Patent · US Expired

Car alternator electric power generator protected against transients due to battery disconnection

US4455585A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
4References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 30, 1981
Grant dateJun 19, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 30, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T10/70
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electric power generator which includes a component, for example, a Zener diode, connected in series with the usual return diode which is connected in parallel to the excitation winding of the alternator. The Zener diode makes it possible to set the discharging voltage due to the energy stored in the magnetic field associated with the inductance of the excitation winding at a relatively high level during high-voltage transients caused by the accidental disconnection of the wire connecting the alternator to a load or a terminal of the motor vehicle battery while it is in the charging stage. The result is a more rapid dissipation of the energy stored in the excitation circuit, and therefore results in an output transient having a reduced energy content. Thus, it is possible to construct a voltage regulator and such other devices as may be powered by the alternator in the form of low-voltage integrated circuits.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.