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US4595975

1) The patent describes an efficient power supply system for driving inductive loads. 2) The system uses a low-voltage source connected to a vibrator, transformer, and rectifier to provide a high voltage pulsating signal to a capacitor. This capacitor is connected to a switching element tube. 3) Mounted around the switching element tube's high voltage anode is a charge receiving plate connected to an inductive load, transmitting a high voltage discharge that is more efficient than existing systems.

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Lee Farrand
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
100 views7 pages

US4595975

1) The patent describes an efficient power supply system for driving inductive loads. 2) The system uses a low-voltage source connected to a vibrator, transformer, and rectifier to provide a high voltage pulsating signal to a capacitor. This capacitor is connected to a switching element tube. 3) Mounted around the switching element tube's high voltage anode is a charge receiving plate connected to an inductive load, transmitting a high voltage discharge that is more efficient than existing systems.

Uploaded by

Lee Farrand
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 4,595,975

Gray, Sr. 45 Date of Patent: Jun. 17, 1986


(54) EFFICIENT POWER SUPPLY SUITABLE rent or alternating-current loads for better efficiency. It
FOR NDUCTIVE LOADS has a low-voltage source coupled to a vibrator, a trans
76 Inventor: Edwin W. Gray, Sr., P.O. Box 362, former and a bridge-type rectifier to provide a high
Council, Id. 83612 voltage pulsating signal to a first capacitor. Where a
21 Appl. No.: 662,339 high-voltage source is otherwise available, it may be
coupled directly to a bridge-type rectifier, causing a
(22) Filed: Oct. 18, 1984 pulsating signal to the first capacitor. The first capacitor
51) Int. Cl.' ...............so a as a a or n e o so o w w o P & 0 & 4 g o be so a HO2M 3/42
in turn is coupled to a high voltage anode of an electri
52 U.S. Cl. ........................................ 363/.33; 363/94; cal conversion switching element tube. The switching
363/110; 323/207; 323/228; 323/291 element tube also includes a low voltage anode which is
58) Field of Search .................. 315/33 S; 363/32, 33, connected to a voltage source by a commutator and a
363/76, 94, 109, 110; 323/207, 227, 228, 291 switching element tube. Mounted around the high volt
age anode is a charge receiving plate which is coupled
(56) References Cited to an inductive load to transmit a high voltage dis
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS charge from the switching element tube to the load.
2030801 3/1983 United Kingdom . Also coupled to the load is a second capacitor for stor
ing the back EMF created by the collapsing electrical
Primary Examiner-William H. Beha, Jr. field of the load when the current to the load is blocked.
Assistant Examiner-Jeffrey Sterrett The second capacitor is coupled to the voltage source.
Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Nixon and Vanderhye When adapted to present day direct-current or alternat
57 ABSTRACT ing-current devices the load could be a battery or ca
Disclosed is an Electrical Driving and Recovery Sys pacitor to enhance the productivity of electrical energy.
tem for a High Frequency environment. The recovery
system can be applied to drive present day direct-cur 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures
U.S. Patent Jun. 17, 1986 Sheet 1 of 2 4,595.975
U.S. Patent Jun. 17, 1986 Sheet 2 of 2
4,595.975

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F G. 3 FIG. 4
1.
4,595,975
2
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a
EFFICIENT POWER SUPPLY SUITABLE FOR system for driving an inductive load which system is
INDUCTIVE LOADS substantially more efficient than any now existing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5 a system for driving an inductive load which is reliable,
1. Field of the Invention is inexpensive and simply constructed,
The present invention relates to an electrical driving The foregoing objects of the present invention to
system and a conversion element, and more particu gether with various other objects, advantages, features
larly, to a system for driving an inductive load in a and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled
greatly improved and efficient manner. 10 in the art in light of this disclosure may be achieved
2. Description of the Prior Act with the exemplary embodiment of the invention de
scribed in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the ac
In the opinion of the inventor, there is no known companying drawings.
device which provides the conversion of energy from a
direct-current electric source or an alternating-current 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
electric source to a mechanical force based on the prin FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical
ciple of this invention. EXAMPLE: A portable energy driving system.
source, (1) such as a battery, (2) such as alternating-cur FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view of the electri
rent, (3) such as the combination of battery and alternat cal conversion element.
ing-current, may be used with highly improved effi 20 FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view taken along line 3-3
ciency to operate a mechanical device, whose output is of FIG. 2.
a linear or rotary force, with an attendant increase in the FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view taken along line 4-4
useful productive period between external applications of FIG. 2.
of energy restoration for the energy source. FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of the alternat
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 25 ing-current input circuit.
The present invention provides a more efficient driv DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
ing system comprising a source of electrical voltage; a EMBODIMENT
vibrator connected to the low-voltage source for form While the present invention is susceptible of various
ing a pulsating signal; a transformer connected to the 30 modifications and alternative constructions, an embodi
vibrator for receiving the pulsating signal; a high-volt ment is shown in the drawings and will herein be de
age source, where available, connected to a bridge-type scribed in detail. It should be understood however that
rectifier; or the bridge-type rectifier connected to the it is not the intention to limit the invention to the partic
high voltage pulse output of the transformer; a capaci ular form disclosed; but, on the contrary, the invention
tor for receiving the voltage pulse output; a conversion 35 is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternative
element having first and second anodes, electrically constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the
conductive means for receiving a charge positioned invention as expressed in the appended claims.
about the second anode and an output terminal con There is disclosed herein an electrical driving system
nected to the charge receiving means, the second anode which, on theory, will convert low voltage electric
being connected to the capacitor; a commutator con energy from a source such as an electric storage battery
nected to the source of electrical voltage and to the first to a high potential, high current energy pulse that is
anode; and an inductive load connected to the output capable of developing a working force at the inductive
terminal whereby a high energy discharge between the output of the device that is more efficient than that
first and second anodes is transferred to the charge which is capable of being developed directly from the
receiving means and then to the inductive load. 45 energy source. The improvement in efficiency is further
As a sub-combination, the present invention also in enhanced by the capability of the device to return that
cludes a conversion element comprising a housing; a portion of the initial energy developed, and not used by
first low voltage anode mounted to the housing, the first the inductive load in the production of mechanical en
anode adapted to be connected to a voltage source; a ergy, to the same or second energy reservoir or source
second high voltage anode mounted to the housing, the 50 for use elsewhere, or for storage.
second anode adapted to be connected to a voltage This system accomplishes the results stated above by
source; electrically conductive means positioned about harnessing the "electrostatic' or "impulse' energy cre
the second anode and spaced therefrom for receiving a ated by a high-intensity spark generated within a spe
charge, the charge receiving means being mounted to cially constructed electrical conversion switching ele
the housing; and an output terminal communicating 55 ment tube. This element utilizes a low-voltage anode, a
with the charge receiving means, said terminal adapted high-voltage anode, and one or more "electrostatic' or
to be connected to an inductive load. charge receiving grids. These grids are of a physical
The invention also includes a method for providing size, and appropriately positioned, as to be compatible
power to an inductive load comprising the steps of with the size of the tube, and therefore, directly related
providing a voltage source, pulsating a signal from said 60 to the amount of energy to be anticipated when the
cource; increasing the voltage of said signal; rectifying device is operating.
said signal; storing and increasing the signal; conducting The low-voltage anode may incorporate a resistive
said signal to a high voltage anode; providing a low device to aid in controlling the amount of current
voltage to a second anode to form a high energy dis drawn from the energy source. This low-voltage anode
charge; electrostatically coupling the discharge to a 65 is connected to the energy source through a mechanical
charge receiving element; conducting the discharge to commutator or a solid-state pulser that controls the
an inductive load; coupling a second capacitor to the timing and duration of the energy spark within the
load; and coupling the second capacitor to the source. element. The high-voltage anode is connected to a high
4,595,975
3 4.
voltage potential developed by the associated circuits. switching may be at specified periods determined by
An energy discharge occurs within the element when experimentation with a particular device, or may be
the external control circuits permit. This short duration, actuated by some control device that measures the rela
high-voltage, high-current energy pulse is captured by tive energy content of the two energy reservoirs.
the "electrostatic' grids within the tube, stored momen Referring now to FIG. 1, the system 10 will be de
tarily, then transferred to the inductive output load. scribed in additional detail. The potential for the high
The increase in efficiency anticipated in converting voltage anode, 12 of the conversion element 14 is devel
the electrical energy to mechanical energy within the oped across the capacitor 16. This voltage is produced
inductive load is attributed to the utilization of the most by drawing a low current from a battery source 18
optimum timing in introducing the electrical energy to O through the vibrator 20. The effect of the vibrator is to
the load device, for the optimum period of time. create a pulsating input to the transformer 22. The turns
Further enhancement of energy conservation is ac ratio of the transformer is chosen to optimize the volt
complished by capturing a significant portion of the age applied to a bridge-type rectifier 24. The output of
energy generated by the inductive load when the useful the rectifier is then a series of high-voltage pulses of
energy field is collapsing. This energy is normally dissi 5 modest current. When the available source is already of
pated in load losses that are contrary to the desired the high voltage, AC type, it may be coupled directly to
energy utilization, and have heretofore been accepted the bridge-type rectifier.
because no suitable means had been developed to har By repetitious application of these output pulses from
ness this energy and restore it to a suitable energy stor the bridge-type recrifier to the capacitor 16, a high-volt
age device. 20 age, high-level charge is built up on the capacitor.
The present invention is concerned with two con Control of the conversion switching element tube is
cepts or characteristics. The first of these characteristics maintained by a commutator 26. A series of contacts
is observed with the introduction of an energizing cur mounted radially about a shaft, or a solid-state switch
rent through the inductor. The inductor creates a con ing device sensitive to time or other variable may be
trary force (counter-electromotive force or CEMF) 25 used for this control element. A switching element tube
that opposes the energy introduced into the inductor. type one-way energy path 28 is introduced between the
This CEMF increases throughout the time the intro commutator device and the conversion switching ele
duced energy is increasing. ment tube to prevent high energy arcing at the commu
In normal applications of an alternating-current to an tator current path. When the switching element tube is
inductive load for mechanical applications, the useful 30 closed, current from the voltage source 18 is routed
work of the inductor is accomplished prior to terminat through a resistive element 30 and a low voltage anode
ing the application of energy. The excess energy applied 32. This causes a high energy discharge between the
is thereby wasted. anodes within the conversion switching element tube
Previous attempts to provide energy inputs to an 4.
inductor of time durations limited to that period when 35 The energy content of the high energy pulse is elec
the optimum transfer of inductive energy to mechanical trostatically coupled to the conversion grids 34 of the
energy is occuring, have been limited by the ability of conversion element. This electrostatic charge is applied
any such device to handle the high current required to through an output terminal 60 (FIG. 2) across the load
optimize the energy transfer. inductance 36, inducing a strong electromagnetic field
The second characteristic is observed when the ener about the inductive load. The intensity of this electro
gizing current is removed from the inductor. As the magnetic field is determined by the high electromotive
current is decreased, the inductor generates an EMF potential developed upon the electrostatic grids and the
that opposes the removal of current or, in other words, very short time duration required to develop the energy
produces an energy source at the output of the inductor pulse.
that simulates the original energy source, reduced by 45 If the inductive load is coupled magnetically to a
the actual energy removed from the circuit by the me mechanical load, a strong initial torque is developed
chanical load. This "regenerated', or excess, energy has that may be efficiently utilized to produce physical
previously been lost due to a failure to provide a storage work.
capability for this energy. Upon cessation of the energy pulse (arc) within the
In this invention, a high-voltage, high-current, short SO conversion switching element tube the inductive load is
duration energy pulse is applied to the inductive load by decoupled, allowing the electromagnetic field about the
the conversion element. This element makes possible inductive load to collapse. The collapse of this energy
the use of certain of that energy impressed within an arc field induces within the inductive load a counter EMF.
across a spark-gap, without the resultant deterioration This counter EMF creates a high positive potential
of circuit elements normally associated with high en 55 across a second capacitor which, in turn, is induced into
ergy electrical arcs. the second energy storage device or battery 40 as a
This invention also provides for capture of a certain charging current. The amount of charging current
portion of the energy induced by the high inductive available to the battery 40 is dependent upon the initial
kick produced by the abrupt withdrawal of the intro conditions within the circuit at the time of discharge
duced current. This abrupt withdrawal of current is 60 within the conversion switching element tube and the
attendant upon the termination of the stimulating arc. amount of mechanical energy consumed by the work
The voltage spike so created is imposed upon a capaci load.
tor that couples the attendant current to a secondary A Spark-gap protection device 42 is included in the
energy storage device. circuit to protect the inductive load and the rectifier
A novel, but not essential, circuit arrangement pro 65 elements from unduly large discharge currents. Should
vides for switching the energy source and the energy the potentials within the circuit exceed predetermined
storage device. This switching may be so arranged as to values, fixed by the mechanical size and spacing of the
actuate automatically at predetermined times. The elements within the protective device, the excess en
4,595,975
5 6
ergy is dissipated (bypassed) by the protective device to transformer 22, that is in turn energized from the vibra
the circuit common (electrical ground). tor 20, or solid-state chopper, or similar device to prop
Diodes 44 and 46 bypass the excess overshoot gener erly drive the transformer and rectifier circuits.
ated when the "Energy Conversion Switching Element When the energy source is an alternating-current,
Tube' is triggered. A switching element 48 allows ei- 5 switches 64 disconnect transformer 22 and the input to
ther energy storage source to be used as the primary the bridge-type rectifier 24 is provided by the voltage
energy source, while the other battery is used as the step-up transformer 66, that is in turn energized from
energy retrieval unit. The switch facilitates interchang the vibrator 20, or solid-state chopper, or similar device
ing the source and the retrieval unit at optimum inter to properly drive the transformer and rectifier circuits.
vals to be determined by the utilization of the conver- 10 The repetitions output of the bridge rectifier incre
sion switching element tube. This switching may be mentally increases the capacitor charge toward its max
accomplished manually or automatically, as determined imum. This charge is electrically connected directly to
by the choice of switching element from among a large the high-voltage anode 12 of the conversion switching
variety readily available for the purpose. element tube.
FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show the mechanical structure of 15 When the low-voltage anode 32 is connected to a
the conversion switching element tube 14. An outer
housing 50 may be of any insulative material such as source of current, an arc is created in the spark-gap
designated 62 of the conversion switching element tube
glass. The anodes 12 and 22 and grids 34a and 34b are equivalent to
firmly secured by nonconductive spacer material 54, anode, and thethecurrent potential stored on the high-voltage
available from the low-voltage
and 56. The resistive element 30 may be introduced into 20 anode. Because the duration of the arc is very short, the
the low-voltage anode path to control the peak currents instantaneous voltage, and instantaneous current may
through the conversion switching element tube. The both be very high. The instantaneous peak
resistive element may be of a piece, or it may be built of power is therefore, also very high. Within theapparent conver
one or more resistive elements to achieve the desired sion switching element tube, this energy is absorbed by
result. 25
The anode material may be identical for each anode, the grids 34a and 34b mounted circumferentially about
or may be of differing materials for each anode, as dic theControlinterior of the tube.
of the energy spike within the conversion
tated by the most efficient utilization of the device, as switching element tube is accomplished by a mechani
determined by appropriate research at the time of pro cal, or solid-state commutator, that closes the circuit
duction for the intended use. 30
The shape and spacing of the electrostatic grids is path from the low-voltage anode to the current source
also susceptible to variation with application (voltage, at that moment when the delivery of energy to the
current, and energy requirements). output load is most auspicious. Any number of standard
It is the contention of the inventor that by judicious high-accuracy, variable setting devices are available for
mating of the elements of the conversion switching 35 this purpose. When control of the repetitive rate of the
system's output is required, it is accomplished by con
element tube, and the proper selection of the compo
nents of the circuit elements of the system, the desired ode.trollihg the time of connection at the low-voltage an
theoretical results may be achieved. It is the inventor's
contention that this mating and selection process is well systemThus there can be provided an electrical driving
within the capabilities of intensive research and devel- 40 having a low-voltage source coupled to a vibra
opment technique. tor, a transformer and a bridge-type rectifier to provide
Let it be stated here that substituting a source of a high voltage pulsating signal to a first capacitor.
electric alternating-current subject to the required cur Where a high-voltage source is otherwise available, it
rent and/or voltage shaping and/or timing, either prior may be coupled direct to a bridge-type rectifier, causing
to being considered a primary energy source, or there- 45 a pulsating signal to a first capacitor. The capacitor in
after, should not be construed to change the described turn is coupled to a high-voltage anode of an electrical
utilization or application of primary energy in any way. conversion switching element tube. The element also
Such energy conversion is readily achieved by any of a includes a low-voltage anode which in turn is con
multitude of well established principles. The preferred nected to a voltage source by a commutator, a switch
embodiment of this invention merely assumes optimum 50 ing element tube, and a variable resistor, Mounted
utilization and optimum benefit from this invention around the high-voltage anode is a charge receiving
when used with portable energy devices similar in prin plate which in turn is coupled to an inductive load to
ciple to the wet-cell or dry-cell battery. transmit a high-voltage discharge from the element to
This invention proposes to utilize the energy con the load. Also coupled to the load is a second capacitor
tained in an internally generated high-voltage electric 55 for storing the back EMF created by the collapsing
spike (energy pulse) to electrically energize an induc electrical field of the load when the current to the load
tive load; this inductive load being then capable of con is blocked. The second capacitor in turn is coupled to
verting the energy so supplied into a useful electrical or the voltage source.
mechanical output. What is claimed is:
In operation the high-voltage, short-duration electric 60 1. An electrical driving system comprising:
spike is generated by discharging the capacitor 16 a source of electrical voltage;
across the spark-gap in the conversion switching ele a vibrator connected to said source for forming a
ment tube. The necessary high-voltage potential is pulsating signal;
stored on the capacitor in incremental, additive steps a transformer connected to said vibrator for receiving
from the bridge-type rectifier 24. 65 said pulsating signal;
When the energy source is a direct-current electric a rectifier connected to said transformer having a
energy storage device, such as the battery 12, the input high-voltage pulse output;
to the bridge rectifier is provided by the voltage step-up a capacitor for receiving said voltage pulse output;
4,595,975
7 8
a conversion switching element tube having first and 6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said source com
second anodes, electrically conductive means for prises a direct current source and wherein said system
receiving a charge positioned about said second further comprises:
anode and an output terminal connected to said a source of alternating current; and
charge receiving means, said second anode being 5 a switch means for selecting said direct-current or
connected to said capacitor; said alternating-current power source as input to
a commutator connected to said source of electrical said rectifier.
voltage and to said first anode; and 7. A system as in claim 1 wherein said rectifier com
an inductive load connected to said output terminal prises a bridge-type rectifier.
whereby a high energy discharge between said first O 8. A method for providing power to an inductive load
and second anodes is transferred to said charge comprising the steps of
receiving means and then to said inductive load. providing a voltage source;
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, including pulsating a signal from said source;
a second capacitor for receiving a charge frcm said increasing the voltage of said signal;
load. 5 rectifying said signal;
3. A system as claimed in claim 2, including storing and increasing said signal;
a switching element tube positioned in series between conducting said signal to a high-voltage anode;
said commutator and said first anode. providing a low-voltage to a second anode to form a
4. A system as claimed in claim 3, including high energy discharge;
a second source of voltage and a switch for receiving 20 electrostatically coupling said discharge to a charge
a signal from said second capacitor. receiving element;
5. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein: conducting said discharge to an inductive load;
said conversion switching element tube includes a coupling a second capacitor to said load; and
resistive element in series with said first anode; and coupling said capacitor to said source.
said charge receiving means is tubularly shaped. 25 : s k sk s

30

35

45

5S

65

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