An electric arc welder that includes a energy storage device and non-battery power source for the formation of an electric arc. The welder also includes battery charging circuit that controls the charging of the energy storage device by the non-battery power source. The non-battery power source can include an engine driven electric generator, power grid or a fuel cell.

Hybrid powered welder

An electrical apparatus for use with a motor vehicle electrical system, which includes an engine-driven alternator, provides a switching circuit for switching the system between a normal-power state and a high-power state. In the normal-power state, the apparatus provides the nominal electrical power needed by the vehicle electrical system and battery. In the high-power state, the apparatus causes the engine-driven alternator to produce a higher voltage and a higher power output for external loads, while still providing the nominal electrical power for the vehicle electrical system and the vehicle battery. In the normal-power mode of operation, the vehicle voltage regulator sees the full voltage generated by the vehicle alternator. In the high-power mode of operation, the vehicle voltage regulator sees only a reduced portion of the full voltage generated by the vehicle alternator. The increased power output from the alternator can be rectified into a high-voltage DC current or can be converted to 60 HZ 110-volt AC power by means of a cycloconverter, for example. A control circuit senses load current in the high-power mode of operation and causes the engine to operate at an increased speed to maintain the increased power output. The control circuit reduces the engine speed to idling speed when there is no load current.

Power converter system

A mobile AC power source is described for generating AC electrical power that is powered by any rotational energy source such as a vehicle engine. The output of the mobile generator is sinusoidal but could have other shapes as well and is stable with variations in load and engine RPM. The AC output can vary in voltage from approximately 100 to 500 VAC RMS and in frequency from approximately 40 to 400 Hz. The mobile AC power source employs an alternator driven by the vehicle engine or any other rotational source and incorporates two stator windings and one rotor, or two stators, four windings and two rotors on a common shaft. The stator windings are insulated electrically from each other. AC output voltage is held constant by using the voltage produced by the alternator as feedback and controlling the alternator rotor current. A voltage step up circuit boosts the voltage from the alternator if it is below a threshold value as occurs at low engine RPM. A 2 quad PWM circuit encodes a low frequency sine wave onto a high frequency carrier. An output filter removes the high frequency carrier and produces a sine wave output. Also included is electronic protection against over current, over load, short circuit and thermal over load conditions.

Mobile AC power source system

The specification discloses a vehicle electrical control system capable of switching the alternator output between a uniform standard voltage and a uniform higher voltage. The control system includes a supplemental voltage regulator and a switching circuit for selectively switching the supplemental regulator into the system to regulate the conventional voltage regulator. Preferably, the control system further includes a timing circuit for powering a plurality of electrically heated windows in a timed sequence.

Power control for heated windshields

An electrical power supply which may be used with the electrical system of a motor vehicle. A first input (16) to be connected to a D.C. source (18) and a second input (12) to be connected to an A.C. source (11). The first input provided across a capacitor bridge including an input capacitor (24, 25) and output capacitor (27, 28) in parallel and diodes (23, 26) opposing discharge current from the capacitors to the first input (16). The output (30) is taken across the output capacitor (27, 28). The second input (12) provided in series with the input capacitor (24, 25). The voltage applied to the second input (12) with the charge in the input capacitor raise the charge in the output capacitor (27, 28) providing increased D.C. voltage at the output (30). Preferably, the capacitor bridge is modified to accommodate pairs of input and output capacitors to utilize both cycles of the A.C. source. Preferably a sensing means (29) and control means (54) is provided to control the voltage at the output (30).

Electrical power supply for a motor vehicle.

An accessory unit for use with an engine powered vehicle having a conventional electrical system including a battery, voltage regulator and a dynamo of the alternator type having exposed AC and DC taps which in normal operation supplies DC power to the engine electrical system and, in some embodiments, to the electrical system of a host vehicle. A switch is provided to disconnect the dynamo from the engine electrical system. Also provided is a manually adjustable potentiometer through which the alternator output may be controlled. Circuit means feed the DC output of the dynamo to a welding terminal and the AC output of the dynamo to a step up transformer. A rectifying circuit rectifies the boosted AC output of the transformer and an outlet receptacle permits delivery of a 110-120 volt DC power output to power tools and like loads. Both the DC welding output terminals and the DC outlet receptacle have a common ground return through resistance means. Placement of a load across either the welding terminals or the DC outlet receptacle produces a voltage drop across the said resistance means, and this voltage drop is utilized to actuate a throttle control circuit including a control transistor, a power transistor and a solenoid type throttle control, functioning to increase the speed of the host vehicle engine when substantial load current is called for at either power output.

Franklin R Schneider

Papers

Power output accessory unit