IP Library Granted Patent US 8,138,683
Granted Patent B2
US 8,138,683 · App. 12/083,250 · Granted Mar 20, 2012

Method for controlling a series circuit current of a lighting installation at an airfield or the like, and a constant-current regulator

Assignee: ADB BVBA
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,138,683
App. No.
12/083,250
Granted
Mar 20, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a method for controlling a series circuit current of a lighting installation at an airfield or the like, in which case the series circuit current which flows through transformers which are arranged on the secondary side of an output transformer and are connected in series, in order to supply lighting appliances is controlled by means of a thyristor module, which is arranged on the primary side of the output transformer and has a variable trigger angle, in which case, when a control unit is in a constant-current mode, the trigger angle is set in such a manner that a series circuit current which corresponds essentially to a rated output current flows. The invention also relates to a constant-current regulator for carrying out the method.

Claims (28)

1. A method for controlling a series circuit current of a lighting installation, comprising:

arranging a plurality of transformers in series on a secondary side of an output transformer; and

controlling a series circuit current that flows through the plurality of transformers via a thyristor module arranged on the primary side of the output transformer and has a trigger angle, wherein

when a control unit is in a constant-current mode, the trigger angle is set in such a manner that a series circuit current which corresponds essentially to the rated output current flows, and

in an overcurrent mode of the control unit, the trigger angle is set in such a manner that a series circuit current which is greater than the rated output current flows during a selectable time period.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the event of an interruption in an input voltage applied to the thyristor module, the time period of the interruption is determined, and the overcurrent duration is matched to the interruption duration.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the overcurrent duration is matched to the load applied to the secondary side of the output transformer.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a trigger angle occurs at the start of the interruption is determined, and is stored and, if the interruption duration is sufficiently short, is set on the thyristor module as the trigger angle at the end of the interruption.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the overcurrent is limited by impedances in the series circuit.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the overcurrent is controlled as a function of a brightness level selected for the lighting appliances.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the rated output current set for a maximum brightness level is chosen as the overcurrent.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, upon commissioning of the lighting installation and during its operation, the stored value of the trigger angle is overwritten with the rated output current.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a change is made from the overcurrent mode to the constant-current mode as soon as the overcurrent has fallen to a preset threshold value above the regulated rating output current.

10. A constant-current regulator that controls a series circuit current of a lighting installation, comprising:

a plurality of transformers connected to one another in series;

an output transformer connected on the secondary side to the plurality of series-connected transformers that supply lighting appliances;

a thyristor module arranged on the primary side of the output transformer having a variable trigger angle; and

a control unit that sets the trigger angle where the control unit is operable in:

a constant-current mode where a series circuit current that corresponds essentially to a rated output current flows, and

an overcurrent mode where a series circuit current greater than the rated output current flows during a selectable time period.

11. The constant-current regulator as claimed in claim 10 , wherein in the event of an interruption in an input voltage applied to the thyristor module, the time period of the interruption is determined, and the overcurrent duration is matched to the interruption duration.

12. The constant-current regulator as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the overcurrent duration is matched to the load applied to the secondary side of the output transformer.

13. The constant-current regulator as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a trigger angle occurs at the start of the interruption is determined, and is stored and, if the interruption duration is sufficiently short, is set on the thyristor module as the trigger angle at the end of the interruption.

14. The constant-current regulator as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the overcurrent is limited by impedances in the series circuit.

15. The constant-current regulator as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the overcurrent is controlled as a function of a brightness level selected for the lighting appliances.

16. The constant-current regulator as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the rated output current set for a maximum brightness level is chosen as the overcurrent.

17. The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein, upon commissioning of the lighting installation and during its operation, the stored value of the trigger angle is overwritten with the rated output current.

18. The constant-current regulator as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a change is made from the overcurrent mode to the constant-current mode as soon as the overcurrent has fallen to a preset threshold value above the regulated rating output current.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 27, 2010
From: ADB NV
To: ADB BVBA
Reel/Frame 025046/0986 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2010
From: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: ADB NV
Reel/Frame 024731/0721 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2010
From: TESSENS, DANIEL; VANDEVOORDE, JEAN-CLAUDE
To: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 024709/0400 →
Priority Claims (2)
DE 10 2005 048 906 · Oct 10, 2005 · national
DE 10 2006 000 790 · Jan 4, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100283400A1 · Nov 11, 2010