Switching circuit
US5504410A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 13, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 2, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 13, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02P25/092
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A switching circuit for a switched reluctance motor or generator comprises positive and negative power lines, a string of smoothing capacitors serially connected between them and two pairs of gate turn-off thyristors connected to either end of a phase winding of the motor or generator. Circulating diodes are connected between the ends of the winding and the opposite power line and further circulating diodes are connected between each pair of thyristors. A mid-point between the capacitors is connected between the further diodes. At switch-off one of the outer GTO's is first opened so that one of the diodes conducts and current in the winding is routed via the mid-point. Then the other outer GTO is opened so that current now circulates through both of the diodes and substantially no voltage is dropped across the winding. The first inner GTO is then opened causing one of the diodes to conduct. Thereafter the second inner GTO can be opened. Turn-on requires a progressive reversal of the turn-off sequence if winding current continues to flow. Otherwise, all but one outer GTO are turned on together followed by the omitted GTO after a delay. The GTO to be omitted initially at turn-on is c…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.