Alternator

Abstract

An alternator comprises: an output rectifier converting AC voltage produced in an output armature winding into DC and supplying the DC electric power to a rechargeable battery and a current consumer; an excitation rectifier which is electrically separated from the output rectifier to convert AC voltage produced in an excitation armature winding into DC; and a power generation control unit. The power generation control unit compares the output voltage of the output rectifier or the terminal voltage of the battery with a predetermined reference voltage and controls current supplied to an excitation winding to which the DC voltage outputted from the excitation rectifier is applied, based on the comparison result.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an alternator according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an alternator according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an alternator according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an alternator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A to 5D are diagrams showing operation timing of a power generation control unit in a high-speed region in the alternator according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a modification of the configuration for detecting excitation current, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An alternator comprising: a rotator having a magnetic pole and an excitation winding for exciting the magnetic pole;a stator having a first and second stator windings, the first and second stator windings generating a first and second alternating current thereacross respectively in a rotating magnetic field generated by the rotator;a first rectifier rectifying the first alternating current;a second rectifier rectifying the second alternating current; anda controller configured to control an amount of an output from the alternator based on an output voltage of the first rectifier.

2. The alternator recited in claim 1, wherein the first stator winding is arranged to generate a first electric power and supply the first electric power to the excitation winding, andthe second stator winding is arranged to generate a second electric power and supply the second electric power to an electric load and/or a power source.

3. The alternator recited in claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to compare at least one of a first voltage output produced by the second rectifier and a second voltage across the power source with a predetermined voltage and enable the first rectifier to control supply of an electric power to the excitation winding based on a result of the comparison.

4. The alternator recited in claim 2, wherein, the controller has a first and second controllers,the first controller being configured to regulate a current flowing from the first rectifier to the excitation winding at a predetermined current, andthe second controller being configured to enable the first rectifier to control supply of an electric power therefrom to the excitation winding based on a compared result of a first voltage output by the second rectifier and/or a second voltage across the power source with a predetermined voltage.

5. The alternator recited in claim 4, wherein the predetermined current is a current greater than an excitation current supplied from the power source.

6. The alternator recited in claim 4, wherein the first controller is configured to suppress the excitation current for a time interval less than a time constant of the excitation winding after detecting the excitation current.

7. The alternator recited in claim 1, further comprising a third rectifier, the first and second rectifiers coupling to each other via the third rectifier.

8. The alternator recited in claim 7, wherein the third rectifier is configured to be forwardly biased when an output voltage of the first rectifier is lower than an output voltage of the second rectifier, and configured to be reversely biased when the output voltage of the first rectifier is higher than the output voltage of the second rectifier.

9. The alternator recited in claim 1, wherein the alternator is connected to a single power source.

10. The alternator recited in claim 9, wherein the single power source is rechargeable.

11. The alternator recited in claim 2, wherein, the power source is rechargeable.

12. A alternator comprising: a plurality of generating sections generating electric power; anda controller for controlling an amount of the electric power supplied to an output of the alternator and to the generating sections for generating the electric power.

13. The alternator recited in claim 12, the generating sections are built within the alternator.

14. The alternator recited in claim 12, wherein the amount of the electric power to the output is greater than an amount of the electric power supplied to the generating sections.

15. The alternator recited in claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to cut off supplying the electric power to at least one of the generating sections which supply an electric power to the generating sections when the amount of the electric power supplied to the generating sections exceeds a predetermined value.