Alternator system with temperature protected voltage regulator
View Patent ↗An alternator system includes a permanent magnet alternator, battery and voltage regulator operatively connected to the permanent magnet alternator and battery for regulating the charging of the battery. The voltage regulator includes a rectifying circuit for rectifying the alternating current and a semiconductor switching element operative for turning the regulator on and off based on a predetermined temperature threshold to prevent overheating of any voltage regulator electronic components.
1. An alternator system comprising:
a permanent magnet alternator for producing an alternating current;
a battery operatively connected to said permanent magnet alternator to be charged therefrom; and
a voltage regulator operatively connected to said permanent magnet alternator and battery for regulating the charging of said battery, said voltage regulator including a rectifying circuit for rectifying the alternating current, and a semiconductor switching element operative for turning the regulator on and off based on a predetermined temperature threshold to prevent overheating of any voltage regulator electronic components.
2. The alternator system according to claim 1 , wherein said semiconductor switching element comprises an integrated circuit temperature switch that outputs a logic signal when die temperature reaches a predetermined threshold.
3. The alternator system according to claim 1 , wherein said semiconductor switching element is operative for generating an active high, push-pull logic output.
4. The alternator system according to claim 1 , wherein said rectifying circuit comprises at least one silicon controlled rectifier.
5. The alternator system according to claim 1 , and further comprising a diode bridge circuit operative with said at least one silicon controlled rectifier.
6. The alternator system according to claim 1 , and further comprising a push-pull transistor circuit operative with said semiconductor switching element and operative for turning on and off said rectifying circuit after receiving a signal from said semiconductor switching element.
7. The alternator system according to claim 1 , wherein said rectifying circuit comprises two silicon controlled rectifiers.
8. The alternator system according to claim 1 , wherein said voltage regulator comprises two stator terminals.
9. The alternator system according to claim 1 , wherein said voltage regulator comprises a B+ and B− terminal.
10. The alternator system according to claim 1 , wherein said voltage regulator comprises a tachometer terminal.
11. The alternator system according to claim 1 , wherein said voltage regulator comprises an open control loop voltage regulator.
12. The alternator system according to claim 1 , wherein said voltage regulator, battery and said permanent magnet alternator are series connected.
13. The alternator system according to claim 1 , wherein said alternator comprises a flywheel and permanent magnets carried by said flywheel.
14. The alternator system according to claim 1 , wherein said predetermined temperature threshold is about 105 to about 120 degrees Celsius.
15. The alternator system according to claim 1 , wherein said semiconductor switching element is operative for cycling at about 0.05 to about 0.2 Hz.
16. A voltage regulator for operatively connecting to a permanent magnet alternator, and including B+ and B− terminals, said voltage regulator further comprising a rectifying circuit for rectifying any alternating current received from a permanent magnet alternator, and a semiconductor switching element operative for turning the regulator on and off based on a predetermined temperature threshold and preventing any overheating of voltage regulator electronic components.
17. The voltage regulator according to claim 16 , wherein said semiconductor switching element comprises an integrated circuit temperature switch that outputs a logic signal when die temperature reaches a predetermined threshold.
18. The voltage regulator according to claim 16 , wherein said semiconductor switching element is operative for generating an active high, push-pull logic output.
19. The voltage regulator according to claim 16 , wherein rectifying circuit comprises at least one silicon controlled rectifier.
20. The voltage regulator according to claim 19 , and further comprising a diode bridge circuit operative with said at least one silicon controlled rectifier.
21. The voltage regulator according to claim 16 , and further comprising a push-pull transistor circuit operative with said semiconductor switching element and operative for turning on and off said rectifying circuit.
22. The voltage regulator according to claim 16 , wherein said rectifying circuit comprises two silicon controlled rectifiers.
23. The voltage regulator according to claim 16 , and further comprising two stator terminals.
24. The voltage regulator according to claim 16 , and further comprising a B+ and B− terminal.
25. The voltage regulator according to claim 16 , and further comprising a tachometer terminal.
26. The voltage regulator according to claim 16 , wherein said voltage regulator comprises an open control loop voltage regulator.
27. The voltage regulator according to claim 16 , wherein said voltage regulator is operative to be connected in series to a battery and permanent magnet alternator.
28. The voltage regulator according to claim 16 , wherein said predetermined temperature threshold is about 105 to about 120 degrees Celsius.
29. The voltage regulator according to claim 16 , wherein said semiconductor switching element is operative for cycling at about 0.05 to about 0.2 Hz.
30. A method of regulating the output of a permanent magnet alternator comprising the steps of:
rectifying the alternating current output from the permanent magnet alternator within a voltage regulator that is operatively connected to the permanent magnet alternator; and
turning the regulator on and off based on a temperature threshold reached within a semiconductor switching element contained within the voltage regulator to prevent overheating of any voltage regulator electronic components.
31. A method according to claim 30 , and further comprising the step of outputting a logic signal from an integrated circuit temperature switch when die temperature reaches a predetermined threshold.
32. A method according to claim 30 , and further comprising the step of generating an active high, push-pull logic output.
33. A method according to claim 30 , and further comprising the step of turning on and off at least one silicon controlled rectifier.
34. A method according to claim 30 , wherein said temperature threshold is about 105 to about 120 degrees Celsius.