(19) |
 |
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(11) |
EP 0 493 003 A3 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
(88) |
Date of publication A3: |
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14.10.1992 Bulletin 1992/42 |
(43) |
Date of publication A2: |
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01.07.1992 Bulletin 1992/27 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 20.12.1991 |
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(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE ES FR GB LI NL SE |
(30) |
Priority: |
28.12.1990 US 635720 28.12.1990 US 636000 18.10.1991 US 781480
|
(71) |
Applicant: EATON CORPORATION |
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Cleveland
Ohio 44114 (US) |
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(72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Winter, Marlan Lee
Hendersonville, NC 28739 (US)
- Innes, Mark Edmund
Asheville, NC 28806 (US)
- Saletta, Gary Francs
Irwin, PA 15642 (US)
- Prather, Edward Clarke
Hendersonville, NC 28739 (US)
- Engel, Joseph Charles
Monroeville, PA 15146 (US)
- Hurley, Rick Alan
Fletcher, NC 28732 (US)
|
(74) |
Representative: van Berlyn, Ronald Gilbert |
|
23, Centre Heights London NW3 6JG London NW3 6JG (GB) |
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|
|
(54) |
Voltage regulator, power supply and calibrator |
(57) A control circuit for electrical contactors, starters and the like which include
one or more pairs of separable main contacts is controlled by an electromagnet assembly
10. In order to reduce, if not eliminate, audible noise generated by the electromagnet
assembly, the electrical current to the electromagnetic assembly is regulated to minimize
the rate of change of magnetic flux therethrough to thereby reduce, if not eliminate,
audible noise. The circuitry is also adapted to compensate for alternating current
(AC) magnetic coupling from the main poles in order to provide a relatively larger
hold in force when the contacts are to remain in a closed position. Apparatus for
calibrating an electrical device is taught. A precision power supply device PCS is
interconnected by way of appropriate input channels to the device 10 to be calibrated
for supplying a precise accurate calibration variable as an input. A personal computer
PC is interlinked by way of a communications network CONI with the apparatus 10 to
be calibrated and is also interlinked with the precision supply device so that the
personal computer PC has available the exact value of input variable utilized. Upon
command, the personal computer PC instructs the device being calibrated to deliver
to the personal computer PC those values of input variable which the device being
calibrated interprets as the input variable value. The personal computer PC compares
this value with the actual value and generates a correction factor which the personal
computer PC sends back to the device being calibrated for storage in an EEPROM. A
power supply 202 which includes a rectifier input circuit MCR1 which provides either
half wave or full wave rectified electrical current at an instantaneous voltage value
to the input terminal of a controlled switch MQ3 is taught. The controlled switch
is controlled by the combination of a "low voltage reset" device MU6 and a field effects
transistor MQ2 combined to form a voltage sensing and switching circuit SSM which
is interconnected at its input between the input terminal of the voltage regulator
and ground and at its output or reset terminal to the control terminal of the voltage
regulator. The output terminal of the voltage regulator is connected to the anode
of a diode MCR7, the cathode of which is connected to one side of a storage capacitor
MC6.

