GB1161751A - Battery Charging Systems for use in Road Vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

1,161,751. Automatic voltage control. JOSEPH LUCAS (INDUSTRIES) Ltd. Nov. 25, 1966 [Dec. 13, 1965; Dec.24, 1965; April 25, 1966; Sept.9, 1966; Dec.15, 1965], Nos. 52780/65; 54860/65; 17964/66; 40313/66 and 51983/66 Heading G3R. A battery charging system for a road vehicle comprises a generator 21 for charging the battery 22 and a voltage regulator for the generator, the regulator having an output circuit 25 including the generator field winding, an output drive stage 24 which controls the output circuit 25, and a battery voltage sensing stage 23 controlling the output drive stage 24 which is coupled to the battery through the ignition switch 19 of the vehicle, the voltage sensing stage 23, but not the output drive stage 24, being connected directly across the battery, i.e. not through the ignition switch, at least whenever the generator is producing an output. Thus the output drive stage 24 cannot dissipate power except when the ignition switch is closed. The regulator 23, 24, 25 may be of known type including switching transistors Fig. 2 (not shown), and the generator may be an alternator with a rectified output. Embodiments, some including a warning lamp which is extinguished when the generator produces an output, are described with reference to Figs. 3 to 7 (not shown).