Method and apparatus for detecting alternator rectifier diode short fault
US9431941B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 12, 2015 |
| Grant date | Aug 30, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 11, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/72
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods for detecting a short fault of an alternator rectifier electronic component include sampling a field winding voltage or current signal of an alternator, during operation of the alternator, and determining a fault ripple period at which the alternator field winding signal exceeds a fault threshold. A short fault of an electronic component of a rectifier coupled to the alternator is detected in the event that the fault ripple period closely matches an alternator armature period. Alternatively or additionally, the sampled field winding signal is band pass filtered, and a short fault is detected in the event that an amplitude of the band pass filtered field winding signal exceeds a fault threshold. The methods can be implemented, for example, by an apparatus that includes a hysteresis frequency counter, a frequency comparator, and a countdown timer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.