  • Patent number: 6421259
    Abstract: A modular DC power distribution system. A physically discrete input conversion module is utilized for converting a source AC signal to a high voltage DC signal. Multiple universal mounting sites are provided in a power supply backplane for engaging one or more of such input conversion modules. Within the power supply backplane, the high voltage DC signal is delivered to a DC distribution bus. A physically discrete DC step-down module is utilized for converting the high voltage DC signal from the DC distribution bus to a point-of-load DC signal distributable to application boards. The power supply backplane includes multiple universal mounting sites wherein one or more DC step-down modules may be installed or removed. In another embodiment, the DC power distribution system of the present invention includes a pre-charge system for permitting the input conversion modules and the DC step-down modules to be hot plugged into the power supply backplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Terry Brooks, Girish Chandra Johari
  • Patent number: 6411529
    Abstract: A plant for transmitting electric power which employs a first combination of a turn off semiconductor and controllable semiconductor connected in antiparallel and a second combination of a turn off semiconductor and antiparallel wherein the first combination is alternately conducting and blocking current for producing an alternating current output and the second combination is conducting during normal operation of the plant. When a fault occurs, a disconnect switch opens and separates the plant from other plants located on the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventor: Kjell Svensson
  • Patent number: 6337801
    Abstract: Zero current transition (ZCT) topologies are presented for three-phase inverters and rectifiers. Such devices are used for example in AC adjustable speed drives for so-called zero-emission vehicles (i.e., electric and hybrid combustion/electric automobiles). Compared to existing three-phase ZCT techniques, the number of auxiliary switches is reduced from six to three, while not altering the necessary device rating. Correspondingly, the number of gate-drivers for the auxiliary switches is also reduced to three. Meanwhile, the merits of the existing three-phase ZCT techniques are still retained, i.e., all the main switches and the auxiliary switches are turned on and turned off under zero-current conditions, and the independent commutation for each main switch is achieved. The desired soft-switching features are achieved. Therefore, this invention will contribute to more cost-effective, reliable, and efficient high-performance three-phase inverters and rectifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Li, Fred C. Lee
  • Patent number: 6067242
    Abstract: A power converter comprises parallel circuits by providing two series circuits composed by self-arc-suppressing semiconductors, reactors and diodes. Moreover, unbalance of the currents flowing in the two parallel circuits is prevented by connecting the terminals of the two reactors to each other via capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akira Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 6038155
    Abstract: A soft start circuit for controlling a rectifier circuit, the rectifier circuit for converting power from an AC source having one or more phases to DC power having an output voltage (Vo) from a Vo+ node to a Vo- node, the rectifier circuit including: (i) at least first and second rectifier legs coupled from the Vo- node to the Vo+ node, each rectifier leg including a diode and a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), wherein anodes of the diodes are coupled to the Vo- node, cathodes of the diodes are coupled to anodes of the SCRs at AC input nodes, and cathodes of the SCRs are coupled to the Vo+ node; and (ii) a bus capacitor coupled from the Vo+ node to the Vo- node, the soft start circuit operable to control respective firing angles of the SCRs such that: (i) the output voltage substantially linearly ramps from a low initial value to a relatively high final value, and (ii) charge up currents into the bus capacitor are controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Brian R. Pelly
  • Patent number: 5963440
    Abstract: A parallel array of a plurality of controlled rectifier bridges for converting multi-phase AC current to DC. Each bridge includes a plurality of rectifier segments. One segment for each polarity of each phase of current. A sensor monitors the current and temperature at each rectifier. The sensor outputs for corresponding segments among the bridges are compared and the timing of the conduction of the rectifiers are controlled to maintain the current and temperatures among the corresponding segments in balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Irving A. Gibbs, Bruce R. Quayle
  • Patent number: 5793622
    Abstract: A common turn-off circuit for a thyristor power converter is specified. The common turn-off circuit is particularly suitable for AC converters such as, for example, railway grid couplings. The turn-off thyristors are directly connected to the secondary transformer windings. Additionally provided is a special freewheeling path via which the energy stored, in particular, in the transformer inductors or other relevant inductors can be drawn away. What is advantageous is the fact that all of the thyristors of the power converter can be turned off reliably and without any special precautions, since the common turn-off circuit is automatically ready for turning off. Overvoltages are avoided, moreover, by the special freewheeling path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Peter Dahler, Osvin Gaupp, Gerhard O. Linhofer, Christoph Tschudi
  • Patent number: 5717586
    Abstract: The present invention provides smooth conversion of electric power between an AC line operating at a first voltage and a DC line operating at a second voltage bearing a fixed ratio to the first voltage. In one embodiment, polyphase AC is converted to rippled DC. In one embodiment, switched DC is converted to AC of one or more phases. The electric power converter of the invention uses a single electrical winding can be thought of as derived from the formerly well-known, and now largely forgotten, synchronous converter by locking the rotor, discarding the field winding and its power supply, replacing the AC slip ring contacts with hardwired connections, and replacing the DC commutator taps, bars and brushes with rectifying taps. Thus, the new power converter may be referred to as a single-winding static synchronous converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventor: John W. Luce
  • Patent number: 5644485
    Abstract: A converter connection for conversion between alternating voltage and direct voltage, for connection to a power network (DCN) having a neutral pole (P0) and at least one pole (P+,P-) energized by direct voltage in relation to the neutral pole, comprises a voltage-source converter (VC) with two direct-voltage terminals (DP, DM). At least one of the direct-voltage terminals of the converter is connected by means of an electric pole conductor (W1, W12, W11, W21, W2) to at least one of the poles of the power network which are energized by direct voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AB
    Inventor: Gunnar Asplund
  • Patent number: 5541830
    Abstract: Dc aerospace power supplies include neutral point controllers to interconnect primary or secondary windings of the supplies into wye connected primary or secondary circuits. In power supplies having neutral point controllers in the primary circuits, the power supplies may alternately or in addition have first and second compound wye connected secondary circuits having a separate or common neutral point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Leland Electrosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence W. Moore, Harold G. Carlson, Robert R. Hanson, Kory K. Evanson
  • Patent number: 5483435
    Abstract: A power generation system is constituted by an induction generator and a converter. An output current waveform of the induction generator is determined by the magnetic flux, speed, winding impedance, DC output voltage, and load of the induction generator. In particular, the output current waveform is changed in accordance with a change in speed (i.e., change in slip). Switching elements in the converter are ON/OFF-controlled in accordance with changes in current waveform, thereby controlling power generation of the induction generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroshi Uchino
  • Patent number: 5455759
    Abstract: In 12-pulse and 18-pulse AC/DC converter systems a single wye connected auto transformer using appropriate segments of voltage from each phase connected in fork fashion is used to develop 6-phase and 9-phase voltages in a symmetrical manner such that inherent compensation is made for the dc converter output voltage to be within 4.2% of that of a 6-pulse converter. Additional design adjustments for step-up or step-down of voltage can be made without compromising the transformer symmetry. An unconnected but closed delta winding provides a path in which third harmonic currents, and multiples thereof can flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Inventor: Derek A. Paice
  • Patent number: 5355294
    Abstract: A dual active bridge converter, including high-frequency transformer-coupled input and output bridge converters, receives a rectified ac line voltage via a rectifier acting in a resistive mode and a small, high-frequency filter capacitor. A phase angle controller controls a phase shift between the voltages across the transformer windings such that high-efficiency dc-to-dc conversion is achieved, while maintaining unity power factor at the ac input, using high-density circuitry with small filter components and without adding additional front-end power factor correction circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rik W. A. A. De Doncker, Mustansir H. Kheraluwala
  • Patent number: 5311419
    Abstract: A power converter for converting input AC power comprising N phase-to-phase input AC waveforms at a first frequency into overall output DC power, where N is an integer greater than two, includes N phase-to-phase AC/DC converters each receiving a phase-to-phase waveform and having outputs connected in series whereby the converter outputs are combined to develop the overall output DC power. The AC/DC converters are operated such that a parameter of the input AC power and a parameter of the overall output DC power are controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin J. Shires
  • Patent number: 5287260
    Abstract: A power converting apparatus controls switching of self turn-off type semiconductor devices so as to perform power conversion. The apparatus comprises a plurality of switch units each having first and second self turn-off type semiconductor devices, first and second diodes, and a capacitor. The cathode of the first self turn-off type semiconductor device is connected to the anode of the first diode, and the cathode of the second diode is connected to the anode of the second self turn-off type semiconductor device. The capacitor is connected between a common junction between the cathode of the first self turn-off type semiconductor device and the anode of the first diode and a common junction between the cathode of the second diode and the anode of the second self turn-off type semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroshi Uchino
  • Patent number: 5267137
    Abstract: The invention concerns a high power power supply with output power in excess of 5 kilowatts, by way of example, for the supply of electromagnets in the area of electromedicine and nuclear physics. In order to regulate the output current, power thyristors 28 are utilized within the two bridge rectifier circuits 2 and 3, operated with phase control regulation. In order to keep the output current constant, two transistor final control elements 10 and 11 regulated by a control-gain amplifier are used. Two charging capacitors 6 and 7 are provided for energy storage, the capacity of which is sufficiently large that the commutation of the power thyristors 28 transpires by means of self-extinguishing in a currentless state, whereby conducted as well as irradiated electrical interferences are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Kohler, Schmid Partner
    Inventor: Klaus Goebel
  • Patent number: 5265002
    Abstract: A semiconductor power conversion system comprising a multiphase bridge circuit which includes semiconductor devices having a controllable firing function and a reverse blocking characteristic, a gate control circuit which gives firing commands to the semiconductor devices, a short circuiting switch in which switching devices having a controllable firing function and a reverse blocking characteristic are connected in parallel with a DC output side of the multiphase bridge circuit, and a protection control device for performing a control for protecting the multiphase bridge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Bando, Chikara Tanaka, Keiji Saito, Tadao Kawai, Eizo Kita, Keiichi Mitsuhashi, Yasuteru Oono, Hiroto Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 5179510
    Abstract: A power converting apparatus comprises self-commutated converter, fault current restricting device, fault detector, and cutoff circuit. Self-commutated converter converts AC power supplied from an AC power system into DC power and supplying the DC power to a common DC circuit, and for converting DC power supplied from the DC circuit into AC power and supplying the AC power to the AC power system. The fault current restricting device is inserted between the self-commutated converted and the DC circuit, and includes a diode provided to permit a DC circuit current to flow from the self-commutated coverter to the DC circuit, and a series circuit having a reactor and a DC power supply and connected in parallel to the diode. The fault detector detects a fault current generated when self-commutated converter is short-circuited. When the fault detector detects a short circuit occurring in self-commutated converter, the cutoff circuit cuts off power supply to that self-commutated converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignees: The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yukio Tokiwa, Fumitoshi Ichikawa, Tadayuki Kitahara, Fumio Aoyama
  • Patent number: 5148357
    Abstract: A 12-pulse converter of lower rating and minimal current harmonics is obtained with an auto-connected regular hexagon transformer including a delta winding in its center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Derek A. Paice
  • Patent number: 5068774
    Abstract: An AC/DC or DC/AC converter includes a single hexagon transformer with each side connected to opposite polarity DC terminals through two pairs of SCR devices gated in sequence synchronously with the frequency of the AC lines, gating in a pair lagging gating of the next SCR device in the adjoining pair, to create a 24-pulse output, while minimizing AC line harmonic contents, especially the 11th and 13th harmonics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: John Rosa
  • Patent number: 5051883
    Abstract: A full wave rectification circuit for use with a three-phase input signal connected in a wye configuration for rectifying a line to neutral high input voltage is disclosed. The rectification circuit has two portions. A first portion generates a control signal which oscillates every 60.degree. and is switched in phase with one of the input signals. A second control signal, also oscillating in 60.degree., but completely out of phase with respect to the first oscillating signal is also generated. The two oscillating signals are used in a SCR switch configuration to switch the rectification circuit every 60.degree. thereby rectifying the peak voltage portion of each phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Inventor: Chin Y. Cheng
  • Patent number: 5027264
    Abstract: A DC/DC power converter suitable for high power applications has an input converter which converts the DC input voltage to an AC voltage and supplies this voltage to a transformer. The output of the transformer is provided to an output converter which converts the AC to a DC output voltage at a controlled level to a load. Both the input and output converters are composed of active gate controlled switching devices and are switched in a soft-switched manner to minimize switching losses and increase switching frequency. The converters can be implemented in single phase or polyphase configurations and can be controlled to closely maintain the output voltage provided to the load at a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Rik W. DeDoncker, Mustansir H. Kheraluwala, Deepakraj M. Divan
  • Patent number: 5023535
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic servo system in which a microprocessor-based controller directs a pulse width modulated control signal to a servo valve for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough. Duration of each half-cycle in the pulse width modulated control signal is separately controlled by selectively incrementing or decrementing duration of the half-cycle in increments of the microprocessor clock period. Signal transition is controlled by a timer interrupt in which time required to enter the interrupt routine is measured following generation of the interrupt, and further operation is delayed by a complementary time, so that control signal transition takes place a fixed preselected number of clock periods after generation of a timer interrupt. In this way, timer interrupt latency is eliminated, and resolution of the pulse width modulated signal is enhanced through individual duration control of the signal half-cycles while maintaining a fixed modulated signal period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Vickers, Incorporated
    Inventors: John A. Miller, Richard S. Leemhuis, Rajamouli Gunda
  • Patent number: 5003455
    Abstract: Circuitry and methods are provided for AC line synchronization of the firing means for phase-controlled thyristors in a DC motor speed control system. A line synchronization method and system is disclosed which eliminates zero offset in the phase command input function. This zero offset, which is cuased by motor counter EMF, occurs in prior art controllers which use zero crossings of the AC line voltages for line synchronization of thyristor firing. This invention provides line synchronization timing intervals of constant duration that terminate at the coincidence of AC line voltage and motor counter EMF with the coincidence being the latest time at which the particular thyristor being controlled is forward biased in the absence of current flow. Application to N-phase AC to DC converters for DC motor speed control is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Polyspede Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Luther Miller
  • Patent number: 4978442
    Abstract: A large magnetic separator for separating magnetic fines from nonmagnetic product is equipped with a dual mode power supply. A first mode of the dual power supply is provided for accelerated imposition of the design magnetic field. A second mode of the dual power supply is provided for the maintenance of the desired magnetic field at an improved power factor, which field is in the range of 20 kilogauss. With the field imposed, a canister centrally placed in the magnet with a magnetic stainless steel wool matrix separates magnetic fines from nonmagnetic product until the matrix is saturated. Upon saturation of the matrix, the power supply dissipates to the power grid electrical energy from the collapse of the magnetic field. There results a larger classifying duty cycle of the high stationary magnetic fluid utilized for classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Pacific Electric Motor Co.
    Inventors: James A. Tillotson, III, Kenneth M. Crowe
  • Patent number: 4928219
    Abstract: An adaptable current regulating system provides a regulated current in accordance with both the actual characteristics of a system under control and the actual measured period of an AC supply. The system constantly monitors its status, and provides a master controller with the status of the system, and is programmed to provide control in accordance with information received from the master controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Charles J. Roslund, Bruce M. Cook
  • Patent number: 4891741
    Abstract: A polyphase AC/DC converter, useful as a drive for a DC motor or in a power-sharing electrical power distribution system, comprises a naturally-commutated, phase-controlled, polyphase thyristor bridge and control determining the application of firing signals to the thyristors and operable in the inversion mode of the bridge to transfer conduction of load current between phases at the conventional inversion limit defined as radians advanced from the rectification limit of the bridge, but to operate an extended control range when there is zero load current at the time when the conventional inversion limit would otherwise be applied. In a DC motor drive application, a power increase of up to 15% is obtainable by specification of a higher rated DC motor voltage, and in a power-sharing electrical power distribution system, a similar increase in power transmission may be obtainable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: SSD Limited
    Inventors: Daniel T. Slattery, Jeremy D. Watson
  • Patent number: 4887200
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the quenching angle in inverter valves, in which the pulse-shaped deviations, which occur in the valve voltages due to the current commutations as compared to the corresponding fundamental waveforms, are blanked out in the form of voltage blocks. For the duration of the quenching angle, a binary measuring signal is generated which is triggered by an end-of-conduction pulse and is terminated by a zero voltage crossing pulse. The end-of-conduction pulse indicating the completion of the commutation is formed by the flank at the end of the voltage shift caused by the preceeding commutation in the valve voltage as compared to the fundamental waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Helmut Neupauer, deceased
  • Patent number: 4884184
    Abstract: A converter circuit includes three-phase unit converters connected in cascade in two stages for supplying electric power to a load. In a region in which the converter output voltage ratio is small, the firing phases of both converters are so set that a phase difference of 120.degree. makes appearance therebetween, while in a region in which the converter output voltage ratio is large, the firing phases are so set as to have a phase difference of 60.degree. therebetween, whereby an angular difference of 90.degree. to 30.degree. is caused to occur constantly between the phases of voltage ripple components of the unit converters. Power factor of a power supply source is improved while ripple in the output voltage of the converter circuit is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Matsui, Toshiaki Okuyama, Mitsugu Matsutake, Junichi Takahashi, Masami Ito
  • Patent number: 4870558
    Abstract: An electric power converter operable by means of a rotating or moving magnetic field having a substantially constant flux density or of a substantially constant magnitude. The electric power converter functions as a AC to DC, DC to AC or DC converter, or as a phase changer/phase shifter or a voltage adjuster. A feature of the converter is the continuous supply of power from the primary phases in contrast to prior art converters in which only the phase having the highest voltage supplies power at any one time. Harmonic current distortion is, therefore, substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Inventor: John W. Luce
  • Patent number: 4864487
    Abstract: A control circuit for generating gating signals to drive the SCRs of an AC switch coupled between a three phase AC source and a three phase load. A reference voltage signal is derived from the source and, after filtering, is applied to a squaring amplifier. The amplifier output is applied to a phase-locked loop (PLL). The output signal of the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) of the PLL is fed back to the phase comparator thereof via two dividing counters. The output of one counter is applied to a logic block for generating a ramp reset signal in phase with a selected source phase-to-neutral voltage. The ramp reset signal is applied to a ramp forming circuit the output of which is applied to a first input of a comparator. The comparator receives a DC control voltage on its second input and provides on its output a gating signal corresponding to the source selected phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Harold R. Schnetzka, II, Frank E. Wills
  • Patent number: 4815052
    Abstract: An automatic overvoltage protection circuit is provided for an electrical power supply of the type comprising a variable speed three phase alternator (50) having a permanent magnet rotor and three stator output windings (51, 52 and 53), a gated three phase rectifier bridge (60) connected to the three stator output windings and producing a d.c. output voltage, and a control circuit (120) for supplying gating signals at controlled firing angles to the gated three phase rectifier bridge. The control circuit includes first, second and third reference circuits (73, 74 and 75) each including a resonant LRC circuit and connected to a respective one of the three stator output windings, a gating logic circuit (135) connected to the first, second and third reference circuits and providing six outputs, feedback means (122) connected to receive the d.c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Honeywell, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles S. Walker
  • Patent number: 4811189
    Abstract: The invention relates to an AC voltage supplied rectifier circuit with a downstream smoothing capacitor. A prior art problem with this type of circuit was that the inductive impedance of the supply voltage caused a practically umdamped oscillation between the inductive supply impedance and the smoothing capacitor during start-up which caused the voltage to rise to about twice the stationary value. A rectifier circuit is provided which substantially prevents the over-oscillation having at least one controllable rectifier which brings the rectifier to a conductive state during the charging period of the smoothing capacitor over such a time that the output direct voltage of the rectifier circuit exceeds the momentary capacitor voltage by no more than a predetermined limited value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Nils-Ole Harvest, Jorgen Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4805082
    Abstract: In a voltage-source inverter system, wherein the commutation between static switches in the AC/DC converter in the regenerative mode is forced by a GTO or transistor device in series with an auxiliary thyristor in order to bring the current path to zero, a reactor of large inductance is inserted for improved operation in the forward and regenerative mode, but an additional thyristor is converted in unparallel to such reactor in order to neutralize the inductance when bringing the current to zero in the regenerative mode, and such additional thyristor is turned OFF by natural commutation when the next converter static switch is coming ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Theodore M. Heinrich, Colin D. Schauder
  • Patent number: 4797802
    Abstract: An improved converter for converting a multiple phase variable frequency AC voltage having a high degree of noise produced by a variable frequency multiple phase voltage source into a DC voltage is disclosed. Triggering pulses for a full wave recification bridge are generated by a low pass filter which filters an output signal from the multiple phase variable frequency voltage source which introduces a constant phase shift independent of frequency. A rectangular wave form is produced having a frequency synchronized with zero crossing points of the output signal from the filter. A digital phase shift compensator phase shifts the rectangular wave form to produce a timing signal having a fixed phase shift throughout the variable frequency range which compensates for the phase shift introduced by the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corp.
    Inventors: Chai-Nam Ng, John J. Dhyanchand
  • Patent number: 4791545
    Abstract: A circuit for regulating the output of a DC power supply that substantially eliminates turn-on transients induced by the switching of a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR). A zero-crossover detector senses the AC voltage waveform of an applied power source and provides a trigger signal at the zero-crossing point. The trigger signal is applied to cause induction of the SCR's and raise the output voltage when the power supply output drops below a regulated value, and is interrupted so as to inhibit conduction of the SCR's and decrease the output voltage when the power supply output exceeds the regulated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Hinckley
  • Patent number: 4787023
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus, in which the three phases of an alternating-current main are connected each through rectifier elements connected in antiparallel to the primary winding of a three-phase transformer. The secondary windings of this transformer are connected through rectifiers to a load device, such as an electron beam gun or other such device which produces short-circuits while in operation. Measuring sensors are provided on the primary AC side which, in the presence of an excess current on the primary AC side, block controlled rectifier elements. The blocking takes place very rapidly because GTO thyristors are used as rectifier elements. The decay of the magnetic energy in the transformer is achieved by the fact that the primary side of this transformer is connected in delta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Leybold-Heraeus GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich-Werner Thomas
  • Patent number: 4757435
    Abstract: In a current-source GTO converter, protection against a DC fault or a commutation fault condition is provided by immediately interrupting the conduction of a GTO device which is ON and by turning ON another GTO device to allow fault current to bypass the bridge or safely pass through the bridge. As a result, protective action is immediate and an early recovery is made possible. Bypassing of the bridge is done by freewheeling, with an auxiliary GTO switch or with one of the main GTO switches. Diversionary action is done through the bridge by changing the mode of operation of the bridge from rectifier to inversion, or conversely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Peter Wood, Laszlo Gyugyi